Akathist to Holy Martyrs Manuel, Savel and Ismael

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Feast Day June 17

The Holy Martyrs Manuel, Savel, and Ismael (commemorated on June 17 in the Orthodox Church) were three brothers from a noble Persian family in the 4th century during the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate (361–363).Their father was a high-ranking pagan priest, but their mother secretly raised them as Christians. Sent by the Persian King Alamundar as ambassadors to Julian to negotiate peace, the brothers arrived in Constantinople and then traveled to Chalcedon, where the emperor was celebrating a pagan festival. Refusing to participate in the idolatrous sacrifices despite imperial pressure, they openly confessed their faith in Christ. After enduring imprisonment and cruel tortures, they were beheaded by the sword around the year 362. Their bodies were initially buried by local Christians, and numerous miracles and healings were later reported at their graves. They are venerated as steadfast confessors of the Christian faith who chose martyrdom over compromising with paganism, even at the cost of diplomatic relations between the Roman and Persian empires.

Kontakion 1

You bravely rejected the tyrant’s threats and promises, steadfast pillar, together with your kinsmen, you suffered, great man of contemplation! But, as one who has boldness before the Lord, deliver us, O Saint Manuel, from danger, that we may cry out to you: Rejoice, martyr who suffered greatly!

Ikos 1

Learning the faith in the uncreated Trinity from the wise Eunoikus, the three martyrs were baptized in Christ, guiding their mother well. So let us all gather together and cry out to them:

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs, who think as one;

Rejoice, for you worship God with service;

Rejoice, for you learned about the uncreated Trinity through mystery;

Rejoice, for you learned about the beginningless Oneness;

Rejoice, mother who gave birth to the martyrs;

Rejoice, that Eunoikus gave birth to them a second time;

Rejoice, that you followed your mother, O trio of martyrs;

Rejoice, that you received the teachings of Eunoikus;

Rejoice, equal in number to the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, defenders of the divine Unity;

Rejoice, Savel, Manuel, and Ismael;

Rejoice, trio of martyrs whom everyone calls upon for help;

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs who suffered greatly!

Kontakion 2

Alamudar sent you, O trinity of martyrs, to the king of the Romans to establish peace between the Romans and the Persians. And he, receiving the answer with joy, thinks vain thoughts about you, being vain of mind, while you cry out: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

You give gifts to the envoys and cunningly urge them to feast with you, O empty-minded one, but they, knowing all this to be worthless, prayed to God to deliver them from your error, O lawbreaker. Therefore, praising them, we cry out:

Rejoice, thrice-blessed martyrs, dwelling place of the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, praise of the martyrs;

Rejoice, immortal offspring of Persia;

Rejoice, unshakeable support of Thrace;

Rejoice, for you have trampled on the honors of the tyrant;

Rejoice, for you have despised the gifts of the emperor;

Rejoice, you who pray to protect us from error;

Rejoice, you who ask God to save all;

Rejoice, for you have risen from the earth to the heavens;

Rejoice, for you have united yourselves with God and rejoice;

Rejoice, Savel, Manuel, and Ismael;

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs, whom all believers praise;

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs, who suffered greatly!

Kontakion 3

The messengers prayed fervently to the Lord while the tyrant was offering sacrifices, and seeing this, he ordered them to be sacrificed by force, but they replied: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

The three messengers rejoiced, being unlawfully dragged to prison by the tyrant’s command, and walking in the way of the Lord, they sang praises and verses. Therefore, let us believers say to the three martyrs:

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs, preachers of the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, trumpet of piety;

Rejoice, worthy vessels of the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, dwelling place of the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, for the lawless one has imprisoned you;

Rejoice, for you have praised God by entering into it;

Rejoice, you who have overthrown the words of the apostate emperor;

Rejoice, you who have received the rewards for your torments;

Rejoice, defender of righteous service;

Rejoice, fighter against Hellenistic error;

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs, intercessors of the pious;

Rejoice, our most special intercessors;

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs who suffered greatly!

Kontakion 4

Having divine zeal, the trinity of martyrs preached the Lord of all and fearlessly revealed the error of the idols and the emperor, and cried out the saving song of praise of the angels: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

You shone forth in the world, O trinity of martyrs who endured torment, the multitude of your glorious struggles, your enemy repaying you with lawless beatings for your faith; you endured all things unyielding and joyful, for which we also cry out to you:

Rejoice, blessed trinity of martyrs;

Rejoice, thrice-wise martyrs;

Rejoice, you who preached the Unity of the Trinity;

Rejoice, you who taught the Trinity of Unity;

Rejoice, you who now dwell among the hosts of angels;

Rejoice, for together with all the hosts you glorify God;

Rejoice, you who fearlessly showed yourselves;

Rejoice, you who patiently endured the beatings;

Rejoice, for you put the multitude of unbelievers to shame;

Rejoice, for you have gladdened the faithful;

Rejoice, through whom Christ was preached;

Rejoice, through whom the apostate emperor was defeated;

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs!

