"Save me, God!".
Thank you for visiting our website, before you start studying the information, please subscribe to our Orthodox community on Instagram, Lord, Save and Preserve † - https://www.instagram.com/spasi.gospodi/. The community has more than 60,000 subscribers. There are many of us like-minded people and we are growing quickly, we post prayers, sayings of saints, prayer requests, and timely post useful information about holidays and Orthodox events... Subscribe. Guardian Angel to you!
The life, and especially the death of the martyr Eustratius, contains many contradictory facts. They manifest themselves not only in the Christian, but also in the scientific sphere. Especially a lot of controversy was caused by his canonization.
Life of Saint Eustratius
Basically, all mentions of him are mostly concentrated in those published in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. He belonged to a rich family. At one point, he gave away all his property, took monastic vows and went to serve Anthony.
In 1096, there was a raid by the Cumans, who captured representatives of the monastery, including him. Later, Evstratiy of Pechersk was sold into slavery to a Jewish merchant from Chersonesus. There is a legend that he initially forbade them to drink water and thus wanted them to renounce Christ. But the saint persuaded them to hold on. After this, the merchant stopped feeding them. All the rest lived only 10 days, and Evstratiy - 14. The owner crucified him on the cross on the day of the Jewish Passover and pierced him with a spear.
The best article for you, go to: The Zhirovitskaya Icon: how it helps and what to ask for
The martyr first thanked the Lord for such a fate. Then the audience mocked him. The life states that his body was thrown into the sea. He was caught and buried in the Near Lavra caves. Parts of the relics of the Great Martyr Eustratius are in the village of Ternovka in Crimea. The death of a fairly famous person led to the execution of other Jewish representatives of the nobility.
Remembrance Day is usually celebrated on April 10.
TEMPLE OF THE HOLY DUCHESS OLGA IN OSTANKINO
Around 305, during the era of the ruthless Diocletian persecutions, throughout the Roman Empire, not excluding its most remote outskirts, the land was abundantly watered with the blood of martyrs.
Christians everywhere, no matter who they were, had to choose between apostasy and martyrdom. At that time, in the Armenian city of Satala in Lesser, or Roman, Armenia, there lived a noble and wealthy man named Eustratius, who bore the title of dux and held the position of adviser and head of the imperial notaries of the city. For the time being, he kept his affiliation with the Christian Church secret. Having in his soul the desire, following the example of other martyrs and confessors, to be awarded the unfading crown of martyrdom, he nevertheless mentally shuddered at the thought of the torture awaiting him, doubting whether he would have the strength and courage to withstand all the torments and not renounce the true faith. Wanting to find out whether the Lord blesses him for this feat, he handed his belt, a sign of high office, to one of the servants, ordering it to be placed on the church altar and see if the first person to enter the sanctuary and take the belt would be a venerable presbyter named Avxenty. When exactly this happened, Eustratius, inspired by this sign, abandoned all fear of those who have power only over the body (cf. Matt. 10: 28). He invited all his friends and relatives to share his joy and arranged a great feast, at which he announced to the guests that he was going to soon find an imperishable treasure.
The next day, when Duke Lysias ordered Christian prisoners to be brought to his trial, Eustratius suddenly also appeared before him, confessed himself to be a Christian and declared that he wanted to share their fate. Very amazed, the judge ordered to remove the signs of his rank from Eustratius and, stripping him naked, beat him with whips, and then bring him to him for interrogation. After this, suspended by his hands over a brazier with hot coals, the martyr was again subjected to scourging. All this time the saint remained so indifferent to the pain, as if it was not his body that was being tortured. Eustratius thanked Lysias for the great joy he had received, saying: “Now I know that I am the temple of God and that the Holy Spirit dwells in me!” Then his bleeding wounds were poured with vinegar and sprinkled with salt, but that same evening the Christian miraculously received healing.
Struck by the martyr’s steadfastness and the visible intervention of Divine grace, one of his fellow citizens and subordinates, named Eugene, filled with boldness, went to the judge and, in turn, expressed a desire to suffer along with Eustratius and the other martyrs.
When early in the morning all the prisoners were taken to Nikopol, Lysias, mocking Eustratius, ordered to honor his dignity by wearing sandals pierced with sharp nails. After two days of grueling travel, the martyrs arrived in Arauraka, the hometown of Eustratius. There the saint was accidentally recognized by a local resident named Mardarius. Shocked by such great self-denial and encouraged by the appeals of his wife, Mardarius said goodbye to his two children, entrusted his family to the care of one of his friends, and delivered himself into the hands of the guards. He joyfully joined those who wished to be faithful to Christ even to death.
Presbyter Auxentius was the first to appear before Lysias. After a short trial, he was taken into the thicket of the forest and there he was beheaded, leaving his body to be devoured by animals. However, the precious relics of the martyr, with the help of God, were soon discovered in the forest by pious Christians, and a raven pointed them to his severed head.
