Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov

After the usual beginning, we say:

KONTAKIA and OIKOI:

Kontakion 1

You who were chosen by the Heavenly King and glorified by Him, Father Hierarch Ignatius, now celebrating your most honored memory, we earnestly pray you: guide us to the way of salvation, deliver us from enemies visible and invisible, from sorrows and pains, we who with love cry out to you: Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Oikos 1

The archangels and angels marveled at your life, Father Hierarch Ignatius, for from childhood you had great longing for God, and in His commandments you passed your life without deviation. Marveling at this good understanding of yours, with compunction we cry out to you:

• Rejoice, for you comforted your parents grieved by childlessness with your birth;
• Rejoice, wonderful and honorable scion of your race;
• Rejoice, unceasing joy of your guardian angel;
• Rejoice, you who amazed your parents and teachers with your meekness and submission;
• Rejoice, you who from childhood prepared yourself for monastic obedience;
• Rejoice, you who directed your childish soul toward God;
• Rejoice, you who spent the leisure moments of your childhood in prayer and meditation on God;
• Rejoice, you who showed yourself an example of prayer and obedience to your younger brothers and sisters;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 2

Seeing your great gifts, your parents sent you to the imperial city, that you might acquire learning to enter the military rank. But you, O chosen one of God, young in years but old in understanding, considered all these corruptible and swiftly passing things as nothing, and toward the only Beauty and Unutterable Delight, the Lord Jesus Christ, you aspired with your mind and heart, singing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 2

Divine understanding you received from your beloved Savior Christ, Ignatius, worthy of wonder, even when you were a child, in all visible forms of this world you saw the hand of the heavenly Creator and Provider. For this, greatly glorifying you, we cry out such things to you:

• Rejoice, you who contemplated the invisible God in the visible sights of nature;
• Rejoice, you who loved the silence and solitude of the forest;
• Rejoice, you who from childhood years had great longing for God;
• Rejoice, you who passed over all the beautiful and delightful things of this world with your sight;
• Rejoice, you who received heavenly reward from the Lord;
• Rejoice, you who unceasingly performed the Jesus Prayer with your mouth and kept it in your mind;
• Rejoice, you who showed perfect love toward the Lord;
• Rejoice, you who always bore your much-desired Jesus in your heart;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 3

You were overshadowed by the power of the Most High, O most blessed Father, when you cast away those things considered goods in this world, and taking up the cross, according to the command of the Savior Christ, you followed Him without looking back, unceasingly singing in your heart: Alleluia!

Oikos 3

Having in your soul the burning desire to leave the world and follow Christ, you feared neither the anger of the emperor nor the opposition of your parents, and while still living in the world, you adorned yourself with a monastic way of life. For this, honoring your courage and love for the most sweet Lord Jesus, we bless you thus:

• Rejoice, you who in your youth showed diamond-like strength of spirit;
• Rejoice, you who desired the weekly communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ as the greatest treasure;
• Rejoice, you who now partake of Christ in heaven, as you desired while still on earth;
• Rejoice, for the divine seed sown in the good soil of your heart you watered with abundant tears;
• Rejoice, for in the midst of the tares of the world you brought the hundred-fold fruit of virtues to the Lord;
• Rejoice, zealous guardian of purity of soul and body;
• Rejoice, chosen adornment of temperance;
• Rejoice, for the great dignity of your appearance bore witness to your spiritual beauty;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 4

The storm of faithless thoughts did not shake you, O blessed Ignatius, when, not fearing the anger of the emperor, you cast off the military rank and taking upon yourself the yoke of Christ, you disregarded the world with its temptations and settled in the wilderness. There obtaining the longed-for rest for your soul, you unceasingly sang to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 4

When it was heard in your lands that you, being young in years, adorned with beauty and gifts, had hated the glory of this world and its delight, and for this reason went into the wilderness, all your relatives greatly marveled; while the angels in heaven greatly rejoiced and glorified God, Who had snatched you from the vain worldly path and set you on the narrow path of monasticism, which leads to the kingdom of heaven. And we, praising your holy zeal for the Lord, cry out to you:

• Rejoice, you who considered it more honorable to be a soldier of the Heavenly King than of an earthly one;
• Rejoice, you who strongly fought against temptations coming from the world, the flesh, and the devil;
• Rejoice, you who conquered all the wiles of the enemy with the divine weapon, the Cross of Christ;
• Rejoice, you who clothed yourself with the breastplate of righteousness;
• Rejoice, you who obtained the helmet of salvation;
• Rejoice, you who loved the spiritual sword, which is the Word of God, above every human weapon;
• Rejoice, you who shielded yourself from the arrows of the evil one with the shield of faith;
• Rejoice, you who obtained the unspeakable blessedness of the angelic rank in the heavenly bridal chamber;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 5

You became like a star with divine course, O most venerable Ignatius, when you stood before the abbot of a distant and poor monastery, asking to be received into the community; and the abbot, testing you, spoke nothing against it, blessing you to step onto the monastic path. And you, being deemed worthy of the fulfillment of your vows, with gratitude cried out, in contrition of heart, to your Benefactor God: Alleluia!

Oikos 5

The entire community of the monastery marveled, seeing your great zeal for the fulfillment of the obediences through which your spiritual father tested your humility. And we, honoring your struggles and labors, which, being young in age, you embraced for Christ, with wonder cry out to you:

• Rejoice, you who took your cross upon your shoulders and showed yourself a follower of Christ;
• Rejoice, you who willingly chose the narrow and sorrowful monastic path;
• Rejoice, you who never turned back;
• Rejoice, you who overthrew the spirit of pride through your humility;
• Rejoice, you who did not bury your talent in the ground;
• Rejoice, you who used it for the glory of God and the salvation of human souls;
• Rejoice, you who through your writings full of divine wisdom revived many souls sunk in sin;
• Rejoice, you who heard the sweet voice of the heavenly Master: "Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord";
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 6

Through humility, through zeal, and especially through unceasing prayer, you fought with constancy against bodily passions, O Hierarch, until you made your body a slave to the spirit; for this, together with the ranks of angels, you now stand before the throne of the most Holy Trinity, ever singing: Alleluia!

Oikos 6

Abundantly did the grace of God arise in you when, having received the monastic rank, you were soon honored with the degree of priesthood, for your spirit, received into the Fatherly arms opened to you, tasted unspeakable blessedness. And when you were chosen by God as abbot of the Pelshem monastery, day and night you cared for the rational sheep entrusted to you by the Lord, that not one of them should perish through your negligence. Rejoicing in such divine providence for you, we cry out to you:

• Rejoice, you who saw the fulfillment of your deeds through the reception of the angelic rank;
• Rejoice, you who followed your heavenly protector, the Holy Martyr Ignatius the God-bearer;
• Rejoice, you who ever bore the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart, as he did;
• Rejoice, you who received the office of the priesthood as a great gift from God;
• Rejoice, you who are called by the name of fire, being inflamed by the fire of faith and love for God and neighbor;
• Rejoice, you who offered the bloodless Sacrifice with great reverence and fear;
• Rejoice, you who honored the most innocent Mother of Christ, our God, as a most pure Treasure and holy Vessel of divine glory;
• Rejoice, you who raised, in the monastery, a beautifully adorned Church dedicated to the merciful Portaitissa;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 7

The man-loving Lord, willing that the lamp of your virtues should not remain under a bushel, but should shine to all, that all people seeing you might glorify the heavenly Father, brought you out of the isolated monastery to give you many-laboring obediences. Marveling at such providence of God, with contrition we cry: Alleluia!

Oikos 7

Of the new monastery of the Venerable Sergius, which is near the imperial city, the Lord gave you as first superior and good shepherd; and you, without rest, cared for your rational flock and zealously adorned the community. For this, your community glorified you, crying:

• Rejoice, you who followed the heavenly protector of your monastery, the Venerable Sergius, abbot of Radonezh;
• Rejoice, you who adorned the monastery with wondrous churches and buildings;
• Rejoice, you who, as a loving father, guided your children on the path of salvation toward the kingdom of heaven;
• Rejoice, you who joyfully received those thirsting to set out on the monastic path into the monastery;
• Rejoice, you who, through your exhortations, brought disobedient monks to tearful repentance;
• Rejoice, you who, as a good shepherd, through your life and habits gave an example of monastic struggle to the whole community;
• Rejoice, you who were ready to lay down your soul for their salvation;
• Rejoice, praise and glory of monks;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 8

A stranger and sojourner you were on earth, O Hierarch, like other people. But the Lord chose you, as His well-pleaser, even from the years of your youth, and through your life and your God-inspired writings you served the Lord with zeal. Therefore, raising glory to your Benefactor God, we cry to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 8

