ON TUESDAY EVENING
At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.
Stichera for the Cross.
Mode 4. You have given.
At first You created me from earth, O Lord most benevolent. * With Your image You honored me * and granted me the delight, * which was in the Garden. * And when I was lured with the tree of knowledge and I fell * into decay, You descended from on high, * immortal One, becoming mortal, and for me You were crucified * and as God resurrected me, * in Your mercy immeasurable. [GOASD]
My Lord and Creator came to me on earth in His tender love, * and He emptied himself for me, * while never departing from His Father in heaven; * and in His benevolence He assumed His servants’ form, * born of the Virgin, as He was pleased to do. * He suffered in the flesh for us and He endured being crucified. * The immortal One trampled death, * and He saved all humanity. [GOASD]
O Lord, being merciful, when You were crucified, with yourself * did You crucify sin as well. * By the puncture of the nails * did You blot the curse out; * and by being lanced in the side did You, O Christ our God, * tear up the bond of the first created man. * I magnify Your sufferings; Your resurrection I glorify * through which everyone who was dead * in the passions was brought to life. [SD]
Additional Stichera. For the Theotokos. Same Melody.
O all-lauded Theotokos, I implore you to wipe away * all the filth from my sorry heart, * disinfecting all its wounds and its ulcerations, * which were generated by sin, O pure one, and arrest * the instability of my intellect; * and I, who am your undeserving and contemptible supplicant, * will extol you and magnify * your great help and your majesty. [GOASD]
O all-blameless Virgin Mother, change the frivolous character * of my soul and its feebleness * to strength and empowerment,* to perform the statutes * and all the commandments of Christ with fear and love of God, * that I be spared from the unbearable fire, * and also be an heir of heaven and receive everlasting life, * all through you, O all-holy one, * and be happy forevermore. [SD]
Bride of God, the thought of awful gloom and darkness of death alarms * and unsettles my sorry soul. * The thought that the demons will inspect all my actions * should cause me to tremble * in fear, O Lady; so I pray * that by your might you deliver me from them. * O unwed ever-virgin Mary, may I land safely at the port * of salvation, where all the saints * dwell in God’s never-setting light. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.
As the all-pure Lady saw her only Son being put to death, * who as Christ put the crafty one * to death, she cried bitterly; weeping she extolled Him, * born of her own body; * and as she marveled and admired * His great forbearance, she cried aloud and said, * “O Lord, in Your benevolence, do not forget me Your handmaiden, * O my Child, for whom I long, * rather hasten to rise again.” [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 4. For the Cross.
O Christ, You have given us Your Cross as a weapon undefeatable; and thereby we defeat the assaults of the enemy. [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]
O Christ, in possession of Your Cross as a source of help forevermore, with ease we trample underfoot the snares of the enemy. [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.
Since you have confidence before the Savior, O Saints, intercede unceasingly on behalf of us sinners, requesting the forgiveness of our transgressions and great mercy upon our souls. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. To a brave one.
When Your Mother, the virgin lamb, * witnessed You being crucified-- * You the Lamb and Shepherd-- she cried aloud in grief, * and she addressed You maternally, * “Alas, my beloved Son! * Look what this defiant mob * that enjoyed Your great miracles * gives You in return! * Now I glorify Your divine forbearance and Your utmost condescension, * O most benevolent Lord and God.” [GOASD]
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ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
MATINS
After the first Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Cross.
Mode 4.
You ransomed us from the curse of the Law by Your precious Blood. You were nailed to the Cross, and You were pierced with a spear, and You gushed forth immortality for humanity. Our Savior, glory to You! [SD]
Automelon.
You who were lifted on the cross voluntarily, * O Christ our God, bestow Your tender compassions * upon Your new community to which You gave Your name. * Cause our faithful emperors to be glad in Your power, * granting them the victories against their adversaries. * And for an ally, Lord, may they have You, * peace as their armor, the trophy invincible. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Joseph marveled.
