ON TUESDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.

Stichera for the Cross.

Mode 1. O Martyrs, extolled.

You stretched out Your undefiled hands * on the Cross, O Christ our God, * and stained your fingers with blood, thus wishing to redeem the work * of Your own divine hands, * Adam who was being held * a hostage in the kingdom of death because of disobedience; * and You raised him, O benevolent Lord, * by Your sovereign * almighty authority. [SD]

O Christ, You were nailed unto the Cross * as a man, and yet as God * You deified human nature; and when You had put to death * the arch-evil serpent, * You released us from the curse * that issued from the tree, for You had yourself become a curse, O Lord; * and You grant Your blessing to the world * and great mercy, * for You are compassionate. [SD]

Additional Stichera. For the Theotokos. Same Melody.

O Lady, deliver me from pain * and from bitter suffering. * Deteriorated are all my joints, my knees are very weak. * Feeble and arthritic * are my ankles and my wrists, * and aching inflammation distresses me. And yet through all of this, * keep me blameless in my love for God * my Creator, * O Virgin, I fervently pray. [GOASD]

To terrible passions I succumbed; * for, being a terrible * delinquent, I had committed deeds most shameful and depraved. * And the lurid idols * of these acts and fantasies * within my sensing heart still unsettle me and alter me and turn * my volition towards enjoyment of * sinful pleasure. * But save me, O Virgin pure. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.

The Virgin was watching You, O Christ, * as You were unjustly slaughtered, and lamenting she cried aloud, * “O sweetest Son of mine, * how are You suspended * on a cross and dying now? * For You of old suspended the earth on water. O most-merciful * Benefactor, I your handmaiden * and your Mother * pray You not abandon me.” [SD]

Prokeimenon. Mode 1.

Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me all the days of my life.

Verse: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. [SAAS]

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode 1. For the Cross.

The Cross was firmly planted on Calvary, and from the ever-flowing fountain of the side of the Savior, for us it blossomed immortality. [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]

For us the precious Cross of the Savior * is a rampart impregnable; * for therein believing * do we all gain salvation. [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.

Oh, what an excellent transaction you made, O Saints! For you invested blood and inherited the heavens. Temporarily tested, you rejoice eternally. Good indeed was your enterprise! For by relinquishing things corruptible, you received in return things that perish not. And now exulting with the Angels you endlessly extol the consubstantial Trinity. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. O Martyrs, extolled.

Beholding Him hanging on the tree * of the Cross, the Virgin cried aloud to Christ: O beloved Son, a sword has finally pierced * through my heart, O Master, * and is tearing it apart, * as Symeon of old once foretold to me. But hasten now to rise, * O Immortal One, and glorify * with yourself me * Your Mother and servant, I pray. [SD]

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ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

MATINS

After the first Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Cross.

Mode 1.

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth. [SD]

When You were crucified, O Christ, the enemy’s tyranny was lifted and his power was crushed. For it was no Angel nor mere man, but You, the Lord himself, who saved us. Glory to You! [SD]

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion.

We have obtained your protection, O immaculate Lady, and by your earnest entreaties we are saved from calamities. In everything we are guarded by the Cross of your Son. We all dutifully magnify you piously. [SD]

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Cross.

The stone had been secured.

We venerate the wood of Your Cross, O humane One, * for You, the Life of all, were nailed to it. * O Savior, You opened Paradise to the Robber who approached You with faith. * He was counted worthy of delight, confessing You, Remember me, O Lord. * Accept us as You accepted him, * for we now cry, We all have sinned * against Your compassion. Do not abandon us. [SD]

The soldiers keeping watch.

To Constantine the Great, that most pious of Rulers, * in time of war, the Cross was revealed to be armor, * an invincible monument of defeat over foes by faith. * Hostile forces now shudder before it and tremble. * For believers all it has become their salvation, * and the boast of the Apostle Paul. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.

The blameless Virgin pure, the metaphorical Ewe-lamb, * beheld her lamb and Lord on the cross, and she cried out, * “O wonder, most strange indeed! O most dreadful of mysteries! * How can He whose hand carries the whole of creation * be convicted by unlawful judges and sentenced * to death and be crucified?” [SD]

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Cross. The soldiers keeping watch.