Being wholly filled with virtues, you showed yourself truly an angel in the flesh, Hierarch Ignatius, lovingly receiving all who ran to you, soothing their sorrows, guiding them on the path of repentance, teaching unceasing prayer and heart-felt weeping. For this, the rich and the poor, famous and needy, your spiritual children cried to you:

• Rejoice, new Golden-mouthed, who through your fiery words brought many who were erring to God through repentance;
• Rejoice, you who through your writings enlightened the souls and hearts of those who honor you;
• Rejoice, you who guided us to pray for our enemies;
• Rejoice, you who yourself prayed with fervent love for your enemies;
• Rejoice, you who taught us to see in those who are hostile to us instruments of God for our correction;
• Rejoice, you who presented the tears of Hezekiah and the sighs of Manasseh to the spiritual eyes of those who repented;
• Rejoice, you who in your books full of divine wisdom showed the struggles and labors of the ancient ascetics;
• Rejoice, you who followed these perfectly in your life;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 9

The whole angelic host and the assembly of hierarchs marveled, seeing you as the new well-pleaser of God, how you shone through great labors and struggles. And we, blessing you, cry to God Who glorified you: Alleluia!

Oikos 9

To a new and very laborious obedience in a distant region of your homeland you went, Hierarch Ignatius, when from the High Priest before the ages, our Lord Jesus Christ, the hierarchal staff of chief shepherd of the imperial city was entrusted to you, in the cathedral of the Kazan icon of the queen of heaven. Knowing in this the will of God, that even in a foreign land the Gospel of the kingdom of God should be preached by you, with humility we cry to you:

• Rejoice, you who received divine grace abundantly at your ordination;
• Rejoice, you who are filled with apostolic teaching and water all the faithful with its saving gifts;
• Rejoice, faithful worker of the vineyard of Christ;
• Rejoice, spiritual harp, moved by the Holy Spirit;
• Rejoice, God-inspired adornment of hierarchs;
• Rejoice, for through your mouth the Lord whom you loved preached;
• Rejoice, for though you left your spiritual brothers and children from the monastery of the Venerable Sergius bodily, yet in your prayers you never forgot them;
• Rejoice, merciful defender of all believers and unbelievers who call upon you for help;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 10

Weighed down by bodily weakness and by the struggles in which you lived, you went to the monastery of Saint Nicholas, which is near the Volga River, Hierarch Ignatius, to prepare your soul for departure from this world; and there, ending your days in meditation on God and hermitic prayer, without ceasing you sang to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 10

A speedy helper and comforter you were, Hierarch Ignatius, not only to those who came to you, but also to those far away, comforting them with your writings, encouraging their spirit and making them wise. For this, those who value your books full of divine wisdom cry to you:

• Rejoice, our good shepherd;
• Rejoice, for you never cast out those who came to you;
• Rejoice, for you embraced with love those near and far who asked for your help;
• Rejoice, for you received those who earnestly honor your writings into the closest union with your soul;
• Rejoice, for you taught your spiritual children Christian patience;
• Rejoice, for you guided us to see the providence of God in our passions;
• Rejoice, for you taught your children to entrust themselves completely to the divine will;
• Rejoice, for you commanded us to ask the Lord for the fulfillment of His will in us as a great mercy;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 11

A hymn of compunction you offered to the most Holy Trinity all the days of your earthly life, O Ignatius most praised. And now, standing before the throne of the King of Glory, pray for us who honor your holy memory, that, being cleansed through prayer and repentance, together with you we may sing to God forever: Alleluia!

Oikos 11

A great luminary of the Holy Orthodox Church you were in your life, Hierarch Ignatius, and for this the Almighty Lord granted you a wondrous end, and glorified you in heaven. We pray you, merciful hierarch, ask also for us sinners who seek your help and intercession, a peaceful and painless end to our life, a good answer at the fearful judgment of Christ, and the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, that we may cry to you with joy:

• Rejoice, you who sealed your righteous life with a righteous end;
• Rejoice, you who foresaw the approach of your departure;
• Rejoice, you who met the heavenly Bridegroom of your soul with the lamp lit;
• Rejoice, you who on the day of your end saw the risen Savior together with the myrrh-bearing women;
• Rejoice, you who do not deprive those who honor you of your intercession even after death;
• Rejoice, you who cover all who fervently pray to you with grace and your care;
• Rejoice, you who taught your children to hold without deviation to the holy Orthodox faith, the only true one;
• Rejoice, you who strictly forbade receiving heretical deceptions and heeding their evil suggestions;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 12

