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Feast Day December 17
Troparion of Saint Daniel the Prophet and the Three Holy Youths: Ananias, Azarias, and Misael (2nd tone)
Great are the deeds of faith; for in the midst of the fiery furnace, as in a pool of rest, the three Holy Youths rejoiced, and the Prophet Daniel appeared as a shepherd to the lions as to sheep. For their prayers, Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Kontakion of the Three Holy Youths: Ananias, Azarias, and Misael (3rd tone)
You did not honor the image painted by human hands; but, arming yourselves with the Imperishable Being, thrice blessed, you glorified yourselves in the place prepared for battle by fire; and standing in the midst of the unbearable flames, you called upon God: hasten, O Merciful One, and hasten to our aid, for you can do all that you will.
Kontakion 1
He who gives life to man and determines the day of death for each one, the True God the Creator, has protected you, Holy Three Youths Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, and has brought you out unharmed from the furnace heated seven times. Now standing in His perfect glory, pray for us who cry out to you: Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Ikos 1
The angelic hosts marveled at your faith, Holy Three Youths, fearless of the fire prepared to consume your bodies, desiring heavenly things above earthly things. Receive these praises from us:
Rejoice, trinity of Saints;
Rejoice, for through you the beginning of eternal life has been revealed;
Rejoice, for you did not fear death;
Rejoice, for only thus were you freed from temptation;
Rejoice, for God protected you;
Rejoice, for the enemy has been put to shame;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill God’s Will and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 2
You were born in Jerusalem to devout parents, Saints; your mother’s name was Caligona, and your father’s name was Hezekiah. When he was ill, he dared to ask God not to put him to death, for he had kept His commandments and done honorable deeds, and God added another 15 years to his life, being glorified by your whole family: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Your blood brotherhood was strengthened by your brotherhood in faith in God, O Three Holy Youths, and you grew up in prayer, abstinence, and fasting, following the teachings of your parents.
Rejoice, you who are cruel to the body;
Rejoice, you who are wise in mind;
Rejoice, witnesses of the miracle of your father’s healing;
Rejoice, for you have seen with your own eyes the power of God;
Rejoice, for you led a life of virtue;
Rejoice, for you had humble thoughts in all things;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 3
When Jerusalem was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians, although you were very young, you were taken captive along with the Holy Prophet Daniel and brought to Babylon, where the Persians lived an idolatrous life without calling upon God: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
It was customary for young people taken as spoils of war to be educated in the law of the conquerors so that they might become learned servants, so that even you were forced by the pagans to follow them even in the worship of idols.
Rejoice, for God has enlightened you;
Rejoice, for He has given you the strength to remain faithful;
Rejoice, for you received only worldly teaching;
Rejoice, that even from this you chose only what was in the Law of God;
Rejoice, that you had spiritual discernment;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 4
For your wisdom and conduct, you were appointed over the affairs of the emperor, Holy Three Youths, and in all things you deliberated with great care and decided what to do only after long prayers, asking God to show you His Holy Will and thanking Him for His help: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Receiving great honor at the emperor’s court, you were allowed to eat at his table together with the Holy Prophet Daniel, but since the food was brought from idolatrous sacrifices, you refused to touch it, bringing the wrath of the pagans upon yourselves.
Rejoice, for you asked them to let you eat only seeds and water;
Rejoice, for after ten days you were more beautiful than before;
Rejoice, for your bodies had not weakened from fasting;
Rejoice, for God rewarded you with wisdom;
Rejoice, for the pagans let you eat according to your faith;
Rejoice, for you have preserved the purity of your lives;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 5
God has blessed you with His many gifts, O you trinity of Saints, and enriched you with knowledge in writing and a deep understanding of all deeds and books, and the Holy Prophet Daniel enlightened your mind to interpret dreams and visions in the light of the Holy Spirit, and for all this you have worshipped: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
The king often called you to him to ask your opinion on matters of the kingdom, and you three, together with the Holy Prophet Daniel, gave him guidance in every matter, no matter how complicated, and we honor you thus:
Rejoice, humble servants of God;
Rejoice, for you had only prayer in your minds;
Rejoice, speaking blessed counsel from the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, discovering the truth hidden in the snares of darkness;
Rejoice, bringing light;
Rejoice, giving us true knowledge;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 6
When the king had a disturbing dream, you prayed together with the Holy Prophet Daniel that God would reveal its meaning, and God showed Saint Daniel the truth, and you glorified Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
In the eighteenth year of your captivity, Nebuchadnezzar made a great statue of gold and called all the people to worship it, giving the order to put to death those who did not bow down to the idol and building a great furnace in the field where the disobedient would perish.
