Thursday in Cheese Week

MATTINS

We begin as on Tuesday in the week before Lent.

After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns of repentance in the Tone of the week, from the Octoechos.

After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:

TONE FIVE

Today all the apostles bless the forty days and the week of cleansing that precedes them, and they sanctify this season of fasting which they received from Christ the Redeemer. They proclaim His Resurrection unto all and intercede with the Lord for mercy on our souls.

Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…

Theotokion

Thou art the protection, O pure Virgin, of those who steadfastly have set their hope in thee. Deliver them from all temptations, from harsh danger and distress. Together with the apostles, intercede on their behalf before thy Son, and save all those who sing thy praises.

The Canon

The same order is followed as on Monday (see pp. 87 ff).

Canticle Four

First Canon

TONE FOUR

by Joseph

Irmos: The prophet heard of Thy coming…

Thy disciples shone in the world with the light of the knowledge of God; they overcame error and destroyed the darkness of deceit. At their prayers, save those who sing Thy praises.

The gateway to the Fast is crowned with the fruits of the saints’ ascetic labours, and it welcomes those who in vigilance draw near with hymns and mystical songs. Come, all ye faithful, let us make haste to enter.

Yielding to the impulses of sensual pleasure, I was clothed in my misery with the garments of death. But clothe me now, O Son of God, with the shining raiment of regeneration.

I have passed my life in wickedness and all uncleanness; but in Thee, All-merciful, do I seek refuge. Come quickly, before it is too late, and save me in Thy love.

Theotokion

Ineffably thou hast conceived, O Mother of God, and in ways surpassing nature thou hast borne Him who rules creation. Intercede before Him without ceasing, that He may deliver from all peril those who call thee blessed.

Another Canon

TONE TWO

Irmos: Thou hast come forth from a Virgin…

With the light of your teaching, O apostles, ye have dispersed the darkness of sensual pleasure; praised in all the world, through your abstinence ye have enlightened all men, both sinners and righteous.

Translucent pearls of the Word, O apostles, through your abstinence ye have filled with the glory all the ends of the earth, restoring our souls to their true nobility.

Ye have cooled the furnace of the passions with the dew of fasting, O apostles, and taught all men to keep within themselves a citadel safe from attack, a dwelling-place of holiness.

I have sinned more than all men, and unrepenting I have transgressed as Manasses did. Before death seizes me, O Lord, teach me the way of repentance.

Theotokion

In thee, O Theotokos, all the faithful have a haven of salvation and a rampart none can overthrow: for by thine intercessions, O Lady, thou dost set free our souls from danger.

Irmos: Thou hast come forth from a Virgin, neither angel nor ambassador, but the Lord Himself made flesh, and all my human nature Thou hast saved. Therefore I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

Canticle Eight

Irmos: In Thy wisdom, O Master, Thou hast ordered all things…

The whole earth is full of Thy praise, O Lord. For, inspired by God, the preaching of Thy divine disciples has been heard in every place, turning the world from the depths of ignorance to knowledge, as it sings aloud: O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

The God-given grace of repentance is made manifest, conferring salvation on those who gladly accept the sweat and labour of the ascetic struggle. Run to the master, then, my soul, and seek forgiveness for thy many trespasses.

The arena of God-given abstinence lies open before us: let us gladly enter there, for we are in need of mercy. In His compassion God thirsts for our salvation and He longs to grant forgiveness to those who seek Him with sincerity and serve Him with love.

With fasting close thy mouth, my soul; have peace in thy heart; serve the Lord with acts of righteousness, offering Him the fruits of virtue as a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and cry aloud: O all ye works, without ceasing bless ye the Lord.

Theotokion

O holy Theotokos, Queen who reignest over all, accept the supplications of thy servants: deliver me from darkness and the fire that never shall be quenched, and by thy mediation and thy divine intercession blot out the multitude of my offences.

Second Canon

Irmos: The unwearied fire…

Christ gave you as a light to all the ends of the inhabited earth, O apostles, and He said: ‘Go and teach the nations, that they may learn how in the flesh I lived with abstinence, trampling underfoot all the strength of the enemy and showing to mankind the straight path.’

Thou hast shown, O Christ, how abstinence leads men to cleansing and deliverance from the passions. For through it Thine apostles received Thy blessing and became shining lights upon the earth; and to all who sing God’s praises they proclaimed the Lord as one in Essence but three in Persons.

Ye were sent by Christ your Teacher, O disciples, as heralds to the nations, to enlighten their minds with God’s teaching. Ye bade them abstain from food and passions, and so to learn that He is Lord and Creator and Benefactor of all.

