From Monachos.net

By Metropolitan Tryphon (Turkestanov, d. 1934)

Kontakion 1

O Immortal King of the ages, Who, by the power of Thy saving providence, dost uphold in Thy right hand all the ways of man’s life; we thank Thee for all Thy good things both manifest and hid; for this earthly life, and for the heavenly joys of Thy Kingdom which is to come. Extend Thy mercies henceforth upon us who sing unto Thee: Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages!

Ikos 1

I was born into the world a weak and helpless child; but Thine angel extended his resplendent wings over my cradle to defend it. Thenceforth, Thy love hath shone upon all my ways and marvellously hath guided me unto the Light of eternity. Gloriously, the plenteous gifts of Thy providence were shown from the first day of my life even unto this time. I thank Thee, and cry unto Thee, with all them that have come to know Thee:

Glory to Thee Who hast called me forth into life;
Glory to Thee Who hast revealed unto me the beauty of the universe;
Glory to Thee Who hast opened unto me both heaven and earth as an eternal book of wisdom;
Glory to Thine eternity in the midst of this temporal world;
Glory to Thee for Thy mercies known and unknown;
Glory to Thee for every sigh of my sorrow;
Glory to Thee for every step in my life, and for every moment of joy;
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages!

Kontakion 2

O Lord, how good it is to be Thy guest! Fragrant wind, mountains reaching into the sky, waters like boundless mirrors reflecting golden rays and light clouds. All nature whispereth mysteriously, full of caresses, and the birds and the beasts bear the seal of Thy love. Blessed is Mother Earth with her swift, passing beauty, awakening yearning For the eternal homeland where incorruptible beauty soundeth: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Thou didst lead me into this life as into an enchanting paradise. We have looked upon the sky as a deep blue chalice in whose azure the birds ring out: we have heard the soothing murmur of the forest, and sweet-sounding music of waters; we have tasted fragrant and sweet fruits, and scented honey. It is good in Thy home on earth, joyous to be Thy guests.

Glory to Thee for the feast of life;
Glory to Thee for the perfume of lilies-of-the-valley and of roses;
Glory to Thee for the delightful diversities of berries and of fruits;
Glory to Thee for the diamond brilliance of morning dew;
Glory to Thee for the smile of light awakening;
Glory to Thee for earthly life, precursor of the heavenly;
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages!

Kontakion 3

By the power of Thy Holy Spirit, every flower giveth forth scent, calm wind-borne fragrance, delicate hue, the beauty of the great with the small. Praise and honour to the life-giving God, Who spreadeth forth the meadows as a flowering carpet, and crowneth the fields with golden sheaves, and azure cornflowers, for the joy of souls’ contemplation. Be glad, and sing to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

How beautiful art Thou in the triumph of spring when all creatures arise! And in thousands of harmonious ways joyfully cry unto Thee; Thou art the Well-spring of life; Thou art the Conqueror of death. In the light of the crescent moon and the song of the nightingale; the valleys and the forests are set in their snow-white bridal veils, the whole earth, Thy bride, awaiteth her Eternal Bridegroom. If Thou so clothest the grass, how then wilt Thou transfigure us in the resurrection of the age to come; how radiant will be our bodies, how shining our souls!

Glory to Thee Who hast brought forth from the earth’s darkness diverse colours, taste, and fragrance;
Glory to Thee for the glad greeting and caress of all nature;
Glory to Thee, for the thousands of Thy creatures Thou hast set round about us;
Glory to Thee for the depth of Thy wisdom impressed upon all the world, Glory to Thee; reverently, I kiss the traces of Thine invisible footsteps; Glory to Thee Who hast kindled already the brilliant light of eternal life;
Glory to Thee for the hope of beauty, immortal ideal incorruptible.
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages!

Kontakion 4

How sweetly Thou delightest them that meditate upon Thee; how life-creating is Thy holy Word; Softer than oil and sweeter than honeycomb is conversation with Thee; prayer to Thee giveth wings and life; with what trembling is the heart then filled; how majestic and wise then become nature and all life; where Thou art not, there is emptiness; where Thou art is richness of soul; there the living flow poureth forth the song; Alleluia.

Ikos 4

When the sun goeth down upon the earth; when reigneth the rest of the night’s sleep, and the silence of the fading day; I behold Thy bridal chamber in the image of shining courts, and the cloudy halls of dawn. Fire and purple, gold and azure, prophetically speak of the unutterable beauty of Thy dwellings, and solemnly cry: Let us go to the Father.

