ON SUNDAY EVENING
At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.
Stichera for the Master.
Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.
Woe be to me who moved You to wrath, * O my compassionate and merciful Lord and God! * How many times I have promised, * O Christ, that I would repent * and turned out a liar, mindless that I am! * My former baptismal robe have I soiled entirely * and disregarded the agreements I made with You. * And a second time, I have broken my vows to You. * For after having freely donned * this habit of mournfulness, * having professed my vocation * in front of men and the Angels too, * unfaithful have I been. * So, O Savior, do not leave me to perish utterly. [SD]
What kind of a defense will you have * the day of judgment, O unfortunate soul of mine? * Or who from the condemnation * of the continual fire * and from all the tortures then shall rescue you? * Nobody unless you cease * to commit your unlawful acts, * and rather take hold of a God-pleasing way of life, * weeping daily for your uncountable trespasses * into which you fall every hour * in word, deed, and thought as well; * and pray to Christ that He grant you * complete forgiveness for all of them. * And thus you will make Him * who is known for His compassion propitious unto you. [SD]
Additional Stichera. For the Angels. Same Melody.
Holy Archangels, I am distressed * by the excretions of the passions which fill like rheum * the eyes of my heart and darken them; * and I cannot see at all * the ways to salvation. Hence, as I proceed, * I wander about and fall * badly into the pit of hell. * But when recalling all your marvelous miracles, * I receive the healing of all my infirmity. * O that I might now quickly see * your kindly goodwill towards me! * Hasten and put out the flames of * my passions, O spirit messengers. * Release me from evils * and direct me to the light of salvation evermore. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.
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 pl. 1. For compunction.
I do not desist from committing sins; and as the recipient of Your benevolence, I am unaware. Overcome my hardness of heart, only good Lord, and have mercy. [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 Lord, from fear of You I am terrified, and even so I cease not from doing evil. In a court of justice who is not terrified of the judge? Or who, wishing to be healed, enrages the physician as I do? Be compassionate towards my infirmity, O forbearing Lord, 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.
You disdained all earthly things, and you manfully defied the tortures. And hence you failed not in your blessed hopes, but became heirs of the Kingdom of heaven, O Martyrs, extolled throughout the world. Since to our humane God you speak with freedom, ask for peace for the world, and great mercy upon our souls. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
How awesome and extraordinary and great is the mystery! The Uncontainable is contained in a womb, and after birth the mother remained a virgin still. For it was God Whom she bore, become incarnate from her. To Him let us cry aloud, to Him let us exclaim our hymn, and let us sing with the Angels: Holy are You, O Christ our God, who for us became a man. Glory to You. [SD]
__________
ON MONDAY MORNING
MATINS
After the first Psalter reading, Kathismata.
For compunction. Mode pl. 1.
When the Judge has been seated and the Angels are there, when the trumpet has sounded, and the fire is aflame, what will you do, O my soul, as you are brought in to be judged? For you will hear the charges against you, and evidence with be shown of the awful things you did, even in secret. So before the end, cry out and pray, “God, be merciful to me, and save me!” [GOASD]
What is here is fleeting, what is there is eternal. I see the court of justice and the Judge on His throne, and I am dreading the verdict. O my soul, repent with all seriousness, for no one can pardon the final judgment. [GOASD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
As the Father and Spirit.
You are fervent protection that is invincible, * and the hope that is sure and is never put to shame, * shelter, haven, and high wall for those who flee to you, * with the angelic hosts on high, make entreaty with your Son and God, O pure Ever-virgin, * that He grant peace and great mercy and His salvation to all the world. [SD]
After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata.
Let us all be vigilant, and go out to meet Christ, with a good supply of oil and lamps burning bright, so that we be granted entry to the bridal hall. He who ended up outside the door, to no avail cried out, “Have mercy on me!” [SD]
I am lying sick in the bed of many sins, and I am stripped of any hope of salvation. The sleep of my inertia will be the cause of my soul’s perdition. O God, who were born of the Virgin, I pray You wake me up, and stir me to extol You, and I will glorify You. [GOASD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
All-lauded Lady, holier than the Cherubim, and higher than the heavens, we sinners who confess the truth, that you are Theotokos, have you as our protection and salvation, whenever we are tempted. We pray you never cease to intercede on our behalf, for you are the strength and the refuge of our souls. [GOASD]
After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.
