I am a  convert to the Orthodox Christian Faith – by a living saint, who was Father George Calciu Dumitreasa – I struggle just like the rest of you, and I am walking in the midst of snares, and hidden traps have been set by the enemy in many places (St Basil the Great)but I can do all things through Him who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13). 

Please pray for me a sinner!

  

“ To my flock I leave this message: Love one another as Jesus loved us so that it will be revealed that we are the sons of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Sacrifice yourselves! Pray and be merciful to those in need! . . .”

Father George Calciu

The Akathist Hymn of the New Confessor,

Father George Calciu

Composed in Romanian language by monastics

Romanian version Here: Acathyst Fr Gheorge

 

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of Life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infitmities for thy Name’s sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debs, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us form the evil one. Amen.

Troparia to Father George, Third Tone:

 

O Passion-Bearer of Christ, glorios confessor of His Resurection, soothing harp of the Spirit, adommnet of Orthodoxy, Father George, thou who overcomest the darkness of this world by the power of the Cross, wining favor before Thee, pray that He will grant us peace and great mercy.

Kontakion 1

To thee, O radiant torch of the Church of Christ, O apostolic trumpet, the glory and beauty of the new confessors, the comforter and defender of those in need, our enlightener and wise teacher, come all ye faithful to offer this hymn of praise crying with joy: Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Ikos 1

As a radiant torch, thou wast shown forth, O Father George, in the night of unbelief of these later days, shining with the grace of Christ to the ends of the earth, for which we the unworthy, with humble hearts sing to thee:

Rejoice, O holy minister of the Gospel of Christ

Rejoice, thou who broughtest forth fruit like a beautiful olive tree;

Rejoice, thou who didst rise from a land sanctified by the First Called Apostle;

Rejoice, for leaving home and family, a fisherman of souls hast thou become;

Rejoice, that from an early age, thou didst follow in the footsteps of the saints;

Rejoice, for their lives, has guided thee in prayer;

Rejoice, thou to whom from childhood, the heavenly light wast revealed;

Rejoice, for after this, thou didst thirst thy whole life;

Rejoice, seer of heavenly mysteries;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 2

The Lord wished to give thee to drink the water of humility, O innocent lamb, and the cruel prison gates were opened before thee, for injustice hath lied to itself; but thou didst accept everything as from our Lord’s hand, to Whom thou dost now cry out with all the saints: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

Together with thee, thousands of pure souls, young faithful were imprisoned in Aiud, Gherla, Pitesti and Jilava for the love of Christ and country, but like spiritually experienced men, you were not frightened, for by your prayers to the Lord, you didst turn the prison cell into a monastery, for which now receive from us these humble words of praise:

Rejoice, glorious star shining among the new confessors;

Rejoice, for in prison, thou didst labor for His holy commandments;

Rejoice, together with the new confessors Valerius and James;

Rejoice, with pious Gherasimos, Mark and Daniel, the great passion-bearers;

Rejoice, for the Jesus prayer thou didst utter with sweetness;

Rejoice, that for the grace of God, thou didst thirst like a deer;

Rejoice, for thine only hope was in the mercy of God;

Rejoice, for unceasingly in Him thou didst believe;

Rejoice, Holy Confessor and right laborer;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 3

Like a roaring lion seeking to devour your souls, the devil rose against you in the prison of Piteşti wishing that you should lose yourselves and to ruin the purity of your virginal souls, that no one may be left to cry from its darkness, together with the angels: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

„Enemy of Nation” – the nation for which thou didst suffered – wast thou named, and “evil doer” wast thou called, O wonderful one with thy soul an immaculate lily, but neither humiliation, nor beatings, nor hunger, nor cold separate thee from the love of Christ; for He saved thy soul from death, thine eyes from tears and thy feet from slipping, for which now receive from us our ignorant and child-like songs which art lifted up to thee as so:

Rejoice, thou who knewest the weakness of human nature;

Rejoice, for thy whole life forth an unceasing repentance didst become;

Rejoice, for the angels covered their faces when you were tortured;

Rejoice, thou who wast persecuted for thy belief in Christ;

Rejoice, thou who placed thy hope in the Almighty God alone;