Following Auxentius, Mardarius appeared before the judge, who answered only one thing to all the questions asked of him: “I am a Christian!” Then the judge ordered him to be hanged upside down, pierced at the ankles, and beaten to death with hot metal rods. Shortly before his death, Mardarius said a prayer read daily in the Orthodox Church: “O Master God, Father Almighty, Lord the Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ and Holy Soul, One Divinity, One Power, have mercy on me, a sinner, and in Your destinies save me, Your unworthy servant. for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages. Amen"[1].
When Eugene, in turn, appeared before the tyrant, his firmness and determined words led him into indescribable rage. He ordered the martyr’s tongue and hands to be cut off, and then his body to be mutilated with heavy batogs, dooming him to a painful death. Having completed the massacre, Lysias went to observe the training of his soldiers. When one of the warriors, a young recruit named Orestes, a stately and strong-bodied youth, threw a spear, the tyrant noticed a golden pectoral cross flashing on his neck. To the duka’s question, the young man answered without any hesitation that he was a Christian. Immediately taken into custody, he was then sent along with Eustratius to the ruler of Sebaste, Agricolaus, since Lysias feared that new executions would incite the large Christian population of Nicopolis against himself.
Arriving in Sebastia after a five-day journey, Eustratius appeared before the ruler, who wanted to challenge him to a debate. Possessing extensive knowledge in various subjects, the valiant Christian easily proved to his enemy the meaninglessness of pagan cults and the futility of Hellenic philosophy. Then, in few but powerful words, he described the good Providence of God for people from the beginning of time and talked about how the Lord showed them His mercy by sending His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. However, Agricolaus, remaining adamant in the face of all the arguments of Eustratius, argued that he was obliged to unconditionally obey the emperor in everything and that, refusing to worship the gods recognized by the state religion, he deserved death.
After this, the ruler ordered Orestes to be brought and placed on a hot iron bed in order to force Eustratius to witness the cruel execution. Frightened at first by the terrible torment that awaited him, Orestes, encouraged by Eustratius to perform a feat, decisively stepped towards martyrdom, exclaiming: “Lord, I commend my soul into Thy hands!”
The night before his execution, Eustratius was secretly visited in prison by the Bishop of Sebastia, Saint Blaise, and promised to fulfill his last will and deliver the relics of all five martyrs to Arauraka. After praying with Eustratius and giving him a consoling conversation, the bishop celebrated the Divine Liturgy. When Eustratius was receiving Holy Communion, the gloomy dungeon suddenly lit up with a dazzling light and a voice from heaven said: “Eustratius, you fought courageously, now accept your crown!” Falling on his face, the martyr offered up a fervent prayer to the Lord, asking him to strengthen his spirit and send him strength for the final test[2].
Then rising to his feet, he boldly walked towards the blazing furnace, made the sign of the cross over it and went inside, singing a song of thanksgiving to the Lord, like the three youths of Judah once did in Babylon (cf. Dan. 3). Over the following centuries and in our days, five honest martyrs do not cease to perform miracles through the prayers and petitions of Christians through their relics, icons, and even by their direct appearance. Here is one of the legends about such a miracle. One day, not a single person came to the small, lonely church of the Five Martyrs on the island of Chios on the day of its patronal feast because of the extremely harsh winter. Seeing that the temple was empty, the pious priest decided to lead the service alone, when suddenly five men appeared before him, in every way similar to those depicted on the icon of the five martyrs. Standing on the choir, they sang all the chants required for that day. When the time came for reading the acts of martyrdom, Saint Orestes placed the book on the lectern in the middle of the temple and began to read. Having reached the place where the cowardice that gripped him at the sight of the blazing fire was described, he slightly changed the word there and instead of “and he was afraid” he said “and he smiled.” Then Saint Eustratius interrupted him and said in a stern voice: “Read everything as it really happened!” Blushing with embarrassment, Saint Orestes read this passage again exactly as it was written. When the service came to an end, the holy martyrs closed their books, extinguished the candles and disappeared as mysteriously as they had appeared.
Prayers to the martyr Eustratius
Personalized icons are advised to be worn and acquired in the name of the saint you bear. But this does not mean at all that another person does not have the right to petition Eustratius of the Pechersk Martyr. This is not prohibited at all. Basically they ask him:
- grant material stability;
- help make an important decision;
- repay debts;
- strengthen faith in difficult life situations.
If you say them before his face and bow to the relics, then less than half the job will be done. It is also important to do all this with faith in the Lord. After all, simply reading the text will not bring a positive result. If you do not know the special address to him, then try to express everything in your own words.
The best article for you, go to: Bishop of Ishim Evtihiy (Kurochkin)
It is only important that they come from the heart. This is what the prayer to Eustratius looks like:
“Our venerable and God-bearing fathers Anthony and Theodosius, and all the venerable Pecherstia, the bright earthly light, from the dark places of caves in the Russian land, gloriously shone, and with these many luminous angels equal to your life, the stars of your life enraged, while the entire Universe of high virtues with the lordships and divine miracles surprised with their brilliance . the nights of passions and sorrows that abid, from above, look upon the grace-filled radiance; for in the light of your virtuous life we walk in the right way, let us be worthy to see the light of the inviolable glory of God, praising Him together with you for endless ages. Amen."