Glory to Thee in the tender hour of evening;
Glory to Thee Who pourest out great peace upon the world;
Glory to Thee for the farewell rays of the setting sun;
Glory to Thee for the rest of grace-filled sleep;
Glory to Thee for Thy favour in the darkness, when all the world is distant;
Glory to Thee for the gentle prayers of a soul deeply touched;
Glory to Thee for the promised awakening to everlasting joy of the eternal day that hath no evening;
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages.

Kontakion 5

Life’s tempests affright not him in whose heart shineth the lamp of Thy fire; all round about, foul weather and darkness, horror and wailing of wind; but in his soul serenity and light. There is Christ! And the heart singeth: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

I behold Thy firmament shining with stars. O how rich Thou art! How much light Thou hast! By the rays of the distant heavenly bodies, eternity looketh upon me; I am so small and despised; but the Lord is with me, His right hand everywhere preserveth me.

Glory to Thee for unceasing care of me;
Glory to Thee for providential meetings with people;
Glory to Thee for the love of kindred, and the faithfulness of friends;
Glory to Thee for the meekness of animals which serve me;
Glory to Thee for each bright moment in my life;
Glory to Thee for the happiness of living, moving, and meditating.
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages.

Kontakion 6

How great Thou art, and near, in the powerful movement of the storm; how visible Thy mighty hand in the darts of dazzling lightning; how marvellous is Thy majesty. The voice of the Lord is over the fields, in the rustle of forests; the voice of the Lord in the birth of thunder and of rain; the voice of the Lord over diverse waters. Praise to Thee in the roar of fire-breathing mountains; Thou shakest the earth as a garment; Thou raisest up to the sky the waves of the sea. Praise to Him Who humbleth the pride of man, who bringeth forth the cry of repentance: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

After lightning floods with light the banqueting chambers, how feeble seem the lights of the lamps! Even so, of a sudden, didst Thou shine in my soul in the midst of the most intense joys of my life. And after Thy lightning light, how colourless, dark, and illusory they seemed! My soul yearneth for Thee!

Glory to Thee, bound and limit of man’s highest dream;
Glory to Thee for unquenchable thirst for divine communion;
Glory to Thee Who hast breathed into us discontent with earthly things;
Glory to Thee Who hast enfolded us in Thy finest rays;
Glory to Thee Who hast shattered the power of the spirits of darkness, condemning to destruction all evil;
Glory to Thee for Thy revelations, for the happiness of feeling and living with Thee.
Glory to Thee. O God, unto the ages.

Kontakion 7

In a wondrous blending of sounds, Thy call is heard; in the melodies of singing in harmony, in sublime musical colours, in the brilliance of artistic creativity, Thou openest unto us the threshold of the paradise which is to come. Everything that hath true beauty, by this mighty call, causeth the soul to fly to Thee, and constraineth it joyfully to sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Thou enlightenest the thought of the artists, the poets, and the geniuses of science. By the power of Thy logic, they prophetically comprehend Thy laws, revealing the depth of Thy creative wisdom; their works speak unwittingly of Thee. O how great Thou art in Thy creations! O how great Thou art in man!

Glory to Thee Who hast shown Thine unfathomable power in the laws of the universe;
Glory to Thee Who fillest all nature with the laws of Thy Being;
Glory to Thee for all that Thou hast revealed unto us by Thy goodness;
Glory to Thee for all that Thou hast concealed in Thy wisdom;
Glory to Thee for the genius of the human mind;
Glory to Thee for the vivifying power of labour;
Glory to Thee for the fiery tongues of inspiration;
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages.

Kontakion 8

How near Thou art in days of infirmity; Thou Thyself visitest the sick; Thou Thyself leanest over the bed of suffering, and the heart communeth with Thee. Thou enlightenest the soul with peace in times of great sorrows and sufferings; Thou sendest unexpected help. Thou comfortest; Thou art the love that testeth and saveth. To Thee we sing the hymn: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

When in childhood I first consciously called upon Thee, Thou didst fulfil my prayer, and my soul was overshadowed by reverent peace. Then I understood that Thou art good – and blessed are they that turn unto Thee. I began to call upon Thee again and again, and now I cry:

Glory to Thee Who fulfillest my desire with good things;
Glory to Thee Who watchest over me day and night;
Glory to Thee Who curest sorrows and bereavements with the healing passage of time;
Glory to Thee in Whom there are no despairing losses; Who grantest unto all eternal life;
Glory to Thee Who endowest with immortality all that is good and sublime, Who didst promise desired meetings with the departed.
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages.

Kontakion 9

Why doth all nature mysteriously smile in the days of the feasts? Wherefore in the heart is discerned a marvellous lightness with which no earthly thing compareth; the very air of the altar and of the church become radiant? It is the breath of Thy grace, the reflection of the light of Tabor; then heaven and earth sing praise: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

When Thou inspiredst me to serve my neighbours and my soul wast enlightened by humility, one of Thine innumerable rays fell upon my heart, and became radiant as iron in the fire. I beheld Thy face, mysterious and elusive.

