Celebrating Saint John Jacob the New of Hozeva
A collection of hymns from the Matins service for the new Romanian Saint who reposed on August 5, 1960.
Troparion of Saint John Jacob
(Plagal fourth mode)
The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father, for forsaking the world and your country, you took up the Cross of Christ and settled in the Jordan Valley to practice asceticism. Therefore, O holy Father John Jacob, your spirit rejoices with the Angels. Pray to Christ God that our souls be saved.
Kathisma
(fourth mode)
You left behind all transient things for Christ, O Saint John, seeking peace near the life-giving Tomb, and wandering from place to place, you finished your journey in the cave of Saint Anna, where you raised your incorrupt, holy body, for which reason we praise your memory today.
Kathisma
(fourth mode)
You do not give rest to your eyes, O Blessed Father John, nor did you burden your heart with earthly cares; but, denouncing everything out of love for Christ, you now rejoice in heaven with the ranks of all the Saints. Pray to God for us who celebrate your holy memory with hymns and praises.
Kathisma
(fourth mode)
Abandoning earthly things, you struggled in asceticism in caves along the Jordan River and in the desert of Hozeva; by your prayers burning the hosts of demons, and together with the angels keeping vigil. Blessed Saint John, pray to Christ God to grant the world peace and great mercy.
Stichera Idiomela
(plagal second mode)
Blessed Father John, great ascetic and precious torch, lit by the light of the Holy life-giving Tomb, by your prayers enlighten those who love you, and entreat Christ, the Savior of the world, to grant us His great mercy.
Kontakion
(for the Saint plagal fourth)
In love with the One God, you fled transient things, and dwelling in the desert, O Holy Father John, you betrothed yourself to peace of soul, unceasingly glorifying Christ, the Savior of the world. For which reason, we piously bring you hymns and praises, saying: Rejoice chosen flower of our Church.
Oikos
Joyously abandoning earthly things, from your youth you received the angelic image in Neamț Monastery, and going to the Lord’s Tomb, you made yourself an experienced hesychast. And tasting the mystical light of Tabor, you struggled alone in the Jordan and Hozeva desert, guided by the Holy Spirit, O Holy Father John, trophy of Moldova and boast of hermits. Help us all, your sons, to worship with correct faith the One God glorified in Trinity.
Synaxarion
On the fifth day of this month we commemorate the Forefeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Also on this day we commemorate our Holy Father John the New of Neamț (the Hozevite), whose holy relics were found intact in the cave of Saint Anna in the desert of Hozeva (and are kept in the church of the Saint George of Hozeva Monastery close to Jericho)…
Exapostilarion
Arming yourself with prayer and love of Christ, O Blessed Father John, you took up the Cross, and leaving your brothers, you went into the Jordan desert, where you struggled well, defeating the demons and weakness of the flesh through prayers and tears, fasting and martyric endurance. For which reason now, having arrived in the light and ranks of the Saints, do not cease praying for us, your sons, who with love honor you.
From the Canon
(by Fr. Ioanichie—disciple of St. John Jacob)
Man of stillness and prayer, O Father, you spoke with no one except God, the Saints, and birds of the sky who honored you and joyfully flew about your cave. For, having the Holy Spirit resting in your heart, you desired nothing else except Christ, your love, to Whom we ask that you pray for our souls.
The cave of Saint Ana in the Hozeva desert was your final resting place on earth, O Blessed One. There you hid from us, there you prayed fervently for Christ; there you struggled and wept for your people enslaved by apostasy and pagans; there you wrote beautiful spiritual teachings for us, which you would send to your brothers like a ray of light and hope-giving guide.
Always contemplating the hour of the soul’s separation from the body and judgment of Christ, your heart, O Father, prayed unceasingly, requesting deliverance from its ties to the flesh, and your mind nourished itself permanently with the sweetness of divine words.
You fled men and glorified God together with hermits and angels. Pray, O Saint John, follower of Christ, for the strengthening of right faith in the world and in your fatherland, and ask for mercy and forgiveness for us your children who praise your ascetic struggle.
You betrothed yourself to Christ in the monastery of Neamts and became completely one with Him in the Holy Land, struggling in caves and barren places far from the world and any earthly comfort. For this reason your humble body was discovered incorrupt in the tomb, according to God’s will, to the joy of the Orthodox and rebuke of the faithless.
Your harsh and eremitic life reproves us, O Father, for we cannot imitate your ascetic feats. Neither do we have much zeal, nor have we acquired prayer of the heart, nor tears and joy of the Holy Spirit have we attained. Help us, Holy Father John, to imitate you through Christ’s repentance.