By stretching out Your hands on the Cross, loving Master, * You gathered to yourself all the nations that wandered * afar from You, to glorify Your abundant benevolence. * We entreat You now to look upon us the people * of Your inheritance, and smite those warring against us, * by the power of Your precious Cross. [SD]

For the Martyrs.

The holy martyrs suffered painful tortures for Your sake, O Lord; be compelled by what they endured, and heal our every pain, we entreat You, O only benevolent God. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. The soldiers keeping watch.

The Maiden free of stain, the rational Ewe-lamb, * when she beheld the Lamb and Shepherd crucified, cried out, * lamenting and shedding tears as she saw her Son hanging dead, * “How shall I extol Your condescension which no one * comprehends, my Son, and Your voluntary Passion, * O God most benevolent?” [SD]

Canon for the Cross.

Mode 1. Ode i. Heirmos.

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos.

By John of Damascus.

Glorified in strength.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. As You are the only One.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Habakkuk the Prophet.

Ode v. Heirmos.

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. By the brightness of Your coming.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. The lowest depth encircles us.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. We who believe know you.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Three young men of Israel.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Burning, yet remaining.

Exaposteilarion.

Mode 2. O Women, hearken.

We praise you now, O holy Cross, and venerate you faithfully, * and worthily we extol you, * for you are the Faith’s supporter, * the weapon undefeatable, a refuge great and most secure, * the guardian of the Orthodox, * the pride and joy of all Christians, * the glory of holy martyrs.

Another. Mode 3. Having embellished heaven.

You are the great shield and armor * of pious Orthodox Christians, * of old the victory of rulers, * and always the fall of demons, * O Cross of Christ, guard and give grace * to us who with zeal venerate you.

Theotokion. Same Melody.

We honor with heart undoubting * and venerate with devotion * your Son’s holy Cross and Passion, * O all-holy Theotokos. * Make us citizens of Eden, * and grant us glory, we pray you.

At the Aposticha of Lauds.

Aposticha. Mode 1. For the Cross.

To You, who were nailed to a cross, and who granted us life, our Savior and Master, we sing praises unceasingly. [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]

By means of Your Cross, O Christ, there is now one flock and one Church, of Angels and humans. Heaven and earth are exultant. Glory to You, O Lord. [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.

O Martyrs extolled in all the world, neither tribulation nor distress, neither persecution nor famine, neither flogging nor angry beasts, neither sword nor threat of fire, could separate you from God. Rather, moved by your love for Him, you competed as though you were not in your own bodies, and in scorning death you eluded nature. Therefore you have worthily received the reward for your labors, and you have become heirs of the kingdom of heaven. We pray you never cease interceding on behalf of our souls. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. For all the powers of heaven.

Logos of God, when your Mother, the rational Ewe, * stood by Your Cross, she cried out as she loudly lamented, * “How is it, my Son, that You die on a cross? Sweetest light of my eyes, alas! * Where has the fairness and handsomeness of Your face, * which surpasses that of all men, now set?” [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]

O Christ, the Passion You suffered for our sake * was shameful, and thus You took away our shame, * O most benevolent Lord, * and You granted Your heavenly * Kingdom and rule to us * who extol Your condescension to us. [SD]

You wrapped yourself in Adam’s nakedness, * and in the flesh You were stripped naked, O Christ, * and You were lifted on the Cross * and from the depth of evils lifted us. * And therefore we glorify * Your holy condescension, O Word. [SD]

For the Martyrs.

All-lauded Martyrs, each day you ever cure * the wounds and the injuries of all mankind, * by grace divine that you have, * for by the wounds and the injuries * you endured in martyrdom * you wounded the demonic hosts. [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. Stavrotheotokion.

All-blameless Lady, standing by the Cross, * you watched as your Son and God was crucified, * physically nailed to the Cross, * and you wept aloud and cried to Him, * “Where has Your ineffable * gracious beauty set, O merciful Christ?” [SD]