Monday in the First Week
Greek use: the service begins somewhat later than usual, and the Midnight Office is omitted.
Slav use: the Midnight Office is read as usual, except that the Prayer of St. Ephraim is said once only, with three prostrations.
MATTINS
After the Six Psalms and the Great Litany, in place of The Lord is God, we sing Alleluia with the appointed verses, and then the hymns to the Trinity in the Tone of the week (see pp. 571 ff).
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns of repentance in the Tone of the week (see pp. 575 ff).
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE TWO
by Joseph
As God-given first-fruits of the Fast, let us acquire compunction of soul, crying out: Accept our prayer as pure incense, Christ our Master, and deliver us, we entreat Thee, from the stench of corruption and from fearful torment, for Thou alone art ready to forgive.
Glory be to the Father…
Repeat.
Both now…
Theotokion
Thou art a fountain of compassion, O Theotokos: count us worthy of thy loving-kindness. Look upon thy people that have sinned; and now, as always, manifest thy power. For putting our trust in thee we cry unto thee, Hail! as once did Gabriel, the chief captain of the heavenly hosts.
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE TWO
by Theodore
Let us joyfully begin the all-hallowed season of abstinence; and let us shine with the bright radiance of the holy commandments of Christ our God, with the brightness of love and the splendour of prayer, with the purity of holiness and the strength of good courage. So, clothed in raiment of light, let us hasten to the Holy Resurrection on the third day, that shines upon the world with the glory of eternal life.
Glory be to the Father…
Repeat.
Both now…
Theotokion
Having obtained in my distress thine unconquerable intercession, O Mother of our God, I am set free wondrously and past all hope from everything that troubles me. For thou art always swift to help those who ask of thee in faith, and dost dispel the darkness of their many sins. Therefore with thanksgiving we cry unto thee: Accept, O Lady, this small offering of grateful praise, and be my help in all things.
Then Psalm 50, and the Litany by the priest, O Lord, save Thy people…
The Canon
We use the Canon to the saint of the day from the Menaion, and the two three-canticled Canons from the Triodion; we sing the first Biblical Canticle (Exodus 15:1–19).
Canticle One
First Canon
TONE TWO
by Joseph
Irmos: Come, O ye nations…
How shall I now lament my fall? Where shall I begin the work of my salvation? I have lived as the Prodigal: O compassionate Lord, in the ways that are Thine own, do Thou save me.
Behold, the appointed time; behold, the day of salvation, the entrance to the Fast. O my soul, be watchful, close all the doors through which the passions enter, and look up towards the Lord.
Storm-tossed by the tempest of sin, I am dragged down into the depths of despair; but I flee to the wide sea of Thy mercy. Save me, O Lord.
I alone have become a slave to sin; I alone have opened the door to the passions, O Word who art ready to forgive. But in Thy tender mercy turn me back and save me.
Theotokion
O Maiden, alone full of God’s grace, thou hast conceived the Fountain of dispassion. Heal me, for I am wounded by the passions, and snatch me from the eternal fire.
Another Canon with the same irmos
SAME TONE
by Theodore
Come, O ye people, and today let us accept the grace of the Fast as a gift from God and as a time for repentance, in which we may find mercy with the Saviour.
The time for combat is at hand and has begun already; let all of us set forth eagerly upon the course of the Fast, offering our virtues as gifts to the Lord.
Glory be to the Father…
O simple unity of threefold Light, sovereign Oneness, omnipotent and source of all life, God and Lord, almighty Father, Son and Spirit, save those who honour Thee.
Both now…
Theotokion
Let us sing the praises of the holy mountain of God, Mary undefiled. From her has shone forth upon those in darkness the Sun of righteousness, Christ the life of all.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Armed with fasting, Elijah the wonderful was taken up in a chariot of fire; through fasting Moses received a vision of secret mysteries; and if we also fast like them, we shall see Christ.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Adam ate the food and his greed banished him from Paradise. But may the keeping of the Fast lead us to true repentance, O Lord who lovest mankind.
