ON FRIDAY EVENING
At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.
Stichera for the Master.
Mode 3. The power of Your holy Cross.
O Christ, I have become the unclean demons’ dwelling place. * I pray You drive them out from me, as of old You drove out * from Your Temple those defiling it. Now cleanse me of stains * of all my sins, and make me * a holy temple of Your divine Holy Spirit. [GOASD]
O Lord, You are compassionate and will that all be saved, * both sinners and the righteous, * that none go to perdition. * So, O Word of God, I pray You, make me also * one of those being saved, * though I have lived carelessly, * ignoring Your commandments. [SD]
You slumbered in the grave as man, O Christ our God; * You rose again by virtue * of Your invincible power, * and together raised those dwelling in the tombs for ages. * Therefore grant rest unto those * who have reposed in faith * in the eternal dwellings. [SD]
Additional for the Theotokos. Same Melody.
O Virgin, I am often shaken by the enemy, * like a reed by the wind. Please take pity on your servant, * and prevent me from completely succumbing * to his storms of temptations; * but rather reinforce * my faith in Christ the Master. [GOASD]
O Virgin, fervently entreat Him who was born of you, * that through your intercessions * He keep your flock uninjured * from the machinations of the adversary devil, * O holy Damsel, and grant * the strength to everyone * to fulfill His divine will. [SD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
How can we not marvel that you became the mother of the Son of God the Father, O all-honorable Virgin! You were wholly blameless, and you experienced no union with a man, and you gave birth to Him, unfathered in the flesh, who unmothered was begotten of the Father before all ages. He did not undergo any change or mixing or division, but He preserved intact the distinctive property of each nature. O Lady, we implore you, virgin Mother, to entreat Him for the salvation of the souls of all who profess the Orthodox belief that you are Theotokos. [GOASD]
Prokimeno. Sauti ya 7
Prokeimenon. Grave Mode.
You are my protector, O God. Your mercy shall go before me.
Mstari
Verse: Rescue me from my enemies, O God, and redeem me from those who rise up against me. [SAAS]
At the Aposticha.
Aposticha. Mode 3. For the Martyrs.
The power of Your martyr Saints is truly great, O Christ. * They drive out evil spirits * while lying in their monuments. * They contended for the sake of true religion, * and therefore, by their faith in the Holy Trinity, * destroyed the foe’s dominion. [SD]
Mstari
Verse: God is wondrous in His saints. [SAAS]
The Prophets and Apostles of Christ and martyr Saints * taught the world to worship * the consubstantial Trinity; * and the nations that had been in error they enlightened, * and made the sons of men * to have fellowship with the Angels. [SD]
Mstari
Verse: To the saints on His earth, in them the Lord magnified all His will. [SAAS]
Established in the faith, O Lord, with hope’s assurance, * and in soul united in the love for Your Cross, * Your martyr Saints destroyed the adversary’s tyranny, * and they received the crowns. * And now together with bodiless hosts * they intercede on behalf of our souls. [SD]
Mstari
Verse: Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord. And their memorial abides from generation to generation. [SAAS]
For the Dead.
Vanity is everything human, which after death exists no more. Wealth does not remain, glory does not go with us; for when death arrives, all these disappear. Therefore let us cry to Christ the immortal King, “Grant rest to those departed from us, there where glad are all who have their dwelling in You.” [SD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
O Theotokos, holy among women, Mother unwedded, intercede with the King and God whom you bore, * that He save us as our benevolent Lord. [SD]
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ON SATURDAY MORNING
MATINS
After the first Psalter reading. Kathismata for the Martyrs.
Mode 3. You were so beautiful.
Almighty God and Lord, You made the memory * of Your victorious Martyrs so radiant; * for You equipped them with the strength to imitate Your Passion and death. * They also bravely overcame * all the forces of Belial. * Therefore they received the grace * to perform cures and miracles. * We pray You, by their earnest entreaties, * to grant Your people peace, O Compassionate One. [SD]
Same Melody.