We should also not forget that words of gratitude for what has already been sent to us from heaven will not be superfluous. Such an action will only have a positive effect on the attitude of the saints towards you.
God bless you!
The best article for you, go to: Cosmas Yakhromsky: life, relics and akathist to the saint
You will also be interested in watching a video story about the holy martyr Eustratius:
Saint Eustratius of Pechersk, martyred by the Jews
(March 28 – April 10)
In Russia, the first Christian martyr who died from the Jews is considered to be Saint Eustratius of Pechersk, whose memory is celebrated on April 10.
Recently, Jewish religious figures and even some respected representatives of Christianity have repeatedly tried to persuade the Church to decanonize Eustratius of Pechersk due to the obvious anti-Jewish position of his life. True, what this position is expressed in is unclear. The fact that he was a great faster and a deeply religious person? Or is it that he accepted martyrdom only because he remained faithful to Christ? The canonization of Gabriel of Bialystok is also often criticized as an example of a blood libel against Jews and propaganda of anti-Semitism. “The torture and human sacrifice described contradict many factual tenets of Judaism.” Nobody argues that they contradict, but there are facts of these crimes. Let us then stop considering as saints all the martyrs who died at the hands of pagans, Muslims, and atheists. For some reason, any crime ever committed by Jews is categorically rejected by their descendants. Unfortunately, they do not suffer from self-criticism and the ability to repent. They should learn from the same Germans, who cannot in any way wash themselves away from the consequences of the fascist regime, or from Russia, which meekly took upon itself all the sins of the Soviet past - imaginable and inconceivable. In an amazing way, Jews manage to convince the public that they are right. US Congressional reports on anti-Semitism cite the revival of veneration of Gabriel of Bialystok as a violation of religious freedoms. Explain what religious freedoms are we talking about?
Following the fashion for tolerance in the United States, a new “politically correct” version of the translation of the Holy Scriptures has appeared, which would not embarrass representatives of Judaism. It turns out that Jesus Christ was crucified not by Jews, but by Roman pagans. And in general, it doesn’t matter who crucified - they crucified and that’s it. However, these sayings contradict the words from the Talmud that the Jewish “sages treated Jesus as he deserved.” Yes, it’s not at all about who is to blame. The meaning of the sacred story of the Gospel is deeper. It is we who, every time we violate God’s commandments, participate in the crucifixion and betrayal of Christ.
The Venerable Martyr Evstratiy of Pechersk, who lived at the end of the 11th century, appeared as an imitator of the Savior, accepting the same suffering as He.
Evstratiy was born in Kyiv into a wealthy family. From a young age, he prepared himself for monastic life and, when the time came, he distributed his property to the poor and took monastic vows at the Kiev Pechersk Monastery. The humble monk strictly followed the prayer rule, spending his days in strict abstinence. The saint humbled himself by obedience, spending forty days in fasting and unceasing prayer, for which he was nicknamed a faster.
To the south of Kyiv lived the Polovtsians, who often engaged in robbery and robbery, violating the borders of Kievan Rus. In 1096, the Polovtsian Khan Bonyak attacked Kyiv with his army and destroyed the Pechersky Monastery. Many monks were destroyed and shrines were violated. Eustratia and another 50 Christians were captured by the Polovtsians and sold into slavery in the Greek city of Korsun (now Tauride Chersonesos) to a Jewish slave trader. The local eparch, being himself a Jew who converted to Christianity, allowed his fellow tribesmen to buy Christians and enslave them, despite the fact that Byzantine Jews were forbidden to own Christian slaves. The new owner began to force the captives to renounce Christ, probably so that they could be freely sold as non-Christian slaves. He forbade feeding the captives until they renounced their faith. But the courageous monk Evstratiy prayerfully instructed his comrades in misfortune: “Brothers! Whoever of you has been baptized... let him not change the vow given at Baptism... If we live, we will live for the Lord; if we die, we will die in the Lord and through temporary death we will find eternal life.” Strengthened by the words of the monk, the captives chose to die rather than renounce Christ. Exhausted by hunger and thirst, all fifty Christians died, one after another. After 14 days, only the Monk Eustratius remained alive, whose body was tempered in fasting, but he was already preparing to depart to another world. Having learned about the death of his slaves and the losses incurred, the wicked owner decided to take revenge on the holy monk. During the celebration of the Jewish Passover, the slave trader, having gathered his friends, crucified the already completely exhausted Eustratius on the cross. The cruel tormentors mocked the saint, inviting him to taste his Easter, to which he replied: “The Lord has vouchsafed me today great grace. He gave me the grace to suffer for His name on the cross in the image of His suffering. I hope that He will say to me, as He once did to the thief: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)... But you, who crucified me, and all your other like-minded people, will weep and wail, for vengeance will befall you for my blood and the blood of other Christians you bought.” Hearing this, the angry Jew grabbed a spear and pierced the holy martyr with it. The body of the sufferer was thrown into the sea, and later was found and buried in the Near Caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, where the relics of the saint lie to this day. The death of Eustratius followed in 1097.
