Rejoice, Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul!

AKATHIST TO SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

KONDAK I

Of Himself our Lord said, I am the Good Shepherd and to you, the Chief Apostle Peter, He said, If you love Me, feed My Sheep, and Peter said, Yes, Lord, You know that I love you. I am Jesus, He said, in speaking to you, O Paul, Chief Apostle, and of you, our Lord said, This is my chosen instrument to carry my Name before the Gentiles. Jesus said to both your fellow disciples and to His Apostles, As my Father sent me, so I have sent you. Go and make disciples of all nations. You have a like Grace from the Good Pastor, your Master, as after our Lord, the Great and Chief Pastor of all. From all our troubles for shepherding unto salvation save us that we may call to you:

• Rejoice Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul, together with all the Holy Apostles.

IKOS I

Blessed are you Simon, Son of Jonah, Christ, the son of the Living God, said to you, O Apostle Peter who are worthy of glory. How may we be worthy of blessedness, O Blessed One of God? Truly because of our loving duty we come to you in faith and now we sing to you:

• Rejoice first after Christ among the Apostles, foundation of the Holy Church.
• Rejoice powerful pillar of the Orthodox Faith and Its confirmation.
• Rejoice zealous lover of Christ’s teaching.
• Rejoice first seated of the Apostolic College.
• Rejoice good gatekeeper of the Kingdom of Heaven.
• Rejoice renown physician of those who repent of their sins.
• Rejoice rejecter of worldly vanity and lover of the spiritual life.
• Rejoice abandoner of material nets and fisher of the universe with imperishable nets.
• Rejoice enlighteners Peter and Paul who enlighten like two great luminaries.
• Rejoice twins yoked together by God, His chariots bearing the light of knowledge.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles, seers of God, for you are lights of the world.
• Rejoice for through you, through Christ, everywhere the Faith that saves us shines forth.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 2

You believed having accepted the miraculous call from above, O teacher of Nations, when Jesus said to you, Saul why do you persecute Me who cannot be comprehended by doubt? But from now on you will believe, for the daring of the adversary is overcome. You have been chosen as witness of my destinies before kings and nations, and the sons of Israel; and so you understood O Apostle Paul chosen by God for you cried out: Alleluia.

IKOS 2

Saul hears the voice from heaven and after that he could not see for he had persecuted the Incomprehensible One, and for zeal of the law he exchanged his sight. He was lead and received in the front by faith divine baptism, and in immersion he gained sight in both his physical and spiritual eyes. Therefore because of your wondrous calling, we cry out to you:

• Rejoice O Apostle called by God you were sent to preach to all nations.
• Rejoice flowing with sweet faith in Christ for all men.
• Rejoice eyewitness illumined by the Divine Light from above.
• Rejoice enlightened above others by Grace after the shadow of the Law.
• Rejoice converser with the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on earth.
• Rejoice strengthened by Him you denounced with daring faithlessness.
• Rejoice enlightener of the whole world by your divinely inspired writings.
• Rejoice laborer above others after Christ for the salvation of mankind.
• Rejoice together with Peter and Paul like the two cherubim, covering the Arc of the Holy Church.
• Rejoice standing before the Throne of the Most Holy like two seraphim.
• Rejoice stars who crown the Church, the Bride of Christ.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles for you are the proclaimers of the Glory of God in Heaven.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 3

You were filled with wondrous fear Holy Apostle Peter when you saw the sheet being lowered from above and in it was a parable of God’s Love of mankind. All the animals even the unclean symbolized that it is not right to turn away those of all nations who desire to believe in Christ Jesus. Peter having understood this mystery cried out: Alleluia.

