Kontakion 1
A daughter of Russia, thou wast the choice of the princely family. Thou didst serve God and people plentifully through thy love and charitable deeds and sacrificed thy life for Christ our Lord, and wast crowned with the wreath of Christ’s glory; we sing thy deeds and martyrdom, we sing with love to thee: Rejoice, thou, O Holy Martyr Elizaveta, the adornment of our Church, who wast made worthy to become Christ’s bride.
Ikos 1
Loving Christ as an angel and wishing to serve Him only, thou wast taught by thy mother from childhood to work and pray and be charitable and virtuous. After the death of thy mother and close relatives thou perceivedst the way to thy Calvary bequeathed by the Lord. Amazed by thy being chosen from childhood we call unto thee with adoration:
Rejoice, thou who didst love Christ from youth;
Rejoice, thou the chosen lamb of Christ.
Rejoice, thou who didst pick the seeds of faith from parents;
Rejoice, thou who wast reared in the fear of God.
Rejoice, thou who didst inherit the virtues of her mother;
Rejoice, thou who wast taught by her to be industrious and kind.
Rejoice, thou whose heart didst grow strong with God;
Rejoice, thou who didst carry her cross with faith and hope and follow Christ.
Rejoice, thou the fragrant flower of thy motherland;
Rejoice, thou whose pure life made heavens glad.
Rejoice, thou who wast chosen by God to serve the suffering;
Rejoice, thou who intercedest for us before God.
Rejoice, thou, O Holy Martyr Elizaveta, the adornment of our Church, who wast made worthy to become Christ’s bride.
Kontakion 2
The Lord having seen thy heart’s righteous desire to live from youth in virtue and purity and to turn to heavenly beauty the eyes of your heart setting the fire of love to God in thyself. Pray so that our hearts will be enlightened with love for God that we may sing with thee:
Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Enlightened by the acumen from above, O Saint Elizaveta, thou wast not afraid to leave thy motherland, thy family and the home of thy father and move to a new motherland when thou marriedst the Russian Grand Prince Sergei, but thou didst serve God together with thy spouse and live a virtuous life with him displaying thy true love for the Russian people. With love we call to thee:
Rejoice, O thou glorious visitor from the West;
Rejoice, O thou who didst gain a new motherland — the land of Russia.
Rejoice, O thou faithful Princess who didst serve our land devotedly;
Rejoice, O thou who didst instruct us in good deeds.
Rejoice, O thou who wast a loving and virtuous wife;
Rejoice, O thou who wast a wise helper to the spouse in his work.
Rejoice, O thou, protectress of good spouses;
Rejoice, O thou who warmest us with maternal love.
Rejoice, O thou who didst want to fulfill the commandments of God;
Rejoice, O thou who inflamest our hearts with ardor and love for God.
Rejoice, O thou whose outward and inward beauty was a joy to everyone;
Rejoice, O thou, the adornment of all the Christian world.
Kontakion 3
Divine blessing gave thee sagacity for salvation, thy mind embraced the true faith, O merciful Princess Elizaveta, and having visited the Holy Land thou didst strengthen thy wish to convert to Orthodoxy singing hymns to God Who enlightened thee: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
With thy heart thou didst accept the Orthodox faith which is the faith of our good land. And on the day of resurrection of St. Lazarus thou wast anointed and granted the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. We glorify thee, who wast enlightened through the grace of the Holy Spirit:
Rejoice, O thou who didst accept the Orthodox faith on the day of resurrection of St. Lazarus;
Rejoice, O thou the fruit of the blessed Russian land.
Rejoice, O thou anointed by the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, O thou who didst preserve thy birth name after conversion to Orthodoxy.
Rejoice, O thou the namesake of the Holy Saint Elizaveta;
Rejoice, O thou who didst follow that saint in thy deeds.
Rejoice, O thou who showest the sons of the West the way to the true faith;
Rejoice, O thou whose memory is revered with love by the righteous people of Russia.
Rejoice, O thou kind mother who hadst the mercy of our King and God;
Rejoice, O thou who art praying devoutly for God’s mercy for us.
