Orthodox Reflections

For all Akathists published on our site, click here. This Akathist was recently provided in English by Maxim, who kindly asks all Orthodox Christians to keep him in their prayers for his repentance.

Feast Day: May 26

Saint Carpus was one of the Seventy Apostles, a companion of Apostle Paul, and served as Bishop of Beroea in Thrace (or Varna/Smyrna). Known for his purity and holiness, he preached in Crete and appeared in the 2nd Epistle to Timothy (4:13). He is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on May 26.

 Invoked against anger, against condemning others and for spiritual discernment.

Troparion of Saint Carp, one of the Seventy Apostles

3rd Tone

Holy Apostle Carp, pray to the merciful God to grant forgiveness of sins to our souls.

First Ode

4th Tone

Irmos

I will sing to You, O Lord my God, for You brought the people out of Egyptian bondage and covered Pharaoh with his chariots and his power.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Fill with divine light through your prayers, Apostle, those who lovingly celebrate your holy, most praised, and most honored memory.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Being wholly given to the Lord, you kept His holy laws unbroken and taught the lawless the good law, apostle.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Loving the mind above thought, most holy one, you enlightened your mind with secret knowledge and enlightened the world, most blessed one.

Now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen (to the Mother of God).

You gave birth to the Virgin in an inexpressible manner and, renewing the laws of nature, you became the ever-Virgin Mother; for this we bless you.

Third Ode

Irmos

The bow of the mighty has been weakened, and the powerless have been girded with strength; for this my heart has been strengthened in God.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Your tongue, touched by the Spirit, became a lyre moved by God, most blessed one, speaking the glory of our Savior and God.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Having the Word without beginning, Who guided you well and strengthened you, you showed the ways of salvation to those without God, Apostle Carp.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In order to proclaim the saving message to the world, as a divine hierarch you endured many persecutions and tribulations, great Carp.

Now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen (to the Mother of God).

As a young child, you gave birth to the One Who sprang forth from the Father before all ages, Mother of God; for this we glorify you.

Irmos

The bow of the mighty has been weakened, and the powerless have been girded with strength; for this my heart has been strengthened in God.

Fourth Ode

Irmos

Merciful One, for the love of Your image You stood on Your Cross and the nations melted away; for You are, O lover of mankind, my strength and my praise.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

You built up the multitude of believers like stones, on the rock of the true faith, and made them a dwelling place for the Most Holy Spirit, O God-mindful apostle.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Renewing with Baptism those who were old in mind and corrupt, you taught them to glorify Christ our God, preacher of God.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Revealing the mystery that covered the heavens for goodness, God-thinker, you drew to knowledge the nations that had left the darkness of deception.

And now and forever and ever. Amen (to the Mother of God).

The preacher of God, Habakkuk, saw you in his mind as a great and shady mountain, Virgin Mother of God, from whom our God came in the flesh.

 Fifth Ode

Irmos

Send us Your light, Lord. And deliver us from the darkness of our sins, O Good One, granting us Your peace.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

As a chosen planter of trees, you showed the peoples the tree of life, from which those who partake will live forever, preacher of Christ, apostle.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Becoming, Apostle Carp, a preacher to the nations and an honest teacher, a holy keeper of secrets and speaker of holy things, you stand before the Master with joy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

From the east you set forth like an unwaning light, illuminating the world with the rays of your holy words and deeds, hierarch and apostle.

Now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen (to the Mother of God).

Cleanse me now from the defilement of body and soul, with your merciful help, Blessed One, that I may praise and magnify you as is my duty, Most Praised One.

Sixth Ode

Irmos

He cried out before…

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

The coffin of your relics, with divine grace, springs forth fruits of healing for those in need, cleanses passions, and drowns unclean spirits, hierarch apostle.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Your word delivered people from speechlessness, and the great manifestation of your miracles led the lost to faith, great Carp.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Strengthened by divine power, you slew the dragon, who blasphemes the One on high, and you delivered those whom he had slain, O Apostle.

Now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen (to the Mother of God).

You gave birth without pain to the Creator, Who lifts up our torments and pains and makes our nature worthy of painless delight.

Irmos

The prophet Jonah cried out in advance, imagining Your three-day burial, praying: Deliver me from destruction, Jesus, King of powers.