As the Father and Spirit.
I imagine the terrifying trial and I quake, * and the just final verdict of the Judge, and I shake. * My conscience is persistently condemning me, * for I passed my life in negligence. Now at a loss I am afraid. * Now I implore you, Archangels, * who protect the faithful, save me * from the fire, by your holy intercessions for me. [GOASD]
For the Martyrs.
The medaled Martyrs’ commemoration is splendid today, for it is illumined with a heavenly light. The chorus of Angels is celebrating, and the human race is also observing the feast. And therefore they intercede with the Lord, to have mercy on our souls. [GOASD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion. As the Father and Spirit.
Angel Gabriel mystically brought the heavenly * salutation to earth, and he said, “Rejoice!” to you. * When he witnessed as the Maker of the Angels became * incarnate in your womb, all-holy Virgin, he sang * a hymn of joy, and he taught us * that only you, O Lady, * are the cause of joy for all humanity. [GOASD]
Canon of Compunction.
Mode pl. 1. Ode i. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts.
He who brings wars to nothing.
Theotokion.
Loosed is the curse. The sentence of pain and sorrow at birth * is suspended; for Mary, who is blessed and is full of grace, * has caused joy to rise for all. * She gave birth to Christ our God, * and blossomed blessing for the whole wide world. [SD]
Ode iii. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. O Lord, You established earth.
Theotokion.
Ode iv. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Habakkuk as a prophet.
Theotokion.
Ode v. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Early do I rise to You.
Theotokion.
Ode vi. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. I implore You, Master Christ.
Theotokion.
Ode vii. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Praiseworthy and beyond measure.
Theotokion.
Ode viii. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. Summoning a worldwide chorus.
Theotokion.
Ode ix. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Bodiless Hosts. O Isaiah, dance with joy.
Theotokion.
At the Aposticha of Lauds.
Aposticha. Mode pl. 1. For compunction.
Alas! Why have I become like the unfruitful fig tree, and I am afraid of the curse and of being cut down? O Christ my God, the heavenly husbandman, make my barren soul fruitful, and accept me like the Prodigal Son, and have mercy on 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]
Overlook the multitude of my offenses, O Lord who were born of a Virgin. I pray You, blot out all of my transgressions, and grant to me the thought to return, as the only benevolent God, and have mercy on me. [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.
Blessed is the army of the King of heaven. Even though they were but human, the medaled Martyrs strove to attain angelic rank, by disregarding their bodies. Through suffering, they were granted the honor of the bodiless hosts. By their prayers, O Lord, send down to us Your great mercy. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
I pray you stop the pain of my whimpering soul. You have wiped away every tear from the face of the earth. You dispel the distress of your people, and you quell the dejection of sinners. All of us have you as our hope and support, O all-holy Virgin and Mother. [GOASD]
__________
LITURGY
The Beatitudes. Mode pl. 1.
When the robber had believed * that You the crucified were truly God, * he wholeheartedly and sincerely confessed You, * and he cried aloud to You, O Christ, “In Your kingdom, remember me.” [SD]
On the road, which is my life, * soul-destroying robbers accosted me, * and they left me wounded. Now to Your divine compassion * I come running. Heal me, I pray, * and save me, O Christ my God. [SD]
O almighty God of all, * You are extolled by all the heavenly hosts. * At their spirited intercessions, O Master, * overlook my many wicked deeds, * I pray You, and save my soul. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
O Martyr Athletes of Christ, * enumerated now with angelic hosts * and filled with never-setting illumination, * cause the fetid passions of my heart * to shrink and to disappear. [SD]
Glory.
Holy Trinity, You are * with glory by angelic voices extolled. * I entreat You for my soul that has been infected * by the demons, that in Your divine * mercy You restore its health. [SD]
Both now. Theotokion.
O pure One, at the Angel’s word, * you accepted Christ the Joy within your womb. * But my soul is sad and depressed from the evils * I have done. Please fill it up with joy, * and guide to the light, I pray. [SD]