VESPERS
@AT "O LORD = At the Lamp-light Psalms
Stichera of the Resurrection
10 With Fervent love we bow in worship to your life-giving cross, O Christ God, and we glorify your resurrection in the third day, for by it You renewed our fallen human nature, Almighty One, and gave us the assurance of our ascent to heaven: for You are gracious and the lover of Mankind.
9 Accepting of your own will the crucifixion on the tree of the cross, You solved the problem of the tree of sin; and when You went down to Hades, You broke the fetter of death as befits You, the Almighty God. Therefore, we bow in worship to your resurrection from the dead, crying out with joy: "O Lord, Almighty One, glory to You!"
8 O Lord, by your death You shattered the gates of Hades and destroyed the power of death. You saved the human race from corruption and gave life, incorruption and great mercy to the world.
Stichera of Anatolios the Patriarch
7 Come, all you peoples: let us sing a hymn of praise tot he Savior's resurrection on the third day, by which we were all delivered from the strong fetters of Hades and received life and incorruption: and let us cry out: "O You who were crucified and died and were buried and rose: save us by your resurrection, O You the only One who love mankind!"
6 O Savior, angels and men sing a hymn of praise to your resurrection on the third day, by which You lighted up the earth to its limits and redeemed us all from the enemy's slavery. We now cry out: "O Almighty, Maker of Life, save us by Your resurrection, for You are the lover of Mankind!"
5 You shattered the bronze gates of Hades and broke its fetters, O Christ God, and You raised up the fallen human race. Therefore we cry out to You in harmonious melody: "O You who are risen from the dead, glory to You!"
4 O Lord, your proceeding from the Father is eternal and before the existence of time. Your incarnation within the Virgin's womb is beyond human explanation and no language can tell it properly. Your descent into Hades is fearful to Satan and to his angels, for You have crushed death and risen on the third day, bestowing incorruption and great mercy upon mankind.
-Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion
@BODY TXT IND = O Mother of God, because of you, David the Prophet became an ancestor of God. he foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise to you and cried out to Him who worked wonders in you: "The Queen stood at your right hand." God revealed you as a life-giving mother when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father: He renewed in man his image which the passions had corrupted. He founded the lost sheep in the mountains, carried it on his shoulders, offered it to the Father, generously numbered it among the Powers of heaven and saved the whole world, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.
Aposticha
1. O Lord, when You were lifted up on the cross, You wiped out our ancestral curse. When You went down to Hades, You liberated those who were in fetters for ages, and bestowed incorruption upon the human race. Therefore we sing a hymn of praise glorifying your salutary and life-giving resurrection.
-The Lord has reigned and He is clothed in splendor. The Lord is robed, He is girt about with might.
2. O You who alone are might, You shook the whole earth when You were suspended on the cross; and when You were suspended on the cross; and when You were laid in the tomb, You raised up those who lay in theirs, and You granted life and incorruption to mankind. therefore we sing a hymn of praise and glory to your resurrection on the third day.
-For he has settled the earth: it shall remain unmoved.
3. O Christ, the transgressors of the law delivered You to Pilate and condemned You to be crucified, proving how ungrateful they were to their Benefactor. By your own free will, You accepted the tomb and the burial, and being God, You rose on the third day by your own might and power, bestowing upon us eternal life and great mercy.
-Righteousness is fitting for your house, O Lord, throughout eternity.
The women came to your tomb seeking You with tears, and when they could not find You they cried, sighing and lamenting and saying: "Woe to us, O our Savior and king of All! How were You stolen? What place could contain your life-bearing body?" An angel answered and said to them: "Do not lament but go and proclaim that the Lord is risen." Thus did He give us joy, for He alone is compassionate.
-Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O Woman all-pure, incline your ear to the supplications of your servants. Protect us from raging assaults and deliver us from all sorrows, for you are our only safe and secure haven and we obtained you as our intercessor. Oh! That we may never be put to shame who call upon you! hasten to answer the pleadings of all those who cry to you with confidence: "Hail, O Lady, succor of all! O our joy, our protection and the salvation of our souls.!"
The Women disciples of the lord heard from the Angels the joyful of the Resurrection, and casting away the ancestral sentence, they announced with pride to the Apostles: Death is vanquished, Christ god is risen! and has bestowed great mercy upon the world.
Troparion
The Women who followed the Lord heard from the angel the joy fullness of the Resurrection and the abolition of the sentence imposed upon our forefathers. They announced with pride to the disciples: "Death is vanquished! Christ God is risen and has bestowed great mercy upon the world."
Kontakion
Being God, You delivered us form bondage, O Savior and Redeemer; you shattered the gates of Hades and rose on the third day: the Lord!
Hypacoi
The ointment-bearing women hastened to tell the disciples about the marvelous event of your Resurrection, O Christ. You have risen in your power as God, bestowing great mercy upon the world.
COMPLINE ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode 1
After crossing the Red Sea with their feet dryshod, Israel routed Amalek's army in the desert when Moses spread his arms in the form of a Cross.
-Enlighten me with the light of your intercessions, O divine Theotokos, who are the undefiled Mother of the Light that never sets; and pray for me to be granted the light of knowledge.
-O undefiled Mother of God, since you are a light, enlighten me who lie in darkness by your radiant intercessions, and grant that I may walk along the paths of the light of God, O pure Virgin.
-O all-pure one, enlighten the night of my thoughts by your light; and, as the Gate of Light, make my soul radiant that I may behold the light of God, the Giver of Light.
-Drive away the darkness of my passions, divine Mother Virgin who have borne the Light, O spotless and all-blessed one who have brought forth the Light and transcends in your splendor the light of the sun.
Ode 3
The Church finds her delight in you, and cries out to You, O Christ: "You are my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my firm support!"
-O pure one, I ask for forgiveness through your radiant intercession. You conceived Life from the Light: grant it to me in your compassion.
-With your radiant brightness, enlighten my darkened understanding; for in an awesome birthgiving, you have brought forth the Brightness of the Father, O Pure one.
-No one on earth is more sinful than I am, O all-pure Virgin; therefore, I cry aloud, "O Gate of the light, enlighten my heart!"
-You have truly been the shining palace of the Essence that transcends light. O Spotless one grant me divine light and a ray of light and a ray of illumination.
Ode 4
The Church saw You, the Sun of Justice, suspended on the Cross, and she cried out as she stood in battle array: "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
-O all-pure Bearer of the Light, who have given birth to Christ, the Sun of Justice: I have been defiled by the passion from my youth. With your light, enlighten now my darkened heart.
-O all-praised Bearer of God, light-bearing tabernacle of the Word, illuminated Physician: enlighten my darkened heart and make me dwell in the incorporeal light.
-In all ways, I am subject to evil; but in my darkness, I now have recourse to you. O Gate of light, enlighten me and deliver me from Gehenna; fill me with the incorporeal light.
-You have given birth to the Giver of the Law and the Giver of Light: drive out the grievous darkness from my mind by your intercessions before the Light; O spotless one, save me who am defiled!
Ode 5
You dawned upon the world, O Lord, as a brilliant Light - a very holy Light which draws those who faithfully sing to You out of ignorance.
-Ineffably, you have conceived Light from Light. Give me light to turn away from dark ignorance and sing your praises with faith.
-Since you are higher in honor than the cherubim and Seraphim, O all-undefiled Theotokos, enlighten my soul with your light, O Conceiver of the Light.
-O Theotokos who surpass light, who is able tot comprehend the intensity of your light, for your have given birth in awe to One of the Holy Trinity?
-All-pure one, you have given birth ineffable to the world, the Son who is equal to the Father and the Spirit: enlighten my with His light.
Ode 6
The merciful stream of blood that flowed from your side, O Lord, purified You Church of the blood offered to demons. Now she cries aloud to You: "I will offer You the sacrifice of praise, O Lord!"
-All men sing to you: turn my sorrow into joy, and transform the darkness of disease and the stormy sea of all passion into calm and perfect health.
-Since you are compassionate and most pure, take pity on me who am defiled; O undefiled brilliance of the sun, fill my heart with your divine light.
-By your light-bearing intercessions, O Virgin, guide my wretched and darkened heart to the never setting Light of your Son, and enkindle once more the quenched lamp of my soul.
-O pure one, we acknowledge that you alone are higher in honor than the Cherubim, since you have given birth to the Light; O Theotokos, entreat Him now that I may dwell before the never setting Light.
Lord, have mercy! (three times
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Sessional Hymn
O pure one, grant me strength to joyfully walk the narrow and rough road of virtue and repentance. Widen my heart which has been narrowed by affliction; enrich my soul through the practice of the good, and lead it out from the narrow place of the passions tot he wide expanses of impassability.
Ode 7
The love burning in the hearts of the sons of Abraham as they stood in the midst of the Persian flames was more ardent than the heat of the fire around them. Therefore, they sang out: "Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory!"
-O all-pure Virgin, in my sins I have truly exceeded all those who lived before the Law; you conceived under the Law the Light that no man can approach: do away with the darkness of my offenses.
-O Virgin Mother, Lady who bore the true Light that enlightens all mankind, you renewed the world that had become corrupt. Therefore, I pray you now to enlighten me and the eyes of my soul.
-O most beautiful Bearer of the Lord, overflowing with light, sanctify my soul. You awesomely conceived the Brightness of the Father: fill me with everlasting light.
-O Mary, heal the blinded eyes of my soul; give me light to walk at all times toward the light of your son, that I may behold the never-setting light.
Ode 8
Daniel hut the lions' mouths in the den when he raised his hands in prayer. The three young men in their love for God quenched the rage of the fire by their virtue. They raised this song aloud, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
-I behold the light of your intercessions, O undefiled one who have conceived the ineffable Light for mankind; and they illumine the senses of my soul. They take away the grievous darkness of my ignorance, that I may cry aloud, "Hail, O spotless Conceiver of the light!"
-O all-pure Mary, radiant living cloud, by your light-bearing prayers, enlighten my soul and make my mind shine, O Virgin Mother. Saved, may I cry aloud, "Hail, O stainless Conceiver of the Light!"
-All-undefiled intercessor, you are blessed and full of light, enlightening all the ends of the earth, making the hearts of the faithful radiant as they cry aloud to you whom all men praise, "Hail, blameless Conceiver of the light!"
-No one is worthy to offer you hymns, O Lady full of light; for you, O undefiled one, have given birth to the Giver of Light beyond understanding, Christ the Lord, who enlightens the souls of those who cry aloud, "Hail, Conceiver of the Light, sovereign Lady of all!"
Ode 9
"You are the virgin mountain from which Christ, the Cornerstone, was quarried without the help of human hands, O Theotokos. In joy, we celebrate Him for uniting two separate natures in Himself. For this, we magnify you.
-O Lady undefiled and full of light, by your light-bearing intercessions, enlighten the center of my heart and all the senses of my body, that I may see the light of my Savior, the Giver of Light.
-O Virgin, I alone have surpassed every person born on earth in spendthrift ways, and I appear more senseless than dumb beasts. But, I entreat you: by your intercessions, guide me to the light.
-O Virgin, I have sinned, wretched as I am. Enlighten me and deliver me from eternal darkness, and guide me with eternal light towards the Life that never changes and the joys of heaven.
-Hail, O Bride with out blemish! Hail, unwedded Virgin! Hail, glory of angels and boast of the Apostles! Hail, crown of martyrs and great joy of the saints!
MESONYKTIKON
Canon to the Holy Trinity
Ode 1
After crossing the Red Sea with their feet dryshod, Israel routed Amalek's army in the desert when Moses spread his arms in the form of a Cross.
Glory be to You, O our God, Most Holy Trinity!
-Let us glorify the Trinity in three Persons, one divine Majesty, one Essence and one Eternity, whom we entreat as we say, "Save the faithful who glorify You!"
-From the Father, the Son has received an anointing with the oil of gladness in the Spirit; then He took our flesh and taught our flesh and taught us to worship the one God in Three Person.
The Seraphim cannot bear the radiance of Your unapproachable glory, One God of the triple Fire; covering themselves with their wings and ceaselessly glorifying You, they celebrate the Thrice-holy One in their hymns.
-All-pure one, you have given birth ineffable to the Creator of all, who saves mankind from the ancient curse and from the dust of the tomb; through you, we know the One God in Three Persons.
Ode 3
We do not glory in our wisdom, nor in the power found in treasures, but in the incarnate Wisdom of the Father, for no one is holy but You, O Jesus Christ.
Glory to You, O our God, Most Holy Trinity!
-O Christ, when You sent down upon Your holy Apostles the Power from on high, the Paraclete from the Father, You revealed the One Essence in three Fires.
O triple One, when You appeared in human form to the patriarch Abraham, You manifested the immutability of Your benevolent Lordship.
-O One God in threefold aspect, circumscribed by no place, inaccessible to every mind: save our souls from all affliction.
-Following the wise inspirations of your Son, we glorify the divine Majesty as one Essence of triple Fire; and we call you blessed, O ever-virgin Mary.
Lord, have mercy!
(three times)
Sessional Hymn
O triple Sun, uncreated, one in Essence, Unity in the Three Persons whom none can comprehend, take pity on Your servants; O compassionate God, save them from all danger, for in You we have our only Master and Redeemer, and we cry out to You: "Be merciful to us, O Lord!"
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Surrounded by so many miseries and the difficulties of life, and ceaselessly falling into despair, we have found salvation in you alone, O holy Virgin, our hope and protection; we now run to you in faith, crying out, as is right, "Save your servants, O Mother of God.
Ode 4
He who sits in glory upon the throne of God, surrounded with an ethereal cloud, Jesus, the supremely divine, came down; and with His mighty hand, He redeemed those who cried out to Him, "Glory to Your power, O Christ!"
Glory to You, O our God, Most Holy Trinity!
-Most High Trinity, one in Divinity, we glorify Your Lordship: in union with the Seraphim, we glorify nature with out division or confusion, equal in glory, O God whom no mind can ever comprehend.
-O Author of all creation, whom no space can contain, we sing to You, Godhead shared in Three Persons, yet strongly united in one dominion, transcending all definition.
-The Supreme Mind, without beginning, begets the Word in an ineffable manner and sends forth the Divine Spirit, who is equal in power to them both. Thus we proclaim the Trinity, one in Essence, the Master of all things, our God.
-In times past, the Word saw fit to announce His incarnation in figures, O Virgin; but in these latter times, He has shown Himself to mankind in all truth in order to reveal to them the one Majesty of the Three Persons.
Ode 5
The whole universe is rapt in amazement at the sight of you divine glory, for you are a virgin, and have not known man, and yet in your womb you have borne God, the Master of all: you have given birth to a Son who is not bound by time, a son who grants salvation to those who sing your praise.
Glory to You, O our God, Most Holy Trinity
-Knowing from our Faith the one Essence of God, creative and transcendent, and the consubstantiality of the Persons, principles of life, we adore the father, the Son and tot he Holy Spirit, who are all co-eternal.
-O one God in triple Flame, enlightenment me with the splendor of Your essential radiance, O uncreated One, source from which all light comes, in order that I might contemplate your ineffable beauty.
-Knowing You to be the unique Creator of all things, the Cause of all good, and all-wise Guide, the Giver of Life, we the faithful cry out to You: O triple Majesty of the one Godhead.
Ode 6
The prophet Jonah praying in the belly of the whale prefigured the three days in the tomb, as he cried out, "Bring my life up from the pit, O Jesus, Lord of Powers and my King!"
Glory to You, O our God, Most holy Trinity!
-The Father manifested Himself as He proclaimed the Sonship of Christ; the Spirit made Himself seen at the Baptism; thus we glorify the One and The One and Triple Majesty!
-When he saw the Angels celebrating the Thrice-holy One seated upon a raised throne, Isaiah recognized in You the Three Persons of the One Majesty.
-Most High King, tripersonal, lift up the hearts of Your servants that we may clearly see the radiant light of Your glory.
-In His love, the Son of God deigned to take our form from a Virgin; and He enables man to share in His divine glory.
Lord, have mercy!
(three times)
Sessional Hymns
In all wisdom, we proclaim the unbegotten Father, the only-begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father: an eternal Kingdom, a unique Godhead, whom we glorify with one heart as we day, "Consubstantial Trinity, save us, O our God!
v. Glory be tot he Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
He who transcends all time, who existed before all ages, God: you have conceived Him within time, incarnate as God and Man; thus, O pure Virgin, we confess you to be the Mother of God in truth, as is right; we do not cease to cry out to you, Make us worthy of eternal glory!"
Ode 7
The love burning in the hearts of the sons of Abraham as they stood in the midst of the Persian flames was more ardent that the heat of the fire around them. Therefore, they sang out: "Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory!"
Glory to You, O our God, Most Holy Trinity!
-Imitating the heavenly orders of angels, we mortals glorify in true Faith the One God, in Three Persons, equal in operation.
-The sayings of the holy Prophets of old revealed You in symbols beforehand as the Author of all ages and our God, in Three Persons, the ineffable Lord.
-Invisible by nature, O Word and Creator, You became incarnate of the all-pure Mother of God and appeared to men, in order to draw mankind to communion with the Godhead.
Ode 8
Daniel shut the lions' mouth in the den when he raised his hands in prayer. The three young men in their love for God quenched the rage of the fire by their virtue. They raised this song aloud, "Bless the Lord, all your works of the Lord!"
Glory to You, O our God, Most Holy Trinity!
-One Light of triple Radiance, eternal Essence and wondrous Beauty: come and dwell in my heart, making me a radiant temple, the most pure dwelling of Your divinity, that I may sing, "Bless the lord, all you works of the Lord!"
-Undivided Trinity, unconfused Unity, deliver me from my passions and from the darkness of sin; enlighten me with Your divine radiance that I may contemplate and sing of Your divine splendor, O Lord of glory!
-Mind, unbegotten Father; Word, consubstantial son; Spirit, sharing the same throne: supreme, incomprehensible, wondrous, both Unity and Trinity: in your love for mankind, save Your flock through the prayers of the Theotokos.
Ode 9
Let ever human being take up a torch, and let him dance with joy in his spirit! Let the whole immaterial creation celebrate this feast of the Mother of God, and cry out: "Hail, glorious Mother of God, ever-pure and ever-virgin!"
Glory to You, O our God, Most Holy Trinity!
-Before You, I bow down my heart and my spirit, the dispositions of my soul and my body: You are my Creator and my Deliverer, O one King of triple Radiance; and I cry to You: "Save me, You servant, from all trial and affliction!"
-Lift up our spirits to You, O Most High God; enlighten us with Your radiance, O Father, word and Paraclete, who dwell in inaccessible light, Sun of Glory, prince of light, that I may glorify You as one God in Three Persons.
-Lord, save those who believe in You and confess Your eternity, the Trinity of Persons in the Unity of Essence, of equal dominion; and make us worthy of Your glory in the heavens through the prayers of the Mother of God!
Sessional Hymns after the First Reading from the Psalter
The myrrh-bearing women looked at the entrance to Your tomb, but their eyes could not bear the brilliance of the angel there. They were utterly amazed and said, "Have they stolen Him who opened Paradise to the thief? Before He suffered, He foretold His Resurrection. Has He now risen from the dead?" Indeed, Christ our God is risen, giving life and resurrection to those in Hades!
v. Arise, O Lord my God, lift Your mighty hand and never forget Your poor.
O Savior, You were willingly crucified, and mortal men laid You in a tomb. Yet You created the world with a word; and so death has been defeated. It has been captured and bound; and those in Hades sing out for joy: "Christ our life has risen and will reign now forever!"
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
When Joseph learned of your virginal conception, he was confused and amazed, O Theotokos. But he remembered the dew on the fleece and the burning bush which was not consumed. He gave witness to the priests and said: "A Virgin has given birth and remained as before!"
Sessional Hymns after the Second Reading from the Psalter
O Christ our God, You rose from the tomb because You are rising from the dead. You crushed the kingdom of death and decreed resurrection for all. We give glory to You, for You alone are merciful, O Lover of Mankind!
v. I shall praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart and shall proclaim all Your mighty deeds.
Gabriel descended, robed in white, and came to the stone of the Rock of Life. He called out to the weeping women and said: "Stop this crying and your grieving! Be comforted with this news of joy: the One whom you seek is risen! So go and tell the Apostles that the Lord is risen from the dead!"
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
The angels in heaven above were dazzled by the mystery of your maternity: the Lord more spacious than the heavens themselves, enclosed Himself within the walls of your womb. He who existed before time was made was born in time of you, O Theotokos. he who feeds the world with enduring goodness was nourished by mild from you. And so we give praise to you, O most pure Theotokos!
ORTHROS
Hypacoi
The ointment-bearing women hastened to tell the disciples about the marvelous event of your Resurrection, O Christ You have risen in your power as God, bestowing great mercy upon the world.
Anavathmi
First Antiphon Many a pain have I sustained since my youth. Be my assistance, O my Savior, and save me.
O you, the enemies of Zion, flee in your shame before the Lord, for you shall wither life grass before the fire.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Ever spirit takes life from the Holy Spirit--it is purified, made brilliant and set on high through the indivisible and most pure Trinity.
Second Antiphon
Out of the depths of my soul, I have cried to You, Lord: Let Your divine ears be attentive to me.
All those who hope in the lord will overcome all their sorrows.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Through the Holy Spirit, the streams of grace will flow to refresh the whole creation, to bring it to the fullness of life.
Third Antiphon Let my heart be exalted to You, O Word, and do not let this world's pleasures take hold of me to war with my life on earth.
Even though we have such great love for our mothers, we should have greater love for our Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Holy Spirit now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
From the Holy Spirit come the treasures of divine knowledge, holy vision and wisdom. The Word proclaimed the Fathers laws through this Holy Spirit.
Ode 1
After crossing the Red Sea with their feet dryshod, Israel routed Amalek's army in the desert when Moses spread his arms in the form of a Cross.
v. Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord!
-You went up on the spotless wood of the Cross, raising us up from our fall and healing our utter destruction by that wood, since You are good and all-powerful, O our Master
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-Being God, You were present in the tomb by Your body, and yet in Hades by Your soul, in Paradise with the thief, and on the throne, O Christ, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, filling all things but encompassed by none.
-By the will of the Father, you conceived the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit without seed. You have brought forth in the flesh Him who was begotten by the Father without a mother. For our sake, He came forth from you without a father.
I shall open my mouth and it shall be filled with the Spirit, and I shall sing a hymn of praise to the Mother and Queen; with great joy, I shall celebrate and sing her praise.
-You cured the affliction of mankind, O Lord, renewing it by Your divine Blood. You crushed with power the might of the one who in times past crushed the work of Your hands.
-The resurrection of the dead has come about through death; for the power of death was taken away when it joined battle with eternal Life, the incarnate God, the Ruler of all.
-Your holy, living dwelling-place was nobler than the heavenly powers: the Virgin, the holy Mountain of God, carried You in her womb.
You were born of the Virgin: I beg You, the thrice-holy Captain of my soul, to drown me in the depths of freedom from passions, that I may sing a song of triumph to You, as on the timbrel, in the dying of the body.
-O pure one, peoples trembled, nations were troubled; mighty kings bowed down in awe before your childbearing; for my King came and laid the tyrant low and delivered the wo4rld from corruption.
-Christ, who dwells in the heights, came down to mankind and sanctified you as His tabernacle, showing it to be unshakable: for you bore your Creator and Maker, yet remained a treasure-house of virginity.
Ode 3
The Church finds her delight in You, and cries out to You, O Christ: "You are my strength, O Lord my refuge and my firm support!"
v. Glory to You holy Resurrection, O Lord!
-The Tree of life, the true and spiritual Vine, is hung upon the Cross and pours forth the medicine of life for us all.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-As the Mighty One, the Awesome One, the Destroyer of the arrogance of Hades, You have risen in the flesh, for You are the Immortal One.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Since you are the Mother of God, you are the one who obtains for us on earth the good things transcending our nature. Therefore, we cry out to you in faith, "Hail!"
O Mother of God, living and overflowing fountain, strengthen those who sing your praise and who gather now to honor you, and on this occasion of your divine commemoration, deem them worthy of the glorious crown of heaven.
-O savior, the serpent pierced me with teeth that poured out poison; but you broke them by the nails that pierced Your hands, O all-powerful God, for no one is as holy as You among the saints.
-O Lover of Mankind, You willed to be seen as dead in the tomb, while giving Life; and You opened wide the gates of Hades for all those who were lying there since Adam: for now one is as holy as You among the saints.
-Like an unploughed field, you produced the Wheat of Life which brings immortality to al who partake of it: He is the Holy one who rests among the saints.
You willingly came down from on high to earth, O Mighty One, and You lifted up man's frail nature from the depths of Hades: for no one is holy but You, O Lover of Mankind!
-The nature of mankind was purified through you by contact with the divine Fire; and in you, O pure Virgin, it has been baked into a mystical bread by the fire of God which kept you untouched.
-Who is she, this one who is so close to God that she surpasses in dignity the angelic orders? She is the only Mother who is radiant in the beauty of virginity, for she brought the mighty One into the world!
after the third Ode, the priest says the Little Synapte?, concluded with the Doxology
For You are our God, and we send up glory to You, Father Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Ode 4; The Church saw You, the Sun of justice, suspended on the Cross, and she cried out as she stood in battle array: "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
v. Glory to Your holy resurrection, O Lord!
-You went up on the wood of the Cross and healed my passions by the Passion of Your own spotless flesh that You had assumed form us of Your own free will. We therefore cry out, "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
v. Glory be to the Father and to the son and to the Holy Spirit.
-O Lord, death tasted Your sinless, life-giving body; and as was fitting, death was put to death. Thus we cry aloud, "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-O Virgin, you conceived without experiencing marriage; and after bearing a child, you remained a virgin. Therefore, with never-silent voices, we cry out to you; "Hail, O Lady!"
Perceiving the ineffable, divine design of the Most High, the Incarnation from the Virgin, the prophet Habakkuk cried out, "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
-O Christ, Israel who received the law did not recognize You as the Giver of the Law. Unworthy of the Law, it broke the Law and nailed You to the Cross as a lawless one.
-O savior, Your divine soul despoiled the treasures of Hades and raised with it the souls who had been there since Adam, while Your life-giving Body poured forth immortality upon all.
-We glorify you as the true ever-virgin Mother of God, O al-pure one: for you were prefigured to Moses in the bush which burned without being consumed.
He who sits in glory upon the throne of God, surrounded with an ethereal cloud, Jesus, the supremely divine, came down; and with His mighty hand, He redeemed those who cried out to Him, "Glory to Your power, O Christ!"
-The Invisible One became visible and dwelt with men in His divine condition which now one can comprehend. Although God, He took our form to save those who recognize you to be the Mother of God.
-The Virgin received the bodiless One in our bodily condition; sharing our nature, He became a child: He is one Person in two Natures: God bearing our flesh, and man beyond being.
-The Word of God whom you conceived without seed, has kept you a virgin after childbirth, before childbirth and while He dwelt in your womb, for He is the Maker of all creation.
Ode 5
You dawned upon the world, O Lord, as a brilliant Light - a very holy Light which draws those who faithfully sing to You out of the darkness of ignorance.
v. Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord!
-In Your compassion, You came down to earth, O Lord. Having been hung on the Cross. You lifted up the fallen nature of man.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-O Christ, You took upon Yourself the reproach of my transgressions. O merciful One, You have dest4royed the pangs of death in Your holy Resurrection.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. amen.
-You are the weapon guarding us from the enemy. In you, O Bride of God, we possess our hope and the anchor of salvation.
The whole universe is rapt in amazement at the sight of your divine glory, for you are a virgin, and have not known man, and yet in your womb you have borne God, the Master of all: you have given birth to a Son who is not bound by time, a Son who grants salvation to those who sing your praise.
-Foolish Hades devoured You completely: for seeing you nailed to a tree, Your side pierced, and lifeless, it took you for a mortal, You the living God. But in the test, it recognized the strength of Your divinity.
-O Lover of Mankind, when the Temple of Your body was destroyed, Hades and the tomb divided it among themselves. but they were forced to pay a penalty: Hades had to release the souls of Your holy ones, and tomb their bodies!
-Behold, the sayings of the Prophet have been fulfilled: O unwedded Virgin, you carried in your womb the transcendent God, and you brought into the world a timeless Son who grants peace to those who sing your praises.
"Now shall I arise," says the Lord through the prophet; "I shall be glorified and exalted in assuming fallen mankind and lifting it to the wondrous radiance of My Divinity!"
-All-pure one, the Son of God chose to dwell in you as a dwelling-place of glory, a holy mountain, a bridal chamber and a sanctified temple; He made you a paradise of everlasting delights for us.
-O Christ, from the virgins womb, You took flesh without seed: subsistent, undefiled, with reason, spiritual, living, endowed with will and the power to act, sovereign and independent.
-The Virgin's womb has put to shame the arrogance of the tyrant: an Infant puts his hand into the lair of the asp that destroys souls; overthrowing the proud rebel, He has put him in subjection under the feet of believers.
Ode 6
The merciful streams of blood that flowed from Your side, O Lord, purified You Church of the blood offered to demons. Now she cries out aloud to You: "I will offer You the sacrifice of praise, O Lord!"
v. Glory to Your holy resurrection, O Lord!
-Girded with strength, You with up on the Cross and struggled with the tyrant, the devil. Being God, You cast him down from the heights and raised up Adam with Your unconquerable hand.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-O Christ, You are risen from tomb, radiant in lightning-like beauty. You have scattered all Your enemies by Your divine might. As God, You have filled the universe with joy.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-O wonder greater than all wonders! Without knowing man, a Virgin has conceived in her womb the One whom the whole universe cannot contain, and He was not confined.
I have reached the depths of the sea, and a storm of many sins has overcome me in the deep. But You, O God of love, snatch my life from the pit!
-Hades opened wide its throat and swallowed me, and the fool gloried in it. But Christ came down as the Lover of Mankind and brought me back to life.
-Death was overcome by death: He who was dead has risen from the tomb and has given me immortal life; then He appeared to the women as the Immortal One and announced joy to them.
O spotless Mother of God, your pure womb has been revealed as the dwelling-place of the unapproachable God, upon whom the hosts of heaven cannot gaze without awe.
I have reached the depths of the sea, and a storm of many sins has overcome me in the deep. But You, O God of love, snatch my life from the pit!
-The serpent once caught me by a hook, causing my trespass and death through the fault of eve, my first mother; but through you, O pure Virgin, my Creator lifted me up from the pit.
-O Virgin, the ocean of compassion ineffable revealed in you the chosen depth of His wonders: for Christ, the pure pearl, has shone forth from you in the radiance of His divinity.
After the Sixth Ode, the priest says **?? concluded with the Doxology.
For You are the King of Peace and the Savior of our souls, and we send up glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Kontakion
Being God, You delivered us form bondage, O Savior and Redeemer; you shattered the gates of Hades and rose on the third day; the Lord!
Ikos
Today Christ, the Giver of Life, has risen form the dead, coming forth from the tomb on the third day. He has crushed the gates of Hades by His might and has set Adam and Eve free, putting Hades to death and destroying the sting of death. Let all of us born on earth sing to Him, praising Him continuously with thanksgiving: for He is the only all-powerful God, who rose on the third day: the Lord.
Synaxarion
Ode 7
The love burning in the hearts of the sons of Abraham as they stood in the midst of the Persian flames was more ardent than the heat of the fire around them. Therefore, they sang out: "Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory!"
v. Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord!
-Washed in the divine blood of Christ, the human race is invited to immortal life. In thanksgiving, it sings to You: "Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory!"
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-O Christ, Your tomb has been revealed as light-bearing, more beautiful than Paradise, more radiant than any royal chamber; it is the source of our resurrection.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-Hail, sanctified dwelling, divine tabernacle of the Most High! O Mother of God, through you, joy has been given to us, and we cry out, "Blessed are you among women, O spotless lady!"
The three young men, divinely-inspired, refused to offer worship to creatures instead of to the Creator: they had the courage to overcome the threatening fire, and sang our joyfully: "You are worthy of all praise, O Lord, God of our Fathers: blessed are You!"
-Hung upon the tree, You humbled the haughty look of the proud one, casting to the ground the eyebrows raised in arrogant pride, and You saved mankind: You are worthy of praise, O Lord, God of our Fathers: Blessed are You!
-By Your power, You have lifted up the horn of those who worship You. Risen from the dead, You emptied Hades of its treasures: the multitude of people who had been made poor. Lord, God of our Fathers: blessed are You!
-Following the inspired teachings, we glorify the One God in three radiant Lights , without confusion or division: the never-setting Radiance that illumines the whole creation, which sings, "O our God, blessed are You!"
Three young men in Babylon considered the order given by the tyrant to be foolishness; in the midst of the flames, they cried out to You, O Lord; "Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!"
-The fire burning in my heart impels me to celebrate with songs of virginal love; and I say to the Virgin and Mother: "Blessed are you: the lord of Hosts is with you!"
-O Mother of God, who gave birth to the Creator and Lord: you are the highest of all creatures; thus I sing to you: "Blessed are you: the lord of Host is with you!"
-O Mother of God, who gave birth to the Creator and Lord: you are the highest of all creatures; thus I sing to you: "Blessed the Lord is with you!"
-Honoring You as the one Lord, undivided in one triple holiness, One Essence in Three Persons, I call out to You in my hymns: "Blessed are You who guide all creation!"
Ode 8
Daniel shut the lions' mouths in the den when he raised his hands in prayer. The three young in their love for God quenched the rage of the fire by their virtue. They raised this song aloud, :"Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
v. Glory to You holy Resurrection, O Lord!
-You stretched out Your hands on the Cross and gathered to Yourself all the nations, creating one Church which praises You, O Master. With those on earth and in heaven, it sings to in harmony, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
v. we bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
-Shining like lightning and white as snow, the Angel was seen by the women in the tomb as dead? Christ is truly risen, and to in harmony, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-O undefiled Virgin, you alone from among all generations have become the Mother of God. You, utterly without blemish, have become the dwelling-place of God without being burned by the fire of the Light that no man can approach. Thus, all generations bless you, O Mary, Bride of God!
The Maternity of the Mother of God, prefigured by the three young men in the furnace, preserved them against the power of the fire: but now that this maternity has come to be accomplished, it brings the whole universe together and makes it sing: "Praise the Lord, all you His works, and exalt Him forever!"
-Seized with grief at the sight of your unjust slaughter, the creation lamented, the earth trembled, and the sun robed itself in a black garment or darkness. O Christ, we sing Your praises without ceasing and exalt You forever.
-You came down for me even into Hades, and You opened for all the road of the Resurrection. Taking me on Your shoulders, You brought me back to the father. Thus in joy I cry out to You: "Praise the lord, all you His works, and exalt Him forever!"
-We glorify the original Mind and Cause of all, the only uncaused Father, with the Word without beginning, and the Consoler Spirit: one God, Lord and Creator, the consubstantial Trinity whom we worship and exalt forever!
Almighty Redeemer of all, You came down in the mist of the furnace and covered the young men with dew, teaching them to sin, "All you His works, praise and bless the Lord!"
-He formed you form the side of Adam, then took flesh form your virginity: He is the lord of all, whom we praise as we say, "All you His works, praise and bless the Lord!"
-In his tent, Abraham contemplated the mystery which was fulfilled in you, O Mother of God, for there he received as his guest your Son who had not yet taken flesh, and he sang, "All you His works, praise and bless the Lord!"
-O Virgin the foreshadowing of your virginity was the salvation of the young men: equal in number to the Trinity; and in their virginal bodies they trampled on the fire, crying out, "All you His works, praise and bless the Lord!"
The Ninth Ode
The priest
Let us magnify with hymns the Theotokos and Mother of Light.
and the priest goes around censing the sanctuary, the icons and the people, while the choirs alternate singing the hymn of the Mother of God.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious without compare than the seraphim, who without stain bore God the Word, you are truly Theotokos we magnify you.
1. My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
R. O you, higher in honor than the Cherubim...
2. Because He has regarded the humility of his hand-made: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
R. O you, higher in honor than the cherubim...
3. Because He who is mighty has done great things to me; and holy is his name; and his love is form generations to generation to those who fear Him.
R. O you, higher in honor than the cherubim...
4. He has shown might in his arm: He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
R. O you, higher in honor than the Cherubim...
5. he has put down the mighty form their seal and has exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
R. O you, in honor than the Cherubim..
6. he has received Israel his servant, being mindful of his love. As He spoke to our Father: to Abraham and to his seed forever.
R. O you, higher in honor than the cherubim...
Ode 9
You are the virgin mountain from which Christ, the Cornerstone, was quarried without the help of human hands, O Theotokos. In joy we celebrate Him for uniting two separate natures in Himself. For this, we magnify you.
v. Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord!
-You entirely assumed my whole self in a union without confusion and granted salvation to my whole being by the Passion on the Cross which You endured in Your body, O God of compassion.
v. Glory be to the father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-When they saw the open tomb and the linen shroud which had borne God and was now left empty by Your Resurrection, Your disciples cried out with the Angels, "The Lord is truly risen!"
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-In choir, all we the faithful worship the Unity of the divine Essence, but the unconfused Trinity of Persons, sharing the same power and dignity: the God whom in faith we magnify.
Let ever human being take up a torch, and let him dance with joy in his spirit! Let the whole immaterial creation celebrate this feast of the Mother of God, and cry out: "Hail, glorious Mother of God, ever-pure and ever-virgin!"
-By guile, in Eden, the serpent took me captive; but the mighty One dashed him against the rock of Calvary, like an infant of Babylon; through the Tree of the Cross, He opened Paradise to me once again.
-You have laid waste all the strongholds of the enemy; with Your powerful arm, You despoiled His treasures; You have raised me up with Yourself from the depths of Hades, O Christ, Lover of Mankind!
The most hidden and divine mystery was manifested and fulfilled in you, O pure Virgin, for in His love, God was incarnate in you; and we magnify you as the Mother of God!
-O Virgin, we see you as a lily, dyed in the purple of the spirit, shedding light Virgin, and made it stable in Himself; and we magnify you as Mother of God.
-O mistress of all creation, grant victory and its trophies to Your people, and let all or enemies come to peace with Your Church, that we may truly and justly magnify you, O Mother of God!
Praises
8. We glorify Your Resurrection, O almighty Lord, who died on the Cross and rose from the dead.
7. by Your Cross, O Christ, You have delivered us from the ancient curse; by Your death, You frustrated the devil who had oppressed our human nature; by Your Resurrection, You have filled all things with joy. Thus we sing to You: "Glory to You, O Lord, who are risen form the dead!"
6. Lead us to truth by Your Cross, O Christ our Savior; deliver us from the snares of the enemy, O Lover of Mankind. Raise us who have fallen into sin, O You who rose from the dead. Stretch out Your hand to us through the prayers of Your saints, O Lord!
5. O only-begotten Son and Word of God, without leaving Your Father's side, You came to earth in Your love for mankind, and You became man without change. In Your flesh, You suffered death on the Cross, O god our Savior, who cannot suffer in Your Divinity; but You rose form the dead, granting immortality to all mankind, O all-powerful Lord!
4. In Your flesh You accepted death, O God our Savior, to give us the gift of immortality. You willed to dwell in the tomb in order to free us from Hades and grant us a share in Your Resurrection, suffering in the flesh but rising as God. Thus we sing to You; "Glory to You, O Giver of Life, Lord and lover of Mankind!"
3. The rocks were split when Your Cross was raised on Golgotha, and Hades trembled in fear when Your body was placed in the tomb, for You destroyed the power of death, granting immortality to the dead by Your Resurrection, O God our Savior: glory to You, O Lord, Giver of Life!
2. The holy women wanted to see Your Resurrection, O Christ our God. Mary Magdalene went ahead and found the stone removed from the tomb. An Angel was seated there who said to her: "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? he has risen as God to save the world!"
1. Tell us, O Jews: where is Jesus whom you were guarding? Where is He who was laid in a tomb which you sealed? Give us back His body, since you turned your backs on Life! Give us back the one you buried, or believe in Him as risen! Even if you are silent, the stones themselves will speak. They will declare His Resurrection - especially the stone at the door of the tomb. Great is Your mercy, O Lord! Great is the mystery of Your saving plan! O our Savior, glory to You!
Tone Four
VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING
At "O Lord, to You I call..."
6. Come, O wretched one: fall down before God with fervent tears, crying aloud: "I have sinned!" O my sinful soul, make the judge merciful before the end, and cry out to Him from your heart, Do not turn away from my sights, O my sinful soul, make the Judge merciful before the end, and cry out to Him from your heart, "Do not turn away from my sighs, O my God! Do not overlook the repentance of my heart, O greatly compassionate Lord!"
5. Night and say, the supremely evil enemy, who wars against me, does not cease to tempt me, drawing me toward destruction in the pit of evil. But since You alone are good, deliver me form his tyranny and from all need, O my good Jesus, and save me form manifold torments.
4. I am filled with thoughts that afflict me and separate me from You, O Master. I have disregarded Your commandments; I have not desired to do Your will. But, O Lord, be pleased to dwell in me because of your manifold mercies. Teach me to do Your will, since You are good and lover of Mankind.
(3) You created the hosts and holy orders of the angels as acceptable dwellings and honored temples of the divine Light. They behold Your glory, mighty in strength, carrying out Your word and zealously fulfilling Your commandments, O Lover of Mankind!
(2) Wishing to reveal the depth of Your goodness, since You are good, O Uncreated One, You first created the choirs of angels and orders of the hosts by Your almighty will and divine command. For it was truly right that Your goodness should overflow and go forth, and that Your gifts should be multiplied, O Master.
(1) The six-winged Seraphim, the many-eyed Cherubim and the exalted Thrones surround Your radiance, which created the Light; and they share directly in it, as do the Dominions, Principalities, Powers, Archangels, Angels and the mighty Principalities, while they acclaim Your glory, O Mighty One, always interceding on our behalf.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion
Possessing unsleeping intercession and continuous supplication with the Lord, O all-pure one, lull the temptations and calm the billows of my wretched soul; comfort my afflicted heart, I beseech you, O Maiden, and grant grace to my mind that I may worthily glorify you.
Aposticha
1. I want to wash away the handwriting of my sins with my tears, O Lord, and make the rest of my life pleasing to You through repentance. But the enemy tempts me in a constant struggle against my soul. O Lord, save me before I completely perish!
v. To You I have lifted up my eyes, to You who dwell in heaven. Behold: the eyes of the servants are turned to the hands of their masters and the eyes of the maid-servants to the hands of their mistresses: thus do our eyes watch the Lord our God until He takes pity on us.
2. Who is tossed by the storm and is not saved when he flees to Your harbor, O Lord? And who is sick and is not healed when he falls down before Your healing power? O Creator of all things and Physician of the sick, O Lord, save me before I completely perish!
v. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have been filled with shame: our soul has been filled to overflowing. May scorn befall detractors and humiliation come to the proud.
3. You are glorified in the memory of Your saints, O Christ our God! They beg You to send down upon us Your great mercy.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion
Hail, O cloud of Light, shining lamp, hand holding out the Manna, staff of Aaron! Rejoice, O unburned bush, ark of the covenant, throne, holy mountain, O paradise, divine table, O mystical gate! Hail, O hope of all!
Tone Four
ORTHROS ON MONDAY
Sessional Hymns after the First Reading from the Psalter
Make my lowly soul turn back to You in repentance, Lord, for I have wasted me whole life in sin. Receive me as You received the adulteress woman, and save me.
Sailing across the sea of the present life, I am being swamped in the heart by my many sins, and I have no where to turn. I cry out to You like Peter, "Save me, O Christ our God!"
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O awesome mystery and wondrous happening! How can the Virgin bear You, the Creator of the universe, they remain a virgin after childbirth? She brought You into this world: now strengthen our Faith, bring calm to the nations and grant Your peace to the world in Your love for mankind.
Sessional Hymns after the Second Reading from the Psalter
Let us hasten o enter the bridal chamber of Christ, that we may heart he blessed voice of our God saying, "O come, you who love the heavenly glory and who follow the example of the five wise virgins!" Let us make our lamps shine brightly with the oil of Faith!
v. O Lord, in Your anger rebuke me not; chastise me not in Your wrath.
Let us remember how we shall stand before the judge; there the fire of torment is prepared like an angry, raging sea, overwhelming all things. Reflect on this! Weep and lament before the time of the end is here!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O You who are truly Theotokos, who intercede with the boldness of a Mother before your Son and our God; preserve your flock that turns to you for protection and receives its strength from you; you are a wall and a heaven, and the only guardian of mankind.
Sessional Hymns after the Third Reading from the Psalter
O Divine Trinity, with their immaterial lips, the bodiless angels ceaselessly sing to You. As they stand reverently before You, One God in Three Persons, they cry out, "Holy are You!" By their prayers, have mercy on the works of Your hands, for You alone are the Lover of Mankind.
v. God is wonderful among His Saints, the God of Israel.
Today the heavenly hosts are present at the memorial of the victorious martyrs; they enlighten the minds of the faithful and make the whole bright with grace. By their prayers, O all-powerful God, grant us great mercy.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
The archangel brought greetings from heaven to you who were presented to the Temple, to you who were in the Holy of Holies, to you who were clot** wisdom and faith, wisdom and blameless virginity. He cried out, "Hail, all-blessed one! Hail, all-glorified one! The Lord is with you!
Ode 1
You were born of the Virgin: I beg You, the thrice-holy Captain of my soul, to drown me - like the chariots of Pharaoh - in the depths of freedom from passions, that I may sing of triumph to You as on the timbrel, in the dying of the body.
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-O Savior Jesus Christ, You saved the sinful woman and accepted the weeping adulteress; You justified the sighing Publican. In spite of the great number of my sins, receive me in repentance and save me.
-The furnace of evil consumes my soul like straw, making me kindling for the eternal flame; O long-suffering Lord, extinguish it by the dew of Your love as You grant me tears of repentance.
-With full awareness, the choir of holy martyrs wisely brought about the shipwreck of the foolish decisions and arrogance of the godless; in heaven, they have found their reward from God.
-O holy martyrs, renouncing all the pleasures of this world, you have received life in the age to come in return: as we rightly call you blessed, deliver us from all attachments here below.
-O radiantly illumined lamp of the Sun of Glory, which is Christ: enkindle the flame of my soul which has been ceaselessly extinguished by my laziness; all-holy one, pour out on me the oil of good works, which will permit me to glorify you with faith and love.
You were born of the Virgin...
O holy angels, intercede for us.
-O pure spirits who stand before the primal and great Spirit, shining with the splendor of God, O angels: illumine with your radiance my soul which celebrates the word, the Creator of all.
-O glorious archangels, who ceaselessly bow before God in your love, resplendent with His beauty: you surround Him harmony and sing the triumphal hymn to the Creator.
-You alone have received in your womb the Word ceaselessly glorified by the angels in heaven: pour out your light upon my soul, delivering it form the dark experience of sin and enlightening it with the knowledge of the Spirit.
Ode 3
You willingly came down from on high to earth, O Mighty One, and You lifted up man's frail nature from the depths of Hades: for no one is holy but you, O Lover of mankind!
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-The darkness of the passions surrounds me in the night of this life: O Christ our God, never-setting Light, illumine me with the light of repentance, O Lover of Mankind, and save me, that I may glorify You.
-Grant me the lot of Your elect, O Christ my Savior, and deliver me from the destiny of death ; by tears and love, purify me completely, that I may do Your will and glorify You at all times.
-Your feet were truly empurpled and quickly brought you to heaven, allowing you to leave behind the earth and its sins, O holy martyrs, imitators of the heavenly hosts.
-Tormented by tortures, your bodies were broken, O holy athletes of the Lord; but your souls were strengthened by pure love, in order to unite you forever to the Creator of all.
-O Lady over the whole creation, who brought the Lord into the world, O Mary: behold my spirit, dominated by the passions; I beg you to free it and fill my darkened soul with the rays of your light.
You willingly came down from on high...
O holy angels, intercede for us!
-O Christ, hymned in the Kingdom by the heavenly choirs; grant that the assembly of believers may divinely imitate the hosts of heaven: for no one is holy but You, O Lover of Mankind!
-O divine archangels, who live in a perfect harmony of ardent love with the primal Source, whom you serve: by your never-silent voices, you sing of the Godhead, the unique and unoriginate Being.
-Now gloriously took away the curse of Eve of old, O pure Mother, in giving birth to Christ, who crowns us with blessings; for no one is our help but you, O spotless Virgin.
After the Third Ode, the priest says the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology;
For You are our God, and we send up glory to You, Father Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Ode 4
he who sits in glory upon the throne of God, surrounded with an ethereal cloud, Jesus, the supremely divine, came down; and with His mighty hand, He redeemed those who cried out to Him: "Glory to Your power, O Christ!
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-I fall down before You. O thrice-holy Judge and my Lord: take pity on me who am condemned and without hope; save me from the curse which I have deserved in justice, and grant me the lot of Your elect.
-I am the traveler who fell into the cruel hands of the thieves; O Christ, I have been wounded; heal me, O Lover of Mankind, pouring out on my soul the oil and wine of repentance, and clothe me in the robe of salvation.
-You have been clothed from on high with the robe of salvation, O holy martyrs, as you were stripped of your bodies; O far-famed ones, you have despoiled him who once stripped our first parents in Paradise.
-Before the unjust tribunal, O holy martyrs, you were given words by God Himself; and by the knowledge of the Faith, you confounded the wise men and orators as impious, bringing down the power of the enemy.
-Jesus, the Abyss of infinite wisdom came down upon you like a rain, for he found you alone to be pure, O Virgin Mother of my God; and with His divine grace, He has dried up the terrible rivers of sin.
He who sits in glory...
O holy angels, intercede for us!
-With Your might which surpasses all understanding, O supreme Word of God, You drew the heavenly spirits form non-being, and You adorned them with Your ineffable glory that they might sing out to You: "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
-Under the guidance of the Spirit, the Powers on high, divinely illumined, have inherited the unfailing heights, venerating above all things the universal Lordship of the one God.
-Admitted to the contemplation of the beauty of Your face, the splendorous angels who serve You in heaven in the radiance which flows from You, O Christ, ceaselessly cry out to You: "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
-Clothed in an embroidered mantle of gold, the Virgin Queen now stands before the King, her Son, higher without compare than the angels, who ceaselessly cry out, "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
Ode 5
"Now shall I arise," says the Lord through the prophet; "I shall be glorified and exalted in assuming fallen mankind and lifting it to the wondrous radiance of My Divinity!"
Glory to You, O our god, glory to You!
-How can I stand before You, the Judge of all, convicted of guilt for all the crimes which I have willingly committed in my folly, and totally corrupt?
-Save me, Lord Jesus: behold me, sunk in evil; heal me of my sins; nurse my terrible wounds; against You alone have I sinned: do not deliver me to death.
-Blessed was the ends of the holy martyrs: they inherited the glory of the heavens, glorifying Christ in their own members; and in their torments, they have nobly chosen to live with the Master of all combats.
-O divine Athletes, full of renown, witness of Christ, you have inherited the joys of heaven and the Light that knows no evening, the imperishable crown, the dwelling not built by the hand of man, and which will never pass away.
-Your wonders were announced by prophetic voices, O spotless Virgin, designating you as the mountain of the lord the gate and lampstand of the light, whose wondrous radiance truly illumines the whole world.
"Now shall I arise..."
O holy angels, intercede for us!
-With reverence, the Cherubim, Seraphim, Thrones, Archangels, Dominations, Virtues, Principalities and Powers glorify, with the Angels, the holiness of the one and triune Divinity.
-O Christ, Your radiant angels manifested themselves in all their splendor to the holy women, proclaiming Your holy Resurrection and striking fear in Your enemies by the resplendent brightness of Your Divinity.
-Station Your Archangels, now as guardians to watch over the Church which glorifies You in hymns in keeping with the Orthodox Faith, O You who save us from corruption, having been ineffable born of the Virgin.
Ode 6
I have reached the depths of the sea, and a storm of many sins has overcome me in the deep. But You, O God of love, snatch my life from the pit!
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-Unfeeling and wretched, I have no more sense than a corpse; You see my polluted soul; O my God and my Creator, do not destroy me at the end.
-O God of compassion, my deeds condemn me without pity before Your just tribunal; O Christ, make haste to save me as You lead me to repentance.
-The unjust people had the executioners break the bodies of the martyrs, but they could not break their faith, which made them co-heirs with God, the Savior of our souls.
-Like precious stones, the martyrs were built upon the rock of unshakable hope, and as temples of the Spirit, they have found a place in the temple of God.
-My heart is darkened by sin and shadowy temptations; O divine Bride, pour out upon it the radiance of the light which dwells in you, since you gave birth to the Sun.
I have reached the depth...
O holy angels, intercede for us!
-You who surround God and delight in all purity in the primal Source of Light, O Choirs of angels, enlighten those who sing to you with faith.
-In Your wisdom, You created the choirs of angels, Seraphim, Dominations and Virtues; and You made throughout the ages all those who sing to You, O Lord.
-O Christ, You rest upon the elevated Thrones, beholding all things in Your Providence as God: yet You were carried as a Child in the arms of a Virgin.
After the Sixth Ode, the priest says again the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology:
For You are the king of Peace and the Savior of our souls, and we send up glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Kontakion
Ikos
Synaxarion
Ode 7
Three young men in Babylon considered the order given by the tyrant to be foolishness; in the midst of the flames, they cried out to You, O Lord: "Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!"
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-O wretched soul, to what can I compare you? You lust for the evil without seeking the good; be diligent before the end in the practice of the virtues.
-Open the fountain of my tears and pour them out upon my wretchedness; O my Savior, do not permit sin to harvest me, who have sinned before You more than any other.
-Bearing the sufferings and death of the Word in your bodies, you have destroyed error; but you live in glory, O holy martyrs, and you heal those who are wounded by the passions.
-What city has not received your light as a rampart, O holy martyrs? And what country has not been enlightened by your struggles and your healing gifts, O glorious Athletes?
-You alone after childbearing remained in the beauty of a radiant virginity; you alone did not know travail, for you alone have given birth to God, the Savior of our souls.
Three young men in Babylon...
O holy angels, intercede for us!
-Having the spiritual messengers as the witnesses of our deeds, let us dedicate ourselves to living holy lives, and let us cry out to the Lord: "God of our Father, blessed are You!"
-Purified by the burning coal, the Prophet Isaiah saw the Seraphim around Your throne, and he cried out to the Lord, "God our Father, blessed are You!"
-O Virgin who have given birth to the Creator and Lord, you have been clearly seen as higher than any bodiless power: blessed is the Fruit of your spotless womb!
Ode 8
Almighty Redeemer of all, You came down in the midst of the furnace and covered the young men with dew, teaching them to sin, "All you His works, praise and bless the Lord!"
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-I am bowed down like a beast under the passions without reason or meaning: O Word of God, who existed from before all time, convert me and save me, that I may cry out, "Praise and bless the Lord!"
-Like a vine plowed under by the passions, the savage wild boar has ravaged me; hasten to save me, and grant that my soul might once more be fruitful in the virtues
-Your garments were dyed with the purple of your own blood; and bearing the crown as victors, you stand in the heights before the king of the Ages, O holy martyrs.
-The holy assembly of the martyrs overcame the horde of the impious, for rather than obeying their decrees, they struggled and were crowned before the King of all.
-All creation blesses your Son who crowns us with blessings and takes away the curse, O blessed and glorified Virgin, filling the human race with graces.
Almighty Redeemer of all...
v. O holy angels, intercede for us.
-Creating the angels, You made them share immortal life, O undying Life, and You taught them to sin, "All you His works, praise and bless the Lord!"
v. We bless the lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
-With their incessant voices, the Archangels, who form a spiritual circle around You, reverently celebrate their Creator and cry out, "Praise and bless the Lord!"
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-The images of the Law prefigured you who gave birth to our God, uniting to the flesh He who by nature is beyond all matter: O Virgin, we bless your divine maternity.
Canticle of Mary
Ode 9
By her fault and transgression, Eve brought about the curse; but you, O Virgin mother of God, have made the blessing sprout forth for the world through the fruit of your womb: and we all magnify you.
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-Behold, now is the time for repentance: why do we tarry, and why are we paralyzed by laziness? Let us renounce all negligence; let us fill our lamps, as it is written, with the oil of good deeds, that we may not have to stand before the door and weep.
-Since it is the time of conversion, O my soul, repent of your offenses which you have knowingly committed, and say to Him who knows the depths of hearts: "I have sinned, O Lord; forgive me; do not despise my unworthiness!"
-Christ has radiantly gathered together the holy martyrs from ever city and county in the place of their repose for their glory and veneration; and they rejoice now in the joyous assembly of the first-born.
-The holy relics of the martyrs, radiant with the light that flows from the divine Spirit, send forth the splendor of healings and they cure the sick, O Christ, compassionate Lord.
-O divine Bride, illumine me with the radiance of the light that comes from you; lift me up form my fall into the pit of perdition; destroy my enemies, my oppressors, those who stir up my passions.
The most hidden and divine mystery was manifested and fulfilled in you, O pure Virgin, for in His love, God was incarnate in you; and we magnify you as the Mother of God.
O holy angels, intercede for us!
-O angels who sing of the Eternal father, from whom proceed the Son and the Spirit; make haste now to generously distribute to us the treasures of His divine goodness.
-Wondrously adorned with grace and immortality, the divine Archangels, sing to You as the inexhaustible Source of Life, O Christ; and they magnify You as the Benefactor.
-We, the faithful, recognize in you the bridal chamber of the ineffable incarnation, the Ark of the law of grace, and the living Temple; thus, O Mother of God, we tirelessly magnify you.
Exapostilaria
(Tone 2
Angels and archangels, principalities, virtues, power, domination, thrones and many-eyed, six-winged Seraphim: intercede that we may be delivered from all danger and may escape the unending flames!
O Virgin, you are my protection, the defender of the world and its most sure rampart. I prostrate before you and cry out: "Deliver me from all pain and from eternal fire, O Virgin, for I have placed my hope in You!"
Aposticha
1. I am a sheep of Your spiritual flock, and I fly to You for refuge, O Good Shepherd, for I have gone astray and am lost. O God, seek me and save me!
v. In the morning, fill us with Your love that we may rejoice and be glad in all our days. Repay us in joy the times You did afflict us, the may years when disgrace was our lot. let you work be manifest to Your servants, and Your glory to their children.
2. Wash me in my tears, O Savior, for I am defiled by many sins: Therefore I fall down before You and say: "I have sinned. Have mercy on me, O God!"
v. And may the brightness of the Lord our God shine upon us, and may He prosper the works of our hands for us, may He prosper the works of our hands.
3. How could we not stand in wonder before the sublime combat which you waged, O holy martyrs? In your bodies, you have triumphed over the bodiless enemy, as you confessed Christ, armed with the sign of the Cross. Thus you have received the power to drive away demons and repel the enemy. Ceaselessly intercede for the salvation of our souls.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O Mother of God and blessed Virgin, save your servants from all anger that we may glorify you as the hope of our sols!
Tone Four
VESPERS ON MONDAY EVENING
At "O Lord, to You I call..."
6. O my soul, imitate the Chanaanite woman; draw near to Christ and say, "Have mercy on me, Master. I do not have a possessed child, yet my flesh is tormented by incontinent devils. Drive out the fire, I pray; and when You have driven out the passions, subdue it in awe of You, O Christ, by the prayers of her who gave You birth and all the saints, O most merciful Benefactor!"
5. O Christ, You sent Jonah to the sinful Nivevites to preach conversion to them. When they repented, You changed You wrath to tenderheartedness, and they were delivered from Your destroying anger. Although I am unworthy, O Lover of Mankind, send me You powerful help, that I may be converted from my countless sins, that I may be set upon the way of repentance, and may weep over my evil deeds, and be delivered form them by Your mercy.
4. Since You are the One who have come into the world to save the sinful human race and call us to repentance, in Your compassion, also have pity on me, who have sinned against You more than others. Save me for the sake of Your goodness and guide me into the path of repentance. Give me a contrite heart. In Your grace, made me humble, simple, uncurious and gentle, O my Savior, since You are compassionate.
(3.) By You prayers, O blessed John, enlighten my soul which has been darkened by the evil of the serpent. Guide me into straight paths which lead to the blessed life, I beg you: that having obtained my request, I your unworthy servant, may ever glorify you fervently, O all-wondrous one!
(2.) Since you are the child of a barren woman, O venerable Forerunner, by your prayers make my soul, which is barren of any good deeds, bring forth fruit in repentance to God. I ask this of you, O blessed one, that when your unworthy servant is saved, I may magnify your wondrous deeds and fervent protection.
(1.) O righteous Judge who know men's hearts, O God and Lover of Mankind, You do not remember evils. Do not put me, the prodigal, to shame at the hour of judgement, O Word; but at the venerable intercessions of the holy Baptist, turn to me now, wretched as I am, and save me, O supremely good Jesus, the Savior of our souls!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion
O all-pure one, I have become another Esau in all my ways. I have become a slave to the passions and have been stripped of all holiness. Who would become a slave to the passions and have been stripped of all holiness. Who would not weep over me? Who would not lament over my destruction? Thus, before the end, I cry out to you: "I have sinned, O Lady! Save me, just as your son once saved the prodigal son!"
Aposticha
1. I wanted to wash away the handwriting of my sins with my tears, O Lord, and make the rest of my life pleasing to You through repentance. But the enemy tempts me in a constant struggle against my soul. O Lord, save me before I completely perish!
v. To You I have lifted up my eyes, to You who dwell in heaven. Behold: the eyes of the servants are turned to the hands of their masters, and the eyes of the maid-servants to the hands of their mistresses: thus do our eyes watch the Lord our God until He takes pity on us.
2. Who is tossed by the storm and is not save when the flees to Your harbor, O Lord? And who is sick and is not healed when he falls down before You healing power? O Creator of all things and Physician of the sick, O Lord, save me before I completely perish!
v. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have been filled with shame: our soul has been filled to overflowing. May scorn befall detractors and humiliation come to the proud.
3. You accepted the sufferings of the martyrs: now receive this hymn of praise from us, O Lover of Mankind. by their prayers, grant us Your great mercy.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion
I beg you, O pure one, O all-praised one, O palace of the king: cleanse my mind, which is defiled by sin, and make it a joyful dwelling-place of the most Holy Trinity. When your unworthy suppliant is saved, may I magnify your power and your great compassion.
Tone Four
ORTHROS ON TUESDAY
Sessional Hymns after the First Reading form the Psalter
Make my lowly soul turn back to You in repentance, Lord, for I have wasted my whole life in sin. Receive me as You received the adulteress woman and save me.
v. O Lord, in Your anger, rebuke me not; chastise me not in Your wrath.
Sailing across the sea of this present life, I am being swamped in the heart by my many sins, and I have now here to turn. I cry out to You like Peter, "Save me, O Christ our God!"
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
We know that Christ our God, the Word of the Father, took flesh in your womb, O Mother of God and spotless Virgin, blessed among all women; and we sing ceaselessly as we magnify you.
Sessional Hymns after the Second Reading from the Psalter
Considering the abyss of my sins, I dare not turn my gaze toward You nor ask for forgiveness, O Lord. but grant me compunction and repentance, and save me!
v. O Lord, in You anger rebuke me not; chastise me not in Your wrath.
My heart and soul are darkened by the shadowy passions and pleasures of this life; I will never stir up compunction. O Lord, grant me grace in my misery; arouse the desire for repentance so that I may cry out to You before the end: "Lord of compassion and love, in spite of the unworthiness of Your servant and my despair, O Christ my Savior, save me!"
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O Mother of God, we magnify you as we sing: "Hail, cloud bearing the never-setting Light, the lord of Glory, whom you bore in your womb!"
Sessional Hymns after the Third Reading from the Psalter
The dove in the desert, the Baptist of the Lord, preached repentance and pointed out God made man. He has become the advocate of ever sinner, for he constantly comes to the aid of those who are shipwrecked in this life. By his prayers, O Christ, save Your world.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Your alone conceived the creator of all and adorned mankind by your birthgiving, O pure Virgin. Save me form the snares of the enemy; establish me on the rock of the teachings of Christ; and ceaselessly intercede before Him who took flesh from your womb.
Ode 1
he who struck Egypt and its tyrant, drowning them in the sea, saved His people from slavery to Pharaoh, as they sang the victorious hymn of Moses: He is gloriously triumphant!
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-On the great day, O Lord, do not accuse me of the dark deeds which I did in secret; do not make public my shame in the presence of all, but enlighten me with a sincere conversion, O Savior God, and save me!
-O Lord, I have multiplied my foolishness; I have heaped up sins without any fear of You; But, before the end, O Master, receive me and save me!
-Protected with the buckler of the Faith and armed with the Cross as a sword, O glorious martyrs, you set out to the encounter with the enemy and have overcome the Deceiver.
-The divine martyrs had no fear of the devouring beasts and cutting swords, the boiling oil in the cauldrons, dismemberment, the iron implements of torture nor the most horrible torments.
-The spotless tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant and sacred table, the mountain from which the Lord was quarried like a stone in a virginal manner, is the Virgin Mary, whom we magnify in our hymns.
You were born of the Virgin: I beg You, the thrice-holy Captain of my soul, to drown me - like the chariots of Pharaoh -in the depths of freedom from the passions, that I may sing a song of triumph to You, as on the timbrel, in the dying of the body.
Holy Forerunner, intercede for us!
-O star of greatest splendor, forerunner of the Sun, holy Baptist: with your radiance, you have enlightened the universe; thus I cry out to you, "Illumine my heart, blinded by the dark shadows of sin!"
-By your birth, O blessed one, you once loosed the bonds of barrenness; thus I entreat you, "In my soul made barren through the passions, bring about an abundant entreat you, "In my soul made barren through the passions, bring about an abundant birth of the fruit of the virtues by your prayers, O glorious Forerunner!"
-O light-bearing cloud, by you radiant mediation, scatter the countless clouds which oppress my soul, that I may see the rays of the Sun who came forth form you, and that in your light I may draw near to the unfading Light.
Ode 3
O Creator of the thunder and winds, Lord, strengthen my sprit that I may truly sing to You and carry out Your will, for no one is holy but You, O our God!
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-You gave sight to the blind: give light also to my eyes, blinded by pleasures and the cares of this life rather than looking to Your precepts, O Lord.
-The time has come, my soul. Keep watch. Renounce the evil you do and cry out to the Redeemer with fear, "O Christ, my Master, open to me the gates of repentance!"
-Visibly troubled by the divine struggles of the martyrs, Belial is seen to be crushed under their victorious feet, as without life or power, he who had once exalted himself.
-Running their race to a good end, through God, the assembly of the holy martyrs cut in pieces the myriads of dark demons, and they obtained the glory of heaven.
-You put an end to the grief of the first parents by bringing into the world our Joy, the life-giving Redeemer, O all-holy Mother of God; entreat Him that our souls may be saved.
The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength; and thus my heart exults in the Lord.
Holy Forerunner, intercede for us!
-You practiced all virtue and avoided all evil; O Forerunner, you point out the way of repentance to mankind.
-You were seen to be full of splendor, the Forerunner of the Word made flesh: deliver me from my carnal passions, leading me along the path of conversion.
-With a body, you lived like a Bodiless Power; by your prayers, grant us the grace to imitate you, O blessed Forerunner.
-The world was filled with grace through you, O Virgin Mary, despite the fault which condemned it; and thus we rightly call you blessed.
After the Third Ode, the priest says the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology:
For You are our God, and we send up glory to You, Father Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Ode 4
"O Lord, I have heard Your renown, and feared Your work," said the Prophet of God; and I glorify Your power!"
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-I have stripped my self of virtues; I have put on the robe of sin; behold me filled with shame. O Jesus, Lover of Mankind, clothe me with godlike garments.
-In the ocean of this life, O Word, by negligence I have sunk my ship in the shipwreck of carnal pleasures: direct me to the harbor of repentance.
-The noble and glorious martyrs truly purified the decay of sin with the divine salt of their fervor, and they brought salvation to all.
-Thrown to the ground like stones, the martyrs have shaken the very foundations of the citadels of error. By their prayers, save us, O Lord.
-At all times and all places, I call upon you as my help: do not despise your servant, O pure Virgin who conceived my God, my Redeemer and my Savior.
For love of You image, You went up on the Cross, O Savior; the pagan nations disappeared before You, O Lover of Mankind, for You are my strength and my joy.
Holy Forerunner, intercede for us!
-We all call you blessed, O Forerunner all-worthy of our praise, O swallow who announced the true springtime to the world by your clear preaching.
-O Forerunner, I am broken by the attacks of the e4nemy; you are the mediator between the Old Law and the New: renew me completely by your prayers.
-O Forerunner, behold my spirit, desolate because of a multitude of sins; you lived your life irreproachably in the desert: renew me completely by your prayers.
-O Virgin, your Son has become our grace and salvation; entreat Him now to save us who are filled with compunction and call you blessed.
Ode 5
Lord, make the light of You commandments sawn upon me, for my spirit keeps vigil for You, O Christ, and sings to You: "You are my God; in You I have my refuge, O divine King of peace."
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-I have led a corrupt life in my laziness; daily I am darkened by the traps of the Deceiver; but accept me, Lord Jesus: guide me to the light of repentance and life.
-My heart is haughty; it is the fault of the Serpent, and I have fallen from the heights. O Jesus, healer of broken hearts, convert me and save me in Your love.
-O blessed ones, by the streams of your blood, you have extinguished the furnace of the false gods and you cool the flame of the passions under a rain of healing, O holy martyrs.
-In the presence of the tribunal, you were scourged and beheaded; but, submitting to the worst punishments, you remained unyielding through the grace of God.
-May the radiance of your pity dawn upon me, for I find my self in the dark night of sin; O pure Virgin, guide me to the light of repentance, our Lady, that I may sing to you with faith.
Send Your light upon us, Lord, deliver us from the shadows of sin; in You goodness, grant us Your peace from heaven.
Holy Forerunner, intercede for us!
-Offspring of the burning desert, pour out the dew of your intercessions upon my heart, burnt by the passions, to guard me from all evil.
-O blessed one, your right hand baptized the One who sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven, and who saves us from all danger through your holy intercessions.
-The whole world possesses in you a refuge, fortress and powerful protection: save us from all threatening dangers by your prayers, O Forerunner.
-In you, O Virgin, God cherished the beauty of Jacob; and through you, He has made beautiful the woman who was once disfigured by the ancient fault.
Ode 6
In the ocean of this life, my deeds have made me sink to the bottom; but like Jonah in the whale, I cry out to You: "Bring me up from the pity of my sins, I entreat You, O Son and Word of God!"
v. Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-Alas! My soul drowses in the heavy stupor of laziness, and I am plunged into the dreams of sin: awaken me to the light of repentance, O Lord, and save me in Your goodness.
-Alas! How have I fallen, separating myself from all-good God? How can I be unmindful of the awesome judgement that awaits me in the world to come? O Creator God, take pity on me!
-O holy martyrs, salvation sounds from your lyre like a hymn, rejoicing the hearts of believers and driving away the drunkenness of error, O Athletes radiant with splendor.
-The witness of Christ have surpassed the limitations of the human condition; straining toward God, they joyfully suffered the trails of torture, as though strangers to their own bodies.
-Protectress of all believers, O holy Virgin, protect me; at the hour of the terrible judgment, save me from the dark pit which awaits me, that I may ceaselessly sing to you in faith.
I have reached the depth of the sea, and a storm of many sins has overcome me in the deep. But You, O god of love, snatch my life from the pit!
Holy Forerunner, intercede for us.
-In the depths, O Forerunner, you baptized the Lord who takes away the sin of the world: do not cease to entreat Him to have mercy on our souls.
-You preached repentance, O Forerunner: train my heart, stained by the depth of sin and resistant to every effort at conversion.
-In the wilderness and desert, O Forerunner, you announced the coming of the Word to souls: thus, with unceasing voice, the whole Church proclaims you blessed.
-O divine Bride, the images of the Law clearly prefigured your wondrous childbearing: we who have seen their fulfillment rightly glorify you.
After the sixth Ode, the priest says again the Little Synapte, conclude with the Doxology:
For You are the King of Peace and the savior of our souls, and we send up glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Kontakion
Ikos
Synaxarion
Ode 7
Because they would not worship the golden image, the sons of Abraham were tried like gold in the crucible: but in the fiery furnace, as in a banquet hall, they danced and sang, "Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!"
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-In Your goodness, O Christ our Savior, You appeared as a newborn Child to save mankind form the ancient condemnation; now renew me, who have grown old through sin, and save me as I cry out, "Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!"
-You responded with salvation to the conversion of Manasseh; You accepted the weeping adulteress, and with one word You justified the Thief: I have sinned grievously against You many times; receive me as I cry out, "Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers."
-When the storm of the false gods was unleashed against the world, the victorious martyrs used the ship of their piety, and with Christ as their captain, they sailed to the harbor of life as they sang, "Blessed are You God of our Fathers!"
-Shining with a pure radiance, like gold in the crucible, the holy martyrs were tried by tortures and torments: seeing on them the marks of His Passion, Christ carefully stored them in the chambers of the heavenly treasures.
-O pure Virgin, having conceived the flesh our Savior and our God, our Master and Redeemer, ceaselessly entreat Him that we be saved from evil; receiving the remission of our sins, we shall sing of His ineffable mercy.
In Babylon of old, the sons of Abraham walked about in the fiery furnace, crying out joyfully in their hymns, Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!"
Holy Forerunner, intercede for us!
-O prophet of God, you were seen to be the greatest of the sons of men: by your prayers, deliver me, great sinner that I am, from the great fire, that I may call you blessed.
-I am the barren fig-tree, and I fear the axe: by your prayers, O Forerunner of the Savior, and maend me that I may be fruitful, and thus I will call you blessed.
-Holy John, sublime Forerunner of the Redeemer of all, by your tireless intercession, calm the torment unleashed by the enemy against the faithful who have recourse to you.
-From the ravages of the evil one, from slavery to the cursed one, O Virgin, protect your servants who ceaselessly glorify you with mouth and heart.
Ode 8
Lord, the Cherubim and Seraphim stand before You in the flame of their fire; and the whole creation harmoniously sings to You: "Praise and bless Christ, the only Creator; exalt Him throughout all the ages!"
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-I do not live in fear of You; I have not followed Your precepts; I have not done Your will: what shall become of me, wretched as I am? O Lover of Mankind, God my Savoir, take pity on my misery; do not reject me at the end.
-O Gardener of our virtues, with the scythe of fear of you, cut down to the very root the brambles of the evil thoughts in my debased soul; sowing the seed of repentance, O Christ, grant that I may bring forth a harvest of salvation.
-In the anguish which surrounded them in the multitude of their torments, the martyrs were set free by divine grace, and they broke the constraints of the evil one; now they lead us in faith and love toward the paths of God.
-The enemy has been shipwrecked, drowning in the ocean of your constancy in your struggles, O holy martyrs; and the fool has become the laughing stock of all, since you are crowned with the immortal glory of conquerors.
-O spotless Virgin, your womb has become the precious granary for the world, for it holds the wheat of life, nourishing the whole creation; and we, the faithful, in one choir, sing of your as the cause of all these goods.
Almighty Redeemer of all, You came down in the midst of the furnace and covered the young men with dew, teaching them to sin, "All you His works, praise and bless the Lord!"
Holy Forerunner, intercede for us!
-The slumber of laziness has seized me; I am in the darkness of sin; by your radiant prayers, O Forerunner, bring me back and grant that I may ably walk in the path of the virtues, as in full daylight.
-I am sinking under the flood of temptations and have capsized in the storm of my passions: O Baptist, give me your hand to lead me to the harbor of salvation in the vessel of my spirit, through your prayers.
-In the waves of the river, your baptized Him who takes away the sins of the world; by you prayers and intercessions, dry up the sea of my passions, O holy John, blessed Forerunner.
v. We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
-O Forerunner, you saw the Holy Spirit and heard the voice of the Father bearing witness to the One whom you baptized in an ineffable manner: pray to the Lord Jesus that our souls may be saved.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-You are the source of our renewal: renew my spirit, broken by the attacks of the Serpent, that I may sing to you with love, O Mother of God and Virgin all worthy of our hymns.
Canticle of Mary
Ode 9
The Lord has done wonders by the might of His arm; He has put down the mighty and has exalted the humble. The God of Israel, the Dawn from on high, has come to us and guides our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to You, O our God, glory to You!
-Behold, the palace of the mystical Bridegroom is open; the wise have put the oil of virtue in their lamps in order to enter radiantly; cast aside laziness and slumber, O my soul, that you may enter with Christ, with your lamp enkindled.
-Like the harlot, I cling to Your feet, washing them with my tears in spirit; O Word and Savior, purify me of the filth of the passions, and say to me now, "Your faith has saved you," that I may sing of the greatness of Your love.
-Exulting in soul and heart, the martyrs dwell in the heights, ceaselessly preserving their wounds, as jewels of Christ, as their adornment; and they ask for us peace, the forgiveness of sins and pardon for our offenses.
-O holy martyrs, ever land is preserved in danger when it preserves your relics as the Ark was kept in Israel; but, O blessed ones, heaven rejoices with the angels, for it possesses your souls.
-O Virgin Mother of goodness, who have conceived the Lover of the good: I entreat you to pour out virtue into my heart, debased by the passions and the assaults of the enemy, that I may sing to you as the hope of believers.
By her fault and transgression, Eve brought about the curse; but you, O Virgin, Mother of God, have made the blessing sprout forth for the world through the fruit of your womb: and we all magnify you.
Holy Forerunner, intercede for us!
-My strength and my hymn is the lord: O Forerunner of Christ, the divine spring-time, O Forerunner of our God: entreat Him to save me, I beg you, from the storm of sin and from the torment in which souls perish.
-Leaping in the womb of your mother, you announced that star which would shine forth from the Virgin: entreat Him to put to death my flesh, whose lusts make me perish, and to fill my heart with joy that I may sing to you, O divine Forerunner.
-Without mercy will be the judgment for those who have shown no mercy. Keep watch, O my soul; keep an abundance of oil sufficient to have your lamp enkindled; the Bridegroom is approaching; keep watch; keep you conscience clear as you await Him.
-O divine Mother of goodness, who have conceived the Lover of the good: entreat Him to save me from evil and to fill my heart with His love in the refection of carnal pleasures, that I may sing to you, O woman all-worthy of our praise.
Exapostilaria
(Tone 3
Let us all sing the praise of John the forerunner, Baptist of the Savior, Prophet of prophets, dweller in the wilderness, son of Elizabeth!
O Virgin, you intercede for me before the God who loves mankind. Do not denounce the deeds of my life in the presence of the angels, but hasten to come to my aid, I pray.
Aposticha
1. I am a sheep of Your spiritual flock, and I fly to You for refuge, O Good Shepherd, for I have gone astray and am lost. O God, seek me and save me!
v. In the morning, fill us with Your love that we may rejoice and be glad in all our days. Repay us in joy the times You did afflict us, the many years when disgrace was our lot. Let Your work be manifest to Your servants and Your glory to their children.
2. The storm of my sins surrounds me, O Savior, and I cannot struggle against their raging flood. I prostrate before You, O only Helmsman: "Stretch out Your hand to me as You did to Peter in Your love for mankind, and save me!"
v. And may the brightness of the Lord our God shine upon us, and may He prosper the works of our hands for us, may He prosper the works of our hands.
3. O holy martyrs, you have become companions of the angels. Confessing Christ in the arena, you renounced all the pleasures of the wold as nothing, and you kept the true Faith as an anchor. Now you pour out gifts of healing grace on the faithful and pray for our salvation.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O Lady, Mother of God, glory of the Orthodox, silence the blasphemy of the impious and bring shame upon those who will not honor your sacred icon.
Tone Four
VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING
At "O Lord, to You I call..."
6. After having created me out of the dust, O lover of Mankind, You honored me with Your image and granted me the joy of Paradise. And when I was tempted by the tree of knowledge and fell into corruption, You raised me up again, O Immortal One, when You became man and were crucified in Your boundless mercy and exceedingly great condescension.
5. In His boundless pity, my Creator and lord came down to earth without leaving the Father. Emptying Himself, he took on the form of His servants from the Virgin, as He willingly did in His goodness. Then He, the Immortal One, endured crucifixion while suffering in the flesh, and He destroyed death and saved mankind.
4. When You were hung on the Tree, O Master, in You compassion, You crucified sin together with Yourself. You wiped out the cruse when You were pierced with nails. When Your side was torn by the lance, O Christ, You tore up the sentence that was written against the first-created man. I praise Your Passion and glorify Your Resurrection, by which You gave life to all who had been slain by the passions.
(3.) Wash away the filth from my wretched heart, O all-hymned Theotokos. Cleanse the wounds and sores that come from sin, O pure one, and quiet the restlessness of my mind, that in my wretchedness I may magnify your power and great protection.
(2.) O Virgin Mother, transform the laziness and evil of my soul into health and strength that it may carry out and obey the commands of Christ with fear and love, that I may escape the unendurable fire. Through you, may I receive the heavenly inheritance of everlasting life, and rejoice forevermore.
(1.) The dread darkness of death wearies my soul , O Bride of God, and the attempts of the demons make me tremble with fear. By your power, deliver me from them, O Virgin who never knew wedlock. Bring me to the harbor of salvation and to the unfading light of the saints.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Stavrotheotokion
As the all-pure Lady beheld Christ being put to death and slaying the deceitful one, she wailed aloud, crying bitterly to Him who came forth from her womb. Marveling at His long-suffering, she was amazed and said: "O my beloved Son, do not forget Your handmaid. Make haste to remove this grief from my heart, O Lover of Mankind!"
Aposticha
1. You gave us Your Cross as an invincible weapon, O Christ: and with it, we shall conquer the snares of the enemy.
v. To You I have lifted up my eyes, to You who live in heaven. Behold: the eyes of the servants are turned to the hands of their masters, and the eyes of the maid-servants to the hands of their mistresses: thus do eyes watch the Lord our God until He takes pity on us.
2. Since we always have Your Cross as a help, O Christ, we shall easily overcome the attacks of the stranger.
v. have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have been filled with shame: our soul has been filled to overflowing. May scorn befall detractors, and humiliation come to the proud.
3. Since you have boldness with the Savior, O martyred saints, pray without ceasing for us sinners who beg for forgiveness of our sins and for great mercy for our souls.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Stavrotheotokion
When she who gave birth to You saw You, the Lamb and Shepherd, upon the Tree, she mourned and spoke to You as Your Mother: "O beloved Son, what have the disobedient people done to You in return for Your surpassing miracles? But glory to Your ineffable and divine condescension, O Lover of Mankind!"
ORTHROS ON WEDNESDAY
Sessional Hymns after the First Reading from the Psalter
You have redeemed us from the curse of the Law by Your precious Blood. By being nailed to the Cross and wounded by the lance, You have become for men the fountain of immortality. O our savior, glory to You!
v. Exalt the Lord our God; bow down before His footstool; He, the Lord, is holy!
O Christ our God, who chose by Your own free volition, to be elevated upon the holy Cross, grant Your mercies to the new people who are called by You name. In You power, gladden the hearts of our Public Authorities. Strengthen them in every good deed, so that Your true alliance may be for them a weapon of peace and a standard of victory.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
near the Cross, the spotless Ewe, the Mother of redeeming Lamb, was struck with great grief at what she saw, and said in awe, "Shat is this strange and wondrous sight? Sweet Son, who can You willingly endure being lid to the Cross and being put to a shameful death? O Creator, I glorify Your infinite condescension!"
Sessional Hymns after the Second Reading from the Psalter
Come quickly to our help before we are enslaved to the enemies that blaspheme You, O Christ our God. They threaten us mightily. By Your Cross, destroy the powers that war against us so that they may know what power is given through the Orthodox Faith. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, help us, O You who alone are the Lover of Mankind.
v. O Christ God, You brought about salvation in the midst of the earth.
You were nailed to the Cross in order to gather us from among the nations, O Lord, Lover of Mankind. You willingly stretched out Your hands and permitted Your side to be pierced by a lance. O God of tenderness, glory to You!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
When Your Virgin Mother saw You on the Cross, she poured out tears and said in grief, "What is this strange wonder, O my Son? How can this ungrateful people nail You to a Cross, for You are the Life of all and the Light of my eyes?"
Sessional Hymns after the Third Reading from the Psalter
After the lamentable fall from Paradise, brought about by the bitter advice of the enemy, You raised me up again on Calvary, O Christ. by the Cross, You cancelled the ancient curse. Putting to death the serpent whose cunning had slain me, You gave me the gift of life. O Savior, glory to Your divine Crucifixion!
v. God is wonderful among His Saints, the God of Israel.
O Christ God, Your church, crimsoned with the blood of Your martyrs all over the world as with the blood of Your martyrs all over the world as with a cloak of scarlet and fine linen, cries out to You: "Send Your mercy upon Your people, grant peace to Your fold, and extend Your great compassion upon our souls!"
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Seeing You hung upon the Cross, the Virgin Wew cried out in tears, "How ineffable is Your condescension, O all-powerful Word! How can a lawless mb**?? dare to condemn God who is the judge of all? I sing of Your ineffable pity, O Lord!"
Ode 1
After crossing the Red Sea with their feet dryshod, Israel routed Amalek's army in the desert when Moses spread his arms in the form of a Cross.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-O Lord who stretched out the heavens, on the Cross You stretched out Your hands to embrace all peoples alienated from You, O Jesus, in Your love and goodness.
-By Your Cross, O Christ, protect me that I not become the prey of the wolf seeking my perdition, O Word, for each day he prepares snares and traps for me.
-By you pains, you have crushed the cause of all evil: inheriting life and blessedness, O blessed martyrs, you banish all pain from our souls and bodies.
-O wise martyrs, You bound the cunning demon with unbreakable chains, and you bound yourselves to Christ who allowed Himself willingly to be bound in order to unbind all error; thus we call you blessed.
-O pure Virgin, after childbirth, you preserved your virginity, having wondrously conceived Him who was lifted up on the Cross: and we the faithful loudly magnify you.
After crossing the Red Sea...
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-O Virgin, purest of all creation, purify my soul, stained by the impurity of my passions, O Mother of our God, through your spotless prayers.
-Save me from the tears and weeping which await me on the day of judgment, O spotless Virgin mother, through your prayers which are so acceptable to God our Creator.
-By your ineffable conceiving, you alone saved mankind from the ancient curse: by you prayers, O Virgin, deliver me who am a slave to carnal passions.
Ode 3
The Church finds her delight in You, and cries out to You, O Christ: "You are my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my firm support!"
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-Exalted on the Cross, You lifted up those who had fallen into the tomb, and You cast down the enemy, O Christ, our Master and our God.
-The sword of the evil one was blunted when Your side was pierced, and Paradise was opened to us, O incarnate Word of the Father.
-Like streams of fire, the holy martyrs blocked the streams of error, as they extinguished the fire offered to the multitude of idols.
-Crucified, beaten unmercifully, O witness of Christ, you have slaughtered our enemy, the Dragon, with the sword of your perseverance.
-Seeing You sent to the Cross, the spotless Ewe wept bitterly as she celebrated Your power, O Lord.
We do not glory in our wisdom, nor in the power found in treasures, but in the incarnate Wisdom of the Father, for no one is holy but You, O Jesus Christ.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-O Virgin higher than the Cherubim, grant that my spirit, cast down by the malice of the serpent, may dominate the passions of my body.
-On the terrible day of Judgment, when the Lord will come to judge the countless sins which I have committed, O Virgin, save me from punishment.
-In your pity, change me foolish and pitiless heart; in Your compassion, O Chris, save me through the intercession of her who bore You.
After the Third Ode, the priest says the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology
For You are our God, and we send up glory to You, Father Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and for ever.
Amen.
Ode 4
The Church saw You, the Sun of justice, suspended on the Cross, and she cried out as she stood in battle array: "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-The veil of the Temple saw You, the Sun of Glory, suspended on the Cross of Your own free will, and it was torn in half; the sun was covered with darkness and the rocks were split.
-Lord, at Your Crucifixion, when You were pierced with a lance, at Your order, the flaming sword turned away from the good Thief who sang of the power of Your Kingdom.
-Lord, protected by the weapon of Your Cross, You victorious athletes were not wounded by the arrows of the evil one; rather they shook to its very foundations the faltering rampart of the false gods.
-Spotless offerings, unstained victims, O holy martyrs, you were offered to the lord, who in love made Himself poor like us, and you received the reward of your labors.
-In time you conceived the Timeless One, spotlessly maintaining your virginity: at the sight of the lord hanging on the tree of the Cross, your soul was torn by grief.
The Church saw You...
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-You are the holy temple of the One who humbled Himself to aid the work of His own hands: O pure and sanctified Virgin, illumine my heart and spirit.
-By your intercessions, O Virgin, snatch from the depth of misery and strengthen my soul which is mired in the storm of the passions and the abyss of evil.
-I now entreat you, O Virgin living dwelling-place of the King of heaven: by your prayers, make me the dwelling place of the Trinity, that I may no longer be a den of thieves.
Ode 5
You dawned upon the world, O Lord, as a brilliant Light - a very holy Light which draws those who faithfully sing to You out of the darkness of ignorance.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-Lord, from You pierced side flowed over me streams of divine immortality to restore the fault which came form the side of our first father.
-The victory over the enemy has been won by the precious Cross, Lord, which You have given us for the salvation of the souls who sing to You with faith.
-Although mortal, O radiant martyrs, you have joined the resplendent angels because you endured the fire of torments.
-Although their bodies were broken by the evil, in their souls the martyrs affirmed the unbreakable love which binds them to the Creator.
-Having taken flesh from a virgin womb, the unique Good One allowed Himself to be placed on the Cross to save us from the dust of the tomb.
The impious did not see Your glory, O Christ, but we who keep watch at dawn before You, O only Son and divine Image of the Father's Splendor, celebrate You as the Lover of Mankind.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-O Ewe who conceived the Lamb of God: give life to my soul, poisoned by the bite of the serpent, and lost on the mountain of transgressions.
-By your fervent intercession, O pure Mother, reverently move my soul, frozen by the power of sin, to the divine warmth and love of the Creator.
-Most beautiful of all women, O spotless one, free my poor soul from the misery of the passions; and by your mediation, guide my life to all purity.
Ode 6
The merciful streams of blood that flowed from Your side, O Lord, purified Your side, O Lord, purified Your Church of the blood offered to demons. Now she cries out aloud to You: "I will offer You the sacrifice of praise, O Lord!"
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-You surpass all honor; yet You endured dishonor in order to draw me up from dishonor; and You saved me by Your Cross, O Lord, Lover of Mankind!
-When You laid down Your life while upon the Cross, O Lord, You put to death the author of our death and covered him with all shame: glory to Your power, O Creator!
-Willing to harm us, the evil one himself was struck with awesome harm; he was cast under your feet, O holy martyrs, and was seen to be a laughing-stock.
-Healing flows from your relics, O holy martyrs; your ashes lying in the tombs as dust dispel the demons, healing all bodily suffering.
-The Virgin cried out in tears: "An unjust mob has pierced You with nails, and my heart is torn by the sword of sorrow, O Jesus, my Son and Creator!"
The merciful streams...
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-O Virgin, your son has become the Conqueror of death, being the Life and Redemption of mankind; thus I entreat you to revive my dying soul.
-Lover of Mankind, I have sunk in the sea of this life: stretch out Your hand to save me at the prayers of the Theotokos and the countless heavenly powers.
-O field which produced the divine Wheat, do not despise my uncultivated soul; I am consumed by the famine of lack of God: I entreat you to nourish me with the divine graces of Your Son.
After the Sixth Ode, the priest says again the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology.
For You are the King of Peace and the Savior of our souls, and we send up glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Kontakion
Ikos
Synaxarion
Ode 7
The love burning in the hearts of the sons of Abraham as they stood in the midst of the Persian flames was more ardent than the heat of the fire around them. Therefore, they sang out: "Blessed are You, O Lord, in the Temple of Your glory!"
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-You permitted Yourself to be stripped and placed upon the Cross, O Immortal One who clothe the heavens with clouds; but You clothed with eternal shame the one who had once stripped our first parents.
-When You were lifted up on the Cross, Adam's fall was restored; when Your side was pierced, O Master, the devil received a fatal blow, despite his cunning. Blessed be Your power, O Lord!
-Nobly united to the beautiful and good Word, O glorious athletes, you broke all attachments to the world here below; you were bound and broken, but you crushed the enemy.
-The martyrs brought down error and its ramparts through the lever of their holy passions; they have become fortresses and refuges for the faithful who reverently sing to them.
-In the furnace, Christ appeared in the form of dew, and His divine Fire did now burn your womb: O Virgin, when you saw Him hanging on the tree, you glorified His ineffable condescension.
The love burning...
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-O holy mountain, from which was quarried without the hand of man a stone which crushed the altars of the idols: remove from my heart the images of false gods and the stony hardness which oppresses my soul.
-You did not tremble, O Virgin, when you received in your womb He who looks upon the earth and all it contains and makes it shake: make firm now my heart which is shaken by the assaults of the enemy.
-The evil one darkens me with shameful pleasures: O Virgin, dispel my carnal thoughts; O Mother of God, make me truly spiritual, adorning my being with virtue.
Ode 8
Daniel shut the lions' mouths in the den when he raised his hands in prayer. The three young men in their love for God quenched the rage of the fire by their virtue. They raised this song aloud: "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-O Lord, You stretched out Your hands on the Cross, wishing to heal the greedy hand of the sinner; pierced with nails, You pulled out the passions of our first father, who sings to You forever: "Praise the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
-The debt of our first parents was torn to pieces when Your side was pierced; the entire creation was sanctified by the flowing streams of Your blood; in thanksgiving, it never ceases to sing, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
-Bearing the torch of your love without compromise, you did not stumble in the shadows of punishment; but under the divine power, O holy martyrs, you ran on toward the never-setting Light, crying aloud, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
-Seeing Christ, who had put to death the adversary and murderer of mankind, now lying dead, the Lady all worthy of our hymns praised in tears her Master and Son, in wonder at His long-suffering, as she cried out, "Praise the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
Daniel shut the lions' mouths...
v. We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
-You brought into the world that wondrous Fruit which death tasted, then died; the forbidden fruit of sin has caused me to die; I entreat you, o Virgin: bring me to life that I may sing, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-My poor soul, you will have no advocate, for your countless sins will accuse you in the world to come; work then at your conversion, and on the path that leads to the Good One, take as your companion the only spotless one, the unique refuge of mankind.
Canticle of Mary
Ode 9
You are the virgin mountain from which Christ, the Cornerstone, was quarried without the help of human hands, O Theotokos. In joy we celebrate Him for uniting two separate natures in Himself. For this, we magnify you.
(Glory to You precious Cross, O Lord!
-Behold, all can see Life hanging before them on the tree of the Cross; troubled, the sun ceases to shine, the dearth quakes, and our minds are made firm in faith and reverence.
-How can a lawless mob condemn to the punishment of the Cross the very Author of the Law, the Lord, the life of all, who gives immortality to all mankind by His Passion!
-O illustrious martyrs, with wisdom your lips proclaimed God in the midst of the pagans who hated you; you preached the incarnation of the Word, and for your holy struggles, you have received the crown of victors.
-Eclipsing the very daystar, O divine martyrs, you enlighten the whole creation by the radiance of your holy struggles and healings, and you drive away the dark night of the passions.
-O pure Virgin, send your light upon my soul, darkened by sin; drive away the dark clouds of my sins, o radiant Cloud who once saw the sun darkened at the crucifixion of the Immortal On.
You are the virgin mountain...
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-Break the bonds of my passions by the divine lance of your Son; free my enslaved and threatened soul by binding it to your love, O Virgin Mother of our God.
-O more spacious that the heavens, guide to the spacious fields of immortality my soul which is constricted by the assaults of the enemy, and grant me the strength to walk always on the narrow path.
-That I may glorify you, O truly glorified Virgin, save me from the shame of my sins; since I have recourse to your pity, grant me a share in the glory of heaven
Exapostilaria
(Tone 2
O invincible weapon, support of the Faith, divine Cross, we sing to you and prostrate before you in faith: you are the glory and refuge of Christians, the guardian of the Orthodox, and the pride of martyrs! WE rightly glorify you!
Standing by the Cross and seeing her Son stretched out upon the wood and suffering death, the all-pure one lamented as a mother and cried out with abundant tears. "What is this strange wonder? How can the creator of the world be placed on a Cross?"
Aposticha
1. Your Cross has become a rampart for us, O Jesus our Savior! We, the faithful, have no other hope but You, O Lord, who were nailed upon it in the flesh in order to grant us great mercy!
v. In the morning, fill us with Your love that we may rejoice and be glad in all our days. Repay us in joy the times You did afflict us, the many years when disgrace was our lot. Let Your work be manifest to Your servants and Your glory to their children.
2. O Lord, you have given the sign of Your precious Cross to those who stood in fear of You: in it, You have vanquished the principalities and powers of Hades, and You have led us back to the ancient blessedness. Thus we glorify Your love for us and Your work of redemption, O all-powerful Lord and Savior of our Souls!
v. And may the brightness of the Lord our God shine upon us, and may He prosper the works of our hands for us, may He prosper the works of our hands.
3. How could we not marvel at your lives, O holy martyrs? Clothed in mortal bodies, you overcame the bodiless enemy: the threat of tyrants roused no fear in you; you felt no dread at the sight of the torturers. Thus you have been glorified by Christ, who grants great mercy to our souls!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
When Your Mother contemplated the Cross on which You were stretched out, the nails which held You and the lance piercing Your side, she cried out in tears: "Alas, O beloved Son! How can an unjust people cause the death of the One who gives life to those in Hades? Rise quickly for the joy of those who love You!"
VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
At "O Lord, to You I call..."
6. O glorious Apostles, with firm faith you waged your war. In order to pitch camp against the enemy, you courageously defended yourselves with the armor of the Spirit. having overcome the devil, you snatched away human souls like booty. For this reason, we honor you forever, O Apostles!
5. Your twelve Apostles spread out the net of the Faith in the form of the Cross and captured all the nations so that they might know You, O Christ. They dried up the salty sea of the passions. Therefore, I beseech You: by their most acceptable prayers, call us up out of the depths of our offenses!
4. With divine songs, let us today acclaim the twelve divinely-chosen and venerable Apostles: peter and Paul, James, Luke, John, Matthew and Thomas, Mark, Simon and Philip: let the glorious Andrew now be honored together with the divine and wise Bartholomew and the rest of the seventy disciples.
(3.) God's grace anointed you with divine myrrh, O Bishop of Myra: you have filled the earth with the scent of myrrh; by your fragrant prayers, you cast out the foul-smelling passions. For this reason, we always glorify your iht faith and keep your all-holy memory, O Nicholas.
(2.) As is right, we bless you as an undimming light, as universal luminary who shines forth in the firmament of the church, giving light to the world, O Nicholas. You dispel the gloomy darkness of grievous perils and banish the winter to despair, bringing about a profound calm.
(1.) By your presence and your appearance in dreams, you saved those who were unjustly condemned to death, o Nicholas, since you are compassionate and a lover of good, a most fervent deliverer, a true protector of those who seek your help with faith, O holy father, companion of the angels and equal to the just and the prophets.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion
You limited the infinite God in your womb, who in His love for mankind became a man. Having taken our nature from you, He transfigured it. Do not reject me now, O all-pure one, for I am in pain. Show your kindness quickly and free me from the enemy's hostilities and wounds!
Aposticha
1. You enlightened the choir of the Apostles with the Holy Spirit, O Christ. Through them, wash away the stain of our sins, O God, and have mercy on us.
v. To You I have lifted up my eyes, to You who live in heaven. Behold: the eyes of the servants are turned to the hands of their masters, and the eyes of the maid-servants to the hands of their mistresses: thus do our eyes watch the Lord our God until He takes pity onus.
2. O Christ God, Your Holy Spirit made the unlearned disciples become teachers; by their announcing of the Good News, He abolished error, for the Spirit is all-powerful.
v. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy onus, for we have bee filled with shame: our souls has been filled to overflowing. May scorn befall detractors, and humiliation come to the proud.
3. O martyrs of the lord, your were spiritual sacrifices, pleasing holocausts, perfect divine victims who know God and are known by God, lambs whose fold is inaccessible to the wolves. pray that we, too, may be nourished with you beside the peaceful waters.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion
O Mother of Christ our God, save us in our necessities, so that we may all cry out to you who gave birth to the shepherd of All: "Hail, O only protection of our souls!
ORTHROS ON THURSDAY
Sessional Hymns after the First Reading from the Psalter
O Princes of the Apostles and Teachers of the world, intercede with the Master of all that He may grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.
v. Their voice has gone forth over the whole world, and their words to the limits of the universe.
O Christ, You have made Your disciples lights that shine to the ends of the earth. By preaching You, they give light to all of us. Through them, You have darkened the error of idolatry and illumined the world with the teachings of the true Faith. At their intercessions, save our souls!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O Virgin, make haste to receive the prayers which we address to you. All-holy Lady, present them to your Son and our God. Bring peace to the distress of those who have recourse to you. Frustrate the schemes of the evil one and cast down the ardor of the enemy who fights against your servants.
Sessional Hymns after the Second Reading from the Psalter
Your voice has gone forth over the whole world, O glorious Apostles, proving the foolishness of the wisdom of this world and drawing men out of the pity of error, as you point out the way of salvation to every man. Thus it is just that we call you blessed!
v. Their voice has gone forth over the whole world, and their words to the limits of the universe.
O Savior, You sent Your Apostles into the world as heralds of the Faith, leading the people through them to the knowledge of the true God. By the radiance of their words, they gave light to the world, sowing the true seed of piety. By their prayers, save our souls!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O Lady, hear your servant who cries out to you from an afflicted soul. Grant me the remission of my countless sins. Day and night, you are my constant protection. O Mother of God, deliver me from the fiery Gehenna and place me at the right hand of your Son and God.
Sessional Hymns after the Third Reading from the Psalter
Make haste to receive those who come before you, O blessed Father Nicholas: save your servants from the perils which afflict and overwhelm us. By the boldness which you possess in the presence of our Creator and God, hasten to the aid of those who call upon you with faith, granting them your help and protection.
v. God is wonderful among His Saints, the God of Israel.
O Lord our God, Your holy martyrs have deserved the crown of immortality on account of their good fight. Armed with Your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors and crushed Satan's dreadful might. Through
their supplications, O Christ God, save our souls.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Since you are above all creation, we are unable to sing to you in a fitting way. Thus, O Mother of God, grant us this gift: we pray you to take pity on us.
Ode 1
After crossing the sea with their feet dry shod, Israel routed Amalek's army in the desert when Moses spread his arms in the form of a Cross.
Holy Apostles, intercede for us!
-The glorious Apostles of Christ, those divine instruments of the Paraclete, are ceaselessly accompanied by His divine breath; and they truly play for us the melody of salvation.
-Behold, I am lying on the bed of laziness, my soul consumed by the mortal illness of sin: O glorious Apostles, who have seen Christ, deign to visit me in my misery.
-O apostles whose word freed nations bound in folly and irrationality: by the grace of the Paraclete, enlighten also my heart, darkened by the passions.
-O pure Virgin, after childbirth you preserved your virginity, having wondrously conceived Him who appeared on earth to save us: entreat Him to enlighten out souls.
You were born of the Virgin: I beg You, the thrice-holy Captain of my soul, to drown me - like the chariots of Pharaoh - in the depths of freedom from passions, that I may sing a son of triumph to You as on the timbrel, in the dying of the body.
Holy father Nicholas, intercede for us!
-O blessed one, you inherited the life without pain or sorrow, and you are filled with joy forever: banish all sorrow form my soul, that I may joyfully glorify you, O thrice-holy father Nicholas.
-You have taken your places on the lampstand of the most sublime virtues, as a lamp enlightening he hearts, of believers: O hierarch Nicholas, I entreat you to drive away all darkness from my soul by the light of your intercession.
-Sailing over the sea of this fallen life, in the midst of countless temptations I have recourse to you and cry out, "O holy Nicholas, may I find in you the helmsman able to calm the raging of the waves by your prayers!"
-O pure Virgin, whose intercession knows no respite, calm the passions in our souls by your holy mediation, reverently keeping watch over us for our salvation, that we may fulfill the divine will.
Ode 3
The Church finds her delight in You, and cries out to You, O Christ: "You are my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my firm support!"
Holy Apostles, intercede for us!
-Like spiritual rivers, O Lord, Your disciples bring joy with their streams to the City of God, which they sanctify.
-O citizens of the heavenly homeland, concelebrating with the angels in heaven, deliver us from all affliction, O glorious Apostles of the Lord.
-O Christ, You make firm the spiritual heavens of Your apostles: in You love, make me firm on the rock of Your commandments by their intercession.
-The pure Virgin who gave birth to You entreats You as a mother together with the disciples in their choir: grant us Your mercy, O Lord.
We do not glory in our wisdom, nor in the power found in treasures, but in the incarnate Wisdom of the Father, for no one is holy but you, O Jesus Christ.
Holy father Nicholas. intercede for us!
-You are the sword of battle, hacking the enemy to pieces: keep us safe from his assaults, O Nicholas, that we may follow the will of God.
-Heal my crushed heart, O holy hierarch who destroy the cunning snares of the enemy, that in faith I may magnify your protection.
-O holy father who destroyed the vain idols of Artemis, drive from my heart the image of the passions by your divine mediation, O Nicholas.
-All-holy Virgin, in whom we possess our most sure protection, change our grief to joy, and deliver us from mortal affliction.
After the Third Ode, the priest says the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology:
For You are our God, and we send up glory to You, Father Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Ode 4
The Church saw You, the Sun of Justice, suspended on the Cross, and she cried out as she stood in battle array: "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
Holy Apostles, intercede for us!
-You tread the waves of the sea of impiety with Your chosen steeds, O Lover of Mankind, and they preach the knowledge of Your truth to all the nations.
-O glorious apostles of the Lord, stars illuminating the Church in its mystical firmament by your faith: deliver me from the dark night whose firmament over me is ignorance and sin.
-O holy Apostles, who appeared as sharpened arrows, extinguish the burning arrows sent remedy of the prayers of Your Mother and Your divine Apostles, O Christ.
He who sits in glory upon the throne of God, surrounded with an ethereal cloud, Jesus, the supremely divine, came down; and with His mighty hand, He redeemed those who cried out to Him "Glory to Your power, O Christ!"
Holy father Nicholas, intercede for us!
-Your holy and glorious life has made you known and praised in all places because of your wondrous miracles, O adornment of holy hierarchs and glory of every devote who celebrates you in hymns of joy.
-From the seat where you are enthroned, O blessed one, you praise God, reflecting the divine light of you holy humility: grant us a share in it through your prayers which are acceptable to God, O holy father.
-You delivered from death those who had been unjustly threatened by it, for zeal for God inflamed your heart, O holy hierarch; thus we cry out, "Snatch us from the cruel temptations which place our souls in danger of death."
-Nicholas, O blessed father who dwell in the joy of heaven, invisibly visit those who call upon you, healing our souls of all laziness and ill, and granting them rest in God.
-All-holy one, the armies of angels are filled with awe as they celebrate the grandeur of your divine maternity: together with them, entreat the Lord to save those who faithfully magnify you with a pure heart.
Ode 5
You dawned upon the world, O Lord, as a brilliant Light 0 a very holy Light - a very holy Light which draws those who faithfully sing to You out of the darkness of ignorance.
Holy Apostles, intercede for us.
-As flourishing grapes of the living Vine, the glorious Apostles refreshed the whole world with the wine of spiritual joy.
-To the light of the divine commandments, O Apostles, lead the wandering souls who lie in the shadow of sin.
-O blessed apostles, deliver us from our falls and transgressions, from the future judgment, from perils and from death.
-Save me, O Lord, in Your love, through the prayers of Your Mother and all Your holy Apostles.
The impious did not see Your glory, O Christ, but we who keep watch at dawn before You, O only Son and divine Image of the Father's Splendor, celebrate You as the Lover of Mankind.
Holy father Nicholas, intercede for us!
-Like the dying sun, you set, O holy Nicholas, in order to rise in Christ, enlightening the whole length of the universe by your radiant miracles, O wise father.
-Hear us, O holy Nicholas, on the day of anguish and affliction, dispelling from us every type of evil by the grace of the Spirit who dwells in you.
-My soul crushed by the torments of this life, I cal upon your aid, O holy Nicholas; hasten to entreat the all-good God to grant me the grace of healing.
-Seeing you, O Virgin, with his spiritual vision, Isaiah cried out, "Behold, a Virgin shall give birth to the Lord Jesus for the rebirth of mankind!"
Ode 6
The merciful streams of blood that flowed from Your side, O Lord, purified Your Church of the blood offered to demons. Now she cries out aloud to You: "I will offer You the sacrifice of praise, O Lord!"
Holy Apostles, intercede for us!
-The chosen sheep of the Good Shepherd, scattered throughout the world, have changed the ferocity of wolves into the gentleness of lambs through their Faith.
-O divine Apostles, laden with fruit like the trees of Paradise, change my barren soul that I, too, may bear an abundance of the virtues.
-The sword of pleasure has wounded me, O glorious Apostles, and I am at my end; you have received form Christ the power to resurrect the dead: restore life to my poor soul.
-In Your goodness, O God of all, calm the tumultuous waves of my soul through the prayers of her who gave You birth, the glorious Apostles and Your divine martyrs.
I have reached the depths of the sea, and a storm of many sins has overcome me in the deep. But You, O God of love, snatch my life from the pit!
Holy father Nicholas, intercede for us!
-In the might and power of the Savior and in the wisdom of God, O holy Nicholas, you triumphed over the invisible enemy: by you prayers, saved us from his cruel treachery.
-You are the holy one hymned by the whole world; by your holy prayers, deliver us from the punishment which awaits us in Gehenna and from the oppression of perverse men, O holy Nicholas.
-The soldiers who were in danger of an unjust death were saved by your intercession: O you who are worthy of all praise, deliver us from all shame.
-Your people and your city call upon you, O Mother of God: save us from all danger and from eternal damnation, O sovereign and all-holy Lady.
After the Sixth Ode, the priest says again the little Synapte, concluded the Doxology:
For You the King of Peace and the Savior of our souls, and we send up glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Kontakion
Ikos
Synaxarion
Ode 7
The love burning in the hearts of the sons of Abraham as they stood in the midst of the Persian flames was more ardent than the heat of the fire around them. Therefore, they sang out, "Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory!"
Holy Apostles, intercede for us!
-with the power of the holy Gospel of God, Unfailing Apostles of Christ, you have driven away the mists of error and have filled the hearts of believers with divine light.
-O inexhaustible fountains of divine fragrance, Disciples of the spiritual Perfume, fill with His good odor those who have recourse to you, and scatter the stench of the passions.
-The carnal passions have brought me down to death: O glorious Disciples of the Immortal Word, save me as I cry out, "Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory!"
-The choirs of angels, apostles and martyrs ceaselessly implore Your mercy: O Word, lover of Mankind, in Your love, accept us for the sake of the mother of God.
Three Young men in Babylon considered the order given by the tyrant to be foolishness; in the midst of the flames, they cried out to You, O Lord: "Blessed are You, O God of our Father!"
Holy father Nicholas, intercede for us!
-O holy Nicholas, entreat Him who alone reposes among the Saints, the Creator of all, that He sanctify us and send down upon us the abundance of His mercy.
-By your uprightness and gentleness, by your moderation and humility, O venerable and glorious one, you have attained the highest degree of the priesthood, working wonder and miracles.
-Bearing yourself as a guarantor of the divine laws, you were a holy temple for God: thus we call out to you, blessed and venerable Nicholas: "Save your servants from all faults!"
-O Virgin, by your watchful mediation, calm the lusts of my passions: grant that my soul may remain vigilant, and drive far from me all laziness and sloth.
Ode 8
Daniel shut the lions' mouths in the den when he raised his hands in prayer. The three young men in their love for God quenched the rage of the fire by their virtue. They raised this song aloud, "Bless the lord, al you works of the lord!"
Holy Apostles, intercede for us!
-O fiery mouths of Christ, who have sealed the lips of babblers in order to sow the word of salvation throughout the world, deliver from the jaws of the spiritual wolf all those who sing before God, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
-O noble-sounding trumpets, sound for my soul, put to death: O glorious Apostles of Christ, awaken me from slothfulness and the abyss of hopelessness, as from the tomb, that I may cry out, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
-O Christ our Lord, through the prayers of Your disciples, do not abhor me who have trampled underfoot Your precepts in my perversity, me who am degraded and fallen, the dwelling and slave of evil inclinations.
-The serpent dominates my heart, and I am the slave of sin: O Mary, Queen of all, deliver me and grant that I may serve under the law of Christ, in order to sing to Him in all purity, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
Holy father Nicholas, intercede for us!
-O holy Nicholas, speaking of God, you closed the indiscrete lips of the impious, and you delivered a great number of believers from the plague of Arius that they might sing to the Lord in the Orthodox Faith.
-You were named for victory: by your prayers, grant victory over the passions which lead to death and over the lying language of the impious to the faithful who ceaselessly entreat you.
-O holy wonderworker Nicholas, send down upon us the help and salvation of grace on the day on which we call upon you with faith in the distress of our hearts.
v. We bless the lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
-O faithful, with true Faith let us worship the Holy Trinity, glorifying the Father almighty, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as we say, "Praise and bless the lord!"
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-Make me worthy of you compassion, O you who gave birth to the beneficent Word; all-holy and blessed Virgin, at the hour of the last judgment, protect and save me.
Canticle of Mary
Ode 9
You are the virgin mountain from which Christ, the Cornerstone, was quarried without the help of human hands, O Theotokos. In joy we celebrate Him for uniting two separate natures in Himself. For this, we magnify you.
Holy Apostles, intercede for us!
-O stones chosen by the Lord who was placed as the Cornerstone, you have built up the souls of believers on the rock of Faith, destroying the edifices fo the enemy, O holy Apostles.
-O holy Apostles, having received from Christ the power to bind and loose, break the chains of my sins; bind me to the love of Christ that I may share in the Kingdom of God.
-O blessed Apostles of Christ, divine clouds of the Lord, pour out divine rain in streams upon my arid and perverted soul, that I may bear fruit.
-All-holy Mother of God, together with the divine Apostles, holy Angels and glorious Martyrs, entreat your Son and your Lord that He may save our souls from peril.
By her fault and transgression, Eve brought about the curse; but you, O Virgin Mother of God, have made the blessing sprout forth for the world through the Fruit of your womb: and we all magnify you.
Holy father Nicholas, intercede for us!
-Pouring forth perfumed myrrh, your tomb works constant miracles for those who approach you with faith and love, O holy Nicholas, and you take away fevers and disease; thus we call you blessed.
-O blessed father, you make your miracles shine over the world like a radiant sun, chasing away the night of dark dangers by your prayer and mediation, O adornment of hierarchs of the Lord.
-Ceaselessly take pity on us, whom the dangers of this life, the snares of the demons and the malice of the perverse cruelly trouble, that we may all call you blessed.
-O my soul, remember the day and hour on which in fear the Master will judge you for your most secret misdeeds; cry out to Him, then, "O Savior, save me by the prayers of holy Nicholas!"
-We borrow the joyful words of Gabriel to sing to you: "Hail, O holy paradise having in your midst the Tree of Life, Palace of the Light-filled Word! Hail, O spotless Virgin!"
Exapostilaria
(Tone 3
Together with the holy hierarch of Myra, Nicholas, ceaselessly intercede before the Savior on our behalf. O holy Twelve, glorious Apostles!
Hope of the hopeless, Mother of God, all-worthy of our praise: with my tears I cry out to you from the bottom of my heart, "O Virgin, rescue me from the depths of Hades!"
Aposticha
1. You enlightened the choir of the Apostles with the Holy Spirit, O Christ. Through them, wash away the stain of our sins, O God, and have mercy on us!
v. In the morning, fill us with Your love, that we may rejoice and be glad in all our days. Repay us in joy the times You did afflict us, the many years when disgrace was our lot. Let Your work be manifest to Your servants and Your glory to their children.
2. O Christ God, Your Holy Spirit made the unlearned disciples become teachers; by their announcing of the Good news, He abolished error, for the Spirit is all-powerful.
v. And may the brightness of the lord our God shine upon us, and may He prosper the works of our hands for us, may He prosper the works of our hands.
3. Precious is the death of Your Saints, O Lord. Slain by sword, fire or frost, they poured out their blood, putting their trust in You and awaiting from Your hand the reward f their labors. They persevered to the end and received great mercy from You, O Savior.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O only Virgin pure and spotless, who ineffably gave birth to our God, intercede for the salvation of our souls.
VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
At "O Lord, to You I call..."
6. When it saw You crucified, all creation was changed and trembled. The whole earth quaked and was shaken, O long-suffering Word, and the veil of the Temple was rent in fear. When You were disdained, the rocks fell in fear and the sun hid its rays, knowing that You were their Creator.
5. The ancient condemnation of our forefather Adam was torn up when Your side was torn into, O most merciful One. rejected human nature was sanctified by the sprinkling of Your blood as it called out, "Glory to Your power! Glory to Your divine Crucifixion, O almighty Jesus, the Savior of our souls!"
4. How could that lawless gathering dare to judge You, the Immortal Judge, who long ago in the desert gave the law to Moses who saw God? How is it that they were in no way afraid of seeing the Life of all dead on a Tree? Did they not keep in mind that You alone are the lord and Master of all creation?
(3.) Having pity on me, O Lady, who am shaken by the attacks of demons and thrust into the pit of destruction. Establish me on the firm rock of virtue. Dispelling the plans of enemies, grant that I may keep the commandments of you Son and God, and obtain forgiveness on the day of judgment.
(2.) I have fallen into the hands of blood thirsty thieves, O all-blameless one; and because of their attacks, I have been stripped of the incorruptible garment of the heavenly radiance, O Maiden. I have been mercilessly wounded by them and left half-dead n a place of affliction. Hasten to stretch out your hand and raise me up, I pray!
(1.) I lay on the bed of indifference, O all-pure one, and I have passed my life in laziness. I fear the time of the end, O Theotokos, lest like a lion, the evil serpent shall unsparingly rend my lowly soul. Wherefore, before the end, hasten to move me to repentance.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Stavrotheotokion
O Lover of Mankind, when they saw You, the Sun of Justice, hung upon the Tree, the Sun and the moon hid their rays, O my Christ, and the foundations of the world were shaken in fear of Your power. Your Mother, pierced foundations of the world were shaken in fear of Your power. Your Mother, pierced om her heart, called out to You: "Most Good Jesus, glory to Your compassion!"
Aposticha
1. You gave us Your Cross as an invincible weapon, O Christ; and with it, we shall conquer the snares of the enemy.
To You I have lifted up my eyes, to You who life in heaven. Behold: the eyes of the servants are turned to the hands of their master, and the eyes of the maid-servants to the hands of their mistresses: thus do our eyes watch the Lord our God until He takes pity on us.
2. Since we always have mercy on us, for we have been filled with shame: our soul has been filled to over flowing. May scorn befall detractors, and humiliation come to the proud.
3. You are glorified, O Christ God, in the memory of Your Saints. They beg You to send down Your great mercy upon us.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Stavrotheotokion
"Do not weep for Me, O Mother, when you see your Son and God hanging on the Tree, although unheld I hung the earth upon the waters and formed all creation. For I shall rise and be glorified and shall crush the kingdom of Hades with My strength. I shall confound its power and deliver those who were captives in its wickedness and shall lead them to My Father, for I am the Lover of Mankind!"
ORTHROS ON FRIDAY
Sessional Hymns after the First Reading from the Psalter
You have redeemed us from the curse of the Law by You precious Blood. By being nailed to the Cross and wounded by the lance, You have become for men the fountain of immortality. O our Savior, glory to You!
v. Exalt the lord our God; bow down before His footstool; He, the Lord, is holy1
O Christ our God, who chose by Your own free volition to be elevated upon the holy Cross, grant Your mercies to You new people who are called by You name. In Your power, gladden the hearts of our public authorities. Strengthen them in every good deed, so that Your true alliance may before them a weapon of peace and a standard of victory.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
The pure Virgin contemplated the immolation willingly suffered by the Master, and cried out with tears and lamentations: "Beloved Son, what death have You chosen? How can You, the Sun of Justice, our God, be put on the Cross between criminals? O long-suffering Son, O glorify You!"
Sessional Hymns after the Second Reading from the Psalter
Come quickly to our help before we are enslaved to the enemies that blaspheme You, O Christ our God. They threaten us mightily. By Your Cross, destroy the powers that war against us so that they may know what power is given through the Orthodox Faith. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, help us, O You who alone are the Lover of Mankind!
v. O Christ God, You brought about salvation in the midst of the earth.
You were nailed to the Cross in order to gather us from among the nations, O Lord, Lover of Mankind. You willingly stretched out Your hands and permitted You side to be pierced by a lance. O God of tenderness, glory to You!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O Virgin undefiled, Mother of Christ our God, a sword pierced your al-holy soul when you saw your Son and God crucified of His own free will. O blessed among women, never cease to intercede that He may grant us pardon for our sins.
Sessional Hymns after the Third Reading from the Psalter
In Your boundless love, You freely suffered death on the Cross for us and endured the unjust judgment in order to deliver mankind from the condemnation and ancient curse. Thus, O Word, we prostrate before Your Cross.
v. God is wonderful among His Saints, the God of Israel.
Today the heavenly hosts are present at the memorial of the victorious martyrs; they enlighten the minds of the faithful and make the whole world bright with grace. By their prayers, O all-powerful God, grant us great mercy!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
When Your all-pure Mother Saw You raised upon the Cross, O Word of God, she cried out with a mother's grief: "What is this new and strange wonder, o my Son? How can You suffer death, O Life of all? It is because, in Your compassion, You wish to bring the dead to life!"
Ode 1
I shall open my mouth and it shall be filled with the Spirit, and I shall sing a hymn of praise to the mother and Queen; with great joy, I shall celebrate and sing her praise,
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-On the Cross, long-suffering One, You stretched out Your divine hands; You invited the fallen world to knowledge of Your Majesty; thus we magnify Your love and compassion.
-O divine Word, Moses lifted up the serpent of bronze, prefiguring Your divine Crucifixion which brought about the downfall of the venomous serpent who had caused the fall of Adam.
-O blessed martyrs, you have merited to dwell in the splendor of the saints, gaining - as Paul revealed - that Kingdom which cannot be shaken, where you share in the glory of Christ.
-O holy martyrs, the unleashed waves of unendurable torments were not able to capsize your ship, for under the guidance of the great King, you reached the harbor of repose.
-The sword foretold by Simeon pierced your pure heart when you saw Christ pierced a lance on the Cross, O Queen; and you suffered as you wept.
I shall open my mouth...
Most holy Theotokos, saw us!
-He who is uncreated by nature, coeternal with the Father and existing before all ages, has become a created man through you, O Virgin, and submitted Himself to time in order to save mankind.
-He who is enthroned in the heights of the heavens, O divine Bride, was made flesh and you carried Him in your arms, for you alone of all generations were worthy to receive the Almighty One.
-Come, let us all celebrate the only spotless Virgin who gave birth to Christ the Lord, renewing the human race with out change to her virginity.
Ode 3
O Mother of God, living and overflowing Fountain, strengthen those who sing your praise and who gather now to honor you, and on this occasion of your divine commemoration, deem them worthy of the glorious crown of heaven.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-An unjust people led you to the slaughter like a lamb, O Christ, lamb of God, who willed to save from the cruel wolf the sheep whom you cherished in Your love.
-You appeared before an unjust judge, O you who judge the whole world with justice; and You endured blows to save me who had served the evil prince of this world, O Lord.
-O holy martyrs, struggling loyally to the shame of the faithless and lawless enemy, you knowingly accepted death for the sake of the universal resurrection, thus overthrowing the dragon, the author of our death.
-The holy martyrs, desiring true renown, were snatched from the earth and joined in their bodies to the bodiless choirs, filled with an ineffable joy.
-For the restoration of the human race, God truly manifested Himself born of you, O Virgin, in the flesh; and He went to the Cross to triumph over the demons, O Lady full of the grace of God.
We do not glory in our wisdom, nor in the power found in treasures, but in the incarnate Wisdom of the Father, for no one is holy but You, O Jesus Christ.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-He who at the beginning formed me from clay, O spotless Virgin, has allowed Himself to be formed in your womb in order to save me, as He corrected the fault of old.
-In conceiving Life, O mother of God, you overthrew the dominion of death, abolishing the effect of the ancient condemnation; thus we venerate your virginal childbearing.
-In you, O Mother of God, we possess the most sure protection; putting our hope in you, we are saved; taking refuge in you, we find our shelter.
After the Third Ode, the priest says the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology:
For You are our God, and we send up glory to you, Father Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Ode 4
Perceiving the ineffable, divine design of the Most High, the Incarnation from the Virgin, the prophet Habakkuk cried out, "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-In order to deliver me from the chains of sin, O Lover of Mankind, You willed to be chained and to die on the Cross as a criminal: Glory to your infinite mercy!
-O Word of God, You endured the wounds and a frightful death in order to make immortal human nature which had been put to death by the passions: Glory to Your infinite mercy!
-Before inheriting joy in God through the thrice-holy Spirit, the martyrs endured torments and the violence of death by the passions: Glory to Your infinite mercy!
-Your hands severed, your heads cut off, your tongues removed, which had praised
God, deprived of light, and imprisoned, you were never separated from Jesus Christ.
-O Lord and Master, by the lance piercing You, the debt contracted by Adam was torn to pieces; thus spoke in tears and lamentation the Mother of God as she stood by the Cross.
He who sits in glory upon the throne of God, surrounded by an ethereal cloud, Jesus, the supremely divine, came down; and with His mighty hand, He redeemed those who cried out to Him "Glory to You power, O Christ!"
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-You surpass the splendor and beauty of all the angels, O holy Virgin, since you gave birth to their Creator and their Lord, who from your spotless womb took a body to rescue all mankind, which glorifies Him.
-Rejecting that food which once defiled us from of old, let us feed upon the Bread of Life which has come down for us from heaven, which the Virgin has put forth as on a table; we sing to her as the Source of this good.
-The holy Mother of God has been declared blessed as the spotless tabernacle, that gate of the divine light, the golden table and vessel, the unquarried and overshadowed mountain, which offered refuge to the Creator.
-Rivers of heavenly goods and springs of healing, and the treasures of divine grace have been abundantly poured out by the life-giving hand of the mighty One whom you conceived in your womb, O divine Bride.
Ode 5
The whole universe is rapt in amazement at the sight of your divine glory for you are a Virgin, and have not known man, and yet in your womb you have borne God, the Master of all: you have given birth to a Son who is not bound by time, a Son who grants salvation to those who sing your praises.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-Lord, when the sun saw You lifted up on the Cross, it ceased to send forth its rays, unable to shine at Your setting, while You illumined those who slept in the night of error in order that they might adore Your power, O Savior.
-On the Cross You saved me in Your love, O Savior; and You willed to taste the vinegar and gall in Your goodness in order to deliver us from that tasting which had once caused our loss and straying.
-O divine martyrs, you repelled the cold of idolatry by the fervor of Holy Spirit; and in joy, you have attained the place of eternal springtime, from which you protect all those who find themselves in anguish and affliction.
-The whole world was irrigated by the streams of your blood, divine martyrs, and you have dried up the streams of impiety; now you life by the life-giving waters, interceding for all.
-O full of grace, when you saw placed on the Cross Christ, whom you had borne in the flesh, you poured forth abundant tears; and you were amazed at His long-suffering, magnifying the condescension of your Son.
The impious did not see Your glory, O Christ, but we who keep watch at dawn before You, O only Son and divine Image of the Father's splendor, celebrate before You, O only Son and divine Image of the Father's splendor, celebrate You as the lover of Mankind.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-Rising from you, the spiritual Sun spread the rays of His divinity over the whole world: O Mother of God, we glorify you.
-For our sake, you truly gave birth in the flesh to the only Son of the Father: we call you the all-pure Mother of God, for your name is in keeping with your child bearing.
-Consubstantial with the Father and of the same Essence as He, the only Son was well-pleased to put on the nature of man, and the most High was incarnate of you, O Virgin Mother.
Ode 6
Come, all you people whose mind is upon God: come, let us clap our hands and celebrate the divine and glorious feast of the Mother of God! let us send up glory to God who was born of her.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-By the pains which You endured on the Cross, You calmed the pains of mankind and led all men to the life without pain, O Lord of goodness.
-The light of the sun was eclipsed, the splendid veil of the Temple was rent, the earth trembled and the rocks were split at the sight of the Creator placed on the Cross.
-The serpent received a death-blow when he beheld the divine martyrs dying under many blows, yet at the same time receiving as their inheritance eternal life by the grace of God.
-You suffered many torments and carried off countless prizes of victory, O immortal multitude of martyrs: thus diminish the number of our ills.
-By my harbor, O spotless Virgin, for I am crossing a sea of evils: O Mother of God, by your childbearing, you have saved our shipwreck nature.
The prophet Jonah praying the belly of the whale prefigured the three days in the tomb, as he cried out, "Bring my life up from the pit, O Jesus, Lord of Powers and my King!"
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-Having found the pure palace of virginity in your womb, the master dwelt there in all purity in order to purify the human race.
-O spotless Virgin, you have made the earthly nature of man heavenly; you renewed it after its fall; thus we sing to you with an unceasing voice.
-O Mother of God, in your womb you conceived the Word without beginning, who in two natures, without undergoing change, took the human condition for the sake of man.
After the sixth Ode, the priest says again the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology
For You are the King of peace and the Savior of our souls, and we send up glory to You, father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Kontakion
Ikos
Synaxarion
Ode 7
The three young men, divinely-inspired, refused to offer worship to creatures instead of to the Creator: they had the courage to overcome the threatening fire, and sang out joyfully: "You are worthy of all praise, O Lord, God of our Fathers: blessed are You!"
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-The enemy was overthrown, completely cast down, when Christ was lifted up on the Cross; and man who was once condemned, was now saved in order to sing to Him: "O Lord, God of our Fathers, blessed are You!"
-As You died on a Cross, O Christ, You divinized me who had come to know death through a tree; by your divine wounds, You healed the wounds of my heart; Lord, all-worthy of our praise, God of our Fathers, blessed are You!
-Cruelly struck by blows, your bodies disappeared, but the splendor and beauty of your souls was truly seen, O martyrs of Christ, who ceaselessly cry out to Him, "Lord God, blessed are You!"
-Causing a shipwreck, the waves of your blood brought about the fall of the enemy and his hosts, O illustrious martyrs; but you joyfully sing, "Lord, all-worthy of our praise, God of our Fathers, blessed are You!"
-You are the spotless Bride, the palace of the Creator, the fiery throne, the untilled land: thus we cry out to you: "Hail, O Queen, defying mankind completely by your divine maternity."
You saved the sons of Abraham from the furnace and brought an end to the Chaldeans by the very fire which they had prepared: O Lord, all-worthy of our praise, God of our Fathers, blessed are You!"
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-To save us from captivity, the Word who existed from the beginning dwelt in your womb, O Virgin, and took flesh: He is our Master and our beloved, the God of our Father, who is blessed.
-You appeared as the gate for the Dawn from on high, who came upon earth and manifested Himself ineffably to mankind, O divine Bride. The One born of you, the God of our Father, is who is blessed.
-Richly adorned with all the virtues, you stand at the right hand of the great King who was born of you, O unwedded Virgin; you ceaselessly intercede before Him that He save us from anguish and peril.
-Break the bonds of our sins by your maternal intercession: O Virgin, we faithfully sing to your Son, "Lord , all-worthy of our praise, God of our Fathers, blessed are You!"
Ode 8
The Maternity of the Mother of God, prefigured by the three young men in the fire: but now that this maternity has come to be accomplished, it brings the whole universe together and makes it sing: "Praise the Lord, all you His works, and exalt Him forever!"
v.(Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-Since time began, I have been bound; but You, the Timeless One, came into time and delivered me by the bonds which You bore willingly; binding the devil for eternity, You saved me by Your Cross and Passion: O Christ, my Lord, I bless You throughout all the ages!
-You freely went up on the Cross, lifting up the whole creation, O Word, worthy object of our hymns, invisible and without beginning; in Your passion, You covered the power of darkness with confusion: thus we bless You throughout all the ages.
-On the chariot of your blood, O renowned martyrs, you have been carried up and away to the dwellings of heaven, receiving from Christ your merited reward, and crying out, the dwellings of heaven, receiving from Christ your merited reward, and crying out, "Praise the Lord, exalt Him throughout all the ages!"
-Lifted up on gibbets, thrown into pits, handed over to the wild beasts, fire and water, hacked to pieces, the victorious martyrs sang with joy: Praise the lord, al you His works, and exalt Him throughout all the ages!"
-Seeing the God who grants resurrection and salvation to all plunged into sleep upon the Cross, the virgin Mother lamented and wept: "What is this new wonder? He who gives life to us all, has willed to die!"
He who remains the Creator, unapproachable to the angels in heaven, came to dwell in your womb, O Virgin, keeping your virginity inviolate after childbirth as well as before; and thus we cry out to Him "Praise the Lord, all you His works, and exalt Him throughout all the ages!"
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-Irreproachable and sinless, temple of all holiness, you have given birth to the holy Word, sharing the eternity of the Father, through whom every man is sanctified; thus, O Virgin, we praise and exalt you throughout all the ages!"
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-Irreproachable and sinless, temple of all holiness, you have given birth to the holy Word, sharing the eternity of the father, through whole every man is sanctified; thus, O Virgin, we praise and exalt you throughout all the ages.
v. We bless the Lord Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
-O all-pure one, with mouth and heart, we confess you to be the Mother of God; for, in the limits of the flesh, you gave birth to the lord and creator, our Christ and our King; thus, O Virgin, we praise and exalt you throughout all the ages.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-Ark of all holiness, who were overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, Mother of God who gave birth to the Word who preceded eternity and took flesh in our humanity in His ineffable compassion: we praise and exalt you throughout all the ages.
CANTICLE OF MARY
Ode 9
Let ever human being take up a torch, and let him dance with joy in his spirit! Let the whole immaterial creation celebrate this feast of the Mother of God, and cry out: "Hail, O glorious Mother of God, ever-pure and ever-virgin!"
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord!
-You stood as one accused, You who will come to judge the whole world; and You willingly bore the crown of thorns, O Savior, weeding out the thorns of sin, O Christ, Lover of Mankind, in order to paint the knowledge of Your mercy in the hearts of all.
-How could the unjust mob, blinded by jealousy, hand over to crucifixion You, the Source of light, the sinless Just One? Seeing Your sufferings, the sun was darkened, the glorious veil of the temple was rent, and the foundations of the earth were shaken.
-Imitators of the Passion of Christ, O holy martyrs, you became co-heirs of His Kingdom and His splendor; send your light upon those who sing to your name, preserving them from all danger and from the shadows of sin.
-O holy martyrs, you have heaven as your dwelling-place forever; filled with glory for all eternity, you share in the divine nature; keep watch over us who remember you, reverently keeping your sacred memorial.
-O pure Virgin, enlighten those who sing to you with love; illumine those who magnify you; scatter the shadows of our passions; calm the storm of temptations; repel the assaults of the evil one; and by your prayers, submit the whole world to Christ our King.
By her fault and transgression, Eve brought about the Curse; but you, O Virgin, Mother of God, have made the blessing sprout forth for the world through the fruit of your womb: and we all magnify you.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
-The burning coal which Isaiah contemplated, O divine Bride, you have carried in your arms, uniting the radiance of His divinity of humanity, O Mother of God, and making salvation shine upon the world; thus we magnify you.
-From of old, the prophets foretold signs of you birthgiving; O spotless Virgin, they revealed it from afar, announcing it mightily to the world; and we praise its fulfillment.
-The fruit of your spotless womb is more resplendent than anything in His beauty; O Mother of God and Virgin, you have given birth to God bearing our flesh, who came for the salvation of the human race: thus we magnify you.
The Cross is the protector of the whole world; the Cross is the splendor of the church; the cross is the glory of kings; the Cross is the support of the faithful; the Cross is the glory of the angels and the terror of the demons.
The one who, without seed, gave birth to You, stood by the Cross and wept bitterly: "Alas, O sweetest of all children, how did You vanish from my sight? How were You counted with the dead?"
Aposticha
1. Your Cross has become a rampart for us, O Jesus our savior! We, the faithful, have no other hope but You, O Lord, who were nailed upon it in the flesh in order to grant us great mercy!
v. In the morning, fill us with Your love that we may rejoice and be glad in all our days. Repay us in joy the times You did afflict us, the many years when disgrace was our lot. let Your work be manifest to Your servants, and Your glory to their children.
2. O Lord, You have given the sign of Your precious Cross to those who stood in fear of You: in it, You have vanquished the principalities and powers of Hades, and You have led us back to the ancient blessed ness. Thus we glorify Your love for us and Your work of redemption, O all-powerful Lord and Savior of our souls!
v. And may the brightness of the Lord our God shine upon us, and may He prosper the work of our hands for us, may He prosper the works of our hands.
3. How could we not stand in wonder before the sublime combat which you waged, O holy martyrs? In your bodies, you have triumphed over the bodiless enemy, as you confessed Christ, armed with the sign of the Cross. Thus you have received the power to drive away demons and repel the enemy. Ceaselessly intercede for the salvation of our souls.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, when Your Virgin Mother saw You suspended upon the Cross, she was struck with wonder and said, "How can You be nailed to the wood, O long-suffering Lord and beloved Son? How could the impious pierce You, O Word, in your hands and feet, and make the blood of our God flow?"
VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
At "O Lord, to You I call..."
6. O Lord, crush the death-dealing passions of my heart. For if You destroy the house of my flesh and build up the house of the spirit, in vain does he who wars against my soul keep watch. O Lord, before I perish completely, save me!
5. You gave me the enemy as a gift, as an instructing trial for my good, O compassionate Lord. With an evil will, he does evil to me, yet it works for my good. yet I do not flee to You with a prayer of thanksgiving. O Lord, before I perish completely, save me!
4. You accepted the Passion and death for me, that, as the Giver of Life, You might free me from the passions and from the corruption of death. You wished to grant me the former state of dispassion. Wherefore, before eternal death overtakes me, raise me up, for I lie prostrate in the grave of sin.
(3.) O Lady, O Lady, deliver me from shameful and impure memories, for they defile all the senses of my body and soul. Therefore, O pure one, I pray to you; crying out in repentance, I say, "O Lady, before I perish completely save me!"
(2.) Alas! What shall become of me? What shall I do? I have been enslaved to the passions from my youth. In my old age, will I be able to bring forth fruits of repentance for Christ? My habits lead me astray even before the deceiver does. O Lady, before I perish completely, save me!
(1.) Grant me tears, O Theotokos, and allow me to break my hear in repentance. help me to confess all my transgressions committed throughout my lifetime, that with your help, I may spend the rest of my life in repentance and attain rest.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy spirit, and always and forever ever. Amen.
Theotokion
O Mother of God, because of you, David the Prophet became an ancestor of God. He foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise to you and cried out to Him who worked wonders in you: "The Queen stood at Your right hand!" God revealed you as a life-giving Mother when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father. he renewed in man His image which the passions had corrupted. He found the lost sheep in the mountains, carried it on His shoulders, offered it to the Father, generously numbered it among the Powers of heaven and saved the whole world, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.
Aposticha
1. You accepted the sufferings of the martyrs now receive this hymn of praise from us, O Lover of Mankind. By their prayers, grant us Your great mercy.
v. God is wonderful among His Saints, the God of Israel.
2. Since you have boldness with the Savior, O holy martyrs, intercede unceasingly for us sinners; pray for the forgiveness of our offenses and great mercy for our souls.
v. God has displayed wonders in the Saints who dwell in His land: all His good pleasure is upon them.
3. O martyrs of the lord, you were spiritual sacrifices, pleasing holocausts, perfect divine victims who know God and are known by God, lambs whose fold is inaccessible to the wolves. Pray that we, too, may be nourished with you beside the peaceful waters.
Blessed are those You have chosen and accepted to dwell in Your courts: they shall be satisfied with the goods of Your house.
4. With the souls of the just brought to perfection, give rest, O Savior, to the souls of Your servants, keeping them for the blessed life with You who love mankind.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion
Since we have you as our hope and protection, O Theotokos, we do not fear the plotting of the enemy; for you save our souls.
ORTHROS ON SATURDAY
Sessional Hymns after the First Reading from the Psalter
Armed with Your Cross, O Christ our God, Your victorious martyrs defeated the traps of the enemy from whom all evil comes. They shone like torches, guiding mortal men, and they grant healing to those who ask with faith. At their prayers, save the world.
v. God is wonderful among His Saints, the God of Israel.
O Christ God, Your Church, crimsoned with the blood of Your martyrs all over the world as with a cloak of scarlet and fine linen, cries our to You: "Send Your mercy upon Your people; grant peace to You fold; and extend Your great compassion upon our souls!"
v. God has displayed wonders in the saints who dwell in His land; all His good pleasure is upon them.
O Lord our God, Your holy martyrs have deserved the crown of immortality on account of their good fight. Armed with Your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors and crushed Satan's dreadful might. Through their supplications, O Christ God, save our souls!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity and unknown even to the angels has been revealed in you to those who life on earth. This mystery is the incarnation of God: Christ, who of His own free will suffered crucifixion for our sake in order to raise the first man He had fashioned, He who saved our souls from death.
Sessional Hymns after the Second Reading from the Psalter
Today the heavenly hosts are present at the memorial of the victorious martyrs; they enlighten the minds of the faithful and make the whole world bright with grace. By their prayers, O all-powerful God, grant us great mercy.
v. Blessed are those You have chosen and accepted to dwell in Your courts, O Lord.
O Christ our God, in Your compassion and almighty power, give rest to those whom You have taken to Yourself from this passing life. In pity, forgive whatever wrong they have done; O merciful Lord, have mercy on the work of Your hands, through the prayers of the Mother of God, O You who alone are the lover of Mankind.
v. Their memory will remain forever and ever.
After crossing the short span of this life, the faithful pass to You, O Lord of goodness: grant them a place of rest, place them on Your right hand on the day of judgment without taking account of the sins they may have committed.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
For the faithful, you have been shown to be a propitiation, a common refuge and a fervent intercessor. O pure Virgin and holy Bride, for those who have passed away in the faith, show yourself now to be the mediatrix and gate of mercy, leading them to the open fields of Paradise.
Ode 1
You were born of the Virgin: I beg You, the thrice-holy Captain of my soul, to drown me - like the chariots of Pharaoh - in the depths of freedom from passions, that I may sing a son of triumph to You as on the timbrel, in the dying of the body.
All you Saints, intercede for us!
-The holy Church shines forever thanks to the wondrous struggles of the radiant Athletes of the Lord; and with joy, she glorifies Christ, the true Sun who dawned from the virgin, to drive away the darkness of error.
-O faithful, let us sing of the hierarchs of Christ, the holy shepherds of the chosen people; and let us praise with splendor all those who lived holy lives and mortified carnal pleasures in the Spirit.
-Strength was given by God to the holy women who in grace triumphed over the enemy by their asceticism and perseverance; Lord, by their intercession and that of the holy prophets, send Your mercy upon us all.
-O Christ, justify Your servants whom in Your divine Providence You have made pass form the mortal condition to life and immortality; grant them a share in happiness with the elect as You pass over all their sins.
-In order to rescue us from the ancient condemnation, the Son of God willed to become your Son; having become adopted sons through Him we bless the Father in heaven and we sing in your honor, O Virgin.
After crossing the Red Sea with their feet dryshod, Israel routed Amalek's army in the desert when Moses spread his arms in the form of a Cross.
v. God is wonderful among His Saints, the God of Israel!
-Taking Your servants by the hands, guide them to eternal life that they may contemplate Your beauty, O Word, through the intercession of the victorious martyrs, those witness to Your truth.
v. Grant rest to the souls of Your departed servants.
-For Your departed faithful, O Lord, grant an inheritance close to You: ineffable glory and happiness. Despite their faults, justify them by Your grace and by the outpouring of Your blood.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-You have put the Murderer to death; and You have brought the dead to life, O Christ our God, the Giver of Life: grant rest also to the faithful departed.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-As God, the Son was surpassing in His beauty; but when, after taking flesh from you, He was nailed to the Cross, there was no form nor beauty in Him, as He suffered a frightful death for all.
Ode 3
The bows of the mighty are broken, whole the tottering gird on strength; and thus my heart exults in the Lord.
All you Saints, intercede for us!
-Like lambs, the victorious martyrs were immolated and slaughtered, offered to the Word and Lamb of God who was sacrificed for the redemption of the human race.
-Serving as spokesmen for God, the Doctors and Hierarchs have restored to their disciples their ancient dignity through the light of their holy teaching.
-Through renunciation, the assemblies of the blessed have found a never-ending joy in contemplation, and though it, they rise up to God.
-By the prayers of all Your saints, grant rest to the faithful departed passing over all the sins which they may have committed in this life.
-Let us sing praise to our God, who was willingly born of a Virgin, and who has united the choirs of holy women to the hosts of the angels.
We do not glory in our wisdom, nor in the power found in treasures, but in the incarnate Wisdom of the Father, for no one is holy but You, O Jesus Christ.
v. God is wonderful among His saints, the God of Israel.
-Having overthrown the worship of the false gods, the martyrs now entreat our Master and our God to grant rest to the departed.
v. Grant rest to the souls of Your departed servants.
-Lord, grant that Your faithful departed may pass by the flaming sword and approach into communion with the tree of life, for their blessedness.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-Make Your servants dwell among the delights of Paradise, where the pure sound of rejoicing echoes, granting them the remission of their sins.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-You have been able to unite virginity to your divine childbearing, for you have ineffable brought into the world the Creator, upon whom the whole world depends.
After the Third Ode, the priest says the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology:
For You are our God, and we send up glory to You, Father Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Ode 4
He who sits in glory upon the throne of God, surrounded with an ethereal cloud, Jesus, the supremely divine, came down; and with His mighty hand, He redeemed those who cried out to Him, "Glory to Your power, O Christ!"
All you Saints, intercede for us!
-The holy assembly of martyrs reverently glorified in its own members the lord whom the Angels glorify. Now they themselves are glorified and assure us of their intercession to save us from all affliction.
-Through your heart illumined by the immaterial Light, O divine hierarchs, you have driven away the night of godlessness; and with a most sure hand, you have guided the chosen flock of Christ to the knowledge of God.
-The countless throng of the blessed shine with splendor and beauty; the multitude of holy women who lived for God is magnified; the holy assembly of inspired prophets is honored, uniting with the choirs of angels in their joy.
-O holy martyrs who have become fellow citizens with the angels in heaven, intercede that the departed may receive rest, a dwelling-place in Paradise and the complete remission of the sins which they may have committed.
-He who preserved your virginity spotlessly after childbirth has glorified in heaven the virgins who stand around you: with them, entreat Him that our souls may be saved from all pain and temptation.
The Church saw You, the Sun of Justice, suspended on the Cross, and she cried out as she stood in battle array: "Glory to Your power, O Lord!"
v. God is wonderful among His saints, the God of Israel!
-Like stars, the martyrs brilliantly illumine the heavenly vault of the Church, and they entreat Christ the Savior to grant pardon to the departed.
v. Grant rest to the souls of Your departed servants.
-Having Your Cross as a staff of power, Your faithful servants passed through the sea of this life: set them on the mountain of Your holiness, O Lord.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-O God of love, grant that the servants whom You have chosen and taken to You self may dwell in the City which You love, with the souls of the just and holy ones.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-O Mother of God, He who has dominion over the living and the dead took human flesh in your womb; and the Immortal One suffered death in order to break the power of Hades.
Ode 5; You dawned upon the world, O Lord, as a brilliant light - a very holy Light which draws those who faithfully sing to You out of the darkness of ignorance.
All you saints, intercede for us!
-Sent to the Cross, broken on the whel, dismembered, the courageous martyrs remained inseparably united to their God.
-Having become saviors of the believers, O hierarchs, you led the holy flock entrusted to your care to the Shepherd and Lamb.
-Leaving behind all tumult and passions, the holy monks found peace of heart and were worthy of being called children of God.
-The choir of inspired prophets and holy women served the Lord, and now they entreat rest for the departed.
-The Lord who dwelt in you, o spotless Virgin, has made emnt the dwelling-place of His glory.
You dawned upon the world..
v. God is wonderful among His saints, the God of Israel.
-Lord, in Your power,, You glorified Your martyrs: Their prayers, grant rest also in Your goodness to our departed brethren.
v. Grant rest to the souls of your departed servants.
-O God of compassion, grant to our departed a life without pain, a sweet joy, and the happiness which will never pass away.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to The Holy Spirit
-O Good Master, only source of goodness, grant rest to those who throughout their lives recognized You in faith to be their God.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-O Mother of God, we sing to you with love, O blessed one, who have brought about the ineffable Day, the inaccessible Beauty, upon the world below.
Ode 6
I have reached the depths of the sea, and a storm of many sins has overcome me in the deep. But You, o God of love, bring my life up from the pit!
All you Saints, intercede for us!
-O holy martyrs, like precious stones cast down upon the ground, you have caused the collapse of the strongholds of impiety and have become temples of God.
-You have save many servant from the powerful hand of the Tyrant, O venerable hierarchs and fathers, who have led the flock of Christ to good pastures; thus they have called you blessed.
-In keeping with the prophecies, by asceticism and struggles, many women have been truly led into the World of God, who has shone upon us from a virgin Woman.
-O Life of all the departed, Christ of great compassion: place in the light of Your face those of our brethren who have passed over to You in the faith, O creator.
-Not only with my mouth, but also with my heart, O Virgin, I recognize you to be the pure Mother of my God; by your holy mediation, save me from eternal damnation.
The merciful streams of blood that flowed from Your side, O Lord, purified Your Church of the blood offered to demons. Now she cries out aloud to You: "I will offer you the sacrifice of praise, O Lord!"
v. God is wonderful among His Saints, the God of Israel.
-O Savior, when its saw Your side pierced by a lance, the flaming sword turned away from Your servants through the prayers of the victorious martyrs.
v. Grant rests to the souls of You departed servants!
-On the Cross, You opened Paradise: o god of compassion and my Savior, plant in its gardens the faithful departed, that they may share in Your glory, O Lord.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-For those who have drawn close to You through a pious death, O Lord, grant them access to Paradise, that they may harvest the fruits of its fields; and count them among the just of al ages.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-Invisible in that He is god, the Word made Himself seen to our eyes; bodiless, he took a body from an unwedded Virgin; and by His death, He ahs destroyed death.
After the Sixth Ode, the priest says again the Little Synapte, concluded with the Doxology:
For You are the King of Peace and the Savior of our souls, and we send up glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
R. Amen.
Kontakion
Ikos
Synaxarion
Ode 7
In Babylon of old, the sons of Abraham walked about in the fiery furnace, crying out joyfully in their hymns: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!"
All you saints, intercede for us!
-The sacred vessels of Christ the Lord, the witnesses to or God, serve as ramparts for the Church: let us sing to them as one choir with joy in our hearts.
-The hierarchs of Christ and the divine choir of all the saints exult with the Angels in heaven; by their prayers, O Savior, save the flock of Your sheep.
-By their obedience, the holy women who piously manifested patience and fidelity in their struggles have triumphed over him who once wounded Eve.
-You took Hades captive, and by Your death You triumphed over death: in Your mercy, grant rest to the faithful departed and grant them a place in Paradise.
-In the bush which he saw burning without being consumed, the Lawgiver recognized the prefiguring of your maternity, O only Mother of God, blessed among women.
The love burning in the hearts of the sons of Abraham as they stood in the midst of the Persian flames was more ardent than the heat of the fire around them. Therefore, they sang out: "Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory!"
v. God is wonderful among His saints, the God of Israel!
-From the martyrs, O Savior, accept their blood poured our, their perseverance and their courage; and in return, grant rest to the souls of the faithful departed in Your indulgence and mercy.
v. Grant rest to the souls of Your departed servants!
-O Savior, number the souls of Your departed servants with the Just and first-born; grant them never-ending joy in Your presence, O Lord of all.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-Since You are God, O Word, may it please You to receive in the clouds of heaven with joy and splendor those whom You have taken to Yourself in Your mercy.
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-Hail, O blessed Virgin and Mother of our God: through you death has disappeared, and a life without suffering has been granted to all the departed.
Ode 8
Almighty Redeemer of all, You came down in the midst of the furnace and covered the young men with dew, teaching them to sing, "All you His works, praise and bless the Lord!"
(All you Saints, intercede for us!
-Coming to the end of their struggles, the hierarchs, prophets and martyrs found a holy fellowship with the Angels; together with them, they entreat pardon and great mercy for us all.
-Radiant in the Spirit, the venerable father have diven away the darkness of the demons; with them, the hierarchs, prophets and martyrs exult with joy in heaven, in company with the Just from all times.
-He who boasted in his folly of destroying the earth and sea is constantly overcome by the asceticism and struggles of the holy women, who are resplendent in the Spirit.
-O Christ, behold, we intercede for the whole assembly of faithful departed: in Your mercy, join them to the choirs of Your chosen ones who ceaselessly sing, "Praise and blessed the Lord!"
-Make me worthy of your compassion, O you who gave birth to the beneficent Word; all-holy Mother of my God save me as I cry aloud, "All you His works, praise and blessed the Lord!"
Daniel shut the lions' mouths in the den when he raised his hands in prayer. The three young men in their love for God quenched the rage of the fire by their virtue. They raised this song aloud, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
v. God is wonderful among His saints, the God of Israel.
-Accepting the intercession of the martyrs and their compassion toward mankind, O Lord, grant rest to the souls of the departed; because of their Faith, pardon their sins as they sing, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!"
v. Grant rest to the souls of Your departed servants.
-Numbered among the dead and the impious, You became a source of Life for the dead; for those who have passed to You from this life in the hope of resurrection, Lord, grant them a place in Your kingdom, that they may sing, "All you His works, bless the Lord!"
v. We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
-O inexhaustible Fountain of immortality, at the end of their lives, receive Your servants in the dwellings of heaven; they left this passing world, crying out to You, most sweet Savior: "All you His works, bless the Lord!"
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-You alone on earth were a pure Virgin and an unwedded Mother; for you conceived God, a wonder surpassing all understanding; you became a source of life for mankind; O divine Bride, we bless you!
Ode 9
By her fault and transgression, Eve brought about the curse; but you, O Virgin Mother of God, have made the blessing sprout forth for the world through the Fruit of your womb; and we all magnify you.
All you Saints, intercede for us!
-Seeing the gifts of God and receiving the rewards of their labors, the martyrs rejoiced greatly and magnified Christ who had magnified Christ who had magnified them, granting them the crowns of conquerors.
-Hierarchs, announcers of God, you directed the people of the lord, enlightening them by your asceticism with rays more powerful than the sun; and by your outstanding works, you have shone for their piety: O Christ, by their intercession, save out souls from the never-ending flames.
-With the same joy You bestow upon the saints who have served You perfectly, O Lord, Jesus, make worthy also the departed who have believed in You, without taking account of their sins, in Your infinite mercy.
-O spotless Virgin, who are higher in honor than the Cherubim since you carried the God of all, grant that I may control my carnal passions; and enable me to follow the precepts of the Lord.
By her fault and transgression...
v. God is wonderful among His Saints, the God of Israel.
-You have given the victorious martyrs the powers to intercede before You; by their prayers, grant divine redemption to Your faithful after their death, making them dwell in the tabernacles of Your holiness.
v. Grant rest to the souls of You departed servants.
-With a creative gesture, You fashioned the whole world as a fitting place for us; You have power over the living and You reign as Master of the dead: O God of tenderness, place Your servants in Your Kingdom near the restful waters.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and the Holy Spirit.
-You whose characteristic is goodness, rich in grace and mercy, save from the outer darkness those who have called upon Your name; justify them by Faith and enlighten them by Your grace, o Lover of Mankind!
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
-In advance, the prophets pointed to the signs of your maternity, each one speaking in different phrases of your ineffable wonder; *ful you gave birth for mankind to the life which broke Hades' empire of death.
Exapostilaria
(Tone 3
O God, You adorn the heavens with stars and give light to the world through You Saints: O Creator of all, save all those who sing Your praise.
O God, You are the Master of all the living and the dead: make Your servants rest in the dwelling-place of Your elect. Although they may have sinned, O God our Savior, they did not abandon You.
O sweetness of the angels, joy of the distressed, helper of Christians, O Virgin Mother of the Lord; deliver me from eternal pain and save me.
Praises
4. O holy martyrs, you have become companions of the angels. confessing Christ in the arena, you renounced all the pleasures of the world as nothing, and you kept the true Faith as an anchor. Now you pour out gifts of healing grace on the faithful and pray for our salvation.
3. How could we not marvel at your lives, O martyrs? Clothed in mortal bodies, you overcame the bodiless enemy: the threat of tyrants roused no fear in you; you felt no dread at the sight of the torturers. Thus you have been glorified by Christ, who grants great mercy to our souls.
2. Precious is the death of Your saints, O Lord. Slain by sword, fire or frost, they poured out their blood, putting their trust in You and awaiting from Your hand the reward of their labors. They persevered to the end and received great mercy from You, O Savior.
1. O Lord, give rest to Your servants in a place of peace where all Your saints repose, for You alone are the Lover of Mankind.
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Where are the affections of the world? Where are the vain dreams of delight? Where is gold or silver? Where is the multitude of servants and attendants? All is dust and ashes, or a shadow that passes away. Brethren, let us then pray to Christ our Immortal King and say, "O Lord grant Your blessings to You departed servants, and give rest to their souls in You everlasting happiness of heaven!"
v. Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O Mother of God, the only virgin immaculate the pure, in virginity you have given birth to Christ our God: intercede with Him for the salvation of our souls.
Aposticha
1. Truly awesome is the mystery of death! How is the soul forcibly separated from the body? How is the harmony and unity broken? How is the natural bond cut by the will of God? We therefore pray You: Give rest to the departed in the dwelling of Your saints, O Giver of Life, who love mankind!
v. Blessed are those You have chosen and accepted to dwell in You courts, O Lord.
2. Death became merely a sleep for those who believe in You, when You, the Master of all, were laid in the tomb and destroyed the power of death, overthrowing its long and ancient dominion. We therefore pray to You: Give rest to the departed in the dwelling of Your saints, O Giver of Life, who love mankind!
v. Their memory will remain forever and ever.
3. You have become our righteousness and sanctification, and the redemption of our souls. For You have justified and redeemed us, then led us to the Father, taking upon Yourself the punishment and debt due from us. Now we entreat You: Give rest the departed in joy and radiance, for You are our Benefactor and Savior!
v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
O all-pure Virgin, we believe you to be the Theotokos, accepting the words of those inspired by God. In a way past understanding, you have given birth to God made flesh, who has delivered us from the bondage of sin. Pray now to Him that He may shine on your departed servants with the radiance of His light.
If there is no Office for the Dead on Saturday, we do not use the stichera at he Praises. They are used (#4,3,2) at the Aposticha. The Aposticha given above is then used after the Canon for the Dead at Compline on Friday evening.