The saint's prediction that his blood would be avenged came true. Back in 1095, the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos issued a decree ordering the liberation of slaves born free. Innovations have finally reached Korsun. By imperial command, all Jewish slave owners were expelled from there and deprived of their property, and Jews guilty of the death of Christians were executed. Tradition tells of the shameful death of a Jewish slave trader who tortured a holy monk. The death of Eustratius and other Christians shook the population. This resentment may have been the cause of the Jewish pogrom, which resulted in the murder of a bishop and the hanging of a slave trader from a tree.
This story is unfairly attributed to the so-called blood libel against the Jews; it allegedly falsely accuses the Jews of ritual sacrifices. There is no mention of this in the story. Eustratius was tortured because he did not renounce Christ. There were quite a few such murders. We honor the holy martyrs for their righteousness and resigned acceptance of all life's trials. The lives of the saints are an example to all of us and subsequent generations, and to refuse these great lessons of piety is a crime. It is impossible to throw out of history, much less forget, those facts of murders and abuses that were committed against “non-believers” by supposedly Jews, supposedly Christians, supposedly Muslims. Allegedly, because none of these religions promote violence and cruelty. We are all God's children and must love each other as the Lord commands.
AKATHIST
(Akathist to all saints of the Kiev-Pechersk is also read to Saint Eustratius-Pechersk)
Kontakion 1
God-chosen army and God-red person, our venerable fathers of Pecherstia, sources of many miracles, monastic, fasting community in Rus', first teachers and mentors, we dare to bring this praise singing to you from our spiritual desire. But you, as you have great boldness towards the heroic hero Christ our God, pray to Him, we pray, to deliver us from all troubles and evils, and with thanksgiving we call to you: Rejoice, all our reverend Fathers of the Pechersty, world-lamp, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Ikos 1
You will desire an angel-like life, fathers of God-wisdom, avoid the world's many rebellious rumors, dwell in cramped and dark caves, where you have experienced great labors and exploits, so that you may gain Christ; In the same way, you hear these hymns from our weak and sinners:
Rejoice, Anthony, the mirror of abstinence, humility, obedience and silence; Rejoice, the Orthodox faith is strong. Rejoice, Theodosius, monastic praise; Rejoice, the magnificent glory of your monastery. Rejoice Michael, our first archpastor and teacher; Rejoice, zealous planter of the faith of Christ and idolatry to the exterminator. Rejoice, Prochora, all-blessed miracle-worker, who has saturated people with the bread of the past and salt from the ashes, with the hunger of the melting people. Rejoice, Joanna, who shone with indescribable fasting. Rejoice, Theodora and Vasily, who in their temporal life bound themselves together with the mutual love of Christ; Rejoice, who suffered greatly from the self-interested prince Mstislav. Rejoice, for after your blessed death you will honor in a friendly manner in a single race; Rejoice, for in in one hour you will appear before the throne of God. Rejoice, all our reverend fathers of Pecherstia; universal luminaries, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 2
Seeing Christ the Lord, as if in His name He was deigned to live in abundance, He was found in your midst, helping you in various labors, especially in the battle against the spirits of wickedness in high places, and enriching you with the grace of the Most Holy Spirit: giving to one the gift of prophecy, to another the gifts of healing, to another the power to cast out spirits of evil spirits, you received this grace, not being lifted up in your spirit, but in the simplicity of your soul and heart, with humility and gratitude to the Benefactor God, you sang the song: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The mind is unwavering and armed with strong faith in God, holding on to the path of salvation, the fathers of the highest praise, which you will accomplish gloriously with the help of Christ and His Most Pure Mother; Ask this help from the throne of the Most High for us, who want to imitate your godly life, so that we may sing to you with gratitude:
Rejoice, Polycarpe, most luminous head, who, of course, copied the lives of the saints and collected them together; Rejoice, as you appear with them at the throne of the Most Holy Trinity. Rejoice, Varlaam, who had a gracious mind, who preferred dark and cramped caves to light and spacious chambers; Rejoice, who exchanged gold-woven garments for monastic rubles. Rejoice, Damian, merciless healer, who healed the sick with prayers and holy oil; Rejoice, you have asked the Lord for a bounty of life in heaven with the Monk Theodosius. Rejoice, Nicodemus, who labored in baking the sacred bread for thirty years. Rejoice, Lawrence, who labored in the closest seclusion for many years. Rejoice , Athanasius, received the gift of tears and tenderness from the Lord. Rejoice, Erasmus, for the decoration of the temple of God Matera, the chamber of indescribable beauty in the Kingdom of Heaven, acquired from Christ. Rejoice, Luko, diligent doer of God’s commandments. Rejoice, Nektarios, unslothful doer of obedience. Rejoice, all our reverend fathers of the Pecherstia, world-lamp, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 3