IKOS 3

The nature of the evil and impious generation has never entered my mouth, you said, O most blessed Apostle Peter. But the Divine Wisdom answered you with a voice from heaven: what God has cleansed, you must not call common: by this was signified that the Savior did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And this which was revealed to you we have understood so we sing:

• Rejoice Apostle who mercifully reveals the Kingdom of Heaven.
• Rejoice regarder not of the face but of the deeds of all nations.
• Rejoice covering with your love our many sins.
• Rejoice fulfilling with Your Mercy our meager repentance.
• Rejoice quick helper of those who call on you in time of spiritual trouble.
• Rejoice uplifter of the dead in spirit and body by your prayers.
• Rejoice strengthener by the Holy Spirit of the faithful who hear your word.
• Rejoice your words striking like darts the faithless.
• Rejoice together with Peter and Paul like two eyes of the Church that see divine things.
• Rejoice vigilant protectors of the New Israel.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles who stand like guards on the walls of Jerusalem.
• Rejoice our instructors who are concerned for all Christian souls.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 4

You began your preaching to the Jews dwelling in Damascus, O divinely inspired Apostle Paul, calling them to believe in Christ Jesus, the Son of God, and wondrously led them into belief; you yourself came to believe in the Name of Jesus Christ whose followers you had persecuted. When others conspired to kill you, and you saw their plan and the hardness of their hearts, you abandoned them to their blindness and faithlessness. Then by the faithful you were lowered to safety over the wall in a basket, you cried out to God: Alleluia.

IKOS 4

O Holy Paul, you preached with mighty zeal the abandonment of past services to the ancient law and circumcision. You called all to approach the front of Divine Baptism. You preached not only to the Hebrews, but also to the Gentiles to whom you were a most beloved teacher, for which cause we call to you to;

• Rejoice preacher sent to God to proclaim repentance to sinners.
• Rejoice powerful proclaimer of virtue and denouncer of evil.
• Rejoice merciful greeter to the faith in Christ of those lost Gentiles who have found the Way.
• Rejoice true instructor of the True Way.
• Rejoice saving vessel of those drowning in their sins.
• Rejoice pilot who guides us into the harbor of pleasing God.
• Rejoice comforter who comes quickly to the aid of those who suffer.
• Rejoice unmercenary healer of those who suffer physical and spiritual weaknesses.
• Rejoice together with Peter and Paul who are like two wings of the Church, from Christ, the Great Eagle.
• Rejoice like Her two wings of the dove given from the Holy Spirit.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles, pure like doves and like eagles soaring on Wings
• Rejoice those who were brought together when Christ was in the flesh.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 5

Holy Apostle Peter, you were a fisherman laboring by the sweat of your brow when you were called to by an Apostle. You believed in Christ who nourishes wholly, who fed five thousand from five loaves of bread, following Him in search of imperishable food which is for Eternal Life, and you cried unto God: Alleluia.

IKOS 5

You were forbidden by the High Priests and Elders of Judea to teach in the Name of the Lord Jesus, O Blessed Apostle Peter. But you armored yourself with the assurance of Faith saying, above all one must submit to God rather than to men. For this you suffered imprisonment and wounds, but you left rejoicing after your appearance before the Council and for the Name of the Lord you were worthy to bear dishonor. Therefore, we come to you rejoicing and say:

• Rejoice victor over the gathering of Jews with the writings of the Prophets concerning Christ.
• Rejoice destroyer of the spider’s web of the arguments of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
• Rejoice doer of many miracles by the Grace of the Holy Spirit.
• Rejoice giver of mobility to the cripple and sight to the blind.
• Rejoice for you raised from the bed of illness by your shadow.
• Rejoice healer of many who suffered from the evil spirits.
• Rejoice fisherman who calls us to miraculous fishing.
• Rejoice attractor of the unbelievers to belief by your evangelical eloquence.
• Rejoice together with Peter and Paul, like two sources of nourishment of the Church of our Mother, the Bride of Christ.
• Rejoice two vines of grape who nourish us and make us rejoice.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles for you are true branches of the True Vine.
• Rejoice for you are good laborers in the Vineyard of Christ
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 6

O Saint Paul, you were an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin according to the Law of the Pharisees who in zeal persecuted the Church of God and you were called an Apostle; this you did conceal but revealed your former raging fury when you punished the faithful of Jesus Christ. Even as you greatly persecuted the Church of God and destroyed Her, so She is now gloriously adorned by you, and by your wondrous writings She is firmly established, and cries out to God: Alleluia.