Covered with the full armor of Christ, and wearing the shield of the Faith, as combatants you brought down the armies of the enemy. In the hope that life would follow, you enthusiastically endured every threat and torture from the tyrants. That is why you received the crowns, O valiant Martyrs of Christ. [SD]
By faith you shone forth, like most radiant lights, O Saints. You are physicians of the sick, O all-lauded medal-winners. Since your courage did not falter when faced with torture by tyrants, you brought down the blasphemies of the idols, for you bore the Cross of the truth as trophy invincible. [SD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
Virgin Theotokos, we sing hymns extolling you, through whom came humanity’s salvation. For your Son and our God, who is benevolent, accepted the Passion and the crucifixion, in the flesh that He assumed from you, and thus from destruction He rescued us. [GOASD]
After the second Psalter reading. Kathisma for the Martyrs.
Your wholehearted endurance vanquished the machinations of the enemy and author of evil, O all-lauded medal-winners. That is why you have been counted worthy of eternal blessedness. We entreat you to intercede with the Lord, that He save the flock of Christ-loving people, for You, O Martyrs, are witnesses of the truth. [SD]
For the Dead. You were so beautiful.
When You command it, Lord, and we shall all be brought * to You on Judgment Day and judged impartially, * O Christ, may we who have believed in You not be put to shame. * Even though we all have sinned, we have not run away from You. * Therefore we implore You to grant repose where the saints now dwell * to those whom You have taken, O Savior, * for You are singularly merciful. [GOASD]
Utukufu.
Glory. Same Melody.
Our bitter fall to death involved a tree of old. * Now we are raised again through Your all-holy tree. * For You have killed the force of death, O Savior, by the tree of Your cross. * You became the well of life everlasting for everyone. * We implore You grant this life to the departed who had faith in You, * and give to these Your servants Your kingdom, * O Master, who are singularly merciful. [GOASD]
Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Both now. Theotokion.
O all-immaculate, all-blameless Virgin pure, * receive your supplicants who have reposed in faith * and by the will of God have passed away from the turbulent * storm of life; and usher them to the throne of our Judge and God, * earnestly entreating Him to release them and pardon them. * For since you are the Mother of our Maker, * you are able to accomplish whatever you wish. [GOASD]
Canon for all Saints.
Irmosi.
Mode 3. Ode i. Heirmos.
Marvelous in praises and performing wonders, You are our God. * You dried the sea and covered the chariots of Pharao, * and You rescued the people, who were singing to You, our Savior and our God. [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
For the Dead.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for the Deceased.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode iii. Heirmos.
Barren, unfruitful soul of mine, possess the glorious fruit, * and in becoming very fruitful, sing and cry out, “My heart is strengthened. * For no one is holy and no one is righteous, except for You, O Lord.” [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
For the Dead.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for the Deceased. From non-existence.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode iv. Heirmos.
When the Prophet Habbakuk beheld the mount that was shaded, * foreseeing your immaculate womb, O Virgin pure, he prophesied, * and said that from Teman God would come, * the Holy One from Mount Paran, which means the shaded mountain. [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
For the Dead.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for the Deceased. Lord, You have established.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode v. Heirmos.
Troparia
Troparia.
For the Dead.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for the Deceased. I rise early in the morning.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode vi. Heirmos.
The ocean of the passions is swelling, * and stormy winds are blowing against me. * O Savior, come to my aid, * and save me from corruption, O Lord, * like You once saved the Prophet from the sea beast. [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
For the Dead.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for the Deceased.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode vii. Heirmos.
Troparia
Troparia.
For the Dead.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for the Deceased. Of old You refreshed.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode viii. Heirmos.
To Him whom Angels in the heavens * never cease to praise and glorify as God, * heavens of heavens and the earth, * hills and mountains and the sea, * and the entire race of mankind, * sing praise to our Creator * and bless Him as our Redeemer. [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
For the Dead.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for the Deceased.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Irmosi.
Ode ix. Heirmos.
When the bush on Mt. Sinai was not consumed, Moses saw it an perceived * you who carried the fire of divinity in your womb and were not burnt. * Daniel saw an uquarried mountain, and he recognized * you, whom Isaiah said were the rod of David’s root, O immaculate one. [SD]
Troparia
Troparia.
For the Dead.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Canon for the Deceased.
Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Theotokion.
Aposticha of Lauds.
For the Martyrs. Mode 3.
