January 15
Our venerable fathers Paul of Thebes and John the Hut-dweller (Calibytes). Paul was a disciple of St. Anthony the Great and one of the earliest of the “desert fathers,” living as a hermit in the Thebaid in Egypt. (c.345). John of Constantinople, who, as it is said, briefly lived in a retreat in the home of his father. He left home for six years and came back and lived in a "kalyba" (i.e., a hut) as a beggar in rags, subsisting on the charity of his unwitting parents; wholly surrendered to contemplation. His parents recognized him, after his death, from a gold codex of the Gospels that they had given him. (5th century)
At Vespers
At "O Lord, I have cried", there are six stichera for the venerable fathers.
Tone 1, special melody Nebesnych činov. O blessed Paul, you showed yourself to the world * to be the beginning of the life of the heaven-scaling path of virtue; * for you made a good spiritual ascent in your soul, * by which you achieved the height of the virtues * through abstinence and many pains.
Furnishing your mind with wings to fly to divine desire, O blessed Paul, * you ascended to the upper desert and drew near unto the darkness, * where you were radiantly illumined by the understanding of God * and were anointed on the tablets of your heart with the splendor of the virtues.
The desert blossomed with the beautiful flowers of your virtues; * for you destroyed the thorns of the passions * and planted the right glorious pangs of your divine works. * Therefore, like a lily planted by God, * you now perfume us with the sweet fragrance of y your life.
Tone 2, special melody Jehda ot dreva. O blessed father John, * when by divine inspiration you joyfully fled from the pleasures of this world, * you renounced the broad way and chose the narrow, straight and rugged road. * You went into a spiritual refuge * where you put on * the divine habit, denying yourself * and stripping yourself of all passions.
You conceived * the amazing plan of your life, your wondrous behavior, * in your love for Christ, whose ineffable poverty you cherished. * Without a home, living before the threshold of your parents, * you endured need and tribulations. * But you were filled withj divine graces * and you inherited heaven * and the treasure which no one can ever take away.
Having the Holy Gospel * before you, O father John, * you fulfillled it when you renounced your family inheritance * and spent your whole life in hardship and repentence. * Thus you now rejoice, * O venerable father, since God has glorified you * with divine consolation and endless happiness.
Glory – Tone 2. Renouncing the world and all it contains, * O venerable father, * you took up the Gospel of Christ and lived it completely. * In the hut where you dwelt as though in a mystiic paradise, * treating your body with the utmost severity, * you put to death the murderous dragon. * Now you dwell in heaven, O holy John; * ask great mercy for us.
Now and ever – Theotokion, or Stavrotheotokion
The aposticha are from the Octoechos. Then, for the venerable fathers:
Glory – Tone 6. O venerable father, * the whole world is filled with the fame of your holy deeds; * through them, you have received the recompense of your labors in heaven. * You destroyed hordes of demons * and have been united to the choirs of angels, * whose pure lives you imitated. * By your boldness with Christ our God, ask peace for our souls!
Now and ever – Theotokion, or Stavrotheotokion
Troparion, Tone 4. God of our fathers, you always deal with us in your kindness. * Take not your mercy away from us; * but through their prayers guide our life in peace.
At the Divine Liturgy
music - see the January Menaion
Troparion, Tone 4. God of our fathers, you always deal with us in your kindness. * Take not your mercy away from us; * but through their prayers guide our life in peace.
Glory – Kontakion, Tone 3. Now that we have assembled let us sing the praises of that unwaning light from the divine Sun. * O father Paul, you shine on those who are in the darkness of ignorance. * O beauty of Thebes, you lead us all to heaven. * You are the immoveable foundation of monks * and of all those who keep the fast.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7 (Ps. 149:5,1).
Let the faithful rejoice in glory, * shout for joy, and take their rest.
V. Sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Epistle: Galatians 5:22 – 6:2
Alleluia, Tone 6 (Ps. 111:1,2). Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. Happy the man who fears the Lord and greatly delights in his command.
V. His posterity will be mighty upon the earth.
Gospel: Matthew 11:27-30
Communion Hymn (Ps. 111:6,7). The just man will be remembered forever; evil news he will not fear. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!