Irmos: Come, O ye nations, and let us sing a song to Christ our God, who divided the sea and through it led His people, that He had brought out of the Egyptian bondage; for He is greatly glorified.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: God came down into the fiery furnace…
In the fire of Thy fear, O Christ, Thou hast renewed the eyes of my soul that were inflamed and darkened by lust. Shine upon me with the light of salvation, that I may glorify Thee for ever.
Hating the surfeit of the passions, O my humble soul, feast rather upon the rich food of God’s blessings. Take thy delight in the pleasures of the Fast, turn away from the bitterness of lust, and thou shalt live for ever.
Hardened in soul and darkened by the drunkenness of the passions, I cannot look at all on Thee, the only God. Therefore take pity on me, grant me light, and open to me the gates of repentance.
Theotokion
O pure Virgin, through thee our earthly and corruptible nature is made heavenly: with thy fervent intercession bring our prayers and our petitions before the God and King of thee and all men.
Second Canon
Irmos: By a strange miracle the Lord of old…
O ye faithful, with joy let us enter upon the beginning of the Fast. Let us not be of sad countenance but let us wash our faces in the water of dispassion; and let us bless and exalt Christ above all for ever.
Let us anoint the head of our soul with the oil of loving compassion, and let us not use vain repetitions when praying to our Father in heaven; and let us bless and exalt Him above all for ever.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
O ye faithful, let us sing in praise to the Father, eternal and without beginning, and to His coeternal Son, and to the Spirit that shines forth from the Father, three consubstantial Persons but one in sovereign power and rule.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Mary, called by God, truly thou art the mercy seat of the faithful: for through thee forgiveness is freely bestowed upon all. Cease not to intercede before thy Son and Lord, gaining His gracious favour for us who sing thy praises.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Fasting for the space of forty days, the Lord consecrated and made holy this present Fast. As we start upon it, brethren, we cry out: Bless and exalt Christ above all for ever.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: By a strange miracle the Lord of old refreshed with dew the children of the Hebrews in the fire, yet burnt the Chaldaeans. Let us sing His praises, saying: Bless and exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
We sing the Magnificat, with Greater in honour than the cherubim…
Irmos: God, the Word from God…
May this the first day of the Fast be for thee, my soul, a time of abstinence from sin, of turning towards God and drawing near to Him. Do thou flee from all the pits of evil and seek only the paths that lead to the eternal rest of the Age to come.
I have fallen in my thoughts and sinned in the flesh, and groaning I lament and cry aloud: Save me, O Lord, for Thou alone art longsuffering; save me and, deserving though I be of condemnation, send me not to the fire of Gehenna.
Clothing ourselves in the shining raiment of the Fast, let us cast off the dark and hateful garment of drunkenness; and illumined by the divine virtues, we shall gaze with faith upon the radiance of the Saviour’s Passion.
Theotokion
O undefiled Lady, heal my miserable soul that is weakened by all the assaults of the evil demons; for thou hast borne Christ our Physician and Redeemer, and we acknowledge thee, O Maiden, to be a virgin inviolate.
Second Canon
Irmos: O ye faithful, let us magnify the Virgin…
The season of the holy Fast is now at hand. Let us begin it with good actions; for it is said, fast not for strife and debate.
On Mount Horeb Elijah was cleansed by fasting and saw God. Let us also cleanse our hearts by fasting and we shall see Christ. Glory be to the Father…
I worship one Nature, I sing the praises of three Persons, one God of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, sovereignty eternal.
Both now…
Theotokion
Though a pure maiden, thou bearest child, and though a virgin thou givest suck. How can these things be found together? How dost thou give birth and yet remain virgin? ‘It is God who has brought this to pass: ask me not how.’
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
All mortal life is but one day, so it is said, to those who labour with love. There are forty days in the Fast: let us keep them all with joy.