IKOS 6

What shall separate us from the love of God, sorrow, or anguish, or persecution or any other thing? O Godloving ecumenical preacher Apostle Paul, you spoke this and you brought all those who believed in Christ by your sincerity in His Love, and for God’s sake you suffered courageously and with thanksgiving, therefore, lovingly we call to you thus.

• Rejoice zealous in the Law, you were called Saul.
• Rejoice perfect lover of Christ, you were named Paul.
• Rejoice in the light of divine Wisdom enlightener of those in the shadow of ignorance.
• Rejoice guiding star which guides those lost in the depths of lawlessness.
• Rejoice the souls of the faithful you, betrothed in Christ calling them to the heavenly mansions.
• Rejoice having yourself suffered many sorrows, you encouraged others to be patient in their suffering.
• Rejoice by whose hands the power of God was made manifest.
• Rejoice by whose handkerchief the infirm were healed.
• Rejoice with Peter and Paul two pillars of the Church as asserted by the heavenly Solomon.
• Rejoice like two lilies on the pillars of the Church beautifying the Holy Place of God
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles like flowers exuding perfume for the whole World.
• Rejoice by your sweet-smelling odor you ward off evil-smelling unrighteousness.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 7

O Blessed Apostle Peter when you arrived in Lydda all were surprised when Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years was paralyzed and you raised him up to walk by the Name of Jesus Christ. By prayer you restored the dead Tabitha to life in Joppa. When you were called to Caeserea, the centurion Cornelius was enlightened by you by being baptized together with those in his household; for his sake we all now call out in one spirit: Alleluia.

IKOS 7

Simon the Magician thought that he could acquire the Grace of the Holy Spirit with silver, and the Blessed Apostle Peter denounced him as the inheritor of damnation with his silver. This avaricious attitude of simony is like stealing holy things and this you strictly prohibited, therefore, we call to you thus:

• Rejoice enricher of the Church of Christ with spiritual grace.
• Rejoice prohibiter of the acceptance of payment for the sacred in the Church.
• Rejoice through whom the love of silver as the root of all evil was severed from spiritual grace.
• Rejoice by whom evil bribery even as idolatry was rejected from the Holy.
• Rejoice teacher for the sake of Christ of the unmercenary life of non-acquisition.
• Rejoice good fulfiller of Christ’s commandment that one cannot serve God and Mammon.
• Rejoice punisher with harsh death the robbery of the sacred by Ananias.
• Rejoice punisher also of Sapphira who conspired with her husband.
• Rejoice with Peter and Paul two olive trees which bear mercy.
• Rejoice for you are like two candlestands which illuminate with wisdom.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles who are like fruitful olive trees.
• Rejoice for all of you are fruitful like olive trees in the House of God.
• Rejoice Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 8

O Holy Apostle Paul, blessed by God, you attained to the third heaven because of your physical and spiritual; holiness, and God enriched you with ineffable gifts when you descended from the third heaven. You revealed to all wise and divinely inspired teachings. All people you surprised, both Jews and Gentiles who believed in Christ. So now, together with them and with all the faithful we are learners of heavenly teachings and we cry out: Alleluia.

IKOS 8

You were an example of faith bearing the many wounds of the sword, and on your flesh the marks of stoning which you bore joyously for the sake of the Sweet Jesus, O Apostle Paul. You heard the call of God and were delivered over to punishment for your belief in Christ Jesus. It is right to bear all sorrows with thankfulness and therefore we come to you in lowliness and cry to you:

• Rejoice for you bore joyously in your body the wounds of the Lord Jesus.
• Rejoice precious stone strong of soul and body who suffered deeply all sorrows.
• Rejoice incomparable witness of Christ before peoples and kings.
• Rejoice unconquerable teacher before the teachers of the Law of Israel.
• Rejoice light-giving ray which shone forth on the earth below from the third heaven above.
• Rejoice fruitful branch which springs forth from Paradise as ripe spiritual food.
• Rejoice with the benefits of your labors like the sweetest fruit in all the earth with which you nourished the faithful.
• Rejoice with your teachings all the earth under the heavens you illumined like a light unwaning.
• Rejoice with Peter and Paul like two trees found in the midst of Paradise- the Church.
• Rejoice creating the fruit of life and of good understanding.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles like the fig tree and the cedars of contemplation.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 9