The soldiers of Christ cast aside any fear of rulers and tyrants, and they boldly and courageously confessed Him, who is Lord of all, our God and King. Now they intercede on behalf of our souls. [SD]
O holy Martyrs, even after death, you shine on the world like luminaries, for you fought the good fight. Now that you have confidence when praying to Christ, entreat Him to have mercy on our souls. [GOASD]
The hosts of holy Angels were amazed by the contests of the Martyrs. For even in their mortal bodies, they disregarded the tortures, they imitated the Passion of our Savior, and now they intercede on behalf of our souls. [GOASD]
For the Dead.
O people, why be troubled about useless things? The race we are running is short. Our life here is like a puff of smoke, a mist, dust and ashes; it is here for a short time, then it quickly loses its purpose. So let us pray to Christ our immortal King, “To those who have passed away from us grant repose, where glad are all who have their dwelling in You.” [GOASD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
O noble one and first among the Saints, * as the subject of laudations of the celestial orders, * of the hymns of the Apostles and the writings of the Prophets, * O Lady, accept our supplications. [SD]
When Alleluia is sung at Matins, we sing the foregoing hymns for the Martyrs as Lauds, and the following Aposticha.
Mode 3.
I glorify Your honorable cross, O Lord, * and Savior very merciful, for through it everlasting life * and delight have been given to us all who extol You with faith and love. * And now we sing to You, O Christ God, and pray * that You give rest to those who passed away from us, * and put them in the place, wherein glad are all who have their dwelling in you, * to glorify Your divinity. [GOASD]
Mstari
Verse: Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord. [SAAS]
O Lord, supremely caring and merciful, * You have an inconceivable abundance of benevolence, * and You know well the nature of humanity, for You created it. * As we entreat You now, O Christ God, we pray * that You give rest to those who passed away from us, * and put them in the place, wherein glad are all who have their dwelling in you, * to glorify Your divinity. [GOASD]
Mstari
Verse: Their souls shall dwell among good things. [SAAS]
While You, as man, lay dead in the sepulcher, * as God, by Your invincible might and power You raised the dead, * in their graves as if sleeping. And they sang extolling You unceasingly. * And now we sing to You, O Christ God, and pray * that You give rest to those who passed away from us, * and put them in the place, wherein glad are all who have their dwelling in you, * to glorify Your divinity. [GOASD]
Utukufu. Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
When God became incarnate and He assumed * the essence of humanity in your womb, then you held the light * of the Godhead; and therefore we call you the lampstand metaphorically. * O Theotokos, earnestly pray your Son and God, * that He give rest to those who passed away from us, * and put them in the place, wherein glad are all who have their dwelling in Him, * to glorify you, all-blameless one. [GOASD]
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LITURGY
Sifa za heri.
The Beatitudes. Mode 3.
When our primal father Adam disobeyed Your divine command, O Christ, You expelled him from Paradise. But when the faithful Robber while on the cross confessed You to be Lord, You restored him there, as he cried to You: “O Savior, when You come in Your kingdom, remember me.” [SD]
You were tortured and were thrown into the fire, * O Martyr Athletes of Christ, * and there instead found a heavenly dew, * refreshing and enabling * you to endure excruciating pain * in your bodies. Therefore you now relieve * every pain in our souls, when we pray to you with faith. [SD]
Holy Priests and Bishops and glorious Prophets, * the devout monastic Saints, * the godly Women who kept the faith, * the Martyrs who competed * and thus brought down the enemy’s deceit, * all received heavenly glory from You. * As they pray for us, Your servants, Savior pity us. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
Master, pardon the transgressions of the faithful * who have passed away from us, * O God, and grant them a place of rest * with Your elect, O Jesus, * wherein is the perpetual delight * and Your light is shining forevermore, * so that we may with joy glorify You earnestly. [SD]
Utukufu.
Glory.
O believers, glorify the divine Monad, * unoriginate and one * and worshiped in three hypostases, * so that we may be granted * forgiveness of our sins and may receive * the kingdom of the Holy Trinity, * as we praise and extol Its infinite mercy on us. [SD]
Sasa. Wimbo wa Mzazi-Mungu
Both now. Theotokion.
Lady full of grace divine, from you has shone forth * the Redeemer of all, * illumination and forgiveness of sins. * We pray you to implore Him, * that we who ever faithfully extol * you, all-holy Virgin, be not condemned * but acquitted of all, on that fearful Judgment Day. [SD]
END OF MODE 3