Irmos: O ye faithful, let us magnify the Virgin with never-silent hymns, for in ways surpassing nature she has conceived within her womb, according to the flesh, the Word that outside time shone forth from the Father.
Then Truly it is right to call thee blessed…
Hymn of Light in the Tone of the week (see pp. 571 ff).
The Psalms of Lauds are read without stichera.
Then we say To Thee is due glory, O Lord our God… followed by the Small Doxology (read, not sung) and the Litany, Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord…
Then the Aposticha:
TONE FIVE
The Fast has come, mother of chastity, accuser of sins, advocate of repentance, life of the angels and salvation of men. Let us cry out, ye faithful: O God, have mercy upon us.
℣. We were filled in the morning with Thy mercy…
Repeat the sticheron, The Fast has come…
℣. And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us…
To the Martyrs
SAME TONE
Blessed is the army of the heavenly King: for though the victorious martyrs were born of this earth, yet despising their bodies they made haste to attain to the angelic estate; and through their sufferings they were counted worthy of the honour of the bodiless angels. At their prayers, O Lord, save our souls.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
SAME TONE
We magnify thee in song, O Mother of God and pure Virgin, more holy than the cherubim: we confess thee to be Theotokos in both soul and body, for in very truth thou hast borne God incarnate. All-pure Lady, offer intercession for our souls.
Then we say It is a good thing to give thanks…; Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the apolytikion Standing in the temple of thy glory…
Kyrie eleison (forty times); Glory be to the Father… Both now…; Greater in honour than the cherubim; In the Name of the Lord, give the blessing, father.
Priest: Blessed be He who is, Christ our God…
Then we say O heavenly King, uphold our rulers…
The Prayer of St. Ephraim, with three prostrations; then twelve bows; then the Prayer of St. Ephraim again, with one prostration at the end.
Then the First Hour.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE FIVE
Lord, O Lord, at the presence of Thy power all things fear and tremble. We fall down before Thee, O Immortal One, and we pray to Thee, O Holy One: save our souls at the intercessions of Thy saints.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Repeat.
Prokimenon(Psalm 1):
TONE FOUR
The Lord knows the way of the righteous, and the way of the ungodly shall perish.
℣. Blessed is the man that has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners.
Lesson: Isaiah 1:1–20.
Prokimenon(Psalm 2):
TONE SEVEN
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling.
℣. Why have the heathen raged and the people meditated empty things?
VESPERS
To Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung, the first three being from the Triodion:
TONE TWO
by Joseph
I have committed every sin; more than all men I have lived as the Prodigal. When I try to repent, I have no tears to shed; if I live always in my present sloth, I shall be condemned to torment. Grant me amendment and have mercy on me, O God, for Thou alone art good.
Grant me tears falling as the rain from heaven, O Christ, as I keep this joyful day of the Fast. Let me mourn, O Lord, and wash away the filth that comes from lustful pleasures, that I may appear before Thee purified, when Thou, the only righteous Judge, shalt come from heaven to judge all mortal men.
TONE FIVE
by Theodore
Come eagerly, all ye faithful, and taking as shield the strong armour of the Fast, let us repel every delusion of the enemy. Let us not be led astray by the lusts of passion, let us not flinch before the fire of temptation; and Christ in His love will reward us with crowns for our patient endurance. Offering, then, our prayers with boldness, we fall down and cry aloud, asking for peace and His great mercy on our souls.
Then three stichera to the saint of the day from the Menaion.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…; and the Theotokion from the Menaion.
After O joyful Light (without the Entrance), the prokimenon (Psalm 3):
TONE SIX
Salvation is of the Lord, and Thy blessing is upon Thy people.
℣. Lord, how are they increased that trouble me!
Lesson: Genesis 1:1–13.
Prokimenon (Psalm 4):
TONE FIVE
The Lord will hear me when I cry to Him.
℣. Thou hast heard me when I called, O God of my righteousness.
Lesson: Proverbs 1:1–20.
