Feast Day: April 16th and Bright Wednesday
The Life of Saint Leonidas, Charissa, Nice, Galina, Callida, Nunechia, Basilissa and Theodora: Before being thrown into the sea, Leonides looked up to Heaven and said: “Behold! And with this second Baptism today have I been Baptised, which makes the man within us more clean.”… As the boat reached them, they continued to chant odes until their executioners tied them with stones and drowned them in the depth of the sea…
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Prayers
Apolytikion – Third Tone: You have become a great defender of Epidavros, O Leonidas, and you were not shaken by the wiles of belial, as you cast down the honour to the demons, and you Confessed Christ with boldness, together with the wise Women, O All-blessed ones, ceaselessly entreat that we be granted the great Mercy.
Kontakion – Fourth Tone: Let us now honor the protectors of Epidavros, and let us praise the famed Martyrs, Leonidas the glorious soldier of Christ, and the seven Women Champions who celebrate together with him, who now stand at the Throne of Glory, fervently entreating Christ on behalf of those who with Faith celebrate their Memory.
Megalynarion: Rejoice, O all-radiant lights, Divine Leonidas, and the seven-numbered Choir of Women Martyrs, the pride and protectors of glorious Epidavros, and our defenders in the Faith.
Doxastikon – Fourth Tone: You hearkened to the words of Christ the Teacher, and with manliness you took up His Cross of Martyrdom. And having lived a Holy life, through your blood, and in the depths of the sea, you were put to death with radiance, O all-perfect Martyrs: Leonidas the glorious, Chariessa and Nike, Nounechia, Vasilissa, Galini, Theodora and Kallis, the beautifully victorious Virgins of the Lord, with spotless and Sacred lives. Entreat Him on behalf of us, that we be delivered from the traps of the enemy, we who praise you in Faith, and with fervour celebrate your all-Sacred Memory.
Doxastikon – First Tone: Let us trumpet forth with the trumpet of song, and let us Hymn with rejoicing the true Athletes of Christ the Martyrs of the true Faith, for they smashed down the wiles and threats of the enemy upon the firm rock of their hearts, and struggled with manliness in mind, and though cast into the depths of the sea, they harmoniously Chanted to the Lord: “I have run one mile with you, O Lord, and I have not denied You, though an army persued me; save my spirit.” O beautifully Victorious Martyrs, and the Sacred choir of Leonidas: intercede with the Lord, as you have great boldness before Him, on behalf of those who with faith and fervour Hymn your all-honoured Memory.
Doxastikon of the Praises – Fourth Tone: Come, O band of people who love the Martyrs, to glorious Epidavros that has gathered as is truly right to honour the Glorious Martyrs, and with reverence, let us embrace the treasury of their Relics, and praise them as worthy athletes of the Lord: O Spiritual Priest, glorious Leonidas, together with the Seven Women, the foundations of the Church, entreat God on behalf of us, that He have compassion upon us, and save the Souls of those who praise your Sacred struggle.
Prosomoia – Tone Four:
Let us all honour the brave and Divine Martyrs of Christ, the all-perfect Leonidas, and together with him, those Virgin and Martyred young women, who faithfully and steadfastly Confessed Christ together with him, and they all received the Crowns of Victory, as manly Champions of our spotless and Holy Faith.
You followed after Christ, O all-glorious Leonidas, and you became a dwelling place for Virgins, and you struggled together with them, wholly casting down the passions of the body, and you struggled with manliness, approaching the Lord wearing a Crown, being Martyred in a godly manner, as most-brave Martyrs.
You loved Christ, and you followed after His teachings, gathering your beauty together, O Venerable ones, in the Spirit, and you were led by the famed Leonidas, and with manliness kept the good Confession of Christ, and you all struggled together, while you ever now rejoice in Heaven.
Idiomelon – First Tone: Come, O faithful, let us gather together in the house of the Lord, and let us Hymn with Hymns of praise the Glorious Athlete of Christ, Leonidas the Martyr, and those precious women who were Crowned together with him, having been Martyred through a terrible Martyrdom. These with boldness and bravery in mind imitated the Confessors, and became Martyrs in their disposition, that we might find Grace in the Heavens on the Day of Judgment.
Oikos: You counted all the things of the Earth as refuse, and now dwell before the Heavenly Throne in Glory, as worthy Martyrs of the Lord, for you, O Leonidas, were hung upon the wood, and your life was then ended by being cast into the sea together with your fellow athletes. Having reached Him, O true soldiers of the Lord, you were received and made worthy of the good things of Heaven, and you now ever entreat Christ on behalf of those who with faith celebrate their Memory.
Verses
To Saint Leonidas: The bosom of the sea receives Leonidas, who has reached the bosom of Abraham.
To Saint Chariessa: “The sea,” says Chariessa, “does not frighten me, but the sea becomes a foretaste of Graces for me.”
To Saint Galini and Saint Nike: Galini and Nike are cast into the deep, bringing up victory and peace from the storm.
To Saint Kallida: The depth of the sea receives Kalida, who was aflame with eros for the beauty of the Lord, loved by her Soul.
To Saint Nounechia: Having found a reward of Salvation from the deep, you were shown to be mindful, O Nounechia.
To Saint Vasilissa and Saint Theodora: The womb of the sea receives two daughters, who fled the womb of the enemy.
Prosomoia of the Praises – First Tone:
O beautifully victorious Martyrs of God, who honoured the Lord Who is the Creator of all creation, you were in no way swayed by the threats of the enemy, and you lawlessly were put to death. And now you intercede that our Souls might be grated peace and the great Mercy.
Having reached your blessed end through Martyrdom in the depth of the sea, O Glorious Martyrs, you truly dried up the rivers of vanity and the streams of evil through your steadfastness. Therefore, entreat that our Souls be granted peace and the great Mercy.
Come, O faithful, let us all bless Leonidas, Nike and Chariessa, and Nounechia, Vasilissa, Galini, Kalida, and Theodora, who have come to dwell in the Kingdom, and let us cry out to them: through your Prayers to Christ, may He grant peace to His world.
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