Friday in the First Week
MATTINS
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns of the Cross in the Tone of the week.
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE TWO
by Joseph
Thou hast put to death the passions of my flesh by Thy divine Cross, and by Thy Passion Thou hast given all men freedom from the passions. Count me worthy also, Lord, to see Thy holy Resurrection, that I may receive Thy great and abundant mercy.
Glory be to the Father…
Repeat.
Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Guarded by the precious Cross of thy Son, O pure Lady and Theotokos, easily we turn aside all the assaults of the adversary. Therefore, as is right, we ever call thee blessed, for thou art the Mother of God and the only hope of our souls.
After the third reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns:
TONE TWO
by Theodore
O merciful Lord, who art the source and fountain of purity, preserve us in the Fast. Look upon us as we fall before Thee: be attentive to the lifting up of our hands, O Thou who hast stretched out Thine hands upon the Tree and wast crucified for the sake of all those born on earth, the only Lord of the angelic powers.
Glory be to the Father…
Repeat.
Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Beholding Thee, O Christ, stretched dead upon the Tree, Thy Virgin Mother cried aloud with bitter tears: ‘O my Son, what is this fearful mystery? How dost Thou who givest life eternal unto all, suffer willingly a shameful death upon the Cross?’
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 fifth Biblical Canticle (Isaiah 26:9–20).
Canticle Five
First Canon
TONE TWO
Irmos: O Christ my Saviour, the Enlightenment…
Seeing the sinfulness that is in me, the deceitful enemy urges me on to sin and works with me: for truly he rejoices over my perdition. But, O Saviour, I entreat Thee, grant me amendment of life that I may destroy him.
By Thy Cross Thou hast triumphed over the powers of darkness. Deliver me from their wickedness, for I am fallen into a depth of sin and a pit of iniquity; but I hope to be saved by Thy mercy.
O Thou who hast hung dead upon the Cross, do Thou restore to life my soul, dead through sin, O Christ, and count me worthy to attain in peace Thy holy Resurrection, obediently fulfilling Thy commandments.
Theotokion
O pure Maiden, thou art a light to me in my infirmity and the salvation of my darkened soul; save me, O save me, for I perish. Do thou clothe me in a garment of incorruption, who am corrupted by my grievous sins.
Another Canon
SAME TONE
Irmos: The night is far spent…
Thou only art immortal, yet Thou hast accepted to be crucified in the flesh at the place of the skull, O Lord, giving immortality to men and fashioning them anew.
When the creation saw the outrage of Thy Passion, O Lord, it was changed in every part, lamenting the murder committed by the Jews. But Thou hast patiently endured these things to save the whole world.
Glory be to the Father…
All-holy Trinity, we worship Thee: Thou art our refuge and our strength. We sing Thy praises in Unity of Nature: send down upon us the forgiveness of our sins.
Both now…
Theotokion
Rejoice, O Theotokos, Maiden of many names: Tabernacle, Vessel of Manna, Table, Candlestick that bears the Light, burning Bush, overshadowed Mountain of God.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Bidding farewell to the world and all that is in it, let us now be crucified with Christ; let us endure outrage, mockery and other sufferings, that we may be glorified with Him.
Irmos: The night is far spent, the day is at hand, and the light has shone upon the world. Therefore the ranks of angels sing Thy praises and, O Lord, they glorify Thee.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: God came down into the fiery furnace…
In Thy compassion Thou hast humbled Thyself and wast lifted on the Cross, raising up with Thee him who had fallen of old through eating from the tree. Therefore art Thou glorified, O Lord alone supreme in love, and we sing Thy praises for ever.
Through heedlessness I have fallen into the heavy sleep of sin. But, my Christ, who for my sake hast fallen asleep on the Cross, do Thou awaken me, that the night of death come not upon me.
Blinded by sensual pleasures, I bear within me a darkened soul, and the crafty-minded enemy laughs when he sees me. But give me light, O Christ, and deliver me for ever from his malice.
Theotokion
Carelessly I have wasted my life, and my soul is heavy with the drowsiness of sin. To thine unsleeping intercession, all-pure Virgin, do I fly: let me not slumber in the sleep of death.
Second Canon
Irmos: The Lord of old foreshadowed…
Crowned with thorns, O Christ, and clothed in a scarlet robe, Thou hast shone with glory and surpassed in beauty all the sons of men.
Thou hast drunk gall and vinegar, and from Thy divine side Thou pourest out a double stream of life and incorruption, unto those who praise and glorify Thee in faith for ever.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
O Godhead, one in Trinity, undivided in Nature yet divided in Persons, Power that shall never be destroyed, Father, Son and Spirit, we sing Thy praises for ever.
Both now…
Theotokion
O pure Mother of God, Gate of heaven, Door of salvation, accept the prayer of all Christians who call thee blessed for ever.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Cross, sceptre of Christ, strength of the Church, victory of kings, guardian of Christians! Thou art my light, thou art my boast for ever.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: The Lord of old foreshadowed the miracle of the Virgin to Moses in the bush upon Mount Sinai: let us praise, bless and exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: From thy virgin womb the Light that was before the sun…
Hateful thoughts have covered my soul with leprosy: cleanse it, Word of God, with the sprinkling of Thy blood. O Christ, who for my sake hast suffered shameful Crucifixion, make me a partaker in Thy glory.
I am bowed down to the earth