ON SUNDAY EVENING
At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.
Stichera for the Master.
Mode 1. O Martyrs, extolled.
O Lord, in Your goodness by Your Word * and Your Spirit You brought forth all things, and then You created me the living being whom * You endowed with reason * so that I should glorify * Your holy name, O Master all-powerful. And yet instead, alas! * I dishonor You continually * with my foul deeds. * O spare me, I supplicate. [SD]
Come to know, O miserable soul, * your divine nobility and incorruptible fatherland, and hasten constantly, * through good deeds and virtues, * to possess it once again. * Become attached to nothing corruptible. Your lot is there on high, * but your body, being earth, decays. * Let the worse not * prevail over the better part. [SD]
Additional Stichera. For the Angels. Same Melody.
O bodiless Messengers of God, * you stand near His throne on high, * from there receiving the flashes of divine and brilliant light, * eternally glowing * with with the uncreated light, * and thus you have become secondary lights. * Please intercede with Christ * and beseech Him that He grant our souls * His surpassing * peace and His great mercy. [SD]
O Angels, immortal as you are, * having now indeed received * the life of glory eternal that is indestructible * from God who is first life, * you are seers who behold * the Wisdom that abides to eternity; * and being filled with light * you are properly described to be * blazing torches, * united with hosts on high. [SD]
O Angels, Archangels and the Thrones, * Powers and Authorities, and you, O six-winged Seraphim, and many-eyed divine * instruments of wisdom * Cherubim, and most divine Dominions, and sublime Principalities: Please intercede with Christ * and beseech Him that He grant our souls * His surpassing * peace and His great mercy. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.
O Mary, I earnestly entreat * that you take me to a place, * where I can truly repent, for I am held by many sins. * I know you can do this * as the spotless vehicle * of purity, which no mind can comprehend, and Mother of the Lord * God almighty, who appointed you * to protect us with power to do all things. [GOASD]
Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4.
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.
Verse: Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. [SAAS]
At the Aposticha.
Aposticha. Mode 1. For compunction.
The sea of my transgressions, O Savior, is immense, and I am drowning grievously in my iniquities. Save me; give Your hand to me, O God, as to Peter, and have mercy on me. [SD]
Verse: I lift my eyes to You, who dwell in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the maidservant look to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God until He shall have compassion on us. [SAAS]
I am condemned, O Savior, for wicked thoughts and deeds. Therefore, O God, implant in me the thought of turning back, that I may cry to You, my good Benefactor: Save me and have mercy on me. [SD]
Verse: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are greatly filled with contempt; our soul is greatly filled with it. We are a disgrace to those who prosper, and a contempt to the arrogant. [SAAS]
For the Martyrs.
By the intercessions of all Your Saints and the Theotokos, grant us Your peace and have mercy on us, O only compassionate Lord. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
For all the powers of heaven you are exultant joy. * For us on earth, O Lady, you are mighty protection. * Pure and holy Virgin, save us, we pray, * when for refuge we come to you. * O Theotokos, for second only to God, * it is you in whom we set our hopes. [GOASD]
And the Dismissal.
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ON MONDAY MORNING
MATINS
After the Six Psalms, we sing “God is the Lord…” with its verses and the Apolytikion of the Saint of the day. During Lent, we sing “Alleluia,” with its verses, and the Triadic hymns in the mode of the week. Then, after the first Psalter reading, we sing the following Kathismata.
For compunction.
Mode 1.
Conceived as I was in iniquities, I the prodigal dare not look up into heaven. But with confidence in Your benevolence, I cry out: O God be gracious unto me and save me. [SD]
If the righteous man is only scarcely saved, what shall become of me who am a sinner? I did not bear the burden and the heat of the day. Number me with those who came at the eleventh hour, O God, and save me. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
Immaculate Theotokos, who are blest in the heavens, and glorified on earth, rejoice, O unwedded Bride. [SD]
After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata.
The soldiers keeping watch.
Make haste, open to me Your paternal embraces. * I prodigally spent all my means of subsistence. * O Savior, I look hopefully * to Your tender mercy’s inexhaustible wealth. * Do not overlook a heart that now is impoverished. * For to You, O Lord, do I cry out with compunction: * I have sinned against You, save me. [SD]
Your judgment seat is dreadful and just is the judgment. * Appalling are my deeds. But, O merciful Savior, * come quickly and rescue me. * From perdition deliver me. * From the portion of the goats redeem me, O Master. * O most righteous Judge, account me worthy, I beg You, * to stand at Your right hand. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
Take pity on my soul, which is wretched, and steer it, * O Pure one, for I slipped beneath my many offenses * and into the deep abyss of perdition, O blameless one. * I implore you, save me from a dreadful conviction * in that frightful hour of my death, as the demons * are hotly accusing me. [SD]
After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.
For compunction.
Unwisely having strayed far from You, loving Master, * I squandered all I had through my riotous living, * and my serving slavishly the brutish passions incessantly. * Take me back, I pray, O compassionate Father, * as the Prodigal, through the prayers of the Angels, * and save me, I supplicate. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
O Lord, You are the pride of the contest, the very dignity of the laurel crowns, which the glorious prize-winning Martyrs have put on as a garment. For by their endurance under torture they put the lawless men to flight. And by divine power from heaven they received the victory. Through their supplications set me free from the invisible enemies, O Savior, and save me. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
The soldiers keeping watch.
O Damsel, you surpass immaterial Armies, * and only you exceed the celestial Orders, * from whom you receive the praise * that is worthy, O purest Maid. * With the Angels pray unto your Son, interceding * that I the only one that is condemned be delivered * from the passions’ tyranny. [SD]
And after Psalm 50, we sing the following Canons.
Canon of Compunction.
By Joseph.
Mode 1. Ode i. Heirmos.
Glorified in strength, as divine, * was Your victorious right hand, immortal Lord; * for, being all-powerful, it dashed and shattered the pursuing enemy, * opening a new way across the sea for the Israelites. [SD]
Troparia.
According to the multitude, O Christ, * of Your tender mercies blot out the multitude * of my sins, I pray to You. * And grant me thoughts that rouse me to return [to You], * that I might extol Your * incomprehensible benevolence. [SD]
Moved by tender mercy You appeared * on earth in bodily form as a man, O Lord. * Hence accept me coming in repentance, having sinned more than all other men, * as to Your compassion, * O Word of God, I run beseeching You. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
The demise and death of Jesus Christ * who voluntarily suffered were you yourselves * emulating when you were enduring sufferings of many kinds and death, * celebrated Martyrs. * Hence you attained the immortal life. [SD]
Carrying within yourselves the fire * of divine love as you markedly were, O Saints, * you were not dismayed by fire. But rather offering your labors ardently, * you consumed the substance * of the religion of many gods. [SD]
Theotokion.
Orders of the Bodiless with us * together praise you, O Virgin extolled by all. * For to the Uncircumscribed, who in your womb became incarnate, you gave birth * while remaining virgin, * O Bride of God, as you were before. [SD]
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts.
By Theophanes.
Glorified in strength.
O all-holy Angels, as you stand * before the throne of the Master aglow with joy, * to the Father’s Angel of great counsel, who with Him is unoriginate, * pray that He inspire me, * who now extol you, with utterance. [SD]
When the Divine Intellect at first * cognized the orders of Angels, He stablished them * mirrors of the Godhead’s light, as far as possible receptive unto all * the illumination * cast by the torch of the threefold Sun. [SD]
Theotokion.
He who set in order all the ranks * of the angelical powers on high as God * dwelt within your virgin womb which is exalted higher than the Seraphim, * and therein became flesh, * O Theotokos, immutably. [SD]
Ode iii. Heirmos.
As You are the only One who knows * our mortal nature’s frailty and with compassion assumed the form thereof, * O Savior, gird me with the power from on high, * to cry out that Holy is the animate temple * of Your ineffable glory, benevolent Lord. [SD]
Troparia.
Return to sobriety and come, * O my soul, and cry aloud to your Creator who knows your secrets all. * Produce the fruits of repentance, so that He, * as a tender-loving Lord, show His mercy unto you * and redeem you from the everlasting fire. [SD]
Be merciful, only gracious God, * be merciful and save me, Lord, I cry to You with fear as the Publican, * towing a load of transgressions as I do, * and bent down beneath the weight of my many trespasses, * being filled with a sense of immeasurable shame. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
With wisdom and knowledge that is true * were Christ’s all-holy Martyrs filled. They showed that pagan wisdom is foolishness. * They put an end to the sophist and his vice. * They contested mightily, and rejoicing worthily * they received laurel crowns for their victory. [SD]
Confessing the Godhead to be one * in nature while in persons three, O holy athletes, by your belief in God * you made the pagan delusion disappear. * You were seen to be as lights, brightly shining with the rays * of the grace of the Lord in the hearts of all. [SD]
Theotokion.