Glory to Thee, Who transfigurest our life by good deeds;
Glory to Thee, Who hast sealed Thine every commandment with unutterable sweetness;
Glory to Thee, Who art manifest where there is fragrant mercy;
Glory to Thee, Who sendest failures and sorrows, that we might pity the sufferings of others;
Glory to Thee, Who dost vouchsafe great rewards for precious good deeds;
Glory to Thee, Who receivest the high upsurge of the heart;
Glory to Thee, Who raisest love above all that is earthly and heavenly.
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages.

Kontakion 10

What is shattered into dust it is not possible to restore, but Thou restorest them in whom conscience hath been corrupted, Thou returnest former beauty to souls that hopelessly lost it. With Thee, nothing is impossible; Thou art all love. Thou – Creator and Restorer. Thee do we praise with song: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

My God, foreknowing the fall of the proud angel of the daystar, save me by the power of grace. Let me not fall away from Thee, let me not doubt Thee. Sharpen Thou mine ear that in every moment of life I may hear Thy mystical voice and cry unto Thee, Who art in all places:

Glory to Thee for providential coincidence of circumstances;
Glory to Thee for blessed foreknowledge;
Glory to Thee for intimations in a mysterious voice;
Glory to Thee for revelations in dreams and in waking;
Glory to Thee for thwarting our vain intents;
Glory to Thee for sobering us from heady passions through sufferings;
Glory to Thee for the saving humbling of the pride of the heart.
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages.

Kontakion 11

Through the icy chain of the ages, I feel the warmth of Thy divine breath; I hear the blood flowing. Thou art already nigh. A portion of time hath been cleared. I behold Thy Cross – it is for my sake. My spirit is in the dust before the Cross; here is the triumph of love and salvation; here, ceaseless praise unto the ages: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

Blessed is he who will taste of the Supper in Thy kingdom; but, already on earth, Thou hast made me a partaker of this bliss. How often hast Thou held out to me in Thy Divine right hand Thy Body and Thy Blood; and I, in multitudes of sins, received this holy thing and felt Thy love, ineffable, beyond nature!

Glory to Thee for the inscrutable life-giving power of grace;
Glory to Thee Who hast founded Thy Church as a quiet refuge for a spent world;
Glory to Thee Who renewest us by the life-giving waters of baptism;
Glory to Thee, Who restorest to penitents purity as a spotless lily;
Glory to Thee, unfailing depth of forgiveness;
Glory to Thee, for the cup of life, for the bread of eternal joy;
Glory to Thee, Who hast lifted us to heaven;
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages.

Kontakion 12

Many a time I have seen the reflection of Thy glory upon the faces of the departed! With what unearthly beauty and joy their faces shone, how aery, immaterial were their features; it was a triumph of happiness gained, attainment of rest. By their silence they called unto Thee. At the hour of my repose, enlighten also my soul as it crieth: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

What is my praise before Thee! I have not heard the singing of the Cherubim, which is the lot of sublime souls; but I know how nature praiseth Thee. I have perceived in winter how, in the silence of the moon, all the earth, clothed in a white robe splendent with snowy diamonds, quietly prayed to Thee. I have seen how the rising sun hath rejoiced in Thee, and choirs of birds sing Thy glory. I have heard how mystically the forest resoundeth of Thee, the winds intone, the waters babble, how choirs of heavenly bodies preach of Thee by harmonious movement in endless space. But what is my praise? Nature is obedient, but I – not. Yet, whilst I live, and see Thy love, I yearn to give thanks, to pray, and to cry:

Glory to Thee Who hast shown us the light;
Glory to Thee Who hast loved us with a deep love, immeasurable, divine;
Glory to Thee Who enlightenest us with light, hosts of angels and saints;
Glory to Thee, All-holy Father, Who hast given us an inheritance in Thy kingdom;
Glory to Thee, O Redeemer Son, Who hast opened unto us the way of salvation;
Glory to Thee, Holy Spirit, life-giving Sun of the age to come;
Glory to Thee for all things, O all-good Trinity divine.
Glory to Thee, O God, unto the ages.

Kontakion 13

O all-good and life-giving Trinity, receive our thanksgiving for all Thy mercies, and show us worthy of Thy benefits, that we, multiplying the talents entrusted unto us, may enter into the eternal joy of our Lord with triumphal praise: Alleluia. (Thrice)

We then repeat the first Ikos, followed by the first Kontakion.

Text translated by Lydia S. Balashova and Andreas Moran.