Then Vouchsafe, O Lord…, and the Litany, Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord…
Aposticha:
TONE THREE
Let us observe a fast acceptable and pleasing to the Lord. True fasting is to put away all evil, to control the tongue, to forbear from anger, to abstain from lust, slander, falsehood and perjury. If we renounce these things, then is our fasting true and acceptable to God.
℣. Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes…
Repeat the sticheron, Let us observe a fast acceptable…
℣. Have mercy upon us, O Lord…
To the Martyrs
SAME TONE
Great is the power of Thy martyrs, O Christ! Though they lie in their tombs, they drive out evil spirits and fight in the defence of true devotion, subduing the dominion of the enemy through faith in the Trinity.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
SAME TONE
O Theotokos, the protection of all who ask thy prayers, in thee we trust, in thee we boast, in thee is all our hope: pray to thy Son for thine unprofitable servants.
GREAT COMPLINE
We assemble in church at the ninth hour of the day (three-four o’clock in the afternoon). After the opening blessing by the priest, Blessed is our God…, the reader says: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. O heavenly King…; Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer. Then Kyrie eleison (twelve times); Glory be to the Father…, Both now…; O come, let us worship…, and Psalm 69.
Then follows the first section of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. Before each troparion of the Canon, we make the sign of the Cross and bow three times, and we sing: Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me. The irmoi are sung twice.
TONE SIX
Canticle One
Irmos: He is for me unto salvation Helper and Protector. He is my God and I glorify Him, God of my fathers is He and I exalt Him, for He is greatly glorified.
Where shall I begin to weep for the actions of my wretched life? What first-fruit shall I offer, O Christ, in this my lamentation? But in Thy compassion grant me forgiveness of sins.
Come, wretched soul, with thy flesh to the Creator of all. Make confession to Him, and abstain henceforth from thy past brutishness; and offer to God tears of repentance.
I have rivalled in transgression Adam the first-formed man, and I have found myself stripped naked of God, of the eternal Kingdom and its joy, because of my sins.
Woe, to thee, miserable soul! How like thou art to the first Eve! For thou hast looked in wickedness and wast grievously wounded; thou hast touched the tree and rashly tasted the deceptive food.
Instead of the visible Eve, I have the Eve of the mind: the passionate thought in my flesh, showing me what seems sweet; yet whenever I taste from it, I find it bitter.
Adam was justly banished from Eden because he disobeyed one commandment of Thine, O Saviour. What then shall I suffer, for I am always rejecting Thy words of life?
Glory be to the Father…
Trinity beyond all being, worshipped in Unity, take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Theotokos, the hope and protection of those who sing thy praises, take from me the heavy yoke of sin and, pure Lady, accept me in repentance.
Canticle Two
Irmos: Attend, O heaven, and I shall speak and sing in praise of Christ, who took flesh from a Virgin and came to dwell among us.
Attend, O heaven, and I shall speak; give ear, O earth, to the voice of one who repents before God and sings His praise.
Look upon me, God my Saviour, with Thy merciful eye, and accept my fervent confession.
More than all men have I sinned; I alone have sinned against Thee. But as God take pity on Thy creation, O Saviour.
With my lustful desires I have formed within myself the deformity of the passions and disfigured the beauty of my mind.
I am surrounded by the storm of sin, O compassionate Lord. But stretch out Thine hand to me, as once Thou hast to Peter.
I have stained the garment of my flesh, O Saviour, and defiled that which was made in Thine image and likeness.
With the lusts of passion I have darkened the beauty of my soul, and turned my whole mind entirely into dust.
I have torn the first garment that the Creator wove for me in the beginning, and now I lie naked.
I have clothed myself in the torn coat that the serpent wove for me by his counsel, and I am ashamed.
I offer to Thee, O merciful Lord, the tears of the Harlot. Take pity on me, O Saviour, in Thy compassion.
I looked upon the beauty of the tree and my mind was deceived; and now I lie naked and ashamed.
All the ruling passions have ploughed upon my back, making long furrows of wickedness.
