The first among deacons, the first among martyrs, you appeared, Saint Stephen the Apostle! Filled with faith and power in teaching and in great signs you appeared, and no one could resist the weariness of wisdom and the spirit in which you spoke, and your face was quickly seen in the congregation, like the face of an Angel. Having also been filled with the Holy Spirit, you saw the open heaven and the glory of God and the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, standing at the right hand of God the Father. Also, from the stiff-necked and murderers of the Jews with stones, in the presence of the most blessed and praying for you, His Virgin Mother, we beat you, on bended knee you cried out with a great voice: Lord, do not put this sin on them! And so you joyfully surrendered your spirit to the Lord Jesus.
For this reason, for the sake of the prayer book and representative of you, the acquisitive, and the knee of our soul and heart, we pray to you: lift up your hands to the Lord, and move the whole human race to be the Representative and Intercessor to Your Son, the Most Holy Virgin Mother, and for us, who are always angry with sin and laziness, pray to the Good Savior of ours, may he give us grace in timely help to repentance, and through your intercession and intercession of His Most Holy Mother, on this terrible and righteous day, may He not put our sins before us, but by His generosity, having begged you, may He say to our souls: I am your salvation forever centuries.