Akathist by Mykhayl

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(STAND)

CYRIL AND METHODIUS… 51-70 (1199)

MEDITATION 4

(CHANTER:)
Unlike Pilot who wrote the charge above the cross in three languages for clarity, * others kept the Gospels in those languages for control. * Unlike Cane and Abel who competed these two brothers laid aside their sibling rivalry to reveal in the Lord’s vineyard. * Composing an alphabet for a heathen tongue it will ultimately lead to clarity in every tongue.

CHANT 4

(CLERGY)
Attention! A reading from Saint Mark:

(ALL:)
+ Glory be to You O Lord glory be to You
Alleluia, alleluia.

(CLERGY:)
“You will go into the world and you will preach the gospel to every creature. They who will believe * and will be baptized will be saved… and they will speak in new tongues.” (Mark 16:15-6…17)

(ALL:)
+ Glory be to You Our God glory be to You
Alleluia, alleluia!, alleluia!

(MAY SIT IF FATIGUED)

(ALL:)
51 Rejoice as Saints Constantine (Cyril) and his brother Methodius (Michael) * set on their life’s goal laboring in the nurturing vineyards of the Lord,

Glory be with a working knowledge of their neighbor’s native Slavonic tongue * their evangelical mission possess great promise.

52 Rejoice in God’s wit, after composing the Glagolithic alphabet the brothers find unanticipated treasures * Scripture translations in the Hieronymian alphabet ascribed to Saint Jerome who hails from Dalmatia.

While incorporating these colloquial finds assures their evangelical fishing exposition * from the northern shores of the Black Sea produce abundant catches (860).

53 Rejoice encouraged as many local churches are revealed * lead by a capable and responsive bishop Saint Georgiy,

He not only knew the church ceremonies in the local idiom * he also knew the local whereabouts of the relics of the pope Saint Clement.

54 Rejoice in awe as these relics of the evangelical pope were annually revealed * resting in repose in his submerged subterranean sepulcher.

During Saint Clement’s November Festival the waters in the peninsula of Chersonesesn part * as did the waters in the Red Sea parted in Egypt.

55 Rejoice even as a conundrum during their teaching mission develops * with the 13th (thirteenth) Judaic tribe of Khazars,

This work was not in vane being spiritually revealing * on the north eastern Black Sea coast their Judaic lighthouses beamed steadily (860).

56 Rejoice tandemly revealing their understanding of Talmud scholarship and cultural sensitivity, * unlike the insufficiently grasping perceptions formulated by the Gentiles.

Their Hebraic wit can justly appreciate * the Judaic discernment of the Rabbi called “Yeshua” (Jesus).

57 Rejoice understanding why Byzantine leaders redirects these brothers * to mission in their neighbor’s lands of Moravia, as invited guests in whose tongue they spoke.

Due to Frankish contrived objection to their intrusion * they were redirected to the court of the Holy Sea of Rome (861).

58 Rejoice understanding how in route to the Mediterranean Sea * these holy brothers were sought out for their renown knowledge.

The Dux Kocel of Pannonia sought duplications of the missionary’s translations * for his people in their own Slavonic script.

59 Rejoice and understand why these brothers grasped these golden opportunities * to enlighten every interested soul while crossing the breast of Dalmatia.

Influencing today’s Croatia these missionaries preached the risen Lord * across Slovenia in route to their destined port on the Mediterranean Sea.

60 Rejoice in their acceptance by the benevolent Holy Father who embraces them as sons, * despite being as uninvited a guest as the arrival of the Turks, or worse primacy pawns between Patriarch Photius and Pope Nicholas.

Glory be as the holy relics of Saint Clement the 3rd (third) bishop of Rome * being returned to his episcopal seat was neither unappreciated nor unnoticed. (867).

61 Rejoice as this new pope Adrian II (the Second) personally attended their divine liturgies (mass) chanted in Slavonic * celebrated at each of Rome’s five historic patriarchal cathedrals.

In the Roman patriarchal cathedral of Saint Mary Major where the relics of Saint Jerome rests * the pope himself paid special attention to the Creed as the defender of orthodoxy (869).

62 Rejoice as Pope Adrian defends the order of primacy * coming from Saints Peter and Paul at Rome, as the first discerning concern in church administration.

Constantinople claims succession of Saint Andrew the first called, but even the great emperor Constantine recognized it as second. * Then the Alexandrian pope of Egypt , followed by Antioch whose gentiles were first to be called Christian.

63 Rejoice although nepotism ranks the first as last with the holy land of Jerusalem, * even through the foster brother of Jesus, Saint James son of Joseph was its first bishop.

Christians are being lined up on an international chess boards * so archaic empires of old could still be in the play of the day.

64 Rejoice sympathetically for elderly Pope Adrian who pays with the assassination of his wife and child * for his resistance to the use of the Bulgarian Church to dramatize Byzantine clout (870).

Despite the crown defending the faith, miters are also directing the sheep of the land,* not with a shepherd’s crosiers but with a ruler’s mace (“bulava”).

65 Rejoice recalling Saints Constantine the philosopher who accepts the name of Cyril * as brother Methodius the scholar is named Michael with monastic vows.

Glory be while donning their schema scapular habits they came to realize * being a guest was a gracious retreat, but there was no place like home.

66 Rejoice as Saints Cyril and Methodius are consecrated bishops * as papal primacy directs in an integrated Greco – Roman sanctification in Rome.

These Shepherds for Pannonia upon the Danube and Moravia they are commendably bestowed * with astonishing empowerment as legates of the Roman papal see itself.

67 Rejoice with interspersing chants of “VEECH-NA-YA PAM-YAT” (eternal memory) * for bishop Cyril who mysteriously died shortly after his episcopal consecration from Rome.

With lamentations of the pope himself offers an inspired place of repose * in the Roman church built upon the ancient temple of Mithraic (Mithras of Zoroaster).

68 Rejoice delighted for the Roman basilica di San Clemente accepts both; * the relics of homecoming evangelical patron Saint Clement and the apostle of the Slavs Saint Cyril (Constantine),

Saint Cyril’s holy remains were ceremonially interred to the right of the alter * as recorded in that year from the creation of the world 6393 (sixty-three – ninety-three) (AD 868).

69 Rejoice though in trepidation as a heavy yoke of imprisonment stifles Saint Methodius * so his good would be buried with him, but instead this infamy of Frankish King Louis the German will outlive us all (870).

Saint Methodius is released from political imprisonment by personal papal intervention * of Pope John VIII. (the 8th / eighth), who invites him to Rome, where his papacy also endorses the Slavonic language (873).

70 Rejoice through “VEECH-NA-YA PAM-YAT” (eternal memory) dirges for Saint Methodius who is righteously crowned for eternal glory, * and is laid in repose in his episcopal cathedral of the Mother of God of Prague at Velehrad Moravia (885). (Infant of Prague hometown)

The fertile soil of Bulgaria had been prepared to generate Saint Methodius’ extraordinary works, * the mission center responsible for the preparation of thousands of Slavic students is continues from there (885).