Glory be to the Father…
I sing Thy praises, One in Three Persons, God of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Theotokos undefiled, Virgin alone worthy of all praise, intercede fervently for our salvation.
Canticle Three
Irmos: Upon the unshaken rock of Thy commandments, O Christ, make firm Thy Church.
The Lord once rained down fire from heaven and consumed the land of Sodom.
O my soul, flee like Lot to the mountain, and take refuge in Zoar before it is too late.
Flee from the flames, my soul, flee from the burning heat of Sodom, flee from destruction by the fire of God.
I alone have sinned against Thee, I have sinned more than all men; reject me not, O Christ my Saviour.
Thou art the Good Shepherd: seek me, the lamb that has strayed, and do not forget me.
Thou art my beloved Jesus, Thou art my Creator; in Thee shall I be justified, O Saviour.
I confess to Thee, O Saviour: I have sinned against Thee without measure. But in Thy compassion absolve and forgive me.
Glory be to the Father…
O God, Trinity in Unity, save us from error and temptation and distress.
Both now…
Theotokion
Hail, Womb that held God! Hail, Throne of the Lord! Hail, Mother of our Life!
Canticle Four
Irmos: The prophet heard of Thy coming, O Lord, and he was afraid: how Thou wast to be born of a Virgin and revealed to men, and he said: ‘I have heard the report of Thee and I was afraid.’ Glory to Thy power, O Lord.
O righteous Judge, despise not Thy works; forsake not Thy creation. I have sinned as a man, I alone, more than any other man, O Thou who lovest mankind. But as Lord of all Thou hast the power to pardon sins.
The end draws near, my soul, the end draws near; yet thou dost not care or make ready. The time grows short, rise up: the Judge is at the door. The days of our life pass swiftly, as a dream, as a flower. Why do we trouble ourselves in vain?
Awake, my soul, consider the actions which thou hast done; set them before thine eyes, and let the drops of thy tears fall. With boldness tell Christ of thy deeds and thoughts, and so be justified.
No sin has there been in life, no evil deed, no wickedness, that I have not committed, O Saviour. I have sinned as no one ever before, in mind, word and intent, in disposition, thought and act.
For this I am condemned in my misery, for this I am convicted by the verdict of my own conscience, which is more compelling than all else in the world. O my Judge and Redeemer, who knowest my heart, spare and deliver and save me in my wretchedness.
The ladder which the great Patriarch Jacob saw of old is an example, O my soul, of approach through action and of ascent in knowledge. If then thou dost wish to live rightly in action and knowledge and contemplation, be thou made new.
In privation Jacob the Patriarch endured the burning heat by day and the frost by night, making daily gains of sheep and cattle, shepherding, wrestling and serving, to win his two wives.
By the two wives, understand action and knowledge in contemplation. Leah is action, for she had many children; and Rachel is knowledge, for she endured great toil. For without toil, O my soul, neither action nor contemplation will succeed.
Glory be to the Father…
Undivided in Essence, unconfused in Persons, I confess Thee as God: Triune Deity, one in kingship and throne; and to Thee I raise the great thrice-holy hymn that is sung on high.
Both now…
Theotokion
Thou givest birth and art a virgin, and in both thou remainest by nature inviolate. He who is born makes new the laws of nature, and the womb brings forth without travail. When God so wills, the natural order is overcome; for He does whatever He wishes.
Canticle Five
Irmos: From the night I seek Thee early, O Lover of mankind: give me light, I pray Thee, and guide me in Thy commandments, and teach me, O Saviour, to do Thy will.
In night have I passed all my life: for the night of sin has covered me with darkness and thick mist. But make me, O Saviour, a son of the day.
In my misery I have followed Reuben’s example, and have devised a wicked and unlawful plan against the most high God, defiling my bed as he defiled his father’s.
I confess to Thee, O Christ my King: I have sinned, I have sinned like the brethren of Joseph, who once sold the fruit of purity and chastity.