Kontakion 5

Filled with rage because the saints refused to worship idols, the tyrant ordered that their hands and feet be pierced with nails and that they be crucified on wood. Suffering these torments, they cried out to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

You have seen the sons of the Chaldeans, O tormentor, that they were not afraid of their sufferings. Why then do you order them to be tortured mercilessly with iron spikes? O perseverance of the martyrs, to whom we sing with clear, kind, and praising voices:

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs, for the labor you have received;

Rejoice, for you have gained crowns for your sufferings;

Rejoice, for you have been deemed worthy of heavenly delights;

Rejoice, for you deliver the faithful from terrible things;

Rejoice, for you sing God’s song of victory;

Rejoice, for you have the chosen ones by your side;

Rejoice, for you endured the iron chains;

Rejoice, for you bravely rebuked the emperor;

Rejoice, for you are the heirs of the strong martyrs;

Rejoice, for you follow in their footsteps;

Rejoice, through whom the Creator is praised;

Rejoice, through whom the deceiver is reviled;

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs!

Kontakion 6

Hanging from the wood, the three good brothers prayed to God to help them, and He relieved them of their sudden and bodily pains, strengthening them to endure the other torments and sing to the Lord: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

The madman spoke slanderously to two of the martyrs, cunningly driving away Manuel, but this godly pair, with great wisdom, put his gods to shame before him, for which we pray thus:

Rejoice, praise of God;

Rejoice, complete defeat of the enemy;

Rejoice, you who mocked the cunning of the apostate emperor;

Rejoice, you who rebuked the deceit of idols;

Rejoice, you who defamed the gifts of the tyrant;

Rejoice, for you were not afraid of the emperor’s wrath;

Rejoice, O Savel, supporter of those in danger;

Rejoice, O Ismael, defender of those in need;

Rejoice, for you enlightened through God and confessed Him;

Rejoice, for you did not spare your brave bodies;

Rejoice, honorable companions of the suffering;

Rejoice, new defenders;

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs who suffered greatly!

Kontakion 7

The bodies of the martyrs, Savel and Ismael, were burned mercilessly with torches, but they endured the fire with joy, giving glory to God. We come to praise them with songs, crying out to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

The tyrant shows you another cunning trick, O Manuel, turning back, but you, as a wise man, Holy One, have taught, proving to all the Holy Trinity and that the reckoning of brotherhood is one in all things, for this we cry out:

Rejoice, through whom the Holy Trinity is confessed;

Rejoice, through whom error is driven away;

Rejoice, good brother of Ishmael and Savel;

Rejoice, steadfast preacher of your reckoning;

Rejoice, for you have put the inhuman tyrant to shame, brave Manuel;

Rejoice, for you call the Lord who loves people Emanuel;

Rejoice, love of our teacher, Jesus;

Rejoice, burning arrow against opposition;

Rejoice, sweet thing and name;

Rejoice, giver of brilliant miracles;

Rejoice, common mediator and intercessor;

Rejoice, defender in our favor!

Rejoice, trinity of much-suffering martyrs!

Kontakion 8

Wonderful are your battles, which no one can honor as they deserve, O Manuel, for the terrible tyrant, inflamed with rage and without humanity, lit torches of fire under your ribs to defeat you. But you showed yourself victorious and sang: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

Being completely savage towards you, the apostate emperor, lawlessly commands, O Manuel, that you be wrapped in reeds and terribly tortured, and we, marveling at your perseverance, cry out:

Rejoice, you who chose nothing more than God;

Rejoice, you who suffered greatly for Him;

Rejoice, you who suffer with the angels;

Rejoice, you who without shame intercede for souls;

Rejoice, for you sing to Christ the thrice-holy song with the angels;

Rejoice, for you enliven for God the four letters with prophecies;

Rejoice, for your body was wrapped in reeds;

Rejoice, for they gathered you without mercy;

Rejoice, star that shows the Sun;

Rejoice, light that illuminates those under the sun;

Rejoice, for together with the other two of the same blood as you, you shine;

Rejoice, for you look upon us together with them;

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs!

