Idiomela in Honour of Saint Onuphrius

Translated from the Greek original; the original text of each hymn can be displayed beneath it. In the Greek original only obvious typographical errors of the earlier edition have been corrected. The idiomelon “You sought, O God-bearer”, which appeared twice, is given once.

Christ, having found the pure tabernacle of your soul exceedingly radiant, Onuphrius, came to dwell in you; and, having become god by grace, you reign with Him eternally, interceding for our souls.
Greek text
Ὡς ὑπέρλαμπρον ὁ Χριστός σου εὑρών, ψυχῆς τὸ καθαρὸν σκήνωμα, Ὀνούφριε, ἐνοίκησεν ἐν σοί· καὶ θέσει Θεὸς γεγονώς, συμβασιλεύεις αὐτῷ αἰωνίως, πρεσβεύων ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν.
Come, O multitude of the Orthodox, and, praising with psalms in songs of encomium the most divine minister of the Trinity, the valiant Onuphrius, let us say thus: most radiant star, blossoming vine, dove that did not remain in the mire, all-wondrous channel of the Spirit, rose pouring forth sacred fragrance, perfume poured out, sending forth spiritual sweetness to the ends of the earth: entreat Christ that great mercy be granted to our souls.
Greek text
Δεῦτε τῶν ὀρθοδόξων πληθύς, τὸν τῆς Τριάδος λειτουργὸν τὸν θειότατον, Ὀνούφριον τὸν γενναῖον, ἐν ἐγκωμίων ᾠδαῖς ψαλμικῶς ὑμνοῦντες, οὕτως εἴπωμεν· ἀστὴρ ὁ φανότατος, ἡ κυπρίζουσα ἄμπελος, περιστερά τε ἐν ἰλύσι μὴ μείνασα, ὁ πανθαύμαστος ὀχετός τε τοῦ Πνεύματος, ῥόδον ἱεροχούντιον, ξεόμενον ἄρωμα, καὶ εὐωδίαν ἐκπέμπων πνευματικὴν ἐν τοῖς πέρασι, Χριστὸν ἐκδυσώπει ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν δοθῆναι τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
You sought, O God-bearer, to behold the delight of the Lord, and you longed to converse alone with Him alone; wherefore, forsaking the world, fleeing and dwelling in deserts and mountains, and having put on Christ, you took no thought for a tunic, gaining for yourself the tunic of incorruption, with which you entered the heavenly bridal chamber, rejoicing eternally, venerable Onuphrius.
Greek text
Ἐζήτησας, θεοφόρε, τοῦ θεωρεῖν τοῦ Κυρίου τὴν τερπνότητα, καὶ μόνος αὐτῷ μόνῳ προσομιλεῖν ἐπεπόθησας· ὅθεν κόσμον καταλιπών, φυγαδεύων καὶ διαιτώμενος ἐν ἐρήμοις καὶ ὄρεσι, καὶ τὸν Χριστὸν ἐνδεδυμένος, χιτῶνος οὐκ ἐφρόντιζες, τῆς ἀφθαρσίας χιτῶνα σεαυτὸν ἐμπορευόμενος, μεθ᾽ οὗ εἰσῆλθες εἰς τὸν οὐράνιον νυμφῶνα, αἰωνίως ἀγαλλόμενος, Ὀνούφριε ὅσιε.
Rejoice, you who became the beauty of ascetics and an invincible champion; for, cutting out the roots of the passions and courageously withstanding the assaults of the demons, you exposed their weakness and soul-destroying deceit, and made manifest the working and the invincible power of the Cross of the Saviour; girded with it, you conquered all who warred against you, O Spirit-bearing Father Onuphrius: entreat Christ that great mercy be granted to our souls.