You were concerned about all, O blessed Apostle Peter, and for all those coming into the Christian Faith in which the heart and the soul acted in harmony, therefore, to meet their requests you presented them as a server the virtuous Stephen together with six deacons. You yourself together with the ” Apostles diligently applied yourselves by prayer and the word of teaching, instructing all the believers who call in one mind to God: Alleluia.

IKOS 9

You were inflamed in zeal for your Lord, when you cut off the ear of Malchus as unwilling to listen to the testimony of the prophets about Jesus Christ. You were restrained by your Master, O Blessed Apostle Peter, and you were grateful for His reprimand and all the hostile actions you suffered with patience, therefore remembering your zeal we call to you thus;

• Rejoice for you surpassed in your zeal the other disciples.
• Rejoice for you were a courageous warrior of Christ in the garden.
• Rejoice for you followed Jesus in His Passion to the house of Caiaphas.
• Rejoice for you were ready to suffer imprisonment and even death for your Lord.
• Rejoice for you healed your weakness which lead to denial by your bitter tears.
• Rejoice for you were called to the first rank after the Resurrection of our Lord.
• Rejoice for you have given an image of repentance for others who have Sinned.
• Rejoice for you counseled repeated forgiveness of the weaknesses of repentant sinners.
• Rejoice together with Peter and Paul two tablets of the commandments of the Lord.
• Rejoice teacher of the love of God and of our neighbor.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles for you preserved in totality all the commandments of our Lord.
• Rejoice for you abandoned all and walked in the footsteps of Christ and found Him to be all in all.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 10

Apostle Paul, called by God, you were a powerful witness who proclaimed from the writings of the prophets concerning Christ before the leaders of Judea: at the trial before Festus and before King Agrippa. Before both you were falsely charged as many books have also written in fury, for you were sentenced to be sent to Rome. All this you suffered in thankfulness and you cried out together with the faithful people of God: Alleluia.

IKOS 10

O Apostle Paul, you proclaimed the life-giving Trinity as you were taught in the third heaven. O preordained vessel of the wondrous divine mysteries, you evangelized nations, judges and kings promising salvation to all who willed to believe in Jesus Christ and accepted Holy Baptism in the Name of the Trinity; for that reason all that believe in divine hope of salvation sing to you thus:

• Rejoice most wise interpreter of the mysteries of revelation of our Lord.
• Rejoice confessor of one God in three persons.
• Rejoice preacher of Christ, the only foundation of the faithful.
• Rejoice establisher in that confession of all righteous believers.
• Rejoice sufferer of unjust accusations and uncommon abuse from the unbelieving Festus.
• Rejoice witness before Festus of the Word of Truth and Virtue.
• Rejoice vivid narrator of the heavenly vision before King Agrippa.
• Rejoice open denouncer of King Agrippa’s evil cunning turned against the faith in Christ.
• Rejoice with Peter and Paul like two trumpets of silver of Moses.
• Rejoice assembling in the battle against evil under earth and heaven.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles who suffered evil as Christ’s warriors.
• Rejoice for by faith you conquered kingdoms of the earth and received the heavenly.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 11

Herod having put to death James, Son of Zebedee, contrived to seize you, O Apostle Peter, blessed by God, and he threw you into prison placing you under heavy guard for execution, and the sincere prayer of the church was made for you. The Angel of the Lord having freed you from your chains lead you through the gates which came open themselves. You thought you were dreaming, but the Angel departed and you revived and realized that in truth you had been freed by the power of God, and in thanksgiving you cried out to Him: Alleluia.

