Farewell, vain life; farewell, all friends, acquaintances, and children too; for in a way I go where never have I trod. But come, remembering my love for you, follow ye me, and give ye to the grave this clay of mine, and pray ye Christ with tears, who hath to judge my humble soul, that he may snatch me from the quenchless fire.
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
O gate impassable, in mystery seal’d, God-bearing Virgin bless’d; accept our prayers, and offer them thy Son and God, that he, through thee, may save our souls.
Stichera idiomela, tone iii.
Lo, brethren mine belov’d, amid you all I silent lie, bereft of speech; the mouth is listless, still the tongue, impeded are the lips, the hands are tied, the feet together bound, the countenance is chang’d, the eyes are dimm’d and see not them that wail, the hearing takes not in the cry of them that mourn, the nose the fragrant incense smelleth not; but in nowise true love becometh dead. Therefore I you beseech, all mine acquaintances and friends, Remember me before the Lord, that I in day of doom may mercy find before that fearful judgment-seat.
Verse. I have lifted up mine eyes to the hills, whence cometh my help.
All human things are vanity which last not after death: riches abide not, nor doth glory stay; for when death cometh these all disappear. Then let us cry to the immortal Christ, O rest him who is gone away from us where is the dwelling-place of all that joy.
Verse. The Lord shall keep thy goings-out and thy comings-in from henceforth and for evermore.
O men, why do we vainly we ourselves disquiet? the course we run is quick and hard: life is as smoke: soon vapour, dust, and ashes we shall be; and as a flower shall fade. Therefore let us to the immortal Christ exclaim, Rest him remov’d from us where is the dwelling-place of all that joy.