Akathist to Saint Varnava Nastić

Kontakion 1

Let us celebrate the great saint of the Gospel in the latter years, since he voluntarily suffered for Christ, and he was always calm ; thus, he showed us the way to salvation ; therefore, although unworthy, we cry out to him :

Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Ikos 1

You were a heavenly man and an angel on the earth, our Holy Father Varnava, because you have fulfilled the commandments of Christ on the earth. Now, although we are small before you, we exclaim :

Rejoice, star who came from the West.
Rejoice, for the western world has not darkened you.
Rejoice, because God chose you from the womb.
Rejoice, because you were educated in holy Serbia.
Rejoice, because you already showed a zeal for truth in school.
Rejoice, because you proved to be an obedient student.
Rejoice, wonderful fruit planted by your teachers.
Rejoice, because you have resisted all the earthly temptations.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 2

After graduating from high school, you went to Ohrid where you received a blessing from the Holy Bishop Nikolaj to enroll in the Theological Faculty. Your desire for monasticism seemed ridiculous to your friends, but you did not look back on it, and you sang to the Lord of Glory : Alleluia.

Ikos 2

In university, you already showed great reasoning, especially in the article “On Pride”, at which the Holy Bishop Nikolaj himself was amazed. However, as the devil was disturbed by your progress, he sent to you various temptations, which you courageously endured. Therefore, we cry out to you :

Rejoice, because you were praised by Bishop Nikolaj.
Rejoice, because you endured various insults for the sake of Christ.
Rejoice, because you abstained from all evil.
Rejoice, because you fought boldly against lies.
Rejoice, because you showed unfailing mercy.
Rejoice, because you have given and you have not spoken to anyone.
Rejoice, because now you have received your wages from Christ.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 3

The desire for Christ has taken you to the great holy place of the Serbian people, to the Holy Mileseava Lavra, where, O Holy Father, you exemplified the great Saint Sava on an equal footing ; and you were likened to him because you left this world and followed Christ, and at the tomb of Saint Sava, you made the monastic vows with him, singing to God : Alleluia.

Ikos 3

O great Father Varnava, you were honoured to receive holy ordination near the tomb of our greatly Holy Father Sava, and you received holy ordination from the great Confessor of the Faith, the Holy Martyr Peter of Sarajevo, who was your role model in suffering. Therefore, we exclaim to you :

Rejoice, because you have endured the suffering as well as Saint Peter of Sarajevo.
Rejoice, because you served with fear and piety.
Rejoice, for your zeal has caused all to marvel.
Rejoice, because you sowed the Divine Word with great love.
Rejoice, for your temptations have not shaken you.
Rejoice, for you have replaced the earthly with the heavenly.
Rejoice, for the pure water of Orthodoxy flows out of you.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 4

Your spiritual growth was followed by the Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Church, and they took the decision that you receive ordination to be a bishop. You, like the great Chrysostom, avoided ordination because you knew how much weight it carried. Yet, you accepted this most difficult responsibility because of holy obedience and direction. Now, as the heavenly bishop of the Great Blessed Christ, with you we sing to Him : Alleluia.

Ikos 4

You received holy ordination from the great sufferer and hierarch of the Serbian Church, Patriarch Gabriel ; and in your magnificent words, you foretold your own martyrdom. Therefore we sing :

Rejoice, for you have received Christ into your heart.
Rejoice, for you knew that you would suffer for Him.
Rejoice, for you were not afraid of ungodly communists.
Rejoice, for you received their wrath because of your words.
Rejoice, for blasphemous words came out of their mouth.
Rejoice, because upon your arrival in Sarajevo you were arrested for the sake of the Truth.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 5

Immediately after your arrest in Sarajevo, defamation against you began. O Holy Father, how great were your troubles when you listened to lies about you, and the greatest of them to be from the dark Stepinac. However, you have shown great and unspoken calm. Therefore, we sing with you the Thrice-Holy Hymn to our God : Alleluia.

