Canon to Venerable Father Kevin, Wonder-worker of All Ireland

Our venerable father Kevin of Glendalough, Wonder-worker of Ireland was the abbot of Glendalough Monastery. He was born in 498, and fell asleep in the Lord in 618 at the age of 120 years old. Many miracles are associated with the Saint during his life, and the monastery he founded also produced many saints.

St Kevin's feast day is on the 16th June (3rd of June in the Church calendar). Below is a canon dedicated to the Saint, which can be downloaded and printed or read online. It's suitable to be read when no priest is present and at any time.

Canon to St Kevin of Ireland.pdf

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Canon Saint Kevin, with 4 troparia, the acrostic whereof is Highly praised is the noble-born Kevin, in Tone II.

Saint Kevin of Glendalough

Ode I

Irmos: Of old, Thou didst part the waters of the Red Sea with the staff of the law-giver, O Christ, saving the chosen people dryshod, who sang a hymn of triumph to Thy victorious right hand.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Help me to escape my sins, O Christ, parting the waters of mine iniquities, that, saved, I may sing a fitting hymn of victory to the venerable Kevin, who triumphed gloriously over all the passions.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

In spiritual songs let us praise the noble-born Kevin, the fountain of God's mercies and compassions, who poureth forth in abundance the bright waters of divine grace for the New Israel.

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

Glory and honour let us render unto Kevin of great renown, who, though a scion of royal stock, betook himself to dwell alone in the wilderness, and became like a tree planted by streams of waters.

Both now, and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. 

Theotokion: How can any man magnify thee worthily, O Virgin Theotokos? How can we praise thee as is meet? For thou dost rescue us by the grace of God which overfloweth from thee as thou standest at His right hand.

Ode III

Irmos: The desert, the barren Church of the nations, blossomed like a lily at Thine advent, O Lord; and therein hath my heart been established.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Let us honour the holy Cronan, who immersed the infant Kevin in the sacred waters of the font of enlightenment, establishing his heart in the Lord.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Ye pious and holy monastics, be glad in the Lord, for like a lily did the venerable Kevin blossom in your midst, wherein his heart was established.

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

Preferring to meditate in the law of the Lord day and night, the wondrous Kevin withdrew to the barren wilderness, far from the tumults of life.

Both now, and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Reigning on high, O Mistress of all, thou dost blossom like a lily in the heavenly abodes, and standest as Queen at the right hand of thine almighty Son.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Great was the devotion of the venerable Kevin to his Master, for, though of noble birth and lineage, he forsook the world and all its delights, and fled into the wilderness, in solitude seeking to hear the still, small voice of Him Who in His loving-kindness ever forgiveth our iniquities.

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

Theotokion: I, the lowly one, have fled to thy divine refuge after God, and, falling down, I pray: Have mercy, O all-pure one, for my sins have passed over my head. O Mistress, I fear torments and tremble. Make supplication to thy Son, O pure one, that He deliver me therefrom.

or Stavrotheotokion (on Wednesdays and Fridays):

She who in latter times gave birth in the flesh to Thee Who wast begotten of the unoriginate Father, O Christ, seeing Thee hanging upon the Cross cried out: 'Woe is me, O Jesus most beloved! How is it that Thou Who art glorified as God by the angels art now of Thine own will crucified by iniquitous men? O my long-suffering Son, I hymn Thee!'

Ode IV

Irmos: Purified by the fire of a mystical vision, the prophet praiseth the restoration of mortal men; and, filled with the inspiration of the Spirit, he lifteth up his voice to reveal the incarnation of the ineffable Word, Who hath broken the dominion of the mighty.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Angelic guidance and mystic vision led thee up into the solitary Vale of Glendalough, O wondrous Kevin, where, clad in skins and partaking only of nettles and sorrel, thou didst receive the inspiration of the Spirit, which filled thee with the sweet psalmody of nature.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

In autumn and winter the plants whereon thou didst subsist remained green for thy use, O glorious one, ineffably maintained fresh for thy use by the incarnate Word; and betimes thou didst hear the branches and leaves of the trees sing sweet hymns of praise unto Him, their Creator.

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

Sleeping nightly by the waterside, and making thy bed upon stones, thou didst strive to purify thyself of the passions in the fiery crucible of ascetic feats, O Kevin; wherefore, to provide ease and consolation for thy soul, the Most High let fall heavenly music upon thine ear.

Both now, and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Even the most eloquent of orators findeth his art inadequate for the praise of Mary, the all-immaculate Maiden, Bride of God, as is meet.. How then can our feeble efforts produce hymnody fit for her praise? Yet spurn not our meagre offerings, O Lady, and accept them.

Ode V

Irmos: Dispelling the gloom of dark ignorance, O Christ God Who art life and light, illumine our thoughts, our spiritual senses, with the never-waning light of Thine understanding.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Dima the drover discovered thee abiding in a gloomy cave, seeking Christ, the true Light of knowledge and understanding, O Kevin; and he besought thee to leave thy fastness.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

In Disert-Coemgen didst thou make thy dwelling, O venerable one, and didst attract a company of disciples, whose minds and spiritual senses thou didst illumine with spiritual light.

