Koinonikon (1670)

Composed by Balasios. 0:00 kratima, 12:29 verse
Simple reading today on the feast of St Stephen.
"And Stephen, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God! But they cried out loudly and covered their ears and rushed upon him all at once; and taking him out of the city they stoned him. And while they did this, Stephen prayed to the Lord and said: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! And he kneeled down, and cried out: Lord, do not count their sin against them! And saying this, he died". (Acts of the Apostles, 7,55-8,1)
Paintings of St Stephen by Bernardo Cavallino, 1640.