January 13, 2015

The Sacred Services and Hymns for Saint Paisios the Athonite


The Sacred Services of the Venerable Paisios the Athonite were written by His Eminence Metropolitan Joel of Edessa, Pella and Almopia and is to be chanted on July 12th, the feast of Saint Paisios and the day of his repose.

On the day when Venerable Paisios was listed among the saints of the Church, Metropolitan Joel said the following:

"The venerable Paisios, with his superhuman struggles and unfailing love for God and people, proved that God did not cease to manifest saints within human history. That's why he left his mark in our time, having inspired and continue to inspire all those who come near him. He worked and continues to work like a lighthouse, showing the way to the confused people of our time and as a consolation to those in pain. May his holy intercessions cover all of us and the whole world."

It should be noted that the official Services to Saint Paisios may change until further notice by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but for now this is what we have. For this reason I will avoid translating anything other than what is below until we receive confirmation.

All the Services in Greek can be accessed in pdf formate here.

Below are some of the primary hymns in English which I translated:

(The Apolytikion below was revised by Metropolitan Joel in February 2015, together with other sections from the Service. Read the revision here.)

Apolytikion in the First Tone
The offspring of Farasa, and the adornment of Athos, and the imitator and equal in honor of the venerable ones from ages past; let us honor Paisios O faithful, the vessel full of graces, who hastens speedily to the pious faithful who cry out: Glory to Him Who gave you strength, Glory to Him Who crowned you, Glory to Him Who grants through you healings for all.

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
The most-famed ascetic of the Holy Mountain, and the newly-illumined luminary of the Church, let us praise him with hymns with all our heart, for he leads the faithful towards a life of excellence, filling them with rivers of gifts, therefore we cry out: Rejoice, Father Paisios.

Synaxarion
On the twelfth day of this month, the memory of our venerable Father Paisios the New the Athonite, who was perfected in peace in the year 1994.

Verses
Paisios, the tree of Mount Athos,
You were shown to be full of fruit, most-venerable one.
On the twelfth, Paisios reposed.

Megalynarion
Rejoice the communicant with the Venerable, the pride of Athos, the adornment of monastics; Rejoice the new teacher of the Church, godly-minded Paisios, our boast.

See also: Elder Paisios is Officially Canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate