ON THURSDAY EVENING
At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomia.
Stichera for the Cross.
Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.
Wishing, O most benevolent Lord, * to end the troubles and reproaches on mortal men, * You suffered a most disgraceful death * by crucifixion for all, * O forbearing Savior, and You tasted gall, * in this way removing all our most venomous bitterness. * And You were wounded with a lance in Your spotless side, * thereby granting healing, O Master, unto our wounds. * Glorious was Your death upon * the Cross that we now extol. * With veneration we honor * the lance, the sponge, and the reed as well, * through which did You freely * grant Your peace and Your great mercy unto the universe. [SD]
Moses Your mighty servant, O Christ, * set up a brazen serpent, thus saving mortals from * the harm of the poison bite of the deadly serpents, and thus * prefigured Your Passion, O compassionate, * longsuffering Lord. And now, on a cross You were crucified, * and hence the world has been redeemed from the serpent’s harm * and has been uplifted from earth unto heaven’s heights. * Therefore exultantly we sing * extolling Your sovereignty, * O most benevolent Master, we venerate Your all-holy Cross. * For all of creation * has through it obtained great mercy and easy-gotten worth. [SD]
Additional Stichera. For the Theotokos. Same Melody.
Lady, since the shoulders of my soul * indeed are always heavy laden with multitudes * of sins and with grievous hardships, * and I am bowed to the ground, * I dare not to lift up my eyes toward the heights. * And therefore I cry to you from the depths of my heart and say: * On me have mercy, you who ushered into the world * from your spotless womb the compassionate God of all. * Show your illimitable store * of marvelous miracles, * and also stretch out your holy * and undefiled hands unto your Son, * O Virgin, and grant me, * by your fervent supplications, salvation of my soul. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.
Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Verse: I lifted my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? [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.
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. Stavrotheotokion. Rejoice.
As I behold the lance digging up * Your blameless side, O dearest Son, I am wounded by * the terrible sword of sorrow, * and I have no strength at all * yet to utter even a sigh from my soul. * Such words the all-pure one said as she stood by at Your Passion * and as she witnessed You unjustly be sacrificed, * O forbearing Lord and exceeding benevolent. * Where are my tidings of good news, * and he who told me, Rejoice, * and my ineffable childbirth? * And where is Peter Your ardent friend? * She tearfully shouted: * Even so, glory to Your fathomless longsuffering. [SD]
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ON FRIDAY 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. As the Father and Spirit.
As she stood near the Cross of the Lord on Golgotha * and lamented, the Mother of God cried out to Him, * “Woe is me! O Son and God, the sweetest light of my eyes! * Now stretched out on a cross are You who long ago as God * stretched out the heavens like a curtain, * and brought out fountains of waters * from the sea, by Your ordinance!” [GOASD]
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.
As Your Mother was watching You voluntarily * being nailed to the Cross as innocent lamb, * she lamented, and it wore her out, O Christ, and she cried, * “Woe is me! For You, my light, have been cruelly put out! * You are the King of all creation, * and yet You die like a villain * among criminals, my Son and God!” [GOASD]
After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.
For the Cross. As the Father and Spirit.
Adam harvested bitterness from the tree of old, * when he slid into death by the envy of the snake. * When You were crucified, O Jesus, he harvested life, * and through the tree of the Cross, he lives in heaven again, * and death itself and the serpent * are swallowed up and defeated, * and we all glorify You, Christ our God. [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. Stavrotheotokion. As the Father and Spirit.
As she bitterly wept, the Theotokos said, * “Archangel Gabriel brought me the salutation, ‘Rejoice!’ * He announced and said that You would be with me, O Lord. * Alas! This joy has been replaced with grief and sorrow, my Son! * And I am now as one childless, I who remained ever virgin * and gave birth to You, who save our souls.” [GOASD]
Canon for the Cross.
Mode pl. 1. Ode i. Heirmos.
To our Savior and God, who led His people of old * across the Red Sea, and they walked on dry ground, * and under water covered Pharaoh and his forces all, * to Him only let us sing, for He is glorified. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos.
He who brings wars to nothing.
Ode iii. Heirmos.
O Christ, I pray You strengthen my mind * and heart, O Savior, by Your Cross’s might, * that I may praise You and glorify * Your Ascension that has saved us all. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. O Lord, You established earth.
Ode iv. Heirmos.
I have heard the report about the power of Your Cross, * that the Garden of Eden was opened by it, O Christ, * and I cried aloud: * Glory to Your strength, O Lord my God. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Habakkuk as a prophet.
Ode v. Heirmos.
Arising very early, we cry aloud to You, O Lord. * Save us, for You are our God. * We know no other, except for You. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Early do I rise to You.
Ode vi. Heirmos.
The deep abyss encompassed me; the great fish became like a tomb for me. * But I cried aloud to You, benevolent Lord my God. * Then with Your right hand, You raised me and delivered me. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. I implore You, Master Christ.
Ode vii. Heirmos.
Inside the furnace You saved the three young men who sang Your praises. * You are the God of our fathers, Lord, and blessed are You. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Praiseworthy and beyond measure.
Ode viii. Heirmos.
Before the ages begotten from the Father, He is Son and God. * He was incarnate and born of a Virgin Mother in latter times. * Praise Him, priests and people, exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. Summoning a worldwide chorus.
Ode ix. Heirmos.
You, transcending mind and reason are Mother of God; * you gave birth to the timeless One in time inexpressibly. * We the faithful with one accord magnify you. [SD]
Troparia.
For the Martyrs.
Stavrotheotokion.
Canon for the Theotokos. O Isaiah, dance with joy.
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.
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. Stavrotheotokion.
The blameless Lady cried out to Christ as she lamented, “Stop the pain of my soul, for it is suffering in anguish. For even as You save humanity by Your Passion, You are breaking my heart, O Logos. You are the sweetest light of my life, my child and my Maker. I extol Your forbearance.” [GOASD]
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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 died upon the Cross, * O good Savior and the Giver of Life, * You revived us who had fallen through eating, * and You made us citizens again * of Paradise, O loving Lord. [SD]
You were nailed upon the Cross, * You who called yourself the true vine, O Christ; * and from You was distilled the drink of salvation, * that wine that gladdens the hearts of all * the faithful who sing Your praise. [SD]
For the Martyrs.
As you were beaten to death, * and your bodies were dismembered limb by limb, * you became an image of the Master’s slaughter. * Hence we call you blessed evermore, * O wise holy Martyrs of Christ. [SD]
Glory.
On the Cross, the Son of God, * from the Father and the Holy Spirit * inseparable, endured His voluntary Passion, * whereby He delivered us from all * the passions that corrupted us. [SD]
Both now. Stavrotheotokion.
Lady, you watched as our Life * willingly died on the tree of the Cross, * and you beat our breasts as your wept and lamented. * Therefore we all sing you sacred hymns * and call you blessed evermore. [SD]