Lesser-known Treasures from the Divine Services and Liturgy of the Orthodox Church

Since I am blessed with access to a full liturgical library and in digital format, I thought it good to share with my fellow Orthodox members texts from the Monthly Menaion, the full Octoechos, the General Menaion, the Triodion and the Pentecostarion members might not have access to or be familiar, as well as less known texts from the Divine Liturgy, including older recensions of the Orthodox Divine Liturgy and variants no longer commonly used, such as the Divine Liturgy of St. Mark recently celebrated by the Patriarch of Alexandria.

In particular, since the Divine Services are heavily abbreviated, whether in Greek or Russian practice, many members might not be familiar with the entire content of the beautiful Canons of Matins, for in many jurisdictions, only the Irmos and Katavasia of each ode are sung, or sometimes even less. I love the Antiochian Church and regard them as one of the best when it comes to liturgics, but it is depressing when one compares the contents of the official texts for Orthros they publish with what is in the Menaion - because there is a lot we are missing, but admittedly pastoral needs preclude celebrating these services in full at the present. But perhaps new ways can be found of making these services accessible - perhaps something like the pious practice of Anglicans in the UK of listening to Choral Evensong over the radio could be used to allow different Orthodox choirs to sing parts of the Divine Services not usually heard, for the edification of the Orthodox while at home or at work.

For my part, I am going to share what I have, asking for the blessing of St. Luke the Evangelist, the Holy Prophets Moses, Habbakuk and Daniel, St. John of Damascus, St. Romanos the Melodist, St. Theodore the Studite and St. Ephraim the Syrian and our Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary.

I also wish to dedicate this thread to my Orthodox brethren @prodromos and @jas3 and my dearly beloved friends @RileyG @MarkRohfrietsch and @chevyontheriver and @Shane R who I believe will find this liturgical material edifying - and I do plan on including some Western Rite Orthodox texts which may appear in their service books as well.

I also wish to thank our dear friend @ArmyMatt , a chaplain and priest of the Orthodox Church in America, who attended St. Tihkon’s Seminary, whose online streaming service is one of the best places to hear the services of the Orthodox Church online in English.

Today is the feast of St. Luke on the Julian Calendar, and there is a spectacularly beautiful Ode from the canon commemorating him at Matins, this Ode being, like most odes of the canons, a hymn inspired by the Canticles, specifically the Nine Canticles or Odes from the Orthodox psalter. This one is one of two Odes based on the two Canticles of the Three Youths in the Furnace in Babylon, one of which is known in the west as Benedicite Omni Opera (Ode VIII for us), but this is the preceding Ode. I am providing both the original canticle and the Ode for St. Luke, so as to demonstrate how these Odes work for those unfamiliar. i will also, because this is the feast of St. Luke, include Ode IX, which features the Magnificat from Luke ch. 1, which we sing at Matins (and sometimes at Compline) rather than at Vespers, but since in the Slavonic practice these often happen together in an All Night Vigil that consists of Vespers, Compline, Matins, and Prime (the First Hour), and sometimes the Ninth Hour in monastic use, that changes things a bit (the Menaion however, unlike the Octoechos, usually only has propers for Vespers and Matins).

Canticle VII

BLESSED art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy Name for evermore; For Thou art righteous in all the things that Thou hast done to us; yea, true are all Thy works, Thy ways are right, and all Thy judgments are true. In all the things that Thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, Thou hast executed true judgment; for according to truth and judgment didst Thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins. For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee, and in all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed Thy commandments, nor kept them, neither done as Thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us. Wherefore all that Thou hast brought upon us, and everything that Thou hast done to us, Thou hast done in true judgment; and Thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful apostates, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world. And now we cannot open our mouths; we are become a shame and reproach to Thy servants, and to them that worship Thee.

Yet deliver us not up wholly, for Thy holy Name’s sake, neither disannul Thou Thy covenant; and cause not Thy mercy to depart from us, for Thy beloved Abraham’s sake, for Thy servant Isaac’s sake, and for Thy holy Israel’s sake; To whom Thou hast said that Thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore. For we, O Master, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins. Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before Thee, that we may find mercy. Nevertheless in a contrite soul and an humble spirit let us be accepted.

Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs; so let our sacrifice be acceptable in Thy sight this day, and may it hereafter be performed before Thee; for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in Thee. And now we follow Thee with all our heart, and we fear Thee, and seek Thy face; Put us not to shame, but deal with us after Thy loving-kindness, and according to the multitude of Thy mercy. Deliver us also according to Thy marvelous works, and give glory to Thy Name, O Lord. And let all them that do Thy servants hurt be ashamed; and let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken; And let them know that Thou art Lord, the only God, and glorious over the whole world. And the king’s servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, and tow, and small wood; So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits; and it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace. But the Angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azariah and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven; And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them. Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, and blessed, and glorified God in the furnace, saying, The Three Youths in the Furnace Praise God.

For eight verses

Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and exalted above all for ever. And blessed is Thy glorious and holy Name, which is praised and exalted above all for ever.

For six verses

Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy holy glory, and praised and exalted above all for ever. Blessed art Thou that beholdest the depths, Who sittest upon the Cherubim; and art praised and exalted above all for ever.

For four verses

Blessed art Thou on the glorious throne of Thy kingdom, and praised and exalted above all for ever. Blessed art Thou in the firmament of heaven, and praised and exalted above all for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Ode VII from the Canon of the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist

Irmos: In Babylon, the pious youths did not worship the golden image, but, bedewed in the midst of the fiery furnace, they chanted a hymn, saying: O supremely exalted God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

As a faithful disciple of the ineffable mysteries of Christ God, O most wise one, thou didst preach His divine Gospel to the faithful who said: O supremely exalted God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Thou wast shown to be adorned with the embellishment of the virtues, O most blessed Luke, illumined by the rays of divine majesty and crying out unceasingly to thy Creator: O supremely exalted God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Emitting radiant beams, thou wast shown to be like a torch in the midst of night, piously driving away the darkness of delusion with the radiance of thy words, and crying aloud: O supremely exalted God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Theotokion: Possessed of a life illumined with wise discourse, O Luke who didst behold God, thou didst manifestly describe the birthgiving of the Virgin and didst lovingly depict her in icons. To her do we faithfully offer veneration, glorifying Christ


I really loved the third and fourth Troparia “Thou was shown to be adorned with the embellishment of the virtues” and “Emitting radiant beams”, which is awesome liturgical language.

Also, because it is the feast of St. Luke, I feel obliged to include:

Canticle IX - Evangelical Canticles from Luke ch. 1 - The Magnificat and the Prayer of St. Zecariah

MY soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden, for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is His Name, and His mercy is on them that fear Him throughout all generations. He hath showed His strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek; He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He remembering His mercy hath holpen His servant Israel, as He promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.

The Prayer of Zechariah (Luke 1:68–79). Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and redeemed His people, And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; As He spake by the mouth of His holy Prophets, which have been since the world began; That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant,

For eight verses The oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we, having been delivered out of the hands of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.

For six verses And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Most High; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto His people unto the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God;

For four verses Whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Ode IX from the Canon of the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist

Irmos: With unceasing glorification we magnify thee, the Mother of the Most High, who knewest not wedlock, who didst truly give birth unto God the Word in manner past understanding, and art more highly exalted than the all-pure hosts.

In the preaching of the Gospel thou wast a proclaimer of the salvation of the world; and, breathing the inspiration of the Spirit, thou didst show thyself a sacred and greatly renowned trumpet, O most honored one of sacred eloquence.

Adorned with the acts of the Savior’s apostles, moved by God thou didst record them for the faithful, ever setting them forth as a lasting and inspired model, O most glorious sacred preacher.

Thou didst stand, O godly Luke, attaining thine ultimate desire; for thou didst stand forth before Christ, delighting in the divine vision bestowed by Him. Wherefore, we all call thee blessed.

Theotokion: We magnify thee, O Mother of God, who bore in thine arms the unapproachable God Who is hymned in the heavens by all the hosts, and Who ever granteth salvation to us through thee.


While Ode IX is not one of the better adaptations of the Magnificat one will find in the Canons of the Menaion, I felt obliged to include it for it is thanks to St. Luke we have the three Evangelical Canticles. However, I absolutely loved Ode VII from the canon for today; I thought it was amazing, particularly the middle troparion, which one is least likely to hear, because only the Irmos (the first Troparion), the Katavasia (the last Troparion) and the Theotokion (the Troparion to the Theotokos that follow each Ode) tend to survive the process of severe abbreviation.

By the way if anyone has any requests for content they might like to see in this thread, such as the canon or propers for the feast of your patron saint, or Slava for our Serbian members, please let me know, and I will try to find it.

rusmeister said:

I guess I’m sort of Serbian, whether I want to be or not. What I would be interested in are the changing parts of the surfaces. I dream of an app with which you could type in or punch in the necessary information for your church and get the correct changing parts of the service at all points. as long as they’re doing the liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, I’m good, but as soon as they go to something local, especially in modern Serbian rather than old church, Slavonic, I’m lost.

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There’s an app being developed (see the Ponomar Project), and additionally I’m starting a project to write a library to make the development of more such apps easier - basically what we need is something where we can select our specific jurisdiction and various parameters within that and get the services according to the specific Typikon we are using (since many jurisdictions use more than one; there are for example in the OCA various typikons in use by the Russian parishes, the American parishes, the Albanian parishes, the Romanian parishes, the Bulgarian parishes and monasteries some with divergent rules, like New Skete, and in ROCOR they have for instance the Western Rite Vicarate and the Old Rite parishes such as The Church of the Nativity.

In this thread I will be focusing primarily on the variable parts of the services, especially those members might not otherwise encounter because they’re in parts of the Typikon usually abbreviated.

By the way @gurneyhalleck1 is a Serbian Orthodox convert if I recall.

rusmeister said:

Yes, thank you!
The Ponomar project, however, has been around for twenty years, and I have seen no progress beyond the appsthat are out there now, doing pretty much what the site was doing twenty years ago. No help for the changing parts of services.

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Good to know, in that case then I’ll focus my work on it rather than an underlying library, although I’ll need help programming in Typikon variations, so I’ll make the app completely open source work out a very easy format using YAML or markdown for the Typikon files.

there exist apps that do this for the Roman Rite ( divinumofficium.com ) and the Coptic Rite (Coptic Reader) both of which are almost as complex as our rite in terms of the number of moving pieces, so it is completely technically possible.

@rusmeister

I meant to share with you this lovely feast specific to Serbia and Montenegro, that was celebrated yesterday along with the feast of St. Luke the Apostle, that being St. Peter the Wonderworker of Montenegro.

Being a Hierarch of the church, as is the custom (as one can learn from reading the services of the General Menaion) there is a lectionary reading from the Wisdom of Solomon, in my opinion the most beautiful of all the so-called “Deuterocanonical” books, and the one which appears most frequently in our liturgy (whereas the Apocalypse, which is regarded as “protocanonical” is not read in the Byzantine liturgical tradition, except informally in monasteries of the Athonite tradition on Great and Holy Saturday in the afternoon, in an extra-liturgical setting; the only traditional church I’m aware of that does read it (other than its appearance in the Anglican divine office) is the Coptic Orthodox Church, which reads it at the same time as the Athonite monks, albeit in a formal liturgical context.

The pericopes appointed for the feast are:

A Reading from Proverbs

The memory of the just is praised, and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who hath found wisdom, and the mortal who knoweth prudence. For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. And she is more valuable than precious stones: no precious thing is equal to her in value. For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth righteousness proceedeth, and she carrieth law and mercy upon her tongue. Hearken to me, O children, for I will speak solemn truths. Blessed is the man who shall keep my ways; for my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favor from the Lord. Ye, O men, do I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. I, wisdom, have built up; upon counsel, knowledge and understanding have I called. Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine. I love those that love me; those who seek me shall find grace. O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. Hearken unto me again; for I will speak solemn truths. For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. For I will instruct you in truth, that your hope may be in the Lord, and ye may be filled with the Spirit.

A Reading from Proverbs

The mouth of the righteous droppeth wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto Him. Wherever pride entereth, there will also disgrace: but the mouth of the humble doth meditate wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions shall not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. When a just man dieth, he leaveth regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy and causeth joy. Righteousness traceth out blameless paths: but ungodliness encountereth unjust dealing. The righteousness of upright men delivereth them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. At the death of a just man his hope doth not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perisheth. A righteous man escapeth from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare for citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospereth, but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation. At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted, but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown. A man void of understanding sneereth at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. For honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. He pleased God, and was beloved of Him; so that, living among sinners, he was translated. Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of lust doth undermine the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time; for his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted He to take him away from among the wicked. This the people saw, and understood not, neither laid they up this in their minds: that His grace and mercy is with His saints, and that He doth visit His chosen.