Standing near the Cross of Christ the Redeemer and the Lamb, * the all-blameless Ewe, in shock and in her grief, eat her breast. * And as she looked at Him, she cried in lamentation, * “Alas! What is this new and strange spectacle? * How is it that of Your own will You bear these things? * You endure voluntary crucifixion * and painful death, O sweetest Son of mine! * O my Creator, I glorify Your ineffable condescension.” [GOASD]
After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Cross.
Automelon.
Come quickly, O Lord, and keep us from becoming enslaved * to foes who speak blasphemies against You, Christ our God, * and boastfully threaten us. * Annihilate by the power of Your Cross those who fight us. * Let them know how the faith of the Orthodox has power. * Only benevolent God, accept Your Mother’s prayers for us. [SD]
Same Melody.
O Savior, the Jewish leaders had You nailed to a cross, * by which You have called so many of us back to yourself * from the Gentiles, O Christ our God. * Willingly You were crucified, O Lord, and accepted * to be pierced in the side by a lance, in Your abundant * tender mercies, O benevolent Master. Glory to You! [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.
O Savior, You Virgin Mother saw You lifted up on the Cross. * And looking at You, she bitterly lamented and wept * and uttered such things as this: * “What an extraordinary, new, unusual wonder! * How did these lawless people have the gall to crucify You, * the only Giver of life, O sweetest Light of mine!” [GOASD]
After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.
For the Cross. You who were lifted.
I had a fatal fall in Eden by heeding * the poison counsel of the murderous devil. * But then You resurrected me on Calvary, O Christ. * By a tree you healed the curse of the tree, O my Savior, and you killed the serpent fiend who had killed me by deception. And You have given me eternal life. Glory to Your holy crucifixion, O Lord my God! [GOASD]
For the Martyrs.
Your Church is arrayed in the holy blood of Your Martyrs who witnessed throughout the world, as though in purple and fine linen. Through them she cries to You, Christ our God, “Send down to Your people Your tender love, grant peace from above to Your commonwealth, and to our souls Your great mercy.” [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. You who were lifted.
As Your all-blameless, virgin Mother was watching * as You were hanging on the Cross, O Almighty, * she lamented tearfully and said to You, * “Great is Your unspeakable condescension, O Logos! * How could people subject to condemnation condemn You, * who will be Judge of everyone as God! * I praise Your mercy, sublime and ineffable.” [GOASD]
Canon for the Cross.
Mode 4. Ode i. Heirmos.
The Red Sea was crossed by ancient Israel. They walked across dry ground, * when Moses stretched his hand over the sea * with his rod, in the form of a cross; * and likewise in the wilderness, they put to flight the hosts of Amalek. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos.
Same Heirmos.
Ode iii. Heirmos.
Your Church rejoices in You, O Christ our God, and she cries out to You, * “You are my mighty strength, O Lord, * and You are my refuge and firm support.” [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Not in our wisdom.
Ode iv. Heirmos.
When the Church beheld You raised on the Cross unjustly, * O Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, crucified for our sake, * she stood in her course, like the moon, * and fittingly cried aloud, * “Glory to Your strength, O Lord!” [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode v. Heirmos.
My Lord, You are the light. * Holy light, to the world You came * to turn people from the darkness * and the night of not knowing. And now in faith we sing Your praise. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. The ungodly will not see.
Ode vi. Heirmos.
“I will sacrifice to You, O Lord, with a voice of praise.” * So sings the Church You delivered * from the gore of sacrificing to demons; * for You cleansed her * by the blood that for mercy poured out from Your side. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode vii. Heirmos.
Inside the furnace * in ancient Persia, sons of Abraham * were consumed with pious fear and the love of God * rather than the fiery flame, and sang * together, “In the temple of Your holy glory, You are blessed, O Lord.” [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode viii. Heirmos.
