Synaxis of All the Saints of Switzerland
Prayers to the Zurich city saints Felix, Regula and Exuperantius
Troparion, Tone 2
Great are the accomplishments of faith. You have defied the tyrant, and in death, you have witnessed life. Holy martyrs Felix, Regula and Exuperantius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 3
Sea and mountains have conquered / the Theban godly warriors Felix, Regula and Exuperantius / to destroy the enemy's power in our city. / As they lost their lives for Christ's sake / and found life. / Let us trust the Giver of Life with them and say: / Show us your ways, Lord, / and teach us your paths. / Guide us in your truth and instruct us, // for you are God our Saviour.
Icos
Let us, you believers, joyfully commemorate the holy memorial of the soldiers in the army of God, our martyrs Felix, Regula and Exuperantius. They came to Switzerland from far away Thebes. Sent by the divine Mauritius, they did not shy away from the desert and brought the word of Christ to Zurich. They opposed the frenzy of the blasphemer, confessed their support to Christ, and did not sacrifice to idols. They surrendered their bodies to the enemy but their souls to God. He protected them in the Scourging, cooled the boiling oil for them, turned lead into sweet honey, and broke the sharpened wheels. They have bowed their heads to the sword, trusting in the Lord. Three heads they took in their arms and carried to the place of her grave, thus testifying to the resurrection on the third day. In this way, they destroyed the enemy's power and entered into life. We who marvel at the great miracles, let us turn to our Lord and say: / Guide us in your truth and instruct us, // for you are God our Saviour.
Prayer before the relics
Oh, holy martyrs Felix, Regula and Exuperantius, you firstfruits of Zurich and lights of Andermatt, we stand before your sacred heads and thank Christ our head that he has given us as an example you older brothers and sisters in the Lord: brothers and sisters in blood you are Felix and Regula been, but a stronger bond of brotherhood in the Lord has allowed you to overcome all limits: with you, there was neither male nor female, neither master nor servant, neither Egyptian nor Helvetian, but with your servant Exuperantius as children of God you have in one mind confessed the name of the most high; help us to become one in faith and to confess Him. Twice you left your homeland by higher command, only to win your heavenly homeland the third time; help us seek his kingdom and righteousness first. You survived the scourging; help us to steadfastly endure the enemy's onslaughts. The boiling oil was cooled for you; ask God to quench the fire of our passions. At night in the dungeon, you gave thanks to the Lord; help us to trust in the Lord when night envelops us. Fearlessly you have defied the tyrant and, in death, witnessed life; help us to witness him and his love courageously.
O holy and fearless warriors of God, gathered before your holy relics, we marvel at your great deeds; gathered before your relics, we confess the invincible power of God; gathered before your relics, we vow, following your example, to turn to the Lord and pray with you until our last hour: “Lord, show us thy ways, and teach us thy paths. Guide us in your truth and instruct us, for You are God our Savior!” To Him be all glory and worship, with bis beginningless Father and his all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen
