Resurrectional Tones of the Octoechos

Octoechos (oktōēchos) is the name of the eight mode system used for the composition of religious chant in Byzantine, Syriac, Armenian, Georgian, Latin and Slavic churches since the Middle Ages. In a modified form the octoechos is still regarded as the foundation of the tradition of monodic Orthodox chant today.

The Octoechos as a liturgical concept which established an organization of the calendar into eight-week cycles, was the invention of monastic hymnographers at Mar Saba in Palestine and in Constantinople. It was formally accepted in the Quinisext Council of 692, which also aimed to replace the exegetic poetry of the kontakion and other homiletic poetry, as it was sung during the morning service (Orthros) of the cathedrals.

Good Shepherd

Ecclesia

Oct. 30, 2020

TONE1:

Tropar:

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Your Most Pure Body, You arose on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world. Therefore, the Powers of Heaven cried out to You, O Giver-of-life: Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ. Glory to Your Kingdom. Glory to Your Providence, O only Lover-of-Mankind.

Kondak:

As God, You arose from the tomb in glory, raising the world together with Yourself. Human nature praises You as God, for death has vanished. Adam exults, O Master; Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage and cries out: You, O Christ, are the One Who gives resurrection to all.

Theotokion:

When Gabriel cried out to You O Virgin: Rejoice!The Master of All became incarnate in You, the Holy Tabernacle. Thus, the words of the Righteous David were fulfilled; in bearing Your Creator, You have revealed Yourself as more spacious than the heavens. Therefore, we cry out to You: Glory to the One Who dwelt in You. Glory to the One Who came forth from You. Glory to the One Who set us free through Your birthgiving.

Prokeimen: (Psalm 32:22, 1)

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have put our hope in You.

Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous. Praise befits the upright.

Alleluia Verses: (Psalm 17:47, 50)

God avenges me, and has subdued peoples under me.

Verse: He magnifies the salvation of the king and deals mercifully for His anointed, for David and for his seed forever.

TONE 2:

Tropar:

When You descended to death, O Life Immortal, You destroyed hades with the lightning of Your Divinity. And when from the depths You raised the dead, all the Powers of Heaven cried out: O Giver-of-life, Christ our God, glory to You.

Kondak:

You arose from the tomb Almighty Saviour, and hades was terrified on beholding the wonder, and the dead arose and creation seeing this, rejoices with You, and Adam is joyful, and the world, O my Saviour, praises You forever.

Theotokion:

Your mysteries surpass all human understanding, O most glorious Theotokos: For stamped with the seal of purity and Your virginity intact, You are unquestionably known to be the Mother who truly gave birth to God. Therefore, pray for the salvation of our souls.

Prokeimen: (Psalm 117:14, 18)

The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Verse: With chastisement the Lord has chastened me, but He has not given me over to death.

Alleluia Verses: (Psalm 19:2, 10)

May the Lord hear you in the day of affliction, may the Name of the God of Jacob defend you.

Verse: Lord, save the king and hearken unto us on the day we call upon You.

TONE 3:

Tropar:

Let the heavens rejoice. Let the earth be glad. For the Lord has shown strength with His arm. He has trampled down death by death. He has become the First-Born of the Dead. He has delivered us from the depths of hades and has granted to the world great mercy.

Kondak:

Today You arose from the tomb, O Merciful One, leading us from the gates of death. On this day Adam exults as Eve rejoices. Together with the prophets and patriarchs they unceasingly praise the divine might of Your Power.

Theotokion:

We sing Your praises, O Virgin Theotokos, who intercedes for the salvation of our race. For Your Son, our God, by taking flesh from You and accepting suffering on the Cross, has delivered us from corruption, for He is the Lover-of-Mankind.

Prokeimen: (Psalm 46:6, 1)

Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises.

Verse: Clap your hands, all you peoples. Shout to God with a joyful voice.

Alleluia Verses: (Psalm 30:1, 3)

I have hoped in You O Lord; let me never be put to shame.

Verse: Be a God of protection for me, a house of refuge, to save me.

TONE 4:

Tropar:

When the women disciples of the Lord learned from the angel the joyous message of Your Resurrection, they cast away the ancestral curse and with gladness told the apostles: Death is overthrown. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.

Kondak:

My Saviour and Redeemer arose from the tomb as God and delivered the earthborn from bondage. He has shattered the gates of hades, and as Master He has risen on the third day.

Theotokion:

The mystery hidden from all ages and unknown to the angels was made manifest to those on earth through You, O Theotokos. God took flesh in union without confusion and for our sake willingly accepted the Cross. Thereby He raised the first-created, saving our souls from death.

Prokeimen: (Psalm 103:24,1)

How magnified are Your works, O Lord. In wisdom You made them all.

Verse: Bless the Lord, О my soul. O Lord my God, You have been greatly magnified.

Alleluia Verses: (Psalm 44:4, 8)

Bend your bow and proceed prosperously, and be king because of truth, meekness, and righteousness.

Verse: You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity.

TONE 5:

Tropar:

Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation of the Virgin. For in His Good will He was lifted up on the Cross in the flesh to suffer death and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

Kondak:

You descended into hades, О my Saviour, destroying its gates as the Almighty, resurrecting the dead as Creator and destroying the sting of death. You have delivered Adam from the curse, О Lover-of-Mankind, and we all cry out to You: Save us O Lord.

Theotokion:

Rejoice, O impassible gateway of the Lord. Rejoice, wall and protection for those who flee unto You. Rejoice, O haven untroubled by storms, and unwedded one who have given birth in the flesh to Your Creator and God. Do not cease in Your prayers on behalf of those who venerate and chant the praises of Your birth-giving.

Prokeimen: (Psalm 11:8, 1)

You, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation and forever.

Verse: O Lord save me, for there is no longer any righteous man.

Alleluia Verses: (Psalm 88:2, 3)

Of Your mercies O Lord, I will sing forever; unto generation and generation I will proclaim Your truth with my mouth.

Verse: You have said: Mercy will be established forever and My Truth will be prepared in the heavens.

TONE 6:

Tropar:

The angelic powers were at Your tomb. The guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Your grave seeking Your Most Pure Body. You captured hades, not being tempted by it. You came to the Virgin, granting life. O Lord Who arose from the dead: Glory to You.

Kondak:

When Christ God, the Giver-of-life, raised all of the dead from the valleys of darkness with His life-giving hand, He bestowed resurrection on the human race. He is the Saviour, the resurrection, the life and the God of all.

Theotokion:

Having called Your Mother Blessed, You came of Your own free will to the Passion. Wishing to find fallen Adam You shone forth from the Cross crying out to the angels: Rejoice with Me, for I have found the lost drachma. O God Who in wisdom has ordered all things, glory to You.

Prokeimen: (Psalm 27:9, 1)

O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance.

Verse: O Lord, to You will I call. O my God, be not silent unto me.

Alleluia Verses: (Psalm 90:2, 3)

He that dwells in the help of the Most High will abide in the shelter of the God of heaven.

Verse: He will say to the Lord: my helper are You, and my refuge. He is my God and I will hope in Him.

TONE 7:

Tropar:

You destroyed death by Your Cross. You opened paradise to the thief. You changed the Myrrh-Bearers weeping and commanded Your apostles to proclaim that You are risen, O Christ God, granting the world great mercy.

Kondak:

The dominion of death can no longer hold men captive, for Christ descended shattering and destroying its power. Hades is bound while the prophets rejoice in harmony.
The Saviour has come to those who believe, saying: come forth you faithful, unto the resurrection.

Theotokion:

As the treasure of our resurrection, raise up from the pit and abyss of their sins those who have put their hope in You, O Blessed One. Having given birth to our Salvation, You have saved us from the punishment of our sins. You were a Virgin before giving birth, You were a Virgin while giving birth, and after childbirth ever remain a Virgin.

Prokeimen: (Psalm 28:11, 1)

The Lord shall give strength to His people, the Lord shall bless His people with peace.

Verse: Bring to the Lord, you sons of God, bring young rams to the Lord.

Alleluia Verses: (Psalm 91:2, 3)

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High.

Verse: To declare Your mercy in the morning and Your truth by night.

TONE 8:

Tropar:

You descended from on high, O Merciful One. You accepted the three-day burial to free us from our passions. Our life and resurrection; O Lord, Glory to You.

Kondak:

Having risen from the tomb, You raised the dead and resurrected Adam. Eve rejoices in Your resurrection and the ends of the earth celebrate Your rising from the dead, O Greatly Merciful One.

Theotokion:

You who were born of a Virgin for our sake and suffered crucifixion, O Good One, destroyed death by death, and revealed the resurrection as God. Despise not the work of Your Hands O Merciful One, and manifest Your love for mankind. Hear the Theotokos, Your mother who prays for us, and save, O our Saviour, a despairing people.

Prokeimen: (Psalm 75:11, 1)

Pray and give glory to the Lord our God.

Verse: In Judah God is known; His Name is great in Israel.

Alleluia Verses: (Psalm 94:1, 2)

Come let us rejoice in the Lord. Let us shout with joy to God our Saviour.

Verse: Let us come before His face with thanksgiving, and with psalms let us shout with joy to Him.

MONDAY

(Bodiless Powers of Heaven, the Holy Angels)

Tropar, Tone 4:

Supreme Commanders of the Heavenly Hosts, we, the unworthy, ever entreat that through your prayers you surround us with the protection of the wings of your immaterial glory. Preserve us, who earnestly fall down before you and cry aloud: Deliver us from misfortunes, for you are the Leaders of the Powers on High.

Kondak, Tone 2:

Chief Commanders of God, Ministers of Divine Glory, Captains of the Angels and Guides of mankind: beseech that which is beneficial for us and great mercy, as supreme Commanders of the bodiless Hosts.

Prokeimen, Tone 4: (Psalm 103:4, 1)

You make Your angels spirits, and Your ministers a flame of fire.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You have been greatly magnified.

Alleluia Verses, Tone 5: (Psalm 148:2, 5)

Praise Him, all you His angels: Praise Him, all you His Hosts.
Verse: He spoke and they came to be; He commanded and they were created.

Communion Verse: (Psalm 103:4)

You make Your angels spirits, and Your ministers a flame of fire. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

TUESDAY

(Forerunner and Baptist, John)

Tropar, Tone 2:

The memory of the righteous is praised, but you, O Forerunner, are well pleased with the testimony of the Lord. For you have truly been revealed as more honourable than the prophets since you were deemed worthy to baptize in the river the One of Whom they foretold. Therefore, having fought and suffered for the truth, you have also joyfully preached to those in hades the good tidings of God revealed in the flesh, Who takes away the sins of the world and grants us great mercy.

Kondak, Tone 3:

Prophet and Forerunner of Grace, having obtained
your head from the earth as a most sacred rose, we ever receive healing: for again, as of old, you preach repentance to the world.

Prokeimen, Tone 7: (Psalm 63:11, 2)

The righteous man shall rejoice in the Lord and hope in Him.
Verse: Hearken, O God, unto my prayer when I make supplication unto You.

Alleluia Verses, Tone 4: (Psalm 91:12, 13)

The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree. Like а cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied.
Verse: They that are planted in the House of the Lord, in the courts of our God they shall flourish.

Communion Verse: (Psalm 111:6)

The righteous man shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not fear evil tidings. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

WEDNESDAY

(Holy, Precious and Life-giving Cross)

Tropar, Tone 1:

O Lord, save Your People and bless Your inheritance! Grant victory to Orthodox Christians over their adversaries, and by Your Cross preserve Your commonwealth.

Kondak, Tone 4:

O Christ God, Who was voluntarily raised up on the Cross, be compassionate to the new Commonwealth which bears Your Name. Gladden all Orthodox Christians by Your power, granting them victory over enemies; bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Your weapon of peace.