We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Like Cain the murderer, O Christ my God, I have not brought Thee an unblemished offering; held fast by unclean thoughts, I have not sacrificed my soul to Thee in purity. Yet reject me not, most loving Saviour, as I draw near to Thee through fasting; but look mercifully on the gifts that I bring to Thee with love during the season of the Fast.

Both now…

Theotokion

Blessed is the womb of the Mother of God, for it has received the Word. Assuming man’s form, He united to His person the material flesh He took from her, and so she was revealed as the City of God in which the Lord Most High was pleased to dwell. To her we cry aloud: Hail, pure Theotokos, full of grace!

We praise, bless and worship the Lord…

Irmos: The unwearied fire, fed with endless fuel, drew back in fear before the pure bodies and pure souls of the holy Children; and as the undying flame decreased in strength, they sang an everlasting song: O all ye works, praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.

Canticle Nine

Irmos: For He that is mighty has done for me great things…

As lights that never fail ye were sent out into the world, delivering men from the depths of sin. With joy we sing in praise of Christ, who gave you the strength to be His apostles.

O wise apostles, Christ sent you out as salt into a world that had lost its savour and grown foolish. Bringing it back to understanding, ye teach it the knowledge of God, and we praise you in faith.

I am beset by a multitude of grievous sins: in tears I fall before Thee, Christ, begging Thee to grant me a chance to gain forgiveness during the season of the Fast.

Bound fast by the chains of my passions, I groan and cry aloud to Thee, O Saviour: set me free, that with great joy I may sing in praise of Thy merciful love.

Theotokion

God has appointed thee, pure Virgin, as helper of mankind: never cease to intercede before Him urgently on behalf of us and all the faithful.

Second Canon

Irmos: Thou hast enclosed within thy womb…

Strengthened by fasting, the choir of the apostles shone with divine radiance upon the whole inhabited earth, giving light to the world.

O Jesus who lovest mankind, the choir of Thy disciples has taught the nations to treasure the riches of abstinence.

As a twelve-stringed harp, the company of Thy disciples calls men to the riches of abstinence and the wellspring of salvation.

I cry to Thee, O Lord, with the words of the Prodigal: I have sinned, Father; save me and be merciful. Shut me not out from Thy glory.

Theotokion

In thy womb thou hast carried God made man, and thou art a fountain of life for all the world. We sing thy praises, O most holy Virgin.

Irmos: Thou hast enclosed within thy womb the God whom nothing can enclose, and thou hast brought joy into the world. We sing thy praises, O most holy Virgin.

The exapostilarion as on Monday (see p. 89).

Aposticha:

TONE THREE

The glory of the Fast has shone upon us, putting to flight the darkness of the demons. The solemn time of abstinence has come, bringing with it healing for the passions of our soul. Protected by it, Daniel shut the mouths of lions, and the Children in Babylon quenched the flame of the furnace. Through fasting save us also with them, Christ our God, in Thy love for mankind (twice).

To the Martyrs

O holy martyrs who have fought the good fight, ye shine even after death as lights in the world: with boldness pray to Christ for mercy on our souls.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Theotokion

Holy art thou among women, O Theotokos, Mother and Virgin: pray to the King and Son whom thou hast borne, that He may save us in His love for mankind.

VESPERS

To Lord, I have cried, three stichera are sung in the Tone of the week from the Octoechos, and three to the saint of the day, from the Menaion; Glory be to the Father…; doxastikon for the saint of the day, if such is appointed; Both now…; and the Stavrotheotokion from the Menaion.

Aposticha:

TONE TWO

To those who venerate the Cross of Christ with all their heart, it is a bridle and restraint on every lust and a law of abstinence. Looking ever upon Him who on the Cross was crucified, they crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. Let us also flee from sinful lust; fasting in purity, let us become one with Him, who out of love for mankind made Himself one with us by suffering the Passion, and so enabled us to share in His own freedom from the passions; for He has great mercy (twice).

To the Martyrs

Not desiring earthly pleasure, the victorious martyrs were granted heavenly blessings, and they have become fellow-citizens with the angels. At their prayers, O Lord, have mercy upon us and save us.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Stavrotheotokion

When thou sawest, pure Virgin, hanging upon the Tree, the Vine which, unhusbanded, thou hast conceived within thy womb, lamenting thou hast cried aloud: ‘O Child, bestow upon the world the new wine, which with its sweetness shall drive away all the drunkenness of the passions. Grant this, O Benefactor, in Thy mercy, at the holy prayers of me Thy Mother.’

Then Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant…; and the rest of Vespers, as on Tuesday in the week before Lent (see p. 94). We say Great Compline as on Tuesday.