ON TUESDAY EVENING
At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.
Stichera for the Cross.
Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.
Savior and most benevolent Lord, * I pray You block all the assaults that the demons launch * against me, for they are seeking to kill my humble soul * and to drag me down to everlasting hell. * Frustrate their intentions and all the traps that they lay for me, * for they are trying every day to entangle me, * night and day. O Master, from all these deliver me. * Quiet the tempestuous storm of life and its turbulence, * and rescue me from the darkness and from the hellfire that never ends, * O Christ, my most good God, * when You come again in glory as Judge of all the world. [GOASD]
When books shall be laid open, O Christ, * on that most terrifying day when You come again, * when all people shall appear at Your just tribunal, O Lord, * everyone awaiting their verdict from You, * when fire shall pour out and flow in front of the judgment seat, * and when the trumpet shall be sounded resoundingly, * what am I the wretch then to do, for I am accused * by my own conscience and condemned * to flames that are never doused? * O Christ my God, hence with fervor I now implore that before the end * I might find remission * of my sins from You who grant Your great mercy to the world. [SD]
Going unto Your Passion, O Christ, * upon Your shoulders You take up Your most precious Cross, * becoming for us, who wish to live in You, a model of how * we might live and might be glorified with You. * We pray You to grant to us who now carry Your death about * within ourselves that we become the participants * of the sufferings and the glory along with You. * Deaden the movements of my flesh, * and nail down its members too, * using the pure and divine fear * of You, O Lord most benevolent. * And thus making me dead * to the world, make me alive unto Your commands alone. [SD]
Additional Stichera. For the Theotokos. Same Melody.
Weeping, I grieve and bitterly sulk * when meditating on the terrible reckoning, * not having through deeds acquired * the ground for even a weak * plea in my defense. Hence, I the wretch entreat: * O pure one, bestow on me the remission of all my sins, * before my life ends in an hour unknown to me, * and before the sickle, before death and Judgment Day, * also before I must collect whatever is due to me, * where the unquenchable fire is, the outer darkness, and then that worm * devouring transgressors. * And I pray you, grant, O Virgin, great mercy unto me. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.
Seeing the Lamb, to whom she gave birth, * going in earnest to the slaughter, the Ewe-lamb ran * in earnest after Him crying aloud and saying to Him, * “Sweetest Child of mine, where on earth are You going now? * O Christ, my beloved Son, why are running so tirelessly * this road, O Jesus, dearly loved and long-suffering, * O compassionate, very-merciful, sinless Lord? * Say something, even just a word, * to me your hand-maiden please. * Do not pass by me in silence; * do not ignore me who wondrously * gave birth to You, O God, * the Life-giver who is granting great mercy to the world.” [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 pl. 1. For the Cross.
Even if Your Cross appears to be wooden in essence, yet it is invested, O Christ, with divine power. And while appearing visibly in the world, invisibly it works the miracle of our salvation. We rev’rence it and thereby glorify You, O Savior. Have mercy on us. [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]
The tree of Your Cross, O Christ, was merely planted in the earth, and as a consequence delusion has been banished and grace has blossomed. For no longer is it the punishment of condemnation, but rather it was shown to us to be a trophy of salvation. The Cross is our firm support: the Cross is our boast; the Cross is our joyous delight. [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.
Intercede on our behalf, O holy Martyrs, * that we be delivered from our iniquities. * For to you has the grace been given to intercede on our behalf. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Rejoice.
Jesus, when she who gave birth to You * stood at Your Cross, with lamentations she mourned for You * and cried out: I cannot bear it * to see You nailed to a cross, * O my Son whom I brought forth into the world. * For I, being husbandless, then evaded the labor pains. * So how am I now, being blameless, afflicted by * such distressing pain which is tearing my heart apart? * Finally is the word fulfilled * which Symeon said to me * when he foretold in the Temple * that through my own heart a sword would pierce. * But now, O my Child, * from the dead arise and save all who sing in praise of You. [SD]
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ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
MATINS
After the first Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Cross.
Mode pl. 1.
The Place of the Skull became Paradise; for once the tree of the Cross was planted there, immediately it blossomed the grape cluster of life, namely You, O Savior, to gladden our hearts. Glory to You. [SD]
O Savior, the tree of Your Cross became the salvation of the world. For You were willingly nailed to it, and thus You delivered us born on earth from the curse, O Life of all. Glory to You, O Lord. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (As the Father and Spirit.)
When Your mother saw voluntarily hanging on the Cross between two robbers, she was cut to the heart as a mother and she said, “My sinless Son, how were you nailed unjustly to a cross? Because You want to give life to the human race, as the most benevolent Lord.” [SD]
After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata.
For the Cross. N/M (As the Father and Spirit.)
O believers, let us extol and worship our Savior and Redeemer, who was voluntarily crucified, as He knew how and was well pleased to do. For He delivered the human race from error, and He nailed the sins of humanity to the Cross, and granted us the kingdom. [SD]
Same Melody.
O Lord, who endured crucifixion of Your own will, and freed mankind from corruption, we believer extol You and worship You, for by the power of the Cross You illumined us. And now with fear we glorify You, the compassionate and benevolent Giver of life. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.