Kontakion 9

All the angels, O Manuel, were terrified as you endured sharp arrows, for your body was covered with inhuman wounds, O sufferer! Therefore, praising you, we sing to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

With the rivers of your blood, O three martyrs who bore torment, the earth was reddened and conquered; for the tyrant mercilessly pierced your divine heads with spikes, and we, fearfully glorifying God, cry out to you:

Rejoice, radiance of piety;

Rejoice, wonders of patience;

Rejoice, holy trio of good brothers;

Rejoice, spotless sacrifice of the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, for you suffered sharp nails;

Rejoice, for the torments did not frighten you;

Rejoice, for you became a wonder to the angels;

Rejoice, for you became a wound to the tyrant;

Rejoice, inexhaustible fountain of wonders;

Rejoice, incurable wound of the devils;

Rejoice, through whom the Creator is glorified;

Rejoice, through whom creation is not idolatrously worshipped;

Rejoice, trinity of suffering martyrs!

Kontakion 10

Martyrs, as miracle workers, heal the sicknesses of souls and deliver from evil those who run to you always with the song: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

O brave martyrs Manuel, Savel, and Ismael, the foolish tyrant commanded that sharp reeds be stuck under your nails. Therefore, seeing you joyful in these sufferings, we cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, through whom the Holy Trinity is glorified;

Rejoice, O trio of martyrs who expose the pagans;

Rejoice, you who wonderfully shine upon the faithful;

Rejoice, for you have exchanged the corruptible for the heavenly;

Rejoice, for you have been numbered among the martyrs;

Rejoice, you who have been wounded by unbearable torments;

Rejoice, for reeds have been stuck under your nails;

Rejoice, through whom idols are hated;

Rejoice, through whom the carved ones fall;

Rejoice, through whom faith is strengthened;

Rejoice, through whom error is dispelled;

Rejoice, trinity of suffering martyrs!

Kontakion 11

You raised your hands, martyrs, to the Lord of all, sending Him your final prayer. And from heaven you heard the desired voice calling you to life, so that you might receive your crown and cry out to God with the angels: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

The divine martyrs were taken to a perilous place and there their heads were cut off, and the tyrant commanded their bodies to be thrown into the fire in vain, for God protected them; therefore we cry out with fear:

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs, the astonishment of the apostate emperor;

Rejoice, you who trouble the enemy;

Rejoice, you who are the source of healing for all;

Rejoice, you who illuminate the ends of the earth;

Rejoice, you who preached the Creator of all;

Rejoice, you who ascended to the Maker Himself;

Rejoice, for you served Him with zeal;

Rejoice, for you were slain for Him;

Rejoice, for you overthrew the tyrant’s craft;

Rejoice, for you spring forth spiritual healings;

Rejoice, for you drive away our passions;

Rejoice, spiritual trinity, delight of righteous Christians;

Rejoice, burning of all unbelievers;

Rejoice, trinity of much-suffering martyrs!

Kontakion 12

The bodies of the three good brothers, a gift from God, were hidden by the earth as it opened up, and their tormentors, seized with fear, fled; but most of the Greeks, believing in God, cried out: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

Singing with lamentation and praying to the Lord with faith, the enlightened ones suddenly saw the bodies of the martyrs with wonderful features coming out of the earth; they kissed them eagerly and praised them, crying out:

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs, who welcomed the light;

Rejoice, you who suffered great torments;

Rejoice, you who fought the good fight;

Rejoice, you who received the grace of miracles from God;

Rejoice, you who gave us back our bodies;

Rejoice, herald of our salvation;

Rejoice, intercessors with God for us;

Rejoice, for you have delivered us from error;

Rejoice, for you have enlightened many with knowledge;

Rejoice, through whom the faith of Christ has shone forth;

Rejoice, through whom torments were overcome;

Rejoice, trinity of suffering martyrs!

Kontakion 13

O three divine martyrs, the faithful taking your bodies with fear and burying them, they cried out: “Deliver us all from the terrible things and the toil that is to come,” and crying out to God: Alleluia!

(This kontakion is said three times.)

Ikos 1

Learning the faith in the uncreated Trinity from the wise Eunoikus, the three martyrs were baptized in Christ, guiding their mother well. So let us all gather together and cry out to them:

Rejoice, trinity of martyrs, who think as one;

Rejoice, for you worship God with service;

Rejoice, for you learned about the uncreated Trinity through mystery;

Rejoice, for you learned about the beginningless Oneness;

Rejoice, mother who gave birth to the martyrs;

Rejoice, that Eunoikus gave birth to them a second time;

Rejoice, that you followed your mother, O trio of martyrs;

Rejoice, that you received the teachings of Eunoikus;

Rejoice, equal in number to the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, defenders of the divine Unity;

Rejoice, Savel, Manuel, and Ismael;

Rejoice, trio of martyrs whom everyone calls upon for help;