Rejoice, for they have called you to the feast of the new idol;
Rejoice, for they have reported that you do not follow the idolatrous command;
Rejoice, for the king has called you to him;
Rejoice, for he has asked you to give an account;
Rejoice, for you have confessed the True God;
Rejoice, for you worship Him alone;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 7
Filled with anger, the king ordered the furnace to be heated seven times until it was completely red-hot, and then he commanded strong men to bind you and throw you into the fire, but you prayed to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Entering the furnace, Holy Three Youths, you lowered your minds into your hearts and began to glorify God, and you, Holy Azariah, sang to Him: “Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever.”
Rejoice, for from the terrible fire you brought forth holy song;
Rejoice, for your voices did not cease;
Rejoice, for the flames of the fire did not frighten you;
Rejoice, for your prayer overcame nature;
Rejoice, for you believed unwaveringly in God;
Rejoice, for He has rewarded your faith threefold;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 8
Seeing that the fire did not consume you, the pagan servants began to throw grass, brimstone, pitch, tow, and vines into the furnace, and the flames rose about forty cubits high, surrounding and burning all those who were around the furnace, for they did not know how to pray to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
As you sang psalms and blessed God, the fire did not touch you, Saints, but an angel descended from heaven and breathed on you, and the flames turned into dew, and you remained unharmed, to the assurance of God’s care.
Rejoice, for through you this miracle was performed;
Rejoice, for you were an example of true faith;
Rejoice, for through courage you were reborn;
Rejoice, for through prayer you were saved;
Rejoice, for God comes to all who cry out to Heaven;
Rejoice, for He fulfills all good requests;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill God’s Will and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 9
The king was amazed to hear you singing and asked how many men had been thrown into the fire? For he saw not three, but four walking in the furnace untouched by the fire, and the fourth had the form and likeness of the Son of God: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
Calling out to you to come out of the furnace, Holy Three Youths, Nebuchadnezzar worshipped God before you and gave orders throughout the kingdom that all those who speak against the True God should be destroyed and their houses plundered, since there is no God who can deliver.
Rejoice, conquerors of idol worship;
Rejoice, you who were delivered beyond measure;
Rejoice, bringers of dew in the heat of temptation;
Rejoice, refreshing our souls from the burns of spiritual warfare;
Rejoice, thrice-holy ones who brought deliverance to the faithful;
Rejoice, for those of one faith with you received liberation from the oppression of faith;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 10
Coming to you in the midst of the flames, Saint Michael the Archangel was the angel strengthened by the power of God, sent by the Lord of life and death to spread his powerful and protective wings over you and give you victory over destruction, so that the name of the Creator might be glorified forever: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
Just as your father Hezekiah received from God another 15 years of life, so you, Holy Three Youths, received from the Father of Life a new birth, coming out of the furnace as from a mother’s womb, being born a second time and breathing the blessed air of Grace that God pours out upon His children.
Rejoice, you who have been brought to new life;
Rejoice, children protected by the Father in Heaven;
Rejoice, guardians of young people far from their families;
Rejoice, saviors of children from fires and sickness;
Rejoice, for together with Saint Michael the Archangel you perform countless miracles;
Rejoice, for you are honored together with Saint Daniel the Prophet;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 11
King Nebuchadnezzar held you in high esteem, commanded that you be given the honor you had before, and appointed you rulers over all the Jews, and you fulfilled your duties as before, in prayer and doing the Will of God: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
You lived to a ripe old age together with the Holy Prophet Daniel, witnessing the rise and fall of many kings, but you always kept your occupation as advisors and rulers because every king valued your wisdom and humility.