KONTAKION

4th voice

Prosomia

You have shown Yourself today…

Like a bright star, the Church has gained you, Apostle Carp, and with the abundance of your miracles, she is forever illuminated; save those who honor your memory with faith.

Seventh Ode

Irmos

The young men of Abraham, once in Babylon, trampled the flames of the furnace with praise, crying out: God of our fathers, you are blessed.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

With your words alone driving away sickness and by the sign of the Cross healing passions, you proclaimed the saving message, enlightening those in darkness, teacher of holy things, Apostle Carp.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Unafraid of the wrath of the rulers, wise one, you boldly went to the sights of painful suffering, crying out: God of our fathers, you are blessed.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

You, who were sought out by the Lord, Apostle Carp, Veria inherited you as a divine seeker, chosen to seek her out in divine searches.

Now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen (to the Mother of God).

As one who is more delightful than the heavens, you have received in your womb the Word who cannot be contained, Virgin, Who saves the human race from all distress.

 Eighth Ode

Irmos

He who was crucified…

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Serving Paul, the wise guide, you carried the teachings of salvation through divine letters sent to those who were to be saved, hierarch.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

You appeared as a bright dawn, illuminating the world with the light of your preaching and lifting the deep darkness of ignorance from among the people, O wonder-worker.

We bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Lord.

Performing miracles with the call of the Father and the Spirit and the Word incarnate, wise one, you led the wise men of the Gentiles to honor the Being in three Hypostases.

And now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen (to the Mother of God).

You have appeared as Heaven, Mother of God, rising upon us the Sun of righteousness, Who enlightens us with the light of knowledge, O Mother of God, Most Pure.

Irmos

Let us praise, speak well, and worship the Lord, singing to Him and exalting Him forever and ever.

He who was crucified in the flesh and showed us the weapon of salvation, o you young men exalt Christ our God forever and ever.

Ninth Ode

Irmos

Your incorruptible birth…

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Seeing God, who ascended in glory into the heights, bearing flesh and you being numbered among the seventy disciples, Apostle Carp, you went out into the world, together with them, showing yourself to be a divine preacher.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

Like a sheep, you were sent among wolves to bring them to knowledge and salvation through the word of truth and to turn their minds to the true faith, Apostle Carp, speaker of divine things.

Stichera: Holy Apostle Carp, pray to God for us.

You showed yourself to be a companion of the angels, Apostle Carp, speaker of divine things, and of the apostles and martyrs, who accomplished wonderful things in the true faith. Dancing joyfully with them, remember us.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

You sanctified the earth, Apostle Carp, walking upon it and preaching the Holy Gospel with faith, bringing souls to the Life-giving Word. For this reason, He gave you the heavenly inheritance.

Now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen (to the Mother of God).

We bring you the voice of Gabriel, Virgin, crying out: Rejoice, gentle Cloud; rejoice, earth, which has borne the beautiful grain, the Nourisher of creation.

Irmos

Your uncorrupted birth has been revealed, God has come forth from your womb, for He has appeared in the flesh on earth and has lived among men. For this reason, we all magnify you, Mother of God.

SEDELNA

3rd tone

Prosomia

For the confession…

Receiving the divine radiance of the Savior, O most wise Carp, you enlightened those who were darkened by ignorance; and moving to the kingdoms above, you stand before the King of all, praying to Christ God always to grant us great mercy.

 THE VISION OF SAINT APOSTLE CARP

 Carpos was one of the Seventy Apostles. He was a follower and companion of the Apostle Paul by whom he was appointed as bishop of Varna in Thrace. He also preached the Gospel in Crete where he received St. Dionysius the Areopagite in his home. St. Dionysius testifies that Carpos was a man with an exceptionally pure mind, meekness and innocence and that the Lord Jesus, with His angels, appeared to him in a vision, and that he never began the Divine Liturgy unless he did not had a heavenly vision beforehand. Enduring many assaults for the Name of Christ, he finally suffered at the hands of the unbelieving Jews and was killed and, with his soul, took up habitation in the kingdom of God to delight eternally gazing upon the Lord in glory.