Daniel shut the lions’ gaping mouths inside the den of old, by stretching out his hands. * The three young men overcame the force * of the furnace fire, having girt * themselves in virtue, for they loved * godliness, and were together singing, * “Bless the Lord and praise Him, all you works of the Lord.” [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode ix. Heirmos.
A cornerstone was cut out without hands from a never-quarried mountain, * which prefigured you, holy Virgin. * The stone is Christ, who joined the disparate natures. * As we rejoice because of this, O Theotokos, we magnify you. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
At the Aposticha of Lauds.
Aposticha. Mode 4. For the Cross.
May Your Cross be a wall for us, O Jesus our Savior. For we believers have no other hope, except for You who were physically nailed to it, and who grant the great mercy unto us. [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]
Automelon.
You have given those who fear You, Lord, a token, Your precious Cross, * having triumphed by means thereof * over Principalities and Powers of darkness. * Furthermore, by means of the Cross You brought us up again * to the beatitude that was ours of old. * O Jesus, the almighty Savior of our souls, we all glorify * Your benevolent plan, by which * You have saved the entire world. [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 holy Martyrs, how shall we not cease to marvel at your contests! You had a mortal body, and yet you routed the bodiless foes. The tyrants’ threats did not frighten you, nor did the prospects of torture cause you to shrink in fear. Worthily indeed were you glorified by Christ. And now you pray that He grant our souls the great mercy. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. To a brave one.
When she saw You were suffering, * being stretched out upon the Cross, * fixed to it with nails, and a spear piercing Your side, * Your holy Mother cried out in grief. Lamenting, she said to You, * “Woe to me, beloved Son! * Look at how this unlawful mob sent You to Your death, * even You who give life to those in Hades! Quickly rise again, O Savior, * and thus bring joy to the ones You love.” [GOASD]
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LITURGY
The Beatitudes. Mode 4.
Adam fell by a tree, and he was evicted from Paradise. * By the tree of the Cross the Robber gained entrance to Paradise. * The former, by tasting fruit, disobeyed his Maker’s commandment not to eat. * The latter was crucified with Him, whom though hidden he confessed to be God. * Remember us as well in Your kingdom, O Savior. [SD]
You were nailed to the Cross, * O Christ, in Your bountiful benevolence, * and You were pierced in the side, * and forgiveness poured out in a double stream. * The earth shook, unable to endure to watch the daring of the injustice done. * The stones also split apart, * and the sun went out, and the mountains and the hills * were quaking and shook in fear * of Your dominion, O Lord. [SD]
O long-suffering Lord, * who in Your great goodness You made man with Your own hand, * You extended Your hands, * and they were nailed to the Cross of Your own will, O Christ, * as remedy to the fall of forefather Adam, who lacking self-control * extended his hand and ate * from the tree of knowledge of old in Paradise. * Glory to Your sublime tender-mercy, O Word of God. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
Holy Martyrs, your good fights * make you shine like stars of the firmament. * You made earth another sky * with your splendid lights, by which you have made * the darkness of vanity * go away, and you made your dwelling in the light * that never sets, becoming gods * by participation. And now you shine the light * of knowledge of God on all who rightly are extolling you. [SD]
Glory.
Honor, glory, and esteem * let us offer up to the Trinity * the Cause of all, and let us sing, * “Holy, holy, holy,” the Angels’ hymn, * and shout to the Father unoriginate, and the Son and Spirit, and say * that memorable utterance * of the grateful Robber, and cry aloud to God, * “Remember us as well in Your heavenly kingdom.” [SD]
Both now. Stavrotheotokion.
As you watched your Son and God * being voluntarily crucified, * in astonishment you cried, * O all-immaculate Lady, and you said to Him, * “Your beauty! Where has it gone, * O my Son and Lord who make all things beautiful? * This people’s ingratitude! * Why reward You thus for the good You did to them?” * Glory to Your extreme benevolence, O Word of God! [SD]