Rejoice, O thou who hadst the light of God in thy heart;
Rejoice, O thou who didst cast the light of the Lord’s commandment over the darkness of this life.
Kontakion 4
The vicious storm of mankind’s enemy did not shatter thee, O holy one, when thy spouse was martyred. But compassionate to him thou didst reveal great courage and Christian love. The angels taking the soul of thy husband up were singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
On hearing of the murder of faithful Prince Sergei the Russian people prayed to God to strengthen thee, Elizaveta, in thy sorrow. And thou, strengthened by the sacrificial love, didst visit thy husband’s murderer in prison, asking him to repent and praying to God for his forgiveness. For the sake of that accept the praises of us unworthy sinners:
Rejoice, O thou who didst fulfill Christ’s commandment of love to thy enemies;
Rejoice, O thou who forgavest thy husband’s murderer in accordance to the Gospel.
Rejoice, O thou who didst suffer many sorrows and troubles;
Rejoice, O thou who helpest us to carry the burden of our sorrows and woes.
Rejoice, O thou who guidest us from darkness to the way of truth and repentance;
Rejoice, O thou who art kindly praying for the salvation of us sinners.
Rejoice, O thou who givest us a light of hope in the darkness of grief;
Rejoice, O thou a guiding star to all those who hope for salvation.
Rejoice, O thou melting our hearts that had turned to stone;
Rejoice, O thou who kindly prayest to Christ for us in our every trouble.
Rejoice, O thou whose goodness winnest over the spite of the world;
Rejoice, O thou who didst show true love to the people of Russia.
Rejoice, O thou, Holy Martyr Elizaveta, the adornment of our Church, who wast made worthy to become Christ’s bride.
Kontakion 5
Like a star of divinity, O Holy Elizaveta, thou hast risen over the Russian land, when thou didst discard wealth and glory as if it were dust. Thou didst commend thy life into God’s hands and serve Him through fasting and prayer and didst show great love and mercy for the suffering. Do thou cast the light of thy virtues onto our lives, that we may cry unto God with joy: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
The people of the God-saved city of Moscow rejoiced when they saw thee, O wonderful founder of the charitable House of Mercy, as it harbored many women and maidens who found peace and saved their souls there following the example of Saint Mary and Saint Martha the myrrh-bearers serving God and people. Thus we glorify thee saying:
Rejoice, O thou who despite living in fame and wealth, comprehendedst the vanity of our earthly fret;
Rejoice, O thou who gavest out thy property and voluntarily became Christ’s pauper.
Rejoice, O thou who didst adorn the city of Moscow with a wonderful monastery;
Rejoice, O thou who didst assume the servitude to God.
Rejoice, O thou who didst bring many women and maidens to the monastery of Mercy;
Rejoice, O thou wise guide in the way of salvation for thy sisters in Christ.
Rejoice, O thou who didst follow the deeds of Saint myrrh-bearers Maria and Martha;
Rejoice, O thou who guardest the monastery constantly.
Rejoice, O thou who dost strengthen us in spiritual deeds;
Rejoice, O thou directing us in the way from earth to heaven.
Rejoice, O thou, a star of mercy that rose over the city of Moscow;
Rejoice, O thou guarding all those who gave their lives serving people.
Rejoice, O thou Holy Martyr Elizaveta, the adornment of our Church, who wast made worthy to become Christ’s bride.
Kontakion 6
Thou wast the preacher of divine love and mercy, O thou, Saint Elizaveta, an ardent advocate of virtue in our country, inciting love for God and mercy to the suffering in the hearts of Russian people. Let us follow thy example and hymn the Lord: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Thou shown with the light of virtuous life in Russia, O our saintly mother Elizaveta, living in monastic fasting, self-denial, vigil and prayer and teaching righteousness to the nuns of thy monastery. Thus we who are guided in the way of spiritual asceticism by thee sing to please thee:
Rejoice, O thou who didst choose the road of monastic and angelic life;
Rejoice, O thou whose heart appeared pure through the vow of purity.
Rejoice, O thou whose spiritual height was achieved through the vow of self-denial;
Rejoice, O thou who didst serve the vow of obedience to God and people.
Rejoice, O thou wise princess and virtuous nun;
Rejoice, O thou who art to be the example set from above for Christian women.