Rejoice, for through thy sufferings, in love and mercy thou didst grow;

Rejoice, although thou didst fell like a man, as one raised from the dead thou didst arise;

Rejoice, for by thee Satan wast put to shame;

Rejoice, conqueror of hades by grace;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 4

Fear and trembling comest upon thee, O father, and darkness over shadowed thy soul, but waiting on the Lord, the Conqueror of Hades, voiceless thou becamest and together with the Prophet, only in thy heart thou could whisper: “In the shadow of Thy wings I will hope, until all these iniquities shall pass away” or “I waited for the Lord that saveth me from faint-heartedness and from tempest” while the angels in thy place raised up the song: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

Having seeing thy tears shed before Him, O great passion-bearer, the Lord could no longer suffer the demon’s pride towering over your souls, and lifted you from the depths of perdition to become witnesses of His glorious Resurrection, for which with reverence we cry out such as these:

Rejoice, thou who wast slapped in the face for the Holy Orthodox faith;

Rejoice, for beyond thy strength, thou didst receive suffering;

Rejoice, for in the victory of the Cross, thou didst believe;

Rejoice, that from fishermen, apostles and from pagans – martyrs were made;;

Rejoice, for thy human nature through many pains wast purified;

Rejoice, for thy heart crucified on the Cross wast sanctified;

Rejoice, that many times in prison thou didst lay down thy soul for others;

Rejoice, for thou didst bring thy whole life as a burnt offering to God;

Rejoice, follower in the love of Christ;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 5

Wanting our Lord to draw thee to Thy heavenly heights, in the darkness of Jilava prison thou didst descend, that suffering together with new martyr Constantine, thou mayest confess with thy whole life and all Thy Saints: “O death – where is thy sting, O hades – where is thy victory?” crying to the Master of life and death: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

As in the belly of the whale, you didst stay for three years in the murky darkness of Casimcea prison, and wounded were you, O handmaids of the Lord, like those now lying in the grave whom God remembers no more, having no one to cry for you, but only the angels watching over your suffering, of which learning over the years, we the unworthy, with meek hearts honor and sing to thee these:

Rejoice, buried seed of wheat bearing fruit a hundredfold;

Rejoice, for with thy mind, thou didst ascend to Thy heavenly heights;

Rejoice, for thy weak human nature, thou didst overcome;

Rejoice, for grace dwelt in thy heart;

Rejoice, thou who wast forgiven much, for thou didst love much;

Rejoice, thou who comest out of prison, purified;

Rejoice, for other prisoners were stricken by thy love;

Rejoice, for death no longer frightened thee;

Rejoice, fearer of only God;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 6

Blood and water springing from the Lord’s side nourishest the Church, His Bride, with the eternal life, and in the tomb of Casimcea prison, following the example of thy Lord, O glorious Father, thou didst open thy veins for the one thou didst love, so he may not die, showing that the love of Christ is more powerful than death, for which we will not cease to glorify God singing: Alleluia!

 Ikos 6

„If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I become like a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal; and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing,” sayeth the Apostle, for in these words thou didst follow thy whole life, forgiving and loving until thy last breath, for which we the unworthy sing to thee:

Rejoice, father of consolation;

Rejoice, image of complete patience;

Rejoice, branch that wast broken, then beautifully budding forth;

Rejoice, endearing physician of the sick;

Rejoice, for thou knowest the blessing of suffering;

Rejoice, for in our perils thou art our great guardian;

Rejoice, for the Lord anointed thee with the oil of suffering;

Rejoice, for thine heart was pierced by His love;

Rejoice, our protector and urgent helper;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 7

Who will count, O father George, how many times while in prison you denied yourself, and beatings and torture for the love of neighbor thou didst endure with a broken and contrite heart, as a faithful servant of the One most gentle and humble at heart, in Whom thou didst find rest singing: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

Brighter than the molten gold and more luminous than the polished diamond thou camest forth after sixteen years of imprisonment, O passion-bearer, for which we glorify Him who strengthened thee so in thy time of need and utter unto thee:

Rejoice, for the Lord hast clothed thee over thy prison stripes with priestly garment;