O pure and all-holy Bride of God, * in holiness did you give birth unto the Son and Word, unoriginate * with God the Father. He is the One who rests * in the holy, hallowing by the Holy Spirit all * who as Orthodox hallow and worship Him. [SD]
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Same Heirmos.
At all times immediately near * the Light of divine energy, the Seraphim diversely are filled therewith. * They are the first plainly to be brightened by * the illumination from the Prime Giver and are called * second lights, being rendered divine by grace. [SD]
We faithful who earnestly desire * to hymn the Angels’ excellence, let us request with pureness of intellect * and with a mouth undefiled for the help * which comes down from God and is given unto us through them, * and we thus shall obtain illumination from them. [SD]
Theotokion.
Gabriel, entitled as he is * to see the all-transcending Mind as far as is permissable, brought to you, * all-blameless Virgin, the joyful utterance, * clearly making known to you the conception of the Word, * and announced your ineffable childbirth. [SD]
Ode iv. Heirmos.
Habakkuk the Prophet once perceived with foreseeing eyes, * that you would be the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God. * O Virgin, he prophesied that the Holy One of Israel would come from you, * for our salvation and for our refashioning. [GOASD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Same Heirmos.
Theotokion.
Ode v. Heirmos.
By the brightness of Your coming You enlightened the world, O Christ, * by the power of Your Cross you illumined the ends thereof. * With the light of knowing You as God enlighten now the hearts of * those who extol You with Orthodox faith. [GOASD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Same Heirmos.
Theotokion.
Ode vi. Heirmos.
The lowest depth encircles us, like Jonah said, * and there is no deliverer. * We are counted as sheep for slaughter, O Lord. * Save Your people, for You are our only God. * You are our strength, and You restore us, the weak and broken down. [GOASD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Same Heirmos.
Theotokion.
Ode vii. Heirmos.
We who believe know you as the spiritual * furnace, O Mother of our God. * For your highly exalted Son, who once saved those servants three, * in your womb refashioned me and humanity entirely. * He is the God of our fathers, supremely praised and glorious. [GOASD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Same Heirmos.
Theotokion.
Ode viii. Heirmos.
Three young men of Israel were thrown * into the blazing furnace, * as if they were being smelted. * Shining brighter than pure gold with beauty of piety, * they sang, “Bless the Lord, all you works; to the Lord sing a hymn * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages.” [GOASD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Same Heirmos.
Theotokion.
Ode ix. Heirmos.
Burning, yet remaining unconsumed, * the bush revealed a type of your virgin childbirth. * And now we entreat that you extinguish the wild fire * of temptations, for it is engulfing us, * all-holy Theotokos, * and we will magnify you ceaselessly. [SD]
Troparia.
Lord have mercy, I cry out to You, * O Word, as once the Canaanite woman did of old. * For I have a soul which to demonic assaults is prone, * and which mindlessly does what is not allowed, * and senses no divine fear * of You, O God who are longsuffering. [SD]
Firmly set the footings of my soul * upon the rock, O Master, of Your divine commands. * Also overthrow the snake that shamelessly wishes to * overthrow me, O Lord; and deliver me * from his pernicious dealings, * since You are good and very merciful. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
Through the raging waters of the trials * have you already passed, holy Martyrs of the Lord, * and the surging wave of painful torments and martyrdom. * Thus you now have arrived at the anchorage * of the heavenly Kingdom * where you enjoy divine tranquility. [SD]
Martyrs, you have been deemed worthy of * the never-waning luster, yourselves become like light. * And you are rejoicing in the Church of the first-born saints, * and with choirs of Angels you celebrate. * Do pray now all together * on our behalf unto the Giver of life. [SD]
Theotokion.
You carry Him who upholds all things. * With milk you nourish Him who provides the world with food. * Tremendous is your incomprehensible mystery, * as the Ark of the glorious holiness, * O Virgin Theotokos; * thereforewe magnify you faithfully. [SD]
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Same Heirmos.