Rejoice, O thou who didst please God with constant fasting, vigil and prayer;
Rejoice, O thou who wakest up our soul from the sinful slumber of spirit.
Rejoice, O thou who guidest us all to love God and people;
Rejoice, O thou who teachest us to pray with our hearts.
Rejoice, O thou who dost guide nuns and talk to Angels;
Rejoice, O thou who art glorified among the saintly women in heaven.
Kontakion 7
Wishing to perceive God’s will, O Saint Elizaveta, thou devotedly obeyedst the elder Gabriel of Spaso-Elizarovsk, the elder Alexei of Zosima and other wise elders whom thou didst ask for advice discarding thine own will, never starting anything without their blessing, and thus managing the life at the monastery beneficially and calling out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The Lord hast shown us another miracle when thou wast granted the power to heal and to strengthen the weak, to help the destitute and to protect the offended. Thou gavest relief and joy to the suffering, to the abandoned and crippled serving them humbly and lovingly. Heal us also through thy prayers and direct us in the way of salvation. We sing to thee in gratitude: Alleluia.
Rejoice, O thou who didst live in obedience to thy spiritual fathers and wise elders;
Rejoice, O thou who wast called Great Matushka by the Russian people.
Rejoice, O thou whom God granted the gift of healing the souls of weak people;
Rejoice, O thou who healedst the sick and the hopeless.
Rejoice, O thou kind-hearted benefactress of widows and orphans;
Rejoice, O thou who didst feed the hungry and protect those in trouble.
Rejoice, O thou who didst host those left and abandoned by all;
Rejoice, O thou who didst save many souls from sins and spiritual death.
Rejoice, O thou who gavest comfort to those in sorrow and hardships;
Rejoice, O thou who dost strengthen us saddened by sickness and woes.
Rejoice, O thou praying for us repenting sinners;
Rejoice, O thou who wast blessed to become a merciful helper of the people of Russia.
Rejoice, O Holy Martyr Elizaveta, the adornment of our Church, who wast made worthy to become Christ ’s bride.
Kontakion 8
A strange and fearsome vision was shown by God to the spiritual father of the monastery Father Mitrophan. And thou, O Holy mother couldst explain the vision and didst prophesy that a great and dreadful trial lay ahead for the Russian Church and our country: profanation of sanctities, fratricide, great disturbance, and a martyrs’ death of the Imperial family; but God would have mercy on Russia through the prayers of its saints with whom thou now singest praise to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Enlightened through God’s blessing, O Holy Elizaveta, thou didst see with thy spiritual vision that our country would displease God and foresee that many martyrs and confessors would suffer gloriously in Russia. And thou didst call the Russian people to pin all their hopes on the Mother of God, believing that through Her intercessions our land would not perish. And we sing praises to thee who prophetically didst speak of the destiny of our motherland:
Rejoice, O thou who didst build the church of Protection of the Holy Mother of God in the monastery of Mercy;
Rejoice, O thou who didst commend the monastery into the hands of the Holy Mother of God.
Rejoice, O thou who didst build churches of God;
Rejoice, O thou who incessantly prayest to God for us.
Rejoice, O thou who wast charitable to churches of God;
Rejoice, O thou who constantly didst work for the life eternal.
Rejoice, O thou who didst serve God and His Mother Holy Virgin devotedly;
Rejoice, O thou who dist teach us to have all our hopes in God.
Rejoice, O thou who bringest docility, quietness and peace to our hearts;
Rejoice, O thou who art adorned with the blessed gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, O thou who didst make a clairvoyant prophecy of the great tribulations of our land;
Rejoice, O thou who hast God’s mercy.
Kontakion 9
Inflamed with love for God, O Saint Elizaveta, thou wast not afraid of the frenzied crowd which came to thy monastery and tried to execute thee unjustly. And thou wast saved by the Lord from death at that time and prayed to Him for enlightenment of those who were lost and led astray and thou didst sing to the Lord in gratitude: Alleluia
Ikos 9
It is beyond human words to praise thy strong love in the days of troubles and misfortunes befallen on our motherland, when thou didst refuse to leave Russia and the monastery founded by thee, and when thou didst strengthen thy nuns to stand up for the Orthodox faith even in the face of death. With love do we praise thee:
Rejoice, O thou who didst fall in love with our land;
Rejoice, O thou who art glorified by the Russian people.