By the power and grace given to you from above, in your belly, blessed Agapit, healed various illnesses. This grace and power are still inherent in you, and even more so, they will multiply. We also pray to you: heal our ailments, heal the passions of the soul and body, and give health to your soul and body, let us sing to Christ who glorified you: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
If you have faith, love and zeal for you, you will be intercessors for eternal life, fathers of acceptance of God! Your prayers are powerful at the throne of God; For this reason, we resort to you, as our great helpers and intercessors, glorifying you:
Rejoice, John, for you showed obedience even after your death; Rejoice, for you gave up your deathbed to your elder brother. Rejoice, Theophilus, for through brotherly obedience you were healed from anger; Rejoice, for instead of anger you had tenderness and unceasing tears. Rejoice, O holy martyr, for you brought many pagans to the faith of Christ: Rejoice, for for Christ and your disciple you were beheaded you are. Rejoice, Alexie, wise and kind prayer to the doer. Rejoice, Gregory, reverent writer of the icons of saints. Rejoice, Savvo, creator of great miracles. Rejoice, Sergius, obedience to the most praiseworthy healer. Rejoice, Mercury, admirer of the lives of the bodiless. Rejoice, much-sick Pimen, strong in God trustee. Rejoice, all our reverend fathers of the Pecherstia, world-lamp, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 4
Having hated the stormy and broad life of the worldly path, love wholeheartedly the narrow and regrettable path of the monastic life and sow diligently, fathers of God-wisdom; Likewise, the Lord, seeing your good will, commanded His Angel to help you and strengthen you. For this reason, for Christ, who desires to be saved by all mankind, we sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing that the Lord has glorified your bodies with holy incorruption and has given you the grace to heal ailments and illnesses, those moved by faith flow to you from the East, West, North and South, praising you with such greetings:
Rejoice, Nestore, the first Russian writer of everyday life; Rejoice, the narrator of the lives of the holy fathers of the Pechersk and zealous imitator of them in everything. Rejoice, Eustratie, good martyr and faster, who suffered like Christ himself; Rejoice, you who bore all the wounds of the Lord Jesus on your body. Rejoice, Helladiye, praise to the hermits. Rejoice, Jeremiah, glory to the perspicacious. Rejoice, Moses, the shining light of chastity. Rejoice, John, victory over virginity. Rejoice, Marco, in whose honest hand he dug the coffins of the saints; Rejoice, you listened to his voice in death. Rejoice, Prince Nikolo, who devoted himself entirely to obedience to the brethren of Pecherstey. Rejoice, Gregory, who received his blessed death by drowning in the river, his most honorable body was miraculously found in his cell. Rejoice, all our reverend fathers of the Pecherstia, world-lamp, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 5
Seeing God-wise Dionysius, your body resting in holy splendor in the tombs, even as you went down to worship on the day of Easter, out of an abundance of love and reverence he cried out to you: “Holy fathers and brothers, now is a great day: Christ is risen!” And, lo and behold! He hears from you loudly: “Truly he is risen!” Marveling at this glorious miracle, we sing to the risen and abiding Christ God forever: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
You are the wise stars of the cave heaven, fathers of praise, illuminating the path of monastic life and shining brightly on the circle of the Russian Orthodox Church. The glory of your honorable deeds has flowed throughout the whole world, but the confession of your holy faith has covered the entire Universe: for this reason we dare to bring you this wretched song of ours:
Rejoice, Onesimus, for through the closeness of the cave gate you passed into the vast village of paradise; Rejoice, for through hunger and thirst you saw the endless satiation of the sight of God. Rejoice, Matthew, for for the purity of your soul and body you were granted the gift of prophecy; Rejoice, for through the meekness and gentleness of the high you have achieved virtues. Rejoice, Isaiah, a deep well of humility; Rejoice, inexhaustible source of miracles. Rejoice, Abraham, son of holy diligence. Rejoice, Saint Niphonte, champion of Orthodoxy. Rejoice, Sylvester, most honorable bead. Rejoice, Pimen, chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, Onuphrie, silent with your tongue, praising God with your mind. Rejoice, Anatoly, patient in soul, chaste in mind. Rejoice, all our reverend fathers of the Pecherstia, world-lamp, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 6
Our preacher is your honorable right hand, the God-pleasing Spyridon, with whom you teach your Orthodox children how to place fingers in the image of the Holy Cross on the forehead, and you stop the mouths of the schism teachers, clearly denouncing their wrong teaching about putting the finger; In this way, having made the sign of the cross, you went to Christ, standing before Him, praying that He might quench the immeasurably burning furnace of our passions, that He might grant us true zeal to praise Him unceasingly in psalms and spiritual songs in this life and in the future, that He might vouchsafe us to sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Your God-famous monastery has risen like a bright luminary, O reverend fathers and the whole Russian land, enlighten with the grace of God: you have raised up the sweat of your blood and the grace from above with your prayers and holy exploits, being jealous of the prophecy that said: “On these mountains the grace of God will shine and faith will increase." Moreover, to you, as we call him the culprit of the prophecy:
Rejoice, Aretho, for the Lord has surprised you with His mercy; Rejoice, for the Lord has imputed your stolen wealth to you in alms. Rejoice, Theophilus, the earth has become his bed, his hair shirt his clothing. Rejoice, Sisoye, for his vigils will become sleep, and his tears will become calm. Rejoice, Alypie, for whom the Angels were assistants in the labors of holy icon painting. Rejoice, Saint Simon, for whose holy hands you wrote the lives of the saints and dedicated them to our spiritual benefit. Rejoice, Nikon, Anthony’s first reverent disciple; Rejoice, Theodosius, a zealous collaborator in monastic affairs and a zealous participant in soul-saving struggles. Rejoice, Theophanes, for you have put the body to death by fasting. Rejoice, Onesiphorus, for you have revived the soul with vigil prayers. Rejoice, Macarius, for through the destruction of your body you were honored by the Lord for your holy life. Rejoice, Anastasia, reverent and admirable deacon. Rejoice, all our reverend Fathers of the Pecherstia, universal luminaries, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 7
Although the most good Lord enriched our country with His grace and gave an image to those who want to be saved, he moved you with the Holy Spirit to a great sorrowful and godly life, he surprised not only people on earth, but also Angels in heaven: you, oh God-bearing fathers, are in the caves enclosed, as if in coffins, diligently in the warmth of the heart and soul, serving the One God, singing the song of God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
New lives of monastic fathers and teachers and appeared, even as in Rus' they were called lower when, this you planted and rooted well. Moreover, countless multitudes of monastics who follow your soul-saving paths sing to you in gratitude:
Rejoice, Abraham, for you loved Christ the Lord with all your soul and heart; Rejoice, for for His sake and great labors you lifted the cave gate. Rejoice, you too, twelve beautiful brethren, for you have adorned the Church of God with the Mother of Heaven, like nature; Rejoice, for for your labors a denarius from Her Son Christ God, you have received the Kingdom of Heaven by nature. Rejoice, O Isaac, for through many sufferings you have overthrown the deception of the devil. Rejoice, Elijah , for you have been enriched by the grace of abstinence and dispassion. Rejoice, O infant martyr John, for you shed your holy blood innocently for Christ; Rejoice, Nikon, for you have pleased the great One with patience and kindness on the cross. Rejoice to St. Ephraim, like a honeycomb sweet, so you brought the Charter of the Studio to the Pechersk monastery. Rejoice, blessed Titus, for you trampled upon the wrathful demon with humility; Rejoice, for you drive away the darkness of evil demons far from us. Rejoice, for you shed light upon us from being angry with our neighbor. Rejoice, all our reverend Fathers of the Pechersti, world-lamp, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 8
A strange and glorious miracle of heavenly grace appeared before the eyes of all the faithful: the cave of thieves became the temple of God: where sin abounded, there grace multiplied, where the thorns of iniquity took root, where the cedars of Christ's paradise grew, where the stinking bliss of sin was, there the springs of immortality boiled up, where death reigns, there the Lord reigns. Marveling at the change in the right hand of the Most High, we call: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All yours, blessed fathers, diligence, desire and care, let the all-evil generation of the Christian enemy trample and erase the proud head, and magnify and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in your souls and bodies; For this reason, we welcome you too:
Rejoice, Holy Martyr Lucian, for a heavenly dwelling has been prepared for you; Rejoice, as for a sufferer, an endless heavenly rest has been granted to you. Rejoice, Lawrence, for you have escaped the vanity of the world; Rejoice, for you have entered into fellowship with the angelic world. Rejoice, Paphnutius, for, remembering the hour of death, you unceasingly wept; Rejoice, for at your death you were granted consolation from the Angels. Rejoice, Martyrie, for for your great purity and fasting deeds you have been granted the gift of healing illness. Rejoice, Hierarch Hilarion, for you have well shepherded the flock of the verbal sheep of Christ in the pastures of Orthodoxy. Rejoice, Prince Theodora, for you have worked hard for the honor and glory of the Orthodox Church thou. Rejoice, Dionysius, for thou hast heard “truly the Lord is risen” from the venerable fathers on the day of Easter. Rejoice, Athanasius, for having despised the red of this world, thou hast imputed it to the crony. Rejoice, Saint Theophilos, good shepherd, for thou hast laid down his life for those who flock with thee You were ready. Rejoice, all our reverend fathers of the Pecherstia, world-wide luminaries, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 9
To all of you, Reverend Fathers, you offer us heavenly medicines, and you call all of us to your free treatments, not by human cunning, nor by obligations, but by the action of the Holy Spirit, spiritual and physical healings, you unnaturally bestow, accepting abundantly, every generation and age to the Benefactor and Provider calls gratefully: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
