Chariton was a distinguished and devout citizen of the city of Iconium. Imbued with the spirit of his compatriot, St. Thecla, Chariton openly confessed the name of Christ. When a bitter persecution of Christians began during the reign of Emperor Aurelian, Chariton was immediately brought to trial before the eparch. The judge ordered him to worship the gods, but Chariton replied: “All your gods are demons, and were cast from the heavens into the nethermost hell.” Chariton clearly proclaimed his faith in the One Living God, the Creator of all, and the Lord Jesus, the Savior of mankind. The eparch ordered that he be tortured and beaten, until his whole body was like one great wound. When Aurelian’s evil deeds caught up with him and he died an evil death, Chariton was freed from torture and prison. He then set out for Jerusalem. On the way he was seized by robbers, but escaped from them by God’s providence. Chariton, not wanting to return to Iconium again, withdrew to the wilderness of Pharan, where he founded a monastery and gathered monks. He established a rule for the monastery and then, to avoid the praise of men, withdrew to another wilderness near Jericho. There he founded another monastery called the Monastery of Chariton. Finally, he founded a third monastery, Souka, which the Greeks called the Old Lavra. Chariton died at a great old age, and took up his abode in the glory of his Lord on September 28, 350. His relics repose in his first monastery. The composition of the rite of monastic tonsure is attributed to St. Chariton. (Prologue of Ohrid)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 7
10. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord,
Who destroyed the power of death
and enlightened the human race;
and let us cry out with the angels:
Glory to You, our Creator and Saviour!
9. O Saviour, for our sake You suffered crucifixion and burial;
and, as God, You destroyed death by Your death.
Therefore, we adore Your resurrection on the third day
and we sing: Glory to You, O Lord!
8. On seeing the resurrection of the Creator,
the Apostles were amazed,
and they sang an angelic hymn of praise:
This is the glory of the Church,
this is the richness of the Kingdom!
O Lord, Who suffered for our sake, glory to You!
7. O Christ, although You were taken captive by Your enemies,
I still acknowledge You as my God,
and am not ashamed of You;
I will not hide the fact that You were nailed to the Cross.
Your death is my life, almighty Lord,
and I extol Your resurrection.
O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
In Tone 4
6. By abstinence and fervent prayer, venerable Chariton,
you caused your body’s passions to wither.
With streams of tears you drowned the deceitful serpent, blessed one.
In great measure you were well-pleasing to God!
Therefore Jesus, the Lover of mankind and the Saviour of our souls,
has adorned you with heavenly gifts!
5. By abstinence and fervent prayer, venerable Chariton,
you caused your body’s passions to wither.
With streams of tears you drowned the deceitful serpent, blessed one.
In great measure you were well-pleasing to God!
Therefore Jesus, the Lover of mankind and the Saviour of our souls,
has adorned you with heavenly gifts!
4. With the sweat of your struggle, truly wondrous one,
you quenched the burning fire of the passions!
You partook of fire through your wounds and sufferings,
confessing the condescension of the incarnate Word before evil tyrants!
You were a witness for Him,
adorned with wounds from your manifold torments,
most wealthy, God-bearing Chariton!
3. With the sweat of your struggle, truly wondrous one,
you quenched the burning fire of the passions!
You partook of fire through your wounds and sufferings,
confessing the condescension of the incarnate Word before evil tyrants!
You were a witness for Him,
adorned with wounds from your manifold torments,
most wealthy, God-bearing Chariton!
2. You fled, most sacred and blessed Chariton,
withdrawing into the mountains and deserts.
Preserving your soul undefiled, you were revealed to be a dwelling of the Trinity,
in whose power you founded holy dwellings, blessed one:
monasteries for the building up and salvation
of monastics who honour your holy memory.
1. You fled, most sacred and blessed Chariton,
withdrawing into the mountains and deserts.
Preserving your soul undefiled, you were revealed to be a dwelling of the Trinity,
in whose power you founded holy dwellings, blessed one:
monasteries for the building up and salvation
of monastics who honour your holy memory.