As a figure of the Lord, O my soul, the righteous and gentle Joseph was sold into bondage by his brethren; but thou hast sold thyself entirely to thy sins.
O miserable and wicked soul, imitate the righteous and pure mind of Joseph; and do not live in wantonness, sinfully indulging thy disordered desires.
Once Joseph was cast into a pit, O Lord and Master, as a figure of Thy Burial and Resurrection. But what offering such as this shall I ever make to Thee?
Glory be to the Father…
We glorify Thee, O Trinity, the one God. Holy, holy, holy, art Thou: Father, Son and Spirit, simple Essence and Unity, worshipped for ever.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Virgin inviolate and Mother who hast not known man, from thee has God, the Creator of the ages, taken human flesh, uniting to Himself the nature of men.
Canticle Six
Irmos: With my whole heart I cried to the all-compassionate God: and He heard me from the lowest depths of hell, and brought my life out of corruption.
I offer to Thee in purity, O Saviour, the tears of mine eyes and groanings from the depths of my heart, crying: ‘I have sinned against Thee, O God; be merciful to me.’
Like Dathan and Abiram, O my soul, thou hast become a stranger to thy Lord; but from the lowest depth of hell cry out, ‘Spare me’, that the earth may not open and swallow thee up.
Raging as a maddened heifer, O my soul, thou art become like Ephraim. As a hart from the nets rescue then thy life, gaining wings through action and the mind’s contemplation.
O my soul, the hand of Moses shall be our assurance, proving how God can cleanse a life full of leprosy and make it white as snow. So do not despair of thyself, though thou art leprous.
Glory be to the Father…
‘I am the Trinity, simple and undivided, yet divided in Persons, and I am the Unity, by Nature one’, says the Father and the Son and the divine Spirit.
Both now…
Theotokion
Thy womb bore God for us, fashioned in our shape. O Theotokos, pray to Him as the Creator of all, that we may be justified through thine intercessions.
Kontakion
TONE SIX
My soul, O my soul, rise up! Why art thou sleeping? The end draws near and soon thou shalt be troubled. Watch, then, that Christ thy God may spare thee, for He is everywhere present and fills all things.
Canticle Seven
Irmos: We have sinned, we have transgressed, we have done evil in Thy sight; we have not kept or followed Thy commandments. But reject us not utterly, O God of our fathers.
I have sinned, I have offended, and I have set aside Thy commandments, for in sins have I progressed, and to my sores I have added wounds. But in Thy compassion have mercy upon me, O God of our fathers.
The secrets of my heart have I confessed to Thee, my Judge. See my abasement, see my affliction, and attend to my judgement now; and in Thy compassion have mercy upon me, O God of our fathers.
When Saul once lost his father’s asses, in searching for them he found himself proclaimed as king. But watch, my soul, lest unknown to thyself thou prefer thine animal appetites to the Kingdom of Christ.
David, the forefather of God, once sinned doubly, pierced with the arrow of adultery and the spear of murder. But thou, my soul, art more gravely sick than he, for worse than any acts are the impulses of thy will.
David once joined sin to sin, adding murder to fornication; yet then he showed at once a twofold repentance. But thou, my soul, hast done worse things than he, yet thou hast not repented before God.
David once composed a hymn, setting forth, as in an ikon, the action he had done; and he condemned it, crying: ‘Have mercy upon me, for against Thee only have I sinned, O God of all. Do Thou cleanse me.’
Glory be to the Father…
O simple and undivided Trinity, O holy and consubstantial Unity: Thou art praised as Light and Lights, one Holy and three Holies. Sing, O my soul, and glorify Life and Lives, the God of all.
Both now…
Theotokion
We praise thee, we bless thee, we venerate thee, O Mother of God: for thou hast given birth to One of the undivided Trinity, thy Son and God; and thou hast opened the heavenly places to us on earth.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The hosts of heaven give Him glory; before Him tremble cherubim and seraphim; let everything that has breath and all creation praise Him, bless Him, and exalt Him above all for ever.