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Then within the liturgical material itself, we have this reading from the Synaxarion:

Let us bless our father, the holy hierarch Peter, whom the Lord set upon a lampstand, that as an adornment of the Church he might illumine Montenegro and all the surrounding parts of Serbia with the rays of his miracles. And crying out to him, let us say: Pray thou to the Lord, that He grant us peace and great mercy!

Of old the prophet said: The righteous man is like a palm-tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon is he multiplied; and he shall be like a tree which is planted by streams of waters. And thou, O blessed father Peter, didst blossom forth in God-pleasing virtues. Wherefore, calling thee blessed, we pray to thee: With thy supplications overshadow this city, thy flock in Montenegro, and all Orthodox Christians!

Having you, O holy hierarchs — newly-revealed Peter, wonderworker of Cetinje, Basil of Ostrog, Stephen of Pipero and Arsenius of Kosierevo, who sanctify our land with your holy relics — standing before the throne of God Almighty, we earnestly entreat you as favorites of God: Preserve your native land and all the Christian people of Serbia!

When the malicious Moslems attacked thy flock, O holy hierarch Peter, strengthened by faith thou didst rout them; and setting Montenegro in goodly order, thou didst give thy realm a firm foundation, which the life-creating Trinity strengthened, preserving its faithful people. By thy supplications ever defend them, for their good and their salvation.

Ever seeking whom to devour, the enemy of the human race incited civil strife and vengeance among thy people, O most sacred father Peter; and, moved to hatred of one another by slanders and violent acts, thy people prepared a great bloodbath, which would have destroyed many of thy children. Then, O valiant pastor, fulfilling the teaching of Christ, Who said: Blessed are the peace-makers, thou didst pacify thy nation with wise admonitions, tearful entreaties and prayers to God. Wherefore, calling thee blessed, we beseech thee: Entreat Christ God, that He preserve the Serbian people from the snares of the enemy, establishing among them concord and love, and driving out all malice and pernicious discord.

Let us all praise the holy bishop Peter, the glory of hierarchs, the splendid adornment of the Church of Serbia, the all-wondrous defense of his homeland: for he undertook many labors to defend his flock from enemies visible and invisible, to confirm Orthodoxy, and to illumine his land with the light of the Truth. Wherefore, pondering his angelic life, we cry out to him: Forget not thy native land and the Serbian people, but pray thou with Saints Basil, Stephen, Arsenius, and the other favorites of God, that He save thy servants, who glorify thy most honored repose.

O blessed father Peter, a tempest arose, which threatened thy flock — the French, who desired to conquer thy land; yet by the mercy of the Most High, they were unable to conquer it, and returned empty to their own lands. But, rendering praise to God, thou didst continue to live in thy monastery in the midst of thy children, teaching thy people, and setting in goodly order the realm entrusted thee by God, which do thou preserve by thy supplications, we beseech thee.

Taking the easy yoke of Christ upon thy shoulders, O wonderworker Peter, thou didst bear it with humility of mind, adorning thy soul with fasting, prayer, innocence and the other virtues. Thou didst defend thy realm with great zeal; and bringing peace to thy people, didst confirm its freedom with laws and enlightenment. Wherefore, thy children, magnifying thee, cry out: O most blessed father, pray to Christ God, Who hath glorified thee in the sight of the angels in heaven and of men on earth, that He save our souls!



And a lovely Kontakion, in Tone III —

Let us all rejoice today in divine delight, O ye who love the saints, for heaven hath now revealed to us the most miraculous and incorrupt relics of Peter, the hierarch of Christ, the wondrous high priest and initiate of the mysteries of God. Wherefore, in hymns let us magnify the all-radiant star of Montenegro, who hath shone forth upon us today from the grave; and let us entreat him as one who careth greatly and prayeth fervently for our souls, crying out to him and saying with compunction: O Peter, newly revealed among the saints, all-wise and holy hierarch, boast of Montenegro, we whom thou didst tend with thy many labors and struggles beseech thee: Pray thou for all the Orthodox, that our souls may be saved.

Ikos: As a faithful disciple of the divine Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, thou didst fulfill all His holy commandments; and following Him, thou didst travel everywhere, seeking help for thy beloved Montenegro. Having visited Vienna and Berlin, thou didst return empty-handed from thence; but thou didst fall down before God, thine almighty Helper, and He strengthened thee to vanquish the Moslems and bring peace to thy people, whom thou didst teach day and night to be faithful to God, and to live with one another in concord and brotherly love, for he who loveth his brother loveth God. Wherefore, having brought order to thy nation and united it, thou wast able to repel the great power of the Moslems, and to win deliverance from all thy many enemies from the West, who sought to ensnare Montenegro by their maleficent machinations. For this cause, blessing thee, we cry out to thee: Rejoice, O holy hierarch Peter, our boast, joy and consolation, who prayest fervently to God for us! Rejoice, O teacher who liftest our eyes up to heaven, where is the dwelling-place of thee and of all who are glad, and who prayest for thy children, that they all may receive everlasting salvation in rightly pleasing God.

And this beautiful Troparion:

Come, O ye Orthodox, and let us solemnly rejoice today, that we may behold the most honored and praiseworthy virtues, labors and struggles of the all-radiant beacon of the land of Montenegro: Peter great among hierarchs, the right laudable pastor and teacher. For the Lord hath made him wondrous among His saints, and hath shown him to us as incorrupt even after four years in the grave. By his supplications, O Christ our God, save Thou our souls.

And finally from the Canon, and the Praises of Matins, I quite liked this:

Ode IX

Irmos: Foreign to mothers is virginity, and strange is childbirth to virgins; yet both were accomplished in thee, O Theotokos. Wherefore, all of us, the peoples of the world, magnify thee unceasingly.

Thou wast foreign to vainglorious arrogance, providing an example of humility, O holy hierarch Peter, that all might flee pride and magnify Christ, the Bestower of life, in humility of spirit.

Ever preserve the people of thy nation, who are buffeted by the passions and founder amid the storm of sin, for thou hast boldness before the Lord; and pray for all who piously hymn and glorify God.

Always alien to idleness, O blessed father Peter, strengthened by the power of the Lord thou didst ever live in prayers, labors and struggles for the good estate and salvation of the people entrusted thee by God, Whom thou didst continually magnify with cries of praise.

Theotokion: O Mistress, show us to be foreign to the rule of the cruel prince of this earth, and at the hour of our demise haste thou to the aid of us, the helpless; for thy maternal prayer before the Lord is able to accomplish much, and before thee the spirits of darkness tremble. Deliver all thy people from the violence and assaults of the wicked, O most good one, that we may magnify thee with joyful glorification.

Exapostilarion —

O divinely wise and holy hierarch Peter, glory of Montenegro! Splendidly celebrating thy memory, we earnestly beseech thee: In faith, love and hope establish all thy people, for whom thou didst labor greatly, that, preserved by these virtues, they may magnify our God for thy life.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Thou didst shine forth light upon the world in thy birthgiving, O all-pure Mother of God; wherefore, illumine our minds with the knowledge of thy Son, and wound our hearts with love for the divine commandments, by thy supplications strengthening us in faith and good works.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone V —

Thy most festive memorial hath dawned more brightly than the sun, O holy hierarch Peter, and thy virtuous deeds shine forth with rays of brilliance, illumining the senses of the faithful with the light of thy miracles. And joyously celebrating it we praise and bless thee with faith.

Rejoice, O sacred leader, dwelling-place of the all-holy Spirit, chosen vessel of the grace of God! Guide us all, that we may tread the path of thy God-pleasing corrections; and mercifully incline thyself to the cries of praise wherewith we honor thy holy memory, O holy hierarch Peter: for thou art the healer of the sick and comforter of the grieving. Remember us all in thy prayers to the Lord, and ask His great mercy for us.

By thine earnest entreaty to God and thine ascetic endeavor thou didst subdue the carnal passions and the enemies of thy realm; by thy tearful struggles thou didst slay the lying serpent, O right wondrous and God-bearing Peter; and more than others it was God Whom thou pleased. And the Lord Jesus, the Savior of our souls, hath adorned thee with heavenly gifts.

Rejoice, thou rule of faith! Rejoice, O blessed hierarch Peter, who didst love the Serbian people! For, illumining thine earthly homeland with miracles, even after thy death thou dost glorify and establish thy people in the Orthodox Faith, healing their infirmities, and praying to Christ God, that He grant great mercy to us all.

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I can PM you the entire Menaion text for the service if you wish @rusmeister (I wonder if @gurneyhalleck1 is familiar with this service).