Greek text
Χαίροις, τῶν ἀσκητῶν καλλονή γεγενημένος καὶ ἀήττητος πρόμαχος· παθῶν γὰρ ἐκτέμνων ῥίζας, καὶ τῶν δαιμόνων ὁρμὰς ὑποστὰς ἀνδρείως, ἐθριάμβευσας αὐτῶν τὴν ἀσθένειαν καὶ ψυχόλεθρον πλάνησιν, τὴν τοῦ Σταυροῦ δὲ τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἐνέργειαν καὶ ἀνίκητον ἐφανέρωσας δύναμιν, ἣν καὶ περιζωσάμενος ἐνίκησας ἅπαντας τοὺς πολεμοῦντάς σε, Πάτερ πνευματοφόρε Ὀνούφριε· Χριστὸν ἐκδυσώπει ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν δοθῆναι τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Rejoice, field of my Christ, filled with fourfold fragrances, clearly adorned with wisdom, endurance, virginity and divine ascesis; land of the Spirit, good and fertile, yielding perfect fruit; desert-loving nightingale, Onuphrius; water of love for mankind, over which moved the divine Spirit, who is with the Father and is bestowed through the Son: fervently entreat Him that great mercy be granted to our souls.
Greek text
Χαίροις, ὁ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μου ἀγρός, ὁ τετραπλόοις πεπλησμένος ἀρώμασι, σοφίᾳ τε, καρτερίᾳ καὶ παρθενίᾳ σαφῶς καὶ ἀσκήσει θείᾳ ἐγκοσμούμενος· ἡ γῆ ἡ τοῦ Πνεύματος, ἀγαθή τε καὶ εὔπιος, ἡ τὸν καρπόν γε διαδίδουσα ἄρτιον· ἡ φιλέρημος ἀηδὼν ὁ Ὀνούφριος, ὕδωρ φιλανθρωπίας τε, ἐφ᾽ οὗ ἐπεφέρετο τὸ σὺν Πατρὶ θεῖον Πνεῦμα, τὸ δι᾽ Υἱοῦ χαριζόμενον· θερμῶς ὃ δυσώπει ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν δοθῆναι τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Venerable Onuphrius, in the scorching and toilsome abode of most rigorous ascesis you persevered as though resting in a sanctuary; for, joining yourself spiritually to the hermits of the inner desert, you trampled upon the fiery quivers of the demons, and, having risen above every virtue, you dwell with the Angels in the kingdom of heaven; with them intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.
Greek text
Ὅσιε Ὀνούφριε, τῆς στεῤῥοτάτης ἀσκήσεως, ἐν τῇ καυστικῇ καὶ ἐπιπόνῳ διατριβῇ, ὡς ἐν ἀδύτοις ἀναπαυόμενος διετέλεσας· τοῖς ἐρημικωτέροις γὰρ ἑαυτὸν συνάψας πνευματικῶς, τὰς πυριφλέκτους φαρέτρας τῶν δαιμόνων κατεπάτησας, καὶ ὑπεράνω πάσης ἀρετῆς γεγονώς, συναυλίζῃ Ἀγγέλοις ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν, μεθ᾽ ὧν πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.
Let us, lovers of the feast, honour the angel on earth and man of God in heaven, the adornment of the world, the delight of good things and of virtues, the boast of ascetics; for, planted in the house of the Lord, he blossomed in righteousness, and with the rays of his miracles he has reached the ends of the earth, having lived like an angel, Onuphrius, in holiness and righteousness.
Greek text
Τὸν ἐπὶ γῆς Ἄγγελον καὶ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἄνθρωπον Θεοῦ, τοῦ κόσμου τὴν εὐκοσμίαν, τὴν τρυφὴν τῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ τῶν ἀρετῶν, τῶν ἀσκητῶν τὸ καύχημα, φιλέορτοι τιμήσωμεν· πεφυτευμένος γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Κυρίου, ἐξήνθησε δικαίως, καὶ τῶν θαυμάτων ταῖς ἀκτῖσι τὰ πέρατα διείληφε τῆς γῆς, ἀγγελικῶς βιώσας, Ὀνούφριε, ἐν ὁσιότητι καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ.
Who will not marvel, Father, at your heartfelt love for Christ? For, wounded by its dart, you could no longer remain with the brotherhood with which you formerly lived; therefore, unnoticed by all, you went forth, following Him who called you, rejoicing at the vision of the divine light; and, reaching naked the place farthest from the world, you continued always without food and without shelter, striving, as it were, towards fleshlessness, O far-famed one, so that you might at last cast down the invisible and mighty dragon, standing against him like a great stag through faith in the Trinity; and when you had routed him, the Angels applauded and men marvelled, as you departed to Christ bearing the trophy. Wherefore do not cease to entreat Him for us who honour you, as you promised us, God-bearing Onuphrius.
Greek text
Τὴν ἐγκάρδιον ἀγάπην τὴν εἰς Χριστόν σου, Πάτερ, τίς οὐ θαυμάσει; Βληθεὶς γὰρ τῷ ταύτης βελέμνῳ, ἐμμένειν ἔτι οὐκ εἶχες τῇ ἀδελφότητι ᾗπερ συνῴκεις πρὸ τοῦ· ὅθεν καὶ πάντας λαθών, ἐξῆλθες ἑπόμενος τῷ καλοῦντί σε, χαίρων τῇ ὀπτασίᾳ τοῦ θείου φωτός· καὶ τὴν ποῤῥωτέραν τῶν ἐγκοσμίων γυμνὸς καταλαβών, ἄτροφός τε καὶ ἄσκηνος διὰ παντὸς διετέλεις, ἐκβιαζόμενος οἷον πρὸς ἀσαρκίαν, ἀοίδιμε, τὸν ἀφανῆ δράκοντα τὸν δαψιλέον, εἴπως καταβάλλῃς εἰς τέλος, ὡς εὐμεγέθης ἐλάφας ἀντιταττόμενος κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ τῇ πίστει τῆς Τριάδος· καὶ ταύτῃ τοι τροπωσαμένου σου τοῦτον, ἐκρότησαν Ἄγγελοι, ἐθαύμασαν ἄνθρωποι, ὅτε πρὸς Χριστὸν ἐξεδήμησας τροπαιοφόρος. Διὸ μὴ διαλίπῃς πρὸς αὐτὸν ἱκετεύων ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν τῶν τιμώντων σε, ὡς ἡμῖν καθυπέσχου, θεοφόρε Ὀνούφριε.
Strengthened in the Lord God, according to the eminent Apostle,¹ God-bearing Father Onuphrius, and having put on the whole armour of God, you went forth to defend yourself against the enemies; for, having girded your loins and shod your feet with the Gospel, you put on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation; and as a mighty soldier you entered into combat with the devil, holding in your hands the shield of faith. But hasten to deliver us too from the hands of the destroyer of men, by your intercessions with God, venerable Father, us who glorify your memory.
Greek text
Ἐνδυναμωθεὶς ἐν Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ, κατὰ τὸν ἔξοχον φημὶ Ἀπόστολον, θεοφόρε Πατὴρ ἡμῶν Ὀνούφριε, καὶ ἐνδυθεὶς τὴν πανοπλίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐξῆλθες εἰς ἄμυναν τὴν κατὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν· τὴν γὰρ ὀσφὺν περιζωσάμενος καὶ εὐαγγελικῶς ὑποδυσάμενος τοὺς πόδας, τὸν τῆς δικαιοσύνης θώρακα ἐνέβαλες καὶ τὴν τοῦ σωτηρίου περικεφαλαίαν· καὶ ὡς στρατιώτης εὐσθενής, εἰς τὴν συμπλοκὴν καθώρμισας τοῦ διαβόλου, τὸν θυρεὸν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶ κατέχων τῆς πίστεως. Ἀλλὰ σπεῦσον καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν τοῦ ἀνθρωποκτόνου ἀπαλλάξαι, ταῖς πρὸς Θεὸν πρεσβείαις σου, ὅσιε Πάτερ, τοὺς τὴν μνήμην σου δοξάζοντας.
Mounting a heaven-coursing chariot, O divine one, you attained the citadel of the virtues through ascesis, from the desert taking possession of the supramundane things of the Jerusalem on high; and having worthily received the rewards of your toilsome struggles, you rejoice with the heavenly ranks, most blessed one, having become an heir of eternal good things and a dweller in the Kingdom. But intercede, God-bearing Onuphrius, with the Saviour of all, to grant peace to the world and to save our souls.