Prokeimen, Tone 3: (Luke 1:46-48)

My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Verse: For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

Alleluia, Tone 8: (Psalm 44:10, 12)

Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear.
Verse: The rich among the people shall entreat your countenance.

Communion Verse: (Psalm 115:4)

I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

THURSDAY

(Holy Apostles and St. Nicholas of Myra)

Tropar to the Apostles, Tone 3:

Holy Apostles, entreat the Merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of sins.

Tropar to St. Nicholas, Tone 4:

The truth of things revealed you to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of meekness and a teacher of abstinence. Therefore, you have achieved the heights by humility, riches through poverty. O Father Nicholas, pray to Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kondak to the Apostles, Tone 2:

You have taken to Yourself, O Lord, the firm and God-proclaiming preachers, the chief apostles, for the enjoyment of your good things and for repose. For you have accepted their labours and death as greater than any sacrifice, You, Who alone see the secrets of our hearts.

Kondak to St. Nicholas, Tone 3:

In Myra, Holy Father, you have shown yourself to be a sacred minister; having fulfilled the Gospel of Christ, O Venerable One, you laid down your life for your people and saved
the innocent from death. Wherefore you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God.

Prokeimen, Tone 8: (Psalm 18:5, 2)

Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.

Alleluia Verses, Tone 1: (Psalm 88:5, 7)

The heavens, O Lord, shall declare Your wonders and Your Truth in the assembly of the saints.
Verse: God is glorified in the council of the saints.

Communion Verse: (Psalm 18:5)

Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

FRIDAY

(Holy, Precious and Life-giving Cross)

Tropar, Tone 1:

O Lord, save Your People and bless Your Inheritance! Grant victory to Orthodox Christians over their adversaries, and by Your Cross preserve Your common-wealth.

Kondak, Tone 4:

O Christ God, Who was voluntarily raised up on the Cross, be compassionate to the new Commonwealth which bears Your Name. Gladden all Orthodox Christians by Your power, granting them victory over enemies; bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Your weapon of peace.

Prokeimen, Tone 7: (Psalm 98:5, 1)

Exalt the Lord our God and worship the footstool of His feet; for it is Holy.
Verse: The Lord reigns, let the peoples rage.

Alleluia Verses, Tone 1: (Psalm 73:2, 12)

Remember Your congregation which You have purchased from the beginning.
Verse: God is our King from before the ages, He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

Communion Verse: (Psalm 73:13)

You have wrought salvation in the midst of the earth, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

SATURDAY

(All Saints and the Departed)

Tropar, Tone 2:

O apostles, martyrs and prophets, hierarchs, monastics and righteous ones, you who have valiantly endured struggles, and preserved the faith, intercessors for us before the Saviour; pray to Him, as the Good One, entreating salvation for our souls.

Tropar for the departed, Tone 2:

Remember Your servants, O Lord, as you are Good, and forgive those who have sinned in this life. For no one is sinless, only You, Who alone can give rest to the departed.

Kondak, Tone 8:

With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Your servants, where there is neither pain, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.

Kondak to the Martyrs, Tone 8:

To you, O Lord, Creator of all things, the universe presents the martyrs as the first fruits of nature. By their intercessions preserve Your Church and Your Commonwealth in profound peace, through the Theotokos, O Greatly-merciful One.

Prokeimen, Tone 8: (Psalm 31:18, 20)

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous.
Verse: Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered.

Prokeimen for the departed, Tone 6: (Psalm 24:13)

Their souls shall dwell among good things.

Alleluia Verses, Tone 4: (Psalm 33:18, 20; 64:5)

The righteous cried and the Lord heard them and delivered them out of all their afflictions.
Verse: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver them out of them all.
Verse: Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord; their memory shall be from generation to generation.

Communion Verses: (Psalm 32:1; 64:5)

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, praise befits the upright. Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord; their memory shall be from generation to generation. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.