Ikos 5

You showed amazing tranquillity during the trial, as did the Lord Jesus when He endured the suffering for us ; and your reassurance was incomprehensible to men. You answered all the charges with silence, except when the wicked were blaspheming the Church of Christ, then you valiantly defended Truth as did Peter, O Varnava. Therefore, we now sing to you O Vladika Varnava :

Rejoice, for you endured injustice.
Rejoice, for you were the object of the lie that you are the same as the bloody friars.
Rejoice, because you have defended your bishops in court.
Rejoice, because you, as did Saint Athanasius, bravely closed the mouth of liars.
Rejoice, because you have been condemned in the years in which the Lord was also condemned.
Rejoice, because you humbly accepted the unjust condemnation.
Rejoice, our teacher in humility.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 6

In prison, although in poor conditions, you, O Holy Varnava, glorified God because you knew that He alone is righteous and just. You answered the guards with prayers. When they forbade you to pray aloud, you glorified God in yourself, crying out to Him constantly : Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Since you became a favourite of the prisoners, even the darkest ones, and because a city cannot hide when standing on the mountain, the administration decided to take you out of prison, keeping in mind that it would destroy the train you were on and be rid of you. However, since you were pleasing to God, He saved you from death, and thus He showed His power. Therefore, with untold admiration we raise this praise :

Rejoice, for the Lord has preserved you in life.
Rejoice, for even though you were bound, you survived.
Rejoice, for the enemies thought to kill you at Pascha, and the Risen Lord preserved you.
Rejoice, for you have brought yourself as a gift to the Risen Christ.
Rejoice, for although you were away from the flock, you were constantly with it.
Rejoice, for in the “new prison”, you proved to be a great prayer-book to the monastery on the tombstone.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 7

In the Monastery of Gomionica you proved yourself to be a fervent worshiper, and everyone admired your faith and prayer. On one occasion, when you were reading prayers for healing, you prophetically saw the sin of that patient ; and he confessed to killing the abbot of the monastery. Since he truly repented, you prayed for him, calling out to the One God in Three Persons : Alleluia.

Ikos 7

From Gomionica you went to the Krusedol Monastery, where you chose a small room that reminded you of your solitary confinement, because you wanted to be permanently imprisoned for Christ. Although you had a pension, you lived poorly, because you knew that the riches of this world were transient. Therefore, we exclaim :

Rejoice, for your left hand did not know what the right hand was doing.
Rejoice, for you were like Saint Nicholas of Myra in mercy.
Rejoice, for you did not ask them to serve you when you served.
Rejoice, for, although you were a bishop, you served everyone.
Rejoice, for you have always had Christ as a role-model.
Rejoice, because many are being saved through you.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 8

Since your holiness was manifested in the Krushedol Monastery, the communist authorities transferred you to the deserted Beočin Monastery of the Ascension, which you transformed with your holy life and prayers. You fasted all the time in captivity, even advising your “guards” to fast. However, because they refused, out of great love you fasted for them, so that your body was wearied. However, you constantly praised God by singing : Alleluia.

Ikos 8

You were kept constantly in custody, but you did not mind, since you devoted yourself to God. All your letters went unanswered ; but you obeyed the words of the Holy Apostle Paul : “Anyone who wants to live godly in Christ will be persecuted”, and because of this, you were easily persecuted because you knew you were on the narrow path which leads to eternal life. Therefore, we cry out to you with full heart :

Rejoice, for no condemnation has ever been heard from your mouth.
Rejoice, for everyone admired your calm.
Rejoice, for you never spoke as an authority, but always of Holy Fathers.
Rejoice, for the students of Theology were amazed at your lecture.
Rejoice, because they have compared you to Saint John Chrysostom.
Rejoice, because you truly had his zeal.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 9

As you read your letters, which you sent to the sisterhood of the monastery of Jazak, we see how great a saint you are ; for all your letters are lessons to your spiritual children, to whom you were a true father. You have likened your virtuous life to that of the angels of Heaven. Even though you were constantly persecuted, you never regretted it, as you said, “What is more beautiful than the chains of Christ”. We also receive these words as a virtuous message, crying out to our God : Alleluia.

Ikos 9

It is difficult for a human language to describe your exploits, because as you ascended to Heaven with your soul, your fleshly enemies sought to remove you from the earth, because you became a light that shone in the darkness of the Serbian people, in the darkness of godlessness and communism. That is why we turn to your holy mouth :

Rejoice, for you are the new Maximus the Confessor.
Rejoice, for you had the only trust in Christ the God-man.
Rejoice, for you have been able to do everything in Christ, who has given you the power.
Rejoice, for in the most difficult times you were joyful in the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, for your life shows our way to salvation.
Rejoice, our teacher of calm.
Rejoice, for you have shown us the way of true Faith.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 10

When you reached bliss with your life, and when your mouth spoke only the truth that was devastating to the devil and his servants on earth, they decided to remove you from this world without knowing that you would defeat them even more. Indeed, when your body was handed over to the earth, with your soul you became the new inhabitant of the celestial Serbia, where now you sing to God with Holy Sava and all the Saints of our own generation : Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Although your body was poisoned, your pure soul soared into Heaven. There was great sorrow for the people of the earth, but still greater was the joy of the angels that a new messenger was coming to them in the form of Bishop Varnava. That is why we sing with admiration :