By the Cross of your Son, holy Virgin full of grace, * the deceit of the idols has all come to an end, * and the power of the demons has been trampled down. * We the faithful now in gratitude ever sing your praise and call you blessed, O Lady. * We magnify you, confessing that you are truly the Mother of God. [GOASD]
After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.
For the Cross. N/M (As the Father and Spirit.)
Behold, the prophecies of the Prophets are fulfilled, and Your ancient counsel and plan has come to pass. For You, O King of all, voluntarily impoverished yourself taking flesh, O Christ, and for us You accepted to ascend the Cross and undergo death. Therefore, O Word, we glorify Your incomprehensible condescension. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
You have given us the miracles of Your holy Martyrs as an impregnable fortress, O Christ our God. At their entreaties, frustrate the plots of foreign enemies, and strengthen our nation, for You alone are good and benevolent. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (As the Father and Spirit.)
When I saw with my own eyes You close Your eyes, most beloved Son of mine, the light of my vision was extinguished. I do not wish to see the sun. Would that my eyes were plucked out, O Word. Be dark, O sunlight, for He who by a word gave you the light has closed His eyes on the Cross. [SD]
Canon for the Cross.
Mode pl. 1. Ode i. Heirmos.
He who brings wars to nothing with arm exalted is Christ. * Horse and rider of Egypt He shook off; and He threw them in the midst of the Red Sea * and delivered Israel, * who were singing a song of victory. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos.
Same Heirmos.
Ode iii. Heirmos.
O Lord, You established earth on nothing by Your command, * and You made it free floating, heavy though it be. * Do likewise now establish Your Church on Your divine commandments, * as on a rock that is immovable. * You alone are good and humane, O Christ. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode iv. Heirmos.
Habakkuk as a prophet considered Your divine self-emptying, O Christ, and in astonishment said to You, * “For the salvation of Your people You have come, to save Your anointed ones.” [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode v. Heirmos.
Early do I rise to You, who cover yourself with light * as with a garment. O God, I cry out * to You, to illumine my soul that has been darkened, * O Christ, the only merciful Lord. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode vi. Heirmos.
I implore You, Master Christ, that You quiet the furious sea * of the passions and the soul-destroying waves; * and from corruption raise me, O compassionate Lord. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode vii. Heirmos.
Praiseworthy and beyond measure exalted Lord and God * extinguished the furnace fire, refreshing the three young men, * who sang to Him together, * “God of our fathers, You are blessed.” [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode viii. Heirmos.
Summoning a worldwide chorus in the furnace, * Your Servants sang to You, O God who created all, * “All you works, to the Lord sing a hymn and praise Him; * exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages.” [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
Ode ix. Heirmos.
O Isaiah, dance with joy, * for the Virgin conceived in the womb; * and she brought forth a son, who is God and man. * His name is Emmanuel, Dayspring and dawn, Orient, The Branch. * We magnify the Lord, and we also call the Virgin blest. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.
At the Aposticha of Lauds.
Aposticha. Mode pl. 1. For the Cross.
In the days of Prophet Moses, O Lord, merely the figure of Your Cross was displayed, and it defeated Your enemies. And now that we possess Your very Cross itself, we entreat You to help us. Strengthen Your Church, and grant success to our government, as You did long ago to Constantine, in Your abundant mercy, Ο benevolent God. [GOASD]
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]
Your Cross destroyed the power of Hades, and it rescued the human race, O Christ. It freed the world from disintegration, and it opened Paradise to the robber. As we now venerate it now, we glorify You, O Savior. Have mercy on us! [GOASD]
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 Lord, Your medal-winning Martyrs imitated the angelic orders, by enduring the tortures as if they themselves were also bodiless. There singular hope was to obtain the promised blessings. At their intercession, grant peace to Your world, and great mercy to our souls, O Christ our God. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Now we call you blessed.
The mother sheep and Virgin * watched as You, Lamb and Logos, * were led out to slaughter, * and lamenting she cried out, * “Oh shocking audacity, * that lawless men are slaughtering * Him who gives life to all people! * O my Son, Your mercy is great indeed!” [SD]
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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]
When You ascended the Cross, * You confused and agitated the hosts * of the demons and demolished the destructive power * of the tyrant, O our Master Christ, * when You saved the human race. [SD]
You poured out for me a stream * of forgiveness when the spear pierced Your side. * When Your hands were attached with nails to the Cross, O Savior, * You detached humanity from all * passionate perceptions and thoughts. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
Blessed Martyrs of the Lord, * you experienced tortures of all kinds, * thus becoming imitators of the Savior’s Passion, * for which you were granted the delights * in heaven by Christ our God. [SD]
Glory.
We the faithful worship You * in three hypostases, our single God, * the divine, undivided, equally honored nature, * singing to You: “Glory to the One * consubstantial Trinity!” [SD]
Both now. Stavrotheotokion.
Lady full of grace divine, * as you stood and watched your Son on the Cross, * when you saw His wounds, your own soul was also wounded. * And as you lamented, you extolled * His great condescension for us. [SD]