SUPPLICATORY CANON TO ST. GEORGE OF DRAMA

ODE I

Irmos:  Traversing the deep.

O George, newly-shining star of the church of Christ and builder of the monastery of Assumption in Drama:  from Heaven watch over those who reverently honor you.

Wondrous George, bless those who hymn you as a luminary among the newly revealed saints, shining on the world with rays of asceticism and watchfulness. 

Through your prayers adorn our hearts with a multitude of
virtues, for we strive after them amid the calamities and soul-killing misfortunes of life, O George.

Quickly wipe away the drops of my many tears with the handkerchief of your prayers to the Lord, the only-begotten Son and Word of God, O Mother and Virgin.

ODE III

Irmos:  Of the apse of Heaven.

Having cultivated opulently the ear of the corn of virtue, with intensity of struggles, father, with your hardy training and your ever-flowing prayer you found grace, O George, so that you could send the fruit of your grace to those who seek your protection.

The reliquary of your honorable relics, saint, is a torrent of healings, which now the earth has revealed to us, temperate God-bearer, ascetic George, blossom of Pontus.

You lived your life peaceably with your abundant grace,
thrice-blessed one, having confessed Christ the prince of peace, and having endured for his sake imprisonment and torture, Father George.

Higher than the heavens is the mind of your servants, Full of Grace and Mother of the Lord.  Deify those who splendidly hymn the virtues of George, the leader and champion of Drama.

Prayers read after Canon III

Sanctify the choirs of the faithful who duly honor you as an easily cultivated field of watchfulness, endless prayer and detachment.

Look with kindness, all-hymned Mother of God, upon the difficult affliction of my body and heal the pain of my soul.

Tone 2.  With fervent intercession.
Storehouse of the august fathers of the faith, unerring pilot of souls and new tower of understanding:  fervently entreat the clement Christ on behalf of us, O George.

ODE IV

Irmos:  I have hearkened, Lord.

Treasury of temperance and bright palace of holiness, deem us who call upon you worthy to exercise temperance, O George.

Show us all to be strong to wage war against the destroyer, for you destroyed his crafty tricks by your ascetic feats, George.

Never cease to entreat the compassionate Lord, George, on behalf of us all who hymn you as the boast of the new saints.

From the height of your glory guard closely those who hymn you and protect and guard your suppliants, Mother of God.

ODE V

Irmos:  Illumine us.

With radiant hymns we honor your relics and we revere your tomb, which gushes with grace in the Monastery of the Ascension, George.

Disperse the mist of pain and the dense darkness of afflictions by the rays of your prayers, revered George, for you are the beacon of the new ascetics.

Saint of Christ, O George full of wonders, restrain the attacks of our sordid passions, for we ardently chant to you.

Lead us to the pastures of Heaven, for we run to your visitation and intercession, bright Mother of God.

ODE VI

Irmos:  Intercession.

Hearken to your fervent suppliants, George, and grant your grace to each of those who greet the all-august casket containing your relics in the Monastery of the Ascension, which you raised from its foundations.

You were a generous spring of healings in life and after death, heavenly-wise one.  You were the physician of souls and bodies of the sick of Drama, O George, as you are of those who hasten piously from everywhere to your divine grace.

The reliquary of your bones has been revealed to be a wholly fragrant receptacle of wonders and a spring of sanctification for those who approach it with longing and compunction of soul, O beauty of saints and universally admired boast of the Pontians.

Remember those who bless you, Mother of God, unto the ages, and who celebrate the memorial of Saint George, the physician of Drama and the speedy defender and helper of the Monastery of the Ascension.

Prayers following Ode VI

Sanctify the choirs of the faithful who honor you duly as an easily cultivated field of watchfulness of unceasing prayer and detachment, O George.

Kontakion in Tone 2.  By those of your blood.
Divine blossom of Argyroupolis and august inhabitant of Georgia, who practiced asceticism in Drama like an incorporeal angel and consecrated the Monastery of the Ascension:  be our guardian, O George.

Holy and greatly honored ascetic of the all-powerful Paraclete, George, who in years, words and deeds shone forth in the last times like an ever-shining star and by the flashings of your ascetic struggles have illumined the souls of your suppliants:  chase far away the darkness of our passions, luminous builder of the Monastery of the Ascension, for you heal everyone who honors you.

ODE VII

Irmos:  The youths from Judea.

Merciful ascetic, model of sacrifice for those in need, O George, horn of love and sympathy, deem your suppliants worthy to understand the needs of the poor and needy.

Treasury of temperance and abyss of understanding, august George, you endured many tortures in Georgia for the love of your creator, with whom also intercede fervently on behalf of your suppliants.

You were the steady guide of the erring and the director of the faithful to theosis and you led people to salvation, for whom earnestly and zealously entreat the Lord now, all-blessed George.

Show your suppliants to be disdainful of material things, Mother of God, and zealots for those things which do not change, just as the divine George strove, the wise ascetic of Taxiarches of Drama. 

ODE VIII

Irmos:  The King.

With streams of sweat and ever-flowing tears you washed the robe of your soul; wash also my sordid heart, George. 

Quickly drive away painful diseases of your suppliants, swift doctor of the ailing, for they take refuge in you, O George, amid their diseases.

O shrine of graces of the Comforter, who knows the depths of hearts:  cleanse me of the filthy dunghill of my passions, George, I cry out to you.

Show me your heavenly visitation, Mother of God, for I hymn you as the guide of all the faithful to Heaven.

ODE IX

Irmos:  Fittingly the Mother of God.

A perfumed vase of wonders is the grace-filled receptacle of your relics, George, which we reverently venerate, blessing you.

With unceasing prayers watch over your suppliants, whom from Heaven you ever protect, wonder-working lantern of saints, George.

Sanctified temple of virtue, of fasting, hardship, prayer and kindness:  entreat Christ on our behalf, O George.

Fill our hearts with joy, O Mother of God, for we now honor the contests of George and whole-heartedly bless you, O Virgin.