Savior, You appointed bodiless * intelligences mystics of Your ineffable * glory. Now through them guard and protect us Your commonwealth * that with faith and with longing for refuge run * to You our only Master, * that we may magnify You endlessly. [SD]
As You are the cause of peace and love, * so You assign an Angel of peace, O Lord of all, * who protects Your flock on every side as a guardian, * and who safeguards the sensible Faith from harm, * destroying by Your power * every deceptive cult and heresy. [SD]
You are utter sweetness unto those * who chant Your praises. Therefore plant in Your holy Church * the sweet radiance of the celestial hierarchies, * and a state of good order bestow on her, * O Master and Redeemer, * that we may magnify You endlessly. [SD]
Theotokion.
Multitudes of Angels honor now * your Offspring, O all-pure one, with never silent hymns. * For as they perceive Him overseeing their regiments, * they are filled with the joy that is properly * their own, O Theotokos; * and you they magnify unceasingly. [SD]
Exaposteilarion.
Mode 2. O Women, hearken.
We pray to you, O Archangels * and Angels, Principalities, * Authorities and Dominions, * and Thrones, and you the Cherubim * with many eyes, as well as you * the six-winged Seraphim, entreat * and intercede on our behalf, * that we be rescued from peril * and from everlasting hell fire.
Theotokion. Same Melody.
O strong defender of the world * and mighty fortress, and my own * protectress, O Theotokos, * I come to you and cry out: * Relieve me from distress and pain, * and snatch me from eternal fire, * O all-immaculate Virgin, * for I implicitly trust you.
At the Aposticha of Lauds.
Aposticha. Mode 1. For compunction.
Another world awaits you, O my soul, and a Judge who will make public your awful secrets. So, no longer persist as you are, but anticipate the Judge and call to Him, “O God, be merciful to me and save me. [SD]
Verse: We were filled with Your mercy in the morning, and in all our days we greatly rejoiced and were glad; gladden us in return for the days You humbled us, for the years we saw evil things. And behold Your servants and Your works, and guide their sons. [SAAS]
Reject me not, O my Savior, overtaken as I am by the laziness of sin. Rouse my thinking to repentance: and make me an approved laborer of Your vineyard, and grant to me the wages of the eleventh hour, and the great mercy. [SD]
Verse: And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the works of our hands. [SAAS]
For the Martyrs.
Come, all you peoples, with spiritual songs and hymns, let us honor the prize-winning Martyrs of Christ. For they are the luminaries of the world and the preachers of the Faith, the ever-welling fountain from which the healings pour out to the believers. Through their supplications, O Christ our God, bestow peace upon Your world and great mercy upon our souls. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion. For all the powers of heaven.
O Maiden holier than all the holy Powers on high, * O Theotokos passing all creation in honor, * benevolent Lady of all the world * who gave birth to the Savior Christ, * from countless sins and from perils save us, we pray, * through your fervent intercessory prayers. [SD]
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LITURGY
The Beatitudes. Mode 1.
Then the foe used eating from the tree * to get Adam banished from Paradise. * Now crucified upon a tree, * Christ allowed the Robber enter it, * when he said: Remember me * when You come in Your kingdom, O Lord. [SD]
In You mercy, give me springs of tears * and of compunction, O Christ my God, * to wash away all the filth * of the countless sins and vices in me; * and let me participate * in Your kingdom, O great Benefactor and Lord. [SD]
We invoke the Angels’ regiments * to supplicate You on our behalf. * At their entreaties, save us all, * O exceeding gracious Christ our God, * overlooking all the sins * we committed in knowledge and in ignorance. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
In the puddles of your blood, O Saints, * you drowned the devil as if Pharaoh of old, * O blessed Martyrs of the Lord. * Now you pour out your miracles * like a spring that dries the sea * of diseases; hence you are beatified. [SD]
Glory.
Let us bow in worship and adore * the Father; likewise let us glorify * the Son; and also let us praise * the all-holy Spirit faithfully, * crying out in unison, * “Save us all, we implore, all-holy Trinity.” [SD]
Both now. Theotokion.
As the one who bore the timeless Light, * ever illuminate and guide my soul * which is bedarkened through assaults * from the demons, O all-blameless Maid. * And by means of your divine * mediations free me from the future fire. [SD]