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

Salmon did an otter bring every day to thy habitation, O saint, feeding thee and thy disciples by God's will, like as the ravens fed Elijah with meat and bread by the Brook of Cherith.

Both now, and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Thy glory surpasseth that of even the most exalted created beings, O all-holy Lady; for, alone among God's creatures, thou gavest birth unto Him Who is our Life and never-waning Light.

Ode VI

Irmos: The great abyss of sin encompasseth me, and, imitating the prophet, I cry to thee: Lead me up from corruption, O Lord!

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Higher in the Valley of the Two Lakes didst thou establish thy sacred community, O Kevin, and higher yet didst thou ascend through all the virtues.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Ever mindful of the well-being of thy flock, O holy one, thou didst make the long and perilous journey to Rome to obtain blessings for them.

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

Neither the great deep of the sea nor perils on land hindered Kevin from bringing to Ireland a sacred treasure of the relics of the saints.

Both now, and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Over all creatures art thou exalted, O glorious Maiden, for thou gavest birth in the flesh unto Him Who is the Author and Fashioner of all that is.

Kontakion (Tone V): Forsaking thy noble inheritance, and shunning all the crooked ways of this sin-loving world, thou didst apply thine obedient feet to the straight and narrow path of Christ, eagerly hastening throughout thy life toward the heavenly Sion, where with all the saints and the bodiless hosts thou criest aloud in ecstasy: Let every breath praise the Lord!

Ikos: Ye lofty trees of Ireland, ever move your verdant branches, that with the rustling of your leaves, as with the strings of a multitude of harps, ye may make sweet music for the King of kings; for thus of old did ye delight His faithful servant, the venerable Kevin, with your melodious song, easing the severity of his ascetic life with the beauty of your hymnody, filling his soul with exultation, and causing him to cry aloud: Let every breath praise the Lord!

Ode VII

Irmos: The children from Jerusalem, equal in number to the thrice-radiant Trinity, trampled underfoot the edict of the ungodly king in Babylon; and, cast into the fire, they joined chorus, singing: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Blessed wast thou, O holy one, by thy countrymen who, joining chorus, praised thee as a soldier of Christ in the land of Ireland, a high name over the sea's wave: Kevin the pure, bright warrior in the Glen of the Two Broad Lakes.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Lamentation's tears didst thou shed for the holy Kieran at Clonmacnois, O saint of God, but O the wonder! the holy abbot rose from the dead to engage thee in edifying discourse and gave thee his sacred bell as a worthy parting gift.

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

Earnestly desiring to make another pilgrimage to the City of the Holy Apostles, Kevin besought the blessing of a saintly elder, who told him: Birds do not hatch their eggs when they are on the wing; wherefore, he remained with his flock.

Both now, and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Bemired in my sins and stuck fast in the slough of mine iniquities, I cry to thee for aid: O Lady, come quickly and extend to me a helping hand, rescuing me from my manifold offenses, that I may cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Ode VIII

Irmos: God, Who descended into the fiery furnace for the Hebrew children and transformed the flame into dew, hymn ye as Lord, O ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Over and beyond the span allotted to men's life didst thou live, O Kevin, attaining the age of sixscore years, as God was well-pleased to grant, Whom all His works exalt supremely for all ages.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Replete with all the Christian virtues, thou didst depart this vale of tears and hast taken thine allotted place at the right hand of the Most High, exalting Him supremely for all ages.

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

Now standest thou with boldness before the supernal throne of the Almighty, O wondrous Kevin, and makest intercession before the King of all, that He have mercy upon those who honour thee.

Both now, and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Kneeling down in reverence and devotion, let us exalt the Bride of God, whom the flame of the Godhead in no wise burnt or consumed when the Word became incarnate in her womb.

Ode IX

Irmos: O Theotokos, with hymns do we magnify thee, the spiritual and living ladder whereon our God established Himself, and whereby we have gained ascent to heaven.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Ever battling the passions which assail men's souls and vanquishing the minions of Satan who lay siege without pity thereto, Kevin hath gloriously gained entry to heaven.

Venerable Father, Kevin, pray to God for us.

Valour and courage didst thou display in the arena of ascetic endeavour, O glorious Kevin, and the Judge of the contest hath bestowed the wreath of victory upon thee.

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

Ireland boasteth in thy mighty intercession, O wonder-worker; Dublin boasteth in thee exceedingly as its heavenly protector; and Glendalough magnifieth thee supremely.

Both now, and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Now let us bring an end to our hymns, magnifying the only Mother of God, the pure Ever-virgin Mary, into whose undefiled womb the Lord of all descended from heaven.

Then:

It is truly meet to bless thee, who didst bring forth God, ever blessed and most pure, and Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim; thou who without corruption didst bring forth God the Word, and art indeed Mother of God, thee do we magnify.

Troparion (Tone IV): With hymns of praise let us all bless the noble Kevin, who by his godly love poureth divine grace into the hearts of those who honour him; for he dwelleth now with the saints and angels in heaven, where he standeth before the throne of the Most High, praying unceasingly for us all.