IKOS 11

Philip asked, “O Lord show us the Father,” and the Blessed Apostle Peter saw you on Mount Tabor on which the Lord was transfigured and you saw His Face gloriously transfigured. You heard the voice of God the Father from heaven speaks of Him. “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” And to you who were worthy of such an appearance we cry:

• Rejoice faithful witness of Christ’s transfiguration.
• Rejoice well known hearer of the Voice of the Divine Father from heaven.
• Rejoice for you saw the face of the Son of God which was like light of the sun.
• Rejoice receiver of the over-shadowing of the Holy Spirit in a cloud of light.
• Rejoice to whom was opened the most holy Mystery on the holy mountain.
• Rejoice to whom the Glory of the most Holy Trinity appeared.
• Rejoice for you heard that the exodus of Christ was to take place in Jerusalem.
• Rejoice for your own exodus came to its end after Christ on a cross in Rome.
• Rejoice with Peter and Paul like the two mountains Tabor and Hebron, mounts of reason.
• Rejoice from the East and the West, the promised land appearing in heaven.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles like the mountains of Zion.
• Rejoice bring out for us the sweetness of Salvation.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 12

You are of equal standing to the Cherubim, and we praise you, O Blessed Apostle Paul, enlightened by the divine wisdom in the third heaven. You heard there words that cannot be told which man may not utter, and with these you covered the world teaching others to believe in the Crucified Christ, the Son of God, and to Him as True God we unceasingly sing; Alleluia.

IKOS 12

O chosen vessel of Christ most wise Apostle Paul you were filled with many revelations of divine Mysteries, and in a manner well known you bore the Name of God who appeared in the flesh, and you believed in Him as Savior converting to Him people of many nations. You labored well in the spiritual effort, and you fulfilled your most glorious journey in the Name of the Lord in the city of Rome; and finally you received there the Crown of Truth, and we sing to you thus:

• Rejoice great lover of the Name of Christ for whom you suffered much.
• Rejoice for you witnessed to His Name and of worship in His Name in heaven, on earth and below the earth.
• Rejoice for you witnessed well to the Lord in Jerusalem.
• Rejoice for you also witnessed to Him willingly in Rome.
• Rejoice for you rebuked Emperor Nero and coveted his wife to the Christian Faith.
• Rejoice for in the same Rome with Peter who was crucified head down you bowed your own head under the sword.
• Rejoice for from your severed head flowed pure milk.
• Rejoice for this most wondrous miracle you brought many warriors who witnessed it to the Faith.
• Rejoice with Paul and Peter like two streams of living water from the source of the Holy Spirit flowing forth.
• Rejoice for your words were manifested like the unity of two rivers Dan and Leddan which flow into the Jordan.
• Rejoice all you Holy Apostles like flowing rivers which bring joy to the City of the Church of God.
• Rejoice like rivers of sweetness which satisfy the faithful with the Cup of Salvation.
• Rejoice Saints Peter and Paul together with all the Holy Apostles.

KONDAK 13

O Most Glorious and Praiseworthy Disciples of the Lord, Peter and Paul, the chief Apostles, and all the Apostles who reign as equals, for you enlightened the whole world with the Holy Faith, and with Christ you are destined to judge the whole universe. Glory and praise is due to you most properly not on earth but in heaven, but though unworthy we pray accept the prayers we offer to you here and now. From all our troubles we ask you to save us by your worthy intercessions. Intercede the righteous Judge Christ to be merciful to us at the Judgment Seat and that by your intercession we will be saved, and we praise you O Savior God: Alleluia.

PRAYERS

O Most Powerful Saints! Take away our weaknesses. Do not separate yourselves from us in spirit so that in the end we will not be estranged from the Love of God. Defend us with your powerful intercession. Grant that the Lord will have mercy on all of us for the sake of your prayers. May He destroy the handwriting of our numerous sins and grant that together with all the saints we may be worthy of Your Blessed Kingdom and the Wedding of the Lamb to whom be honor and glory, thanksgiving and worship for ages of ages. Amen