In Tone 4, Glory…
God-bearing Chariton,
even after death, in Christ you live in the heavens!
For His sake you crucified yourself to the world,
for you were above the world and the flesh,
truly living, transcending all visible things!
Yet you did not live for yourself alone,
but Christ our God dwelt within you!
Entreat Him that our souls may be saved!
In Tone 7, Now…
Immaculate Mother of God,
you became a mother outside the laws of nature,
remaining a virgin in a way that exceeds all description
and human understanding.
The wonder of your birth-giving could not be told in human language,
for your conception of Christ blinded intelligence,
and your birth-giving exceeded understanding:
for whenever God so desires, the laws of nature are broken.
Wherefore, we all firmly believe that you are the Mother of God,
and we eagerly beseech you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.
Readings
Wisdom 3:1-9
Wisdom 5:15-6:3
Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
In Tone 7
O Saviour of the world, You arose from the grave,
and together with Your own flesh You raised up mankind.
O Lord, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Come, let us worship Christ Who arose from the dead
and enlightened all creation.
For by His resurrection on the third day,
He set us free from the oppression of Hades,
granting us life and His great mercy.
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Christ, Lover of mankind,
You descended into Hades and destroyed death.
Then You arose on the third day;
and, together with Yourself You lifted up all of us
who glorify Your mighty resurrection.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Lord, what a fearful sight it was to see You lying in the tomb as if asleep.
Yet on the third day You arose in great power,
and at the same time You raised up Adam who joyfully cried out:
Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!
In Tone 8, Glory…
We honour you, Chariton our father, the instructor of a multitude of monks!
We have indeed learned to walk rightly in your footsteps!
You are blest, for having laboured for Christ,
you denounced the power of the enemy!
Conversor with the angels, companion of the venerable and righteous ones!
Together with them, entreat the Lord that He may grant mercy to our souls!
Now…
Unwedded Virgin, who ineffably conceived God in the flesh!
Mother of God most high!
Accept the cries of your servants, blameless One!
Grant cleansing of transgressions to all!
Receive our prayers and pray to save our souls!
Troparia
In Tone 7
By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and charged the apostles to proclaim* that You are risen, O Christ our God,* offering great mercy to the world.
In Tone 8, Glory…
With the streams of your tears you cultivated the barren desert,* with deep sighs your toils bore fruit a hundredfold.* You became a beacon, shining throughout the world by your wonders,* our venerable Father, Chariton.** Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Now…
O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother, who bore You, makes in our behalf.** O Saviour, save Your despairing people!
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 7: By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and charged the apostles to proclaim* that You are risen, O Christ our God,* offering great mercy to the world.
Troparion, Tone 8: With the streams of your tears you cultivated the barren desert,* with deep sighs your toils bore fruit a hunderedfold.* You became a beacon, shining throughout the world by your wonders,* our venerable Father, Chariton.* Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 7: No longer shall the dominion of death be able to hold humanity,* for Christ went down shattering and destroying it s powers.* Hades is bound.* The prophets exult with one voice.* The Saviour has come for those with faith, saying:* “Come forth, O faithful, to the resurrection!”
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Taking delight in self-mastery, O divinely wise one,* you bridled your fleshly desires and were shown to grow through faith.* You flowered like the tree of life in the midst of paradise,* O all-blessed and holy Chariton.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The Lord will give strength to His people;* the Lord will bless His people with peace.
verse: Bring to the Lord, O you sons of God; bring to the Lord young rams. (Psalm 28:11,1)
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall be joyful in their beds. (Psalm 149:5)
Epistle
2 Corinthians 6:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:6-15
Alleluia, Tone 7
verse: It is good to give praise to the Lord; and to sing to Your name, O Most High.
verse: To announce Your mercy in the morning, and Your truth every night. (Psalm 91:2,3)
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.
verse: His seed shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)
Gospel
Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 6:17-23
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)