Greek text
Οὐρανοδρόμῳ ἐπιβὰς ὀχήματι, θεσπέσιε, τῶν ἀρετῶν κατέλαβες τὴν ἀκρόπολιν δι᾽ ἀσκήσεως, ἐκ τῆς ἐρήμου πολεύων τῆς ἄνω Ἱερουσαλὴμ τὰ ὑπερκόσμια· καὶ τῶν ἐκ πόνων ἀγώνων ἀξίως τὰ γέρα κομισάμενος, ταῖς οὐρανίαις συναγάλλῃ ταξιαρχίαις, παμμακάριστε, τῶν αἰωνίων ἀγαθῶν κληρονόμος καὶ τῆς βασιλείας οἰκήτωρ γενόμενος. Ἀλλὰ πρέσβευε, θεοφόρε Ὀνούφριε, τῷ Σωτῆρι τῶν ὅλων εἰρηνεῦσαι τὸν κόσμον καὶ σῶσαι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.
A day of gladness has dawned, the all-venerable feast of the holy Onuphrius, illumining the whole world with the light of his virtues; wherefore let us all, as is due, praise him with hymns, saying: rejoice, worthy dweller of the desert and holy citizen of heaven, angel in the body and man in heaven; rejoice, all-radiant and golden-shining luminary of the world; rejoice, divine boast of monastics, helper and deliverer of those in danger; and now, Onuphrius our Father, intercede for the salvation of our souls.
Greek text
Ἀνέτειλεν ἡμέρα εὐφροσύνης καὶ ἑορτὴ πανσεβάσμιος τοῦ ἱεροῦ Ὀνουφρίου, τὴν οἰκουμένην πᾶσαν τῷ φωτὶ τῶν ἀρετῶν αὐτοῦ καταυγάζουσα· ὅθεν πάντες ὕμνοις χρεωστικῶς ἀνυμνήσωμεν λέγοντες· χαίροις, τῆς ἐρήμου οἰκήτωρ δεξιὸς καὶ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ πολίτης ἱερός, ὁ ἐν σώματι Ἄγγελος καὶ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἄνθρωπος· χαίροις, ὁ τῆς οἰκουμένης παμφαὴς φωστὴρ καὶ χρυσαυγής· χαίροις, τῶν μοναζόντων τὸ καύχημα τὸ θεῖον, καὶ τῶν ἐν κινδύνοις ὁ βοηθὸς καὶ ῥύστης· καὶ νῦν, Ὀνούφριε Πατὴρ ἡμῶν, πρέσβευε τοῦ σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.
Venerable Father Onuphrius, like a prudent serpent, through the narrow and toilsome way of your ascetic exercises you shook off the old garment and were seen renewed; and, ascending to the height of the virtues like an eagle to Lebanon, bearing the wings of tears and of prayer, you rose to heaven through contemplation on high and were joined to God, like the divine Paul; cease not to intercede for us who with faith and longing celebrate your holy memory.
Greek text
Ὅσιε Πάτερ Ὀνούφριε, ὡς φρόνιμος ὄφις, διὰ τοῦ στενοῦ καὶ ἐπιπόνου τῶν ἀσκητικῶν σου γυμνασμάτων ἀποσεισάμενος τὸ παλαιὸν ἔνδυμα, ὤφθης ἀνακαινιζόμενος· καὶ τῷ ὕψει τῶν ἀρετῶν ἀναβάς, ὡς ἀετὸς πρὸς τὸν Λίβανον, φέρων τὰ πτερὰ τῶν δακρύων καὶ τῆς προσευχῆς, ἀνῆλθες πρὸς οὐρανὸν διὰ τῆς ἄνω θεωρίας, καὶ συνηρμόθῃς τῷ Θεῷ, ὡς ὁ θεσπέσιος Παῦλος· ᾧπερ μὴ ἀποκάμῃ πρεσβεύων ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, τῶν ἐν πίστει καὶ πόθῳ τελούντων τὴν ἁγίαν μνήμην σου.

This page contains a small tribute to Saint Onuphrius, my protector, who through his entreaties to the Lord has helped me, and helps me, in difficult circumstances.
Jason Digalakis

Cf. Eph 6:10–17. ↩