O most glorious Apostles Peter and Paul, who laid down your lives for Christ and beautified His pasture with your blood! Hearken unto the prayers and sighs of your children which are now offered up with contrite heart. For, lo! We have darkened ourselves with iniquities, and for this cause have we been covered with misfortunes as with showers; and we have become exceedingly poor in the oil of a good life, and we cannot fed off the ravening wolves which boldly strive to lay hands on the inheritance of God. O ye mighty ones! Bear ye our infirmities and separate yourselves not from us in spirit, that we not depart utterly from the love of God; but with your mighty assistance defend us, that the Lord have mercy on us all for the sake of your prayers, that the handwriting of our countless sins, and that He vouchsafe us with all the saints the blessed kingdom and the wedding feast of His Lamb, to Whom be honor and glory, thanksgiving and worship, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O holy Peter, chief of the apostles, rock of faith fixed firmly upon Christ, the chief Cornerstone, through thy confession! Pray thou that, unmoved by the imaginations of my mind and carnal lusts, I, too, may through faith be fixed firmly upon this same Christ, the Rock living, chosen and precious; that through love I may be made perfect as a temple of the Spirit, wherein I may offer up spiritual sacrifices unto Jesus Christ our God. O holy Paul, chief of the apostles, chosen vessel of Christ, overflowing with grace and the glory of God! Entreat thou the Creator, Who hath authority over creation, that He make of me, who am now a vessel of perdition, a vessel of honor for Himself, sanctified and fitting, ready for every good work, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O ye foremost of the apostles: Peter, steadfast exponent of the Faith of Christ, and Paul, melodious swallow of the teaching of the Lord! We perceive you to be a much-flowing river recounting the words of Christ, gushing forth from the breast of the Lord, disclosing to us the depths of the well of divinely revealed truths. We see you to be lamps which make things clear for us with streams of the fervor of divine love from heaven. We bless you, for ye endured tribulation and pain to sow the seed of divine teachings, and with your footsteps went round all the ends of the earth. With compunction we entreat your, O holy apostles: cause us, hi our sinful foolishness, to fall prostrate before the Lord, our Teacher; cause ye that the head of our pride be cut off, and haste ye to raise us up by your unceasing supplications, that there, with the choir of the angels and the apostles, we may glorify the Father of all, Who is wondrous in His saints, Who sent our Lord Jesus Christ into the world, and the Holy Spirit, Who is one in essence with them, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O holy Peter, chief of the apostles, rock of faith steadfast in thy confession, foundation of the Church immovable in Christ, pastor of the rational flock of Christ, keeper of the keys to the kingdom of heaven, fisherman most wise who from the depths of unbelief dost draw forth men! Thee do I humbly entreat, that the net of thy divine draught encompass me and draw me forth from the abyss of perdition. I know that thou has received from God the authority to loose and to bind; release me who am bound fast with bonds of sin, show forth thy mercy on me, wretch that I am, and give life to my soul which hath been slain by sins, as before thou didst raise up Tabitha from the dead; restore me to the good path, as before thou didst restore the lame man at the Beautiful Gates, who had been lame fro his mother’s womb; and as thou didst heal all the infirm by thy shadow, may the grace given thou canst do all things, O holy one, through the power of Christ, for Whose sake thou didst forsake all to follow in His steps. Wherefore, pray thou to Him in my behalf, wretch that I am, that by thy supplications He may deliver me from all evil and teach me with a pure heart to send up glory to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O holy Paul, eminent among the apostles, chosen vessel of Christ, recounter of heavenly mysteries, teacher of all the nations, clarion of the Church, renowned orator, who didst endure many misfortunes for the name of Christ, who didst traverse the sea and didst go about the land, and dist convert us from the deception of idolatry! Thee do I entreat and to thee do I cry; disdain me not, defiled as I am, but raise me up who have fallen through sinful sloth, as in Lystra thou didst raise up the man who had been lame from his mother’s womb; and as thou didst give life unto Euthyches who lay dead, so also raise me up from my dead works; and as at thine entreaty the foundation of the prison once quaked and thou didst loose the bonds of the prisoners, so draw me out of the snare of the enemy, and strengthen me to do the will of God. For thou canst do all things by the authority given thee by God, to Whom is due all glory, honor and worship, with His unoriginate father and His all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

(Source: Ss. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, Lorain, OH)