Grace was given to you from God, O Hierarch of Christ Ignatius, to pray for us and to guide us on the path of salvation, that, being cleansed through repentance, we may enter the most adorned bridal chamber of the Savior and there, together with you and all who have pleased God well, rejoicing, sing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 12

Singing to God, the Wonderful One in His saints, we praise you, O blessed Ignatius, as a friend of Christ, who through the unswerving practice of His commandments obtained the blessedness of paradise. Pray for us sinners, that together with you we may be partakers of the Supper of the Lord, who with desire cry to you:

• Rejoice, for through your profound humility and spiritual poverty you found the kingdom of heaven;
• Rejoice, for you commanded the placing of this virtue as the foundation of all monastic struggles;
• Rejoice, for weeping for your sins, you were yourself comforted by the Lord;
• Rejoice, for the meekness of your soul obtained the inheritance of eternal life as a just reward;
• Rejoice, for in earthly life you sought the righteousness of Christ, not bodily food, and now in heaven you have been abundantly filled with it;
• Rejoice, for through your mercy toward your neighbor you obtained mercy from God, the Giver of mercies;
• Rejoice, for the angelic purity of your heart enabled you to see God;
• Rejoice, for you forgave all slanders and reproaches from those who hated you for the Lord's sake, and for this you were deemed worthy of the great treasure of divine sonship as a peacemaker;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

Kontakion 13

O most wonderful and well-pleasing one of Christ, Father Hierarch Ignatius! Accept this small prayer, offered from hearts that love and honor you, and deliver us by your all-powerful intercession from all pain, suffering, and sorrow; kindle our cold hearts with the fire of faith and love for God; grant us repentance before the end; be for us a guide to the kingdom of heaven, that there, together with you and all who have pleased God well, we may sing to Him forever and ever: Alleluia! (this kontakion is said three times)

Then again Oikos 1 is said

The archangels and angels marveled at your life, Father Hierarch Ignatius, for from childhood you had great longing for God, and in His commandments you passed your life without deviation. Marveling at this good understanding of yours, with compunction we cry out to you:

• Rejoice, for you comforted your parents grieved by childlessness with your birth;
• Rejoice, wonderful and honorable scion of your race;
• Rejoice, unceasing joy of your guardian angel;
• Rejoice, you who amazed your parents and teachers with your meekness and submission;
• Rejoice, you who from childhood prepared yourself for monastic obedience;
• Rejoice, you who directed your childish soul toward God;
• Rejoice, you who spent the leisure moments of your childhood in prayer and meditation on God;
• Rejoice, you who showed yourself an example of prayer and obedience to your younger brothers and sisters;
• Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

And Kontakion 1

You who were chosen by the Heavenly King and glorified by Him, Father Hierarch Ignatius, now celebrating your most honored memory, we earnestly pray you: guide us to the way of salvation, deliver us from enemies visible and invisible, from sorrows and pains, we who with love cry out to you: Rejoice, Hierarch Ignatius, chosen worker and teacher of repentance and prayer!

After this is said this:

PRAYER

O great, most wonderful and well-pleasing one of Christ, Father Hierarch Ignatius! Mercifully accept the prayers which we offer to you with love and gratitude! Hear us, the poor and helpless, who with faith and love fall down before you and ask for your fervent intercession for us before the throne of the Lord of Glory. We know that the prayer of the righteous can do much, making the Master merciful. You, from the years of your childhood, loved the Lord with fervor and, desiring to serve Him alone, considered all the beautiful things of this world as nothing. You, denying yourself and taking up your cross, followed Christ. You willingly chose the narrow and sorrowful path of monastic life and on this path obtained great virtues. You, through your writings, filled the hearts of people with the deepest reverence and submission to the Almighty Creator, and you never cast out fallen sinners, but with your wise words you taught them to know their nothingness and to run in repentance and humility to God; rather, you were to all a loving father and a good shepherd. Do not forsake us now either, who earnestly pray to you and flee to your help and protection. Ask for us from the man-loving Lord health of body and soul; make our faith steadfast, strengthen our powers which grow weak amidst the temptations and sorrows of this age; warm our cold souls with the fire of prayer; help us, being cleansed through repentance, to receive a Christian end to our life and to enter the most adorned bridal chamber of the Savior together with all the chosen, and together with you to worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.