Rejoice, for like an angel, thou didst serve with honor the Heavenly King;

Rejoice, wonderful priest of the Almighty;

Rejoice, luminous preacher;

Rejoice, shepherd whose voice the lambs didst know;

Rejoice, for through thee, in the Living Word many didst believe;

Rejoice, for a brightly shining beacon thou wast to the youth;

Rejoice, for thou didst embrace their souls in thy loving heart;

Rejoice, skillful teacher and wise counselor;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 8

„They are all gone astray, they are altogether rendered useless; there is none that doeth good, no not one”, for there was no one to stand against the mad tyrant command to demolish Christ’ churches, saying in his heart: “There is no God”; but thou alone, O Father, cried out in the night of dwindling faith: Alleluia!

 Ikos 8

Seven sermons as seven apostolic trumpets, didst thou leave as treasure for Christ’ Church, O Father, for not the wisdom of this world thou didst preach but the “foolishness” of the Cross, which is the power of God for those who are being saved, and sealing these words with thy own blood, receive from us this humble song:

Rejoice, for thy words art silver cleansed by fire;

Rejoice, for thy whole life, thou didst fight against false teachings;

Rejoice, for without fear thou didst preach the love of Christ;

Rejoice, for thou didst speak to the youth of Christ’s calling to each of them;

Rejoice, for thou didst open their hearts towards the love of God;

Rejoice, that for this, in the dark prison thou again wast thrown;

Rejoice, for thou didst teach the youth that only in the Truth is there freedom;

Rejoice, that for the Gospel of Christ thou didst face even death;

Rejoice, confessor of our times;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 9

„Where shall we run from Thee, for Thou hast the words of eternal life!” asked the new disciples with tears, seeing their Teacher chained, and understanding that the servant is not greater than the Master, they praised God, with humility singing: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world, both ye that are born on earth, and ye sons of men, rich and poor men together for the servant of Christ, George dares again as a mighty warrior to overcome the world by the power of the Crucified One, for which we sing with love such as these:

Rejoice, thou clothed in truth and crowned with the helmet of salvation;

Rejoice, thou who wast armored in justice;

Rejoice, for the glory of this world thou didst account as nothing;

Rejoice, thou who didst overcome all earthly sweetness;

Rejoice, for thou hast loved the Lord even above thine own household;

Rejoice, for thy suffering for Christ wast made known to the ends of the earth;

Rejoice, for confessing thy love for us, thou didst reveal to us that we would not die;

Rejoice, for thou didst instruct us to seek after the love of God;

Rejoice, worthy laborer of the Lord’ harvest;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 10

Once more chains and torture, once more imprisonment and persecution came upon thee, O passion-bearer of Christ, for only on the Cross in like manner to Christ didst thy soul find rest, crying out to God with thanksgiving for all things: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

Thou didst follow in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, O great confessor of the Truth; for thou wast “persecuted but not crushed, oppressed but not abandoned”, and the prison of Aiud, thou didst turn it into a holy altar, bringing thyself as a burnt offer, humbly praying to the Lord and crying, “Thine own of thine own, we offer onto Thee, on behalf of all and for all”, for which we, ignited by thy fiery love for God, praise you and sing such as these:

Rejoice, that from the darkness of the prison, thou didst shine even more luminous;

Rejoice, for thy prayers as a pillar of fire up to heaven were raised;

Rejoice, for thou wast visited by the voice of the Angel of Resurrection;

Rejoice, for at His word, thy whole prison was full of light;

Rejoice, thou comforted by our Lord of Consolation;

Rejoice, for thou wast made a new apostle of the Resurrection;

Rejoice, for thou hast tamed those hired to be thy murderers;

Rejoice, for they humbly knelt down before thee;

Rejoice, meek inheritor of the earth;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 11

Traps and thistles are the paths of wicket men, where thy foot didst not stumble, O new passion-bearer father, but hoping in the prayers of the living Church, thou didst not descend from thy cross until the Lord delivered thee, to Him thou art now crying in heaven, together with all the Saints: Alleluia!