Rejoice, witnesses of man’s exaltation to worldly things;
Rejoice, for you have lived to see their fall because of pride;
Rejoice, for you have fully understood the vanity of earthly life;
Rejoice, descendants of David;
Rejoice, royal lineage and sons of God;
Rejoice, protected by Saint Michael the Archangel;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill God’s Will and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 12
When a king named Atic was in power, he ordered your heads to be cut off because you rebuked him for his paganism together with the Holy Prophet Daniel, O Holy Three Youths. When he wanted to cut off Ananias’ head, Azarias stretched out his cloak and received it, and Misail received Azarias’ head, and Daniel received Misail’s head; then, finally, they cut off Daniel’s head. After their heads were cut off, they stuck to their bodies, and the angel of the Lord took your bodies and carried them to Mount Gheval and placed them there under a rock, singing to our God: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
After four hundred years, at the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, you were all raised up and appeared to many to confirm the power of the Son of God, and then you fell asleep again, giving to nature what belongs to nature and to God what belongs to God.
Rejoice, for you have received a second life for a short time;
Rejoice, for God has raised you up for the glory of the Resurrection of His Son and of the Holy Trinity;
Rejoice, for the earth immediately claimed its right;
Rejoice, for you died again to fulfill the divine order;
Rejoice, for death has united you completely and forever with God;
Rejoice, for this is His holy Will;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill God’s Will and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 13
Holy Three Youths Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, we pray to you with tears: gather the divine host of angels and, together with the Holy Prophet Daniel and the Holy Archangel Michael, hasten to deliver us from the fire of temptations and save us from passions, so that we may fulfill God’s Will unceasingly, singing to Him: Alleluia!
(This Kontakion is said 3 times).
Ikos 1
The angelic hosts marveled at your faith, Holy Three Youths, fearless of the fire prepared to consume your bodies, desiring heavenly things above earthly things. Receive these praises from us:
Rejoice, trinity of Saints;
Rejoice, for through you the beginning of eternal life has been revealed;
Rejoice, for you did not fear death;
Rejoice, for only thus were you freed from temptation;
Rejoice, for God protected you;
Rejoice, for the enemy has been put to shame;
Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill God’s Will and bring His blessing!
Kontakion 1
He who gives life to man and determines the day of death for each one, the True God the Creator, has protected you, Holy Three Youths Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, and has brought you out unharmed from the furnace heated seven times. Now standing in His perfect glory, pray for us who cry out to you: Rejoice, Holy Three Youths, who fulfill the Will of God and bring His blessing!
Prayer
To those who were shown the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in the fiery furnace before time began, who received the gift of life and resurrection beyond nature, but who then returned to the earth from which they were formed to await the Second Coming of Christ, We offer these prayers to the three Holy Youths.
Holy Youth Ananias, with your angelic voice you cried out the glory of God in the midst of the flames, we pray give us also a voice to praise Him day and night, through words, thoughts, and deeds, that we may be pure in heart and victorious over bodily and spiritual passions.
Holy Youth Azarias, you were the wise and humble one, we pray you calm the flames that engulf our minds in temptation, that we may understand the Will of God and avoid falling into sin.
Holy Youth Misael, the youngest child, you overcame the cruelty of the flesh by obeying your older brothers. Intercede for us so that we may obey our spiritual father, and thus resemble the Angels of God.
Blessed trinity of Holy Youths, unyielding in faith and love for God, be our protectors in our trials, fulfill the order of nature where God wills, bring us peace and prosperity, and be with us in our journey toward the Kingdom of the Holy Trinity, from where we too may cry out eternally: “Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever.” Amen.
 Original source of the Akathist: https://acoperamantulmaiciidomnului.wordpress.com/2022/11/15/acatistul-sfintilor-trei-tineri-anania-azaria-si-misail-17-decembrie/