With their writhing rhetorical tongues they will not be able to adequately sing your shrine, especially since I am poor in word and mind, with which songs I will praise you, O fathers, with angelic equality of honor, both prompted by zeal and love for you, I dare to crown you with these unworthy praises of mine:
Rejoice, Zinone, who through fasting and many other feats of monastic life shone brightly; Rejoice, through humility, meekness and obedience, having inherited the land of the meek. Rejoice, Gregory, who fed on the same potion, teaching health to the sick. Rejoice, Hypatia, as a holy father in sickness with all diligence served and for this grace of the Spirit received the healing of ailments. Rejoice, reverend fathers, their holy heads exude myrrh for the health of our souls and bodies; Rejoice, their holy souls stand before the throne of God in the ineffable glory. Rejoice, Moses, for through prayers, fasting and chains of passion you have put to death. Rejoice, Joseph, for Through the gates of humble and zealous obedience you entered into eternal rest. Rejoice, Paul, for you have never been sent through idle times, and you are also at home with those who labor and are burdened. Rejoice, Siso, for with your excessive feats of fasting you surprised not only men, but also Angels. Rejoice, Leontius and Gerontius, for from infancy they loved Christ by nature; Rejoice, for in adolescence in ascetic labors they became equal to nature. Rejoice, all our venerable fathers of the Pecherstia, universal luminaries, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 10
The most merciful Christ our God, the other fathers of Egypt, Thebaid and Palestine, mercifully seek to save many, all conversions and salvation, show Rus', so that he may enlighten many of you and show by your life the path to salvation, in which, having labored, you will succeed well, in ignorance teaching the truth of the existing Gospels without laziness, leading to orthodoxy and keeping God's commandments and a godly and pure life in word and deed, constantly stirring up a song to God the Helper:
Alleluia.
Ikos 10
You will be a solid wall and a strong fence for us, all-validated fathers, who come running to you with warm faith, zeal and love, protecting us against our sensory and mental enemies, so that we may not fear them, but may we overcome them with your prayers to Christ God, calling with thanksgiving to to you:
Rejoice, Nestore, who despised the lower ones and loved the ones above; Rejoice, for before the death of the Lord Jesus Christ himself you were deemed worthy to see the Angels. Rejoice, Theodora, for you have laid down the guardianship with your mouth. Rejoice, Pamvo confessor, cursed by the pagan gods, who confessed the name of the Lord to heaven and earth. Rejoice, Sophronius, constrained by a strong shutter and an iron body, but constantly soaring to heaven with soul and mind with psalmody. Rejoice, Pankratius, for you exude healing to those who are sick with the grace of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, Anthony, for you drive away the evil spirits from those who come to you in faith. Rejoice, Mardari, for the lover of poverty and lack of wealth. Rejoice, Ammon, for the ancient holy father in the labors of an all-zealous imitator. Rejoice, Piore, the passions of the body are scorched by the fire of abstinence. Rejoice, Martyrie, who enlightened the soul with a virtuous disposition. Rejoice in Rufa, who became an example of your life for your fasters and ascetics. Rejoice, all our reverend Fathers of the Pechersti, world-lamp, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 11
All singing of praise is overcome by the multitude of your glorious deeds and excessive labors, surpassing human life, but similar to the angels: and praises from angels, rather than from people, brought to you to be worthy, both seeing our zealous will, with faith and love, accept the singing brought by us and ask us for forgiveness of sins, and may we end this temporary life of ours in good correction and repentance, and may we be worthy through your prayers to sing to God in eternity: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
An unstoppable light has arisen for you who have hated the darkness of passions, God's servants of glory; but endless joy has been received by you, a good deed has ended with diligence. Therefore, standing before the throne of Christ, remember us who sing to you this:
Rejoice, Euphrosyne, most honorable dweller of the heavenly Jerusalem; Rejoice, dear to Jerusalem, our city of Kiev, bright mother. Rejoice, virgin of Juliana, beautiful lily, who grew in the earthly garden of Christ; Rejoice, who flourished in His heavenly garden. Rejoice, Hieromartyr Macarius, for you were a faithful shepherd to death; Rejoice, for before you accepted the throne on the sensual earth, you were sent to the thrones of the mind. Rejoice, Cassian, wondrous recluse. Rejoice, Arseny, for for God's temporary things, you are eternally given rest by Christ. Rejoice, Euthymie, for the fasting for the sake of your great and silent praise God, fill yourself with heavenly sweets and eat with the Angels. Rejoice, Benjamin, for having distributed your possessions, you rest in the bosom of Abraham. Rejoice, Titus, for leaving the army of the earthly king, so that the Heavenly King will be the bravest warrior. Rejoice, Achilo, for he was crucified from his youth thou art through life and passion, that thou mayest gain Christ crucified by will on the cross. Rejoice, all venerable Fathers of the Pechersti, universal luminaries, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 12