Rejoice, O thou who didst teach us to protect ourselves with a shield of faith when attacked by enemies;
Rejoice, O thou who didst strengthen our resolution to follow Christ.
Rejoice, O thou who didst strengthen the merciful nuns in their faith and hope;
Rejoice, O thou who didst guide them in the way of martyrdom for Christ.
Rejoice, O thou who wast made worthy to share the passions that Christ has suffered;
Rejoice, O thou who didst strengthen the Russian people in the ascetic deed of confessors.
Rejoice, O thou who didst save many from the abyss of death;
Rejoice, O thou a helper, protector and guardian of thy monastery and the city of Moscow.
Rejoice, O thou who didst teach us love eternal and sacrificial;
Rejoice, O thou who didst enter the joy of thy Lord.
Rejoice, O Holy Martyr Elizaveta, the adornment of our Church, who wast made worthy to become Christ’s bride.
Kontakion 10
In search of an ascetic deed of salvation thou hast joyously thanked God for the honor of carrying His Cross. Thus thy faith shown victorious when thou wast approaching thy Calvary reiterating: "Glory to God for everything!" Pray to God that He may grant us wisdom and strength when we stand up for our true faith even in the face of death and to sing to Him with mouth and with one heart: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The holy icon of the Mother of God "Derzhavnaya (Sovereign)" hath raised a protective wall defending Russia. Thou didst bring it to the monastery, Saint Elizaveta, as a token of victory over the powers of darkness of this age. Thus we who pin our hopes on the Sovereign Lady of our motherland, sing to thee who truly served and obeyed the Most Pure Mother of our God:
Rejoice, O thou who art full of God’s grace and strength;
Rejoice, O thou who didst choose the role that is good, and it will stay with thee.
Rejoice, O thou who didst follow the example of God’s mother in humbleness and meekness;
Rejoice, O thou, wise maiden of the Gospel who didst collect the unction of grace.
Rejoice, O thou who didst revere the Mother of God devotedly;
Rejoice, O thou who art always praying for us at Her throne.
Rejoice, O thou who art self-denial incarnate;
Rejoice, O thou who didst teach us to share each others burdens.
Rejoice, O thou who didst ascend into heaven through earthly woes and tribulation;
Rejoice, O thou who didst teach everyone to love and be patient in sufferings for the sake of the Lord.
Rejoice, O thou who didst live on earth as an angel;
Rejoice, O thou who didst inherit a wreath of glory.
Kontakion 11
Thou hadst been singing praises to the Mother of God, O Saint Elizaveta, on the day of veneration of the Iverskaya icon of Mother of God when the heathens arrested thee and threw thee in prison. And thou thanked Christ our God that He granted thee not only belief in Him, but also suffering for his sake and in prison thou didst sing praise to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
In the rays of heavenly light thou, Saint Martyr Princess Elizaveta, together with the Holy Martyr Varvara thy sister in Christ and other great martyrs, when thrown into the deep trench, dressed the wounds of the Grand Prince Ioann trying to ease the sufferings of the dying; and thou didst sing hallowed hymns and asked for mercy for those who were killing thee: "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Heal also the wounds of our souls, O our mother, we call with love unto thee:
Rejoice, O thou who didst foresee thine own death as a martyr;
Rejoice, O thou royal martyr.
Rejoice, O thou who didst communicate Christ’s passions on the day of commemoration of Saint Sergei;
Rejoice, O thou who wast strengthened in suffering by the Divine powers.
Rejoice, O thou who didst pray for thy torturers say after Christ;
Rejoice, O thou who didst sing praises to God till thy very death.
Rejoice, O thou who didst shed thy blood onto our soil;
Rejoice, O thou who didst join the order of the new Russian martyrs.
Rejoice, O thou who didst join the rank of holy and righteous women;
Rejoice, O thou, who rightfully didst inherit the glory of faithful Saintly princesses of Russia.