 Ikos 11

Pity from the godless thou didst not desire, O blessed passion-bearer, and knewest that they would have no power over thee if it had not been given to them from Above; the cup of suffering thou didst drink to the last knowing that this was the time of darkness and its rulers, but we, amazed by thy sufferings, cry to thee:

Rejoice, worthy follower of the holy martyrs of Dobrogea;

Rejoice, thou rejoiced by the holy Martyrs Brâncoveni;

Rejoice, defender of their royal shrines from destruction;

Rejoice, for the holy Romanian kings prayeth to the Heavenly King for thee;

Rejoice, with the new martyrs from Targu Ocna, Canal and Periprava;

Rejoice, for thou didst shed thy blood with those from Gherla, Pitesti, Aiud and Jilava;

Rejoice, for thy enemies, from thy heart thou didst forgive and love;

Rejoice, blessed wheat offered unto God;

Rejoice, bearer in thy body of Christ’ holy passion;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 12

He Who kept Daniel whole in the lions’ den also kept thee, O wondrous father, for thou camest out alive from the second prison term, that to the ends of the earth thou may witness God’s love for mankind and to unceasingly cry unto Him the angelic sang: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

Like a new Apostle to the American land thou wast sent, and humbly receiving this bitter exile thou didst seek for the lost sheep illumining with streams of grace many souls thirsting for eternal life, and bearing much spiritual fruit, a tireless harvester wast thou shown to be, for which we sing with reverence unto thee:

Rejoice, our good father and teacher;

Rejoice, healer of the crushed and broken souls;

Rejoice, harsh reproof of heresies;

Rejoice, gentle corrector of sinners;

Rejoice, for in our afflictions, thou art a strong and peaceful haven;

Rejoice, blooming lily in the depths of anguish;

Rejoice, for thou wast never tired to counsel us;

Rejoice, for until thy last breath, thou didst not cease to serve everyone with humility;

Rejoice, loving minister of the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, Father George, great passion-bearer!

Kontakion 13

Omarvelous confessor of Christ, Father George, thou who guardest the true Faith thy whole life, strongly exposing the soul destroying errors, we humbly ask thee to intercede before God for us sinners that we may find compassion before Him, that being raised from the depths of our passions and ignorance, we may cry forever with thee and all the saints: Alleluia! (to be repeated 3 times)

(Then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1)

Prayer

O chosen shepherd of the Romanian flock, O Father George lover of God, who can worthy honor the labors and sufferings thou didst endure for the love of Christ? Our earthly minds cannot look towards the heavenly glory thou didst acquire; thou who didst confess Christ before men, the Truth and the Light of the world, for now the Son Himself confesses thee before Thy Heavenly Father and His angels, according to His unbreakable words.

But knowing thy love for us, we the unworthy dare to bring thee these joyful and humbling words, to intercede for us before the Lord for the salvation of our souls. Behold, Father George, the clouds of unbelief and sinful passions, behold the many temptations and errors surrounding the Church of Christ. Lift up thy voice to the Lord and beseech Him to lift up illumined shepherds in this darkened age to lead His flock toward the path of salvation.

Pray, O loving Father, for all children of the Church, hierarchs, priests and monastics that they may live in holiness before Thee keeping the right faith and purity. Pray, O loving Father for the young instructing them as thou once didst, in the love of God. Pray for all those in need, in sickness and distress, pray for those imprisoned and persecuted, as one who knewest the weakness of human nature.

Pray, O loving Father, that the whole world may come to know Thee: the Resurrection and the Life, and not wander in the desert of earthly vanities. Do not leave any soul that harkens unto thee, without thy help and fortification, knowing that the Lord hears thy prayers as soon as thou extendest thy voice before Him, for thy chains of passion shine like precious pearls in heaven. Grant us, O good and gracious Father, that we too may burn with thy fiery love for Christ, and to never be ashamed to confess Him before men our whole life, after thy fearless and godly example, which humbly we dare to look upon.

Teach us, O Father, to forgive and to love one another, teach us humility and patience, but also the courage to confess Christ in Spirit and in Truth, so we may live our lives to find favor in the hour of Dread Judgment before God the Trinity to Whom is due honor and glory, now and forever unto the ages of ages. Amen!

 

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