I have sinned, O Saviour, have mercy on me. Awaken my mind and turn me back; accept me in repentance and take pity on me as I cry: I have sinned against Thee, save me; I have done evil, have mercy on me.
Riding in the chariot of the virtues, Elijah was lifted up to heaven, high above earthly things. Reflect, O my soul, on his ascent.
Elisha once took up the mantle of Elijah, and received a double portion of grace from the Lord: but in this grace, my soul, thou hast no share, by reason of thy greed and uncontrolled desires.
With the mantle of Elijah, Elisha made the stream of Jordan stand still on either side: but in this grace, my soul, thou hast no share, by reason of thy greed and uncontrolled desires.
The Shunammite woman gladly entertained the righteous Prophet: but in thy house, my soul, thou hast not welcomed stranger or traveller; and so thou shalt be cast out weeping from the bridal chamber.
O wretched soul, always thou hast imitated the unclean thoughts of Gehazi. Cast from thee, at least in thine old age, his love of money. Flee from the fire of hell, turning away from thy wickedness.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Father without beginning, coeternal Son, and loving Comforter, the Spirit of righteousness; Begetter of the Word of God, Word of the eternal Father, Spirit living and creative: O Trinity in Unity, have mercy on me.
Both now…
Theotokion
As from purple silk, O undefiled Virgin, the spiritual robe of Emmanuel, His flesh, was woven in thy womb. Therefore we honour thee as Theotokos in very truth.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Conception without seed; nativity past understanding, from a Mother who never knew a man; childbearing undefiled. For the birth of God makes both natures new. Therefore, as Bride and Mother of God, with true worship all generations magnify thee.
My mind is wounded, my body has grown feeble, my spirit is sick, my speech has lost its power, my life is dead; the end is at the door. What shalt thou do, then, miserable soul, when the Judge comes to examine thy deeds?
I have put before thee, my soul, Moses’ account of the creation of the world, and after that all the recognized Scriptures that tell thee the story of the righteous and the wicked. But thou, my soul, hast followed the second of these, not the first, and hast sinned against God.
The Law is powerless, the Gospel of no effect, and the whole of Scripture is ignored by thee; the prophets and all the words of the righteous are useless. Thy wounds, my soul, have been multiplied, and there is no physician to heal thee.
I bring thee, O my soul, examples from the New Testament, to lead thee to compunction. Follow the example of the righteous, turn away from the sinful, and through prayers and fasting, through chastity and reverence, win back Christ’s mercy.
Christ became man, calling to repentance thieves and harlots. Repent, my soul: the door of the Kingdom is already open, and pharisees and publicans and adulterers pass through it before thee, changing their life.
Christ became man and shared in my flesh; and willingly He performed all that belongs to my nature, only without sin. He set before thee, my soul, an example and image of His condescension.
Christ saved the Wise Men and called the Shepherds; He revealed as martyrs a multitude of young children; He glorified the Elder and the aged Widow. But thou, my soul, hast not followed their lives and actions. Woe to thee when thou art judged!
The Lord fasted forty days in the wilderness, and at the end of them He was hungry, thus showing that He is man. Do not be dismayed, my soul! If the enemy attacks thee, through prayer and fasting drive him away.
Glory be to the Father…
Let us glorify the Father, let us exalt the Son, and with faith let us worship the Spirit of God, undivided Trinity and Unity in essence. Let us adore Light and Lights, Life and Lives, giving light and life to the ends of the earth.
Both now…
Theotokion
Watch over thy City, all-pure Mother of God. For by thee she reigns in faith, by thee she is made strong; by thee she is victorious, putting to flight every temptation, despoiling the enemy and ruling her subjects.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
Venerable Andrew, father thrice-blessed, shepherd of Crete, cease not to offer prayer for us who sing thy praises; that we may be delivered from all danger and distress, from corruption and sin, who honour thy memory with faith.
And then again the irmos, Conception without seed…
We continue with Psalm 4 and the rest of Great Compline.