Rejoice, most beautiful of the adornments of the Beočina Monastery.
Rejoice, blossom of Paradise.
Rejoice, ascendant among the bishops.
Rejoice, blossom of the fragrant garden of Christ.
Rejoice, for your deeds shine upon us like stars in Heaven, and cannot be counted.
Rejoice, for you have received the death of a martyr and the crown of victory.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 11

Few people were allowed to come to your grave and to mention your holy name ; for the ungodly Communists hated you and they were afraid of your name even after your death. Your every word was a defeat for them, who wanted to create a world without God. Knowing that this is impossible, we cry to Him : Alleluia.

Ikos 11

Our mouth is powerless to describe the bliss in which your holy soul dwells, for you are now in the courts of Heaven, and we cry out continually to you :

Rejoice, the Beočin Monastery blooms most beautifully.
Rejoice, praise of the Serbian people.
Rejoice, participant in the heavenly Liturgy.
Rejoice, teacher of the Serbian country.
Rejoice, interlocutor of Saint Sava.
Rejoice, many parentless parents.
Rejoice, for you have been adorned with virtues.
Rejoice, miracle worker.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 12

The Beočin brotherhood had been deserted ; but then your holy life brought new life, and the Archbishops of the Church of Serbia saw this with the people and declared you holy. Your glory has been found throughout the Universe, and since then the people have come to you as an inexhaustible source that provides both mental and bodily healing : to God, who works wonders through you, as you sing : Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Now is your continual glorification in Heaven ; for the Serbian people are increasingly glorifying your holy name, and through you the Lord of Hosts, for God is wonderful in His saints. Therefore now, though we are not worthy, we sing to you, for now you are before the Emperor of Heaven :

Rejoice, praise of the Diocese of Srem.
Rejoice, for the Serbian Church has you as a decoration before other Churches.
Rejoice, for the whole the Orthodox Church is glad of you.
Rejoice, New-Confessor of the Faith.
Rejoice, the permanent and invisible protector of Beočina Monastery.
Rejoice, for you became a fiery helper.
Rejoice, for you offer the incense of our prayer to the Lord.
Rejoice, for every word of your prayer is heard.
Rejoice, for your powers have become a source of healing.
Rejoice, for your icons adorn the homes of many hearts.
Rejoice, good servant of our Lord.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 13

O our great Holy Father Varnava, you have been worthy to bear martyrdom. Therefore, you now rejoice with Christ in the courts of Heaven. We know that the prayers of us sinners are not enough for our salvation, so we ask you to be our mediator before the throne of our God, the Most Holy Trinity, for whom you have endured all your years of and torment. Thus, now and throughout all eternity, we may sing with you constantly to our God : Alleluia.

(Repeat the above Kontakion 13, 3 times)
(Then continue below)

Ikos 1

You were a heavenly man and an angel on the earth, our Holy Father Varnava, because you have fulfilled the commandments of Christ on the earth. Now, although we are small before you, we exclaim :

Rejoice, star who came from the West.
Rejoice, for the western world has not darkened you.
Rejoice, because God chose you from the womb.
Rejoice, because you were educated in holy Serbia.
Rejoice, because you already showed a zeal for truth in school.
Rejoice, because you proved to be an obedient student.
Rejoice, wonderful fruit planted by your teachers.
Rejoice, because you have resisted all the earthly temptations.
Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Kontakion 1

Let us celebrate the great saint of the Gospel in the latter years, since he voluntarily suffered for Christ, and he was always calm ; thus, he showed us the way to salvation ; therefore, although unworthy, we cry out to him :

Rejoice, O Holy Father our Vladika, our consolation in the latter days.

Prayer to the Holy Father and Confessor Saint Varnava

O Holy Confessor Varnava, comforted by Christ, your whole life has been pleasing to God.

Therefore, He has now settled you in His eternal dwellings.

Therefore, we now ask you to save us from all sorts of troubles that the evil one has fired at us like arrows. We entreat you also to deliver us from the lions that are roaring at us, thinking that we have no protector. However, we trust in your protection, and we believe that you will deliver us from these temptations ; for you are a good shepherd who laid down your life on earth for your sheep. We continue to pray that you save our land and all the people of the Serbian crucifixion, because you have become a great comforter from God, and you have freedom before the Lord to pray for us.

Pray for us, dear Vladika, that the Lord will lead us into eternal joy, so that we may glorify Him there with you throughout all eternity. Amen.