Rejoice, O thou, blameless sacrifice to God;
Rejoice, O thou who art triumphant together with all the saints of our land.
Kontakion 12
Thine honorable relics, O Holy Martyrs Elizaveta and Varvara, filled the vessels with grace. To save them from desecration and defamation the righteous people of Russia took them to the Holy Land of Jerusalem and buried them in the Mount of Olives in Gethsemane. Those who come to venerate your relics please you when they sing praises to God Who art glorified in His Saints: Alleluia
Ikos 12
Divine light and wonderful aroma filled the church of the Holy Myrrh-bearer Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem when the coffin with Princess Elizaveta’s relics were opened. And now all the children of the Orthodox Church rejoice and praise God coming to the hand of thy relics, O Holy Martyr Elizaveta, and receiving wonders from them and thanking God Who glorified thee, we sing:
Rejoice, O thou whose relics brought to Jerusalem remained imperishable;
Rejoice, O thou whose relics spiritually joined the Holy Land with Russia.
Rejoice, O thou whose relics made the Russian Church rejoice in Christ;
Rejoice, O thou who spiritually didst strengthen the lost Russian people.
Rejoice, O thou buried at the Lord’s tomb;
Rejoice, O thou who didst find repose in the church of Saint Mary Magdalene.
Rejoice, O thou whose relics heal various woes and ailments;
Rejoice, O thou a witness to eternity in our temporary life.
Rejoice, O thou crowned with all virtues;
Rejoice, O thou glorified through unfathomable God’s will.
Rejoice, O thou blessed dweller of the mountainous Jerusalem;
Rejoice, O thou a guide to all of us on our way to heavenly Jerusalem.
Kontakion 13
O great Martyr, our joy and an embellishment of Russian wives, kind Princess Elizaveta, reject not our hearts’ supplication brought to thee with love, and pray to the Lord for strengthening our spirit of true faith and righteousness and mercy. Help us to bear our cross of woes with patience and hope, to keep our people in love and accord, so that we might enter the joy of the Lord with angels and all the saints singing to Him: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read thrice and is followed by Ikos 1:"Loving Christ as an angel…." and kontakion 1:"…the choice of the princely family…"
O Holy Martyrs of Russia Grand Duchess Elizaveta and her sister in Christ, the righteous nun Varvara, who accepted a martyrs’ death together, who were guided by the Gospel commandments in everything done at the monastery and never stopped to work for the Orthodox faith later, ye brought good fruit to Christ having suffered patiently! Pray to Christ who trampled upon death, for the strengthening of our Orthodox Russian Church and motherland, redeemed by the blood and suffering of the new martyrs and pray for the preservation of what belongs to Russia from the enemy’s plundering. That crafty enemy has armed itself against us, wishing to destroy us with civil strife, woes, unbearable grief, illnesses and harsh trouble. Pray for the Lord to quench their doomed insurrection; strengthen the faith in the hearts of Russian people, so that on the day of trials the gift of bravery will dawn on us through thy prayers, that we, denying ourselves and lifting up our cross, could follow Christ crucifying our passionate and lusty flesh. Keep us from all evil, cast light on our lives, grant sincere repentance, serenity and peace, ask the Lord to save us from bitter tribulations and eternal suffering that we may inherit the heavenly Kingdom together with all the Saints, who always pleased God and that we may joyously hymn and honor and worship the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Troparion, tone 1
Having shrouded thy princely title with humility, O devoutly wise Elizaveta, thou didst honor Christ, eagerly serving Mary and Martha. Having cleansed thyself with mercy, patience and love, thou didst sacrifice thyself to God. So we revering thy righteous life and sufferings, ardently entreat you, our true guide: Saint Martyr Grand Duchess Elizaveta, pray to Christ our God to save and enlighten our souls.
Kontakion, tone 5
Having taken up Christ’s Cross, thou didst go from princely fame to divine glory, praying for thine enemies and wast granted joy eternal, Saint Martyr Elizaveta together with Varvara the Martyr. Thus we pray to you: intercede for our souls.
Glorification
We magnify thee, Saint Martyrs Elizaveta and Varvara and venerate thine ordeal suffered for Christ.