By the grace of the All-Merciful and All-Generous God, live like the angels, you fathers of the spirit, you have performed many miracles, you will create a most wonderful temple of the Most Pure Lady Virgin Theotokos, and you will decorate Christ God like a beautiful bride with gold, silver and precious stones, to whom people from all over the Universe come, praising Christ God for you, singing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your silent life, we praise your deeds - fasting, prayers, tears, genuflections, all-night vigils, mortification of the flesh, contrition of the spirit, longevity, humility, meekness, silence, patience, poverty, non-covetousness and all that we honor, even the love for the sake of Christ has grown up, so praising:
Rejoice, Paisios and Mercury, for you have lived on earth in inseparable life and unanimous brotherly love; Rejoice, for you enjoy one life and joy together with Christ in heaven. Rejoice, Macarius, for Samuel, at a young age, was destined to serve the Lord. Rejoice , Pimen, like the wheat of Christ's threshing floor, you were predestined into the heavenly granaries. Rejoice, Silouan, for you flew up to God on the wings of fasting and prayer. Rejoice, Agathon, for you were lifted up into the mountains on the shoulders of high virtues. Rejoice, Zechariah, for you were afraid of a demon You were an angel, your interlocutor appeared, and with them you soared to the throne of the Most Holy Trinity. Rejoice, Ignatius, bright prince of the cave city; Rejoice, reverend shepherd of God’s chosen flock. Rejoice, child martyr, for for Christ you drank the cup of death from the inhuman Herod ;Rejoice, thou who sanctified the land of the East with blood and blessed our country with thy coming. Rejoice, Longine, for thou didst walk the narrow path of the right, and thou hast reached the Paradise of God. Rejoice, all our reverend fathers of the Pecherstia, world-lamp, great and glorious wonderworkers.
Kontakion 13
O All-Blessedness and all exalted praises, our reverend Fathers of the Pecherstia, accept this small offering to you, just as the Lord accepted two mites of a widow: and do not disdain our prayer, as Christ did not disdain the kiss of a harlot, and make us worthy of your intercession to the Lord in good correction and end this life with repentance and with prayer in your mouth, in your heart and soul, depart from this temporary life to the eternal, and present yourself to the throne of the Most High, where you stand with the Archangels and Angels and with all the saints, singing the song: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
Prayers to all saints of Kiev-Pechersk
PRAYER FIRST
Our venerable and God-bearing fathers Anthony and Theodosius, and all the venerable Pecherstia, the bright earthly luminary, from the dark places of caves in the Russian land, gloriously shone, and with these many luminous angels equal to your life, the stars of your life enraged, and surprised the entire Universe of high virtues with the lordships and divine miracles of the brilliance, and now the mortal West has carnally entered the grave for a time, souls with Christ the Sun of Truth, being a righteous woman, you are enlightened, like the sun in the Kingdom of Heaven: where your prayer to God the Light extends rays for your Fatherland, do not forget us, your everlasting prayer books, in the night abiding passions and sorrows, looking upon the illumination with grace from above; for in the light of your virtuous life we walk in the right way, let us be worthy to see the light of the inviolable glory of God, praising Him together with you for endless ages. Amen.
PRAYER TWO
O saints of Christ, our venerable fathers Anthony and Theodosius and all the saints of the Kiev-Pecherstia, bright lamps, the first to shine with the holiness of monastic life on the Russian land, patrons of the city of Kyiv and our entire fatherland! We earnestly flock to you, warm prayer books and unashamed intercessors, asking for consolation and help in our needs and sorrows. Help us, servants of God ( names
), our intercessors! Confirm us in the holy faith, save the Church of God from destructive heresies and schisms, teach us to always keep the commandments of God and all the traditions of the Church, commanded to us from the Father, awaken to us compassionate fathers and warm prayer books, so that we glorify the name of the Life-Giving Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
TROPARION
(Troparion of the Venerable Martyr Eustratius of Pechersk, tone 7)
You were a faster and a martyr, praiseworthy, Saint Eustratius, for having first mortified your flesh by abstinence, you followed Christ, bearing your cross. Afterwards, you yourself were lifted up to the cross and pierced with a spear in the ribs, and you betrayed your soul into the hand of God. We carry you up to Heaven in a chariot of fire; you were especially crowned by Christ our God and Savior of our souls.
Kontakion, tone 8
(Reverend Martyr Eustratius of Pechersk)
As a zealous zealot of the passions of the Master and fasters, zealous and consistent, you have taught captives with your teaching, you have brought us to Christ, Eustratie, and show us, captives of passions, with your prayers for freedom and imitators of your honest life, calling: Rejoice, having drunk sweetly the cup of Christ’s suffering.
Greatness
We bless you, Venerable Martyr Eustratius, and honor your holy memory, teacher of monks and interlocutor of angels.
Photo of the icon: https://rys-arhipelag.ucoz.ru/publ/22-1-0-926