LETTER VIII (8) BY ST. DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE

When I was once in Crete, the holy Carpos [2 Tim. 4:13] entertained me, a man, of all others, most fitted, on account of great purity of mind, for Divine Vision. Now, he never undertook the holy celebration of the Mysteries, unless a propitious vision were first manifested to him during his preparatory devout prayers. He said then, when some one of the unbelievers had at one time grieved him (and his grief was, that he had led astray to ungodliness a certain member of the Church, whilst the days of rejoicing were still being celebrated for him); that he ought compassionately to have prayed on behalf of both, and taking God, the Savior, as his fellow-helper, to convert the one, and to overcome the other by goodness [Rom. 11:21], and not to have ceased warning them so long as he lived until this day; and thus to lead them to the knowledge of God, so that the things disputed by them might be clearly determined, and those, who were irrationally bold, might be compelled to be wiser by a judgment according to law.

Now, as he had never before experienced this, I do not know how he then went to bed with such a surfeit of ill-will and bitterness. In this evil condition he went to sleep, for it was evening, and at midnight (for he was accustomed at that appointed hour to rise, of his own accord, for the Divine melodies) he arose, not having enjoyed, undisturbed, his slumbers, which were many and continually broken; and, when he stood collected for the Divine Converse, he was guiltily vexed and displeased, saying that it was not just that godless men, who pervert the straight ways of the Lord, should live. And, whilst saying this, he besought Almighty God, by some stroke of lightning, suddenly, without mercy, to cut short the lives of them both.

But whilst saying this, he declared that he seemed to see suddenly the house in which he stood, first torn asunder, and from the roof divided into two in the midst, and a sort of gleaming fire before his eyes (for the place seemed now under the open sky) borne down from the heavenly region close to him; and the heaven itself giving way, and upon the back of the heaven, Jesus, with innumerable angels, in the form of men, standing around Him. This indeed he saw above, and himself marvelled; but below, when Carpos had bent down, he affirmed that he saw the very foundation ripped in two, to a sort of yawning and dark chasm, and those very men, upon whom he had invoked a curse, standing before his eyes, within the mouth of the chasm, trembling, pitiful, only just not yet carried down by the mere slipping of their feet; and from below the chasm, serpents, creeping up and gliding from underneath, around their feet, now contriving to drag them away, and weighing them down, and lifting them up, and again inflaming or irritating with their teeth or their tails, and all the time endeavoring to pull them down into the yawning gulf; and that certain men also were in the midst, co-operating with the serpents against these men, at once tearing and pushing and beating them down. And they seemed to be on the point of falling, partly against their will, partly by their will; almost overcome by the calamity, and at the same time resigned.

And Carpos said, that he himself was glad, whilst looking below, and that he was forgetful of the things above; further, that he was vexed and made light of it, because they had not already fallen, and that he often attempted to accomplish the fact, and that, when he did not succeed, he was both irritated and cursed.

And, when with difficulty he raised himself, he saw the heavens again, as he saw it before, and Jesus, moved with pity at what was taking place, standing up from His super-celestial throne, and descending to them, and stretching a helping hand, and the angels, co-operating with Him, taking hold of the two men, one from one place and the other from another, and the Lord Jesus said to Carpos, whilst His hand was yet extended, “Strike against Me in future, for I am ready, even again, to suffer for the salvation of men; and this is pleasing to Me, provided that other men do not commit sin. But see, whether it is well for thee to exchange the dwelling in the chasm, and with serpents, for that with God, and the good and philanthropic angels.”

These are the things which I heard myself, and believe to be true.

Reflection of St. Nikolai Velimirovich

We should not desire the death of a sinner, but his repentance. Nothing grieves the Lord more, Who suffered on the Cross for sinners, then when we pray to Him for the death of a sinner and thereby to remove him from our path. It happened that the Apostle Carpos lost his patience and began to pray that God send down death upon two sinful men; one a pagan and the other an apostate from the Faith. Then the Lord Christ Himself appeared to Carpos and said: “Strike me; I am prepared to be crucified again for the salvation of mankind.” St. Carpos related this event to St. Dionysius the Areopagite and he wrote it down and gave it to the Church as a lesson to all, that prayers are needed for sinners to be saved and not for them to be destroyed, “for the Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Source: https://doxologia.ro/canon-de-rugaciune-catre-sfantul-apostol-carp-unul-din-cei-saptezeci