ON MONDAY EVENING
At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.
Stichera for the Master.
Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.
Savior, soften my hardness of heart, * which has resulted from demonic activity, * and grant me torrential tears of saving repentance, that I * may lament my many grave iniquities, * and also that I may be * purified of polluted thoughts, * and be released from the darkness of forgetfulness, * and be lifted up to perception of what is good. * Hear me when I call out to You. * Be gracious to me, O Lord, * and set me free from the passions that are oppressing my wretched soul, * that I might in You find * some relief from my afflictions and always do Your will. [GOASD]
Good Lord, I say my prayers with my lips * that are polluted, and I lift filthy hands to You. * My heart is completely buried beneath depraved evil thoughts, * and my eyes are blinded, wretched that I am. * The passions have darkened the soul I carry about with me, * and the unseemly pleasures cover me all around, * hateful that I am, and from these I have no relief. * Stretch out Your undefiled hands to me, tender-loving God. * I pray You, Savior, to cleanse me from the impurity of my sins * and many offences, * and from coming trials save me, O sympathetic Lord. [GOASD]
Additional Stichera. For the Forerunner. Same Melody.
There is a torrent, terribly strong, * born of the violent storm of passions, that pours into * my heart, and it inundates me, and it is forcing me down * into the abyss of darkness and despair. * O Forerunner, come to me. Be attentive invisibly, * and by the power of your God-given sympathy, * make that torrent dry up and totally disappear; * and in its place open to me the flood gates of grace divine, * that irrigate all the senses, the heart and mind and the intellect; * through which may I bring forth * fruits of mercy and salvation, O holy Baptist John. [GOASD]
Wholly have I entrusted to You, * O wise and holy Baptist John, all my heart and mind. * Become a most earnest patron * for me, a helper and guard, * my hope of salvation, and a source of strength, * superlative helmsman and a most trustworthy sentinel, * haven and rampart. And, O Forerunner, rescue me * from pernicious foes, and from perils deliver me. * For you have uncontestably * the power to intercede, * and you possess, O all-blest one, * immense compassion and sympathy; * through which guard and shelter, * and look out for me while granting great mercy unto me. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.
Prokeimenon. Mode 4.
The Lord will hear me when I cry to Him.
Verse: You heard me when I called, O God of my righteousness. You strengthened my heart when I was in distress. [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.
Armed with the shield of faith, and rousing themselves to action with the sign of the Cross, O Lord, Your Saints of their own accord went forth courageously to the tortures, and they abolished the delusion and the audacity of the devil. At their entreaties, O omnipotent God, send peace down upon the world, and great mercy upon our souls. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
Now we call you blessed, O Virgin Theotokos, and we glorify you, duty-bound as believers; the city unshakable, the wall indestructible, the firm and steadfast protection, and the place of refuge for our souls. [SD]
__________
ON TUESDAY 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.
Holy Virgin, we call you symbolically the root * that put forth the divine flower, lampstand, golden jar, * ark, and holy table holding the bread of life, Christ. * Pray together with the holy Forerunner, and implore * your Son and God to have mercy * and to save us who confess you to be truly the Mother of God. [GOASD]
After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata. For compunction.
O my soul, lament your laziness. Make it your purpose to repent before you die. Stay away from worldly distractions. Cling to God who is good, and He will save you, as He alone is benevolent. [GOASD]
As the Father and Spirit.
Come, all we who have sinned, let listen to the voice * of the Lord and supreme Shepherd, who appeared on earth * for our sake and was incarnate and became a man, * calling all who are like me, sorry sinners, to repent, * saying, “Take courage and fear not. * for minimal is the effort, but sweet is the reward on high.” [GOASD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.
The exceptional wonder of how He was conceived, * and ineffable manner of how your Son was born, * O pure and ever-virgin Maid, was truly revealed in you. * And astonished is my mind, and my reason is amazed * by your glory, O Theotokos, * which over all has been spread out * for our protection and to save our souls. [SD]
After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.
For the Forerunner. As the Father and Spirit.
When the barrenness plaguing Elizabeth was loosed, * then the Archangel Gabriel went and said, “Rejoice!” * to the Virgin, who conceived and remained a virgin still. * The holy Forerunner was leaping for joy in the womb, * when he perceived that his Master * and God had become incarnate * in the virgin womb for the salvation of all. [GOASD]
For the Martyrs. Same Melody.
All the hosts in the heavens were utterly amazed * by the feats and the contests the holy Martyrs won. * For by the power of the Cross, they competed very well; * they invisibly defeated the bodiless foe, * while in their own mortal bodies. * Now they intercede with the Master, * that He be merciful to our souls. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
All-holy Mother of God, you are the fortress for Christians. Quickly rescue your people, who as always pray to you earnestly. Counteract all shameful and prideful thoughts that assail us, so that we may sing to you: Rejoice, Ever-virgin! [GOASD]
Canon of Compunction.
Mode pl. 1. Ode i. Heirmos.
Over land on which the sun had never shone or ever seen * and the abyss which the vault of heaven had not seen exposed before, * Israel perambulated without getting wet; * and You led them and You gave them entry unto Your Holy Mountain, * as they sang and chanted songs of victory, O Lord. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Forerunner.
He who brings wars to nothing.
Theotokion.
Ode iii. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Forerunner. O Lord, You established earth.
Theotokion.
Ode iv. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Forerunner. Habakkuk as a prophet.
Theotokion.
Ode v. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Forerunner. Early do I rise to You.
Theotokion.
Ode vi. Heirmos.
O Lord, You rescued from the whale the Prophet long ago. * I pray that You also let me rise from the sea of passions oppressing me, * so that with favor I may once again look toward Your holy temple. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Forerunner. I implore You, Master Christ.
Theotokion.
Ode vii. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Forerunner. Praiseworthy and beyond measure.
For the Trinity.
Theotokion.
Ode viii. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Forerunner. Summoning a worldwide chorus.
For the Trinity.
Theotokion.
Ode ix. Heirmos.
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Theotokion.
Canon for the Forerunner. 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.
The holy Martyrs competed on the earth, endured exposure to the air, were delivered to the fire, and the water received them. To them belong the words, “We went through fire and water, and You led us into a refreshing place.” By their intercessions, O God, have mercy on us. [GOASD]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
You give hope to the hopeless, you give life to the desperate, you assist those pray to you, O holy Lady, Virgin Theotokos. We implore you, send down your help to us. [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]
O Christ, that harlot of old * wholeheartedly repented and she wept, * and You justified her. O good Master, now likewise * rescue me, dejected as I am, * from punishment and hell, I pray. [SD]
Let us together now extol * St. John the Baptist and Forerunner of Christ, * who prepared favorable ways for the Master, * so that from our sins we might be freed * through his holy prayers for us. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
O holy Martyr Saints of Christ * you drank His cup of death with eagerness of soul. * Now we pray you to deliver us from diseases * and from foul sins, by your divine * entreaties on our behalf. [SD]
Glory.
Incomprehensible God, * almighty Trinity and Unity, * at the intercessions of Your Forerunner, save me, * and rescue me from darkness and the flame * that has been prepared for me. [SD]
Both now. Theotokion.
The sinful deeds that I commit * continually leave a stain on me, * O Virgin, the unstained Mother of the Master. * Lady, I earnestly entreat: * wash away all filth from me. [SD]