ON THURSDAY EVENING
At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.
Stichera for the Cross.
Mode 1. For all the powers of heaven.
Then did the forefather taste death at the forbidden tree; * but now are all believers * freed from death’s condemnation * by the Tree of honor. O every breath, * let us glorify and extol * Him who was willingly crucified for our sake * and enlightened all the ends of the earth. [SD]
Alas! My heart has been hardened. Guilty am I and condemned, * because my thoughts are wicked. I am wholly dejected. * I cry to You, O Savior, the Logos of God, * and I pray You alleviate * the great commotion and turbulence of my thoughts * and my hidden sins, O merciful Lord. [GOASD]
O most compassionate Master, we all take pride in Your Cross; * and thereby devastating * the delusion of Satan, * we ceaselessly extol You; for on the Cross * You were lifted up willingly, * and thus You wrought our salvation, O gracious Lord, * in the middle of the earth, O Christ. [SD]
Additional Stichera. For the Theotokos. Same Melody.
All-holy Virgin, my hope is that I be saved through you. * I always designate you as my certain salvation. * Keep me safe from harm, evil, passions, and all * unexpected calamity, * and most of all keep me free from a frame of mind * that is merciless and miserly. [GOASD]
All-holy Virgin and Lady, I now invoke you again * against this fearsome passion, * the desire for money. * For truly I am fearful of its attacks * more than those of a wild beast, * since it is counted as avarice unto them * who begrudge even the smallest things. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.
When the all-blameless, all-holy Virgin beheld her Son * be crucified unjustly, she lamented and cried out, * “My sweetest Child, what is this shockingly strange * paradoxical spectacle! * You who as Master hold everything in Your hand * have been nailed to a cross in the flesh!” [SD]
Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Verse: I lifted my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? [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.
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. Stavrotheotokion. O Martyrs, extolled.
By tasting the vinegar and gall * as You hang upon the Cross * as a condemned man, O righteous Judge and sweetest Child of mine, * You have sweetened Adam’s * former taste of bitterness. * But seeing now Your Passion has poisoned me; so sweeten me, O Lord, * by arising as Omnipotent. * Thus the Virgin * lamented while shedding tears. [SD]
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ON FRIDAY 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. The soldiers.
You put the foes to flight, by Your Cross, Christ our Savior. * Now crumble into dust their heretical teachings, * exalting the horn of strength of Your one holy catholic Church. * Master, put a stop to their disturbance against us. * Rectify the schisms of the Orthodox peoples, * at Your Mother’s persistent prayers. [GOASD]
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.
“I see You on the Cross, dead and naked, O Jesus. * My soul is truly pierced, and my heart is in anguish, * my Son most benevolent, and omnipotent God of all.” * So the blameless one cried out with sighs and lamented. * We extol her as the Lord’s immaculate Mother * and glorify her faithfully. [GOASD]
After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.
For the Cross. The soldiers.
By being crucified of Your own will, O Savior, * You deified our nature, which of old was corrupted; * and also You slew the snake that had ruined humanity. * Now confirm the world in true and Orthodox teachings. * By the power of Your precious Cross, thwart and vanquish * the boasting of heretics. [GOASD]
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. 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.
By Sir Joseph.
Mode 1. Ode i. Heirmos.
To God who helped Moses in Egypt, and through him drowned Pharaoh with his entire army, let us sing a song of victory, for He is glorified. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos.
By John of Damascus.
Same Heirmos.
Ode iii. Heirmos.
Firmly established be my heart, O Christ, * in Your holy will, O my Lord and God. * Heaven of heaven was made firm * over waters by You, O Word. * You established on the waters * the earth, O Almighty One. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos.
Ode iv. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. O almighty One.
Ode v. Heirmos.
Let Your radiant and unapproachable * light rise like dawn on us, * who rise early in the morning to observe * the judgments of Your commandment, * O benevolent Lord and Master, Christ our God. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. N/M ()
Ode vi. Heirmos.
As You rescued the Prophet from the belly of the whale of old, * I pray bring me up from the sea of my sins, O benevolent Lord. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos.
Ode vii. Heirmos.
O Savior, as the furnace was cooled with due, * the Servants who were in it sang praise to You, “O Lord and God of our fathers, blessed are You!” [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. When You appeared.
Ode viii. Heirmos.
In the furnace He preserved those Servants * who sang a hymn to extol Him. * He made the roaring furnace like moist whistling wind blowing through it. * Sing praises to Christ our God, and extol Him beyond measure unto all the ages. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. N/M ()
Ode ix. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos.
Exaposteilarion.
Mode 2. With the disciples.
O Cross, you are the guardian of the whole world. * O Cross, you are the height of the Church’s beauty. * O Cross, you are what strengthened the Emperors. * O Cross, the believers’ firm support. * O Cross, the glory of Angels * and the defeat of the demons.
Another. Mode 3. Having embellished heaven.
O Cross of my Christ, the scepter * and victory of pious rulers, * the boast of Orthodox Christians: * protect us who venerate you; * and may the foes of the true Faith * be defeated by your power.
Theotokion. Same Melody.
O Lord, Your virgin Mother * stood by at Your crucifixion. * And she lamented and cried out, * “Alas! O sweetest Son of mine, * how can You set before my eyes * and be accounted among the dead?”
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.
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. Stavrotheotokion. O Martyrs, extolled.
The unblemished Ewe-lamb wept and cried * when she saw You crucified, and said, “My soul has been pierced at last, my heart is burning up, * seeing You now lifted * on the Cross and slaughtered like an innocent lamb voluntarily, O sweetest Child of mine; * yet I praise You, Lord, and Your immense * divine mercy, * compassionate Savior Christ.” [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]
Sinless Lord, when You were crucified * You took away the sins of all, O Christ. * When You were pierced in the side, out came blood and water, saving streams. * Thereby You refashioned us, * who were broken by corruption and death. [SD]
When You were nailed to the Cross of Your own will, * O Jesus God, then You completely unnailed * Adam’s impassioned frame of mind. * And You wounded demonic hosts * by the venerable wounds, * O compassionate Savior, that You endured. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
Imitating the Passion our Lord * who suffered physically of His own will, * glorious Martyrs, by the might * of the Spirit you cause to cease * passions that are hard to cure, * and drive out diseases that plague mankind. [SD]
Glory.
As we faithfully magnify You, * O Holy Trinity, we say You are one * Godhead in three hypostases, * God the Father unoriginate, * Son and Holy Spirit, * sharing the honor and omnipotence. [SD]
Both now. Stavrotheotokion.
When she saw You nailed upon the Cross, * she who physically gave birth to You * lamented loudly and she wept * inconsolably, O Christ our God. * “Look how this ungrateful mob * has repaid You, my Son,” she cried. [SD]