For more than one thousand years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.
Resurrectional Apolytikion
The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, * and a
guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. * You rose on the
third day, O Lord * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For this
reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: *
Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; *
glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.
Apolytikion
O Christ our God, begging forgiveness of our sins, we venerate
Your Pure Image, O Good One. Of your own will you condescended to ascend
upon the Cross in the flesh and deliver those You created from the
bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, thankfully, we cry out, "When You came
to save the world, Your filled all things with joy, O Our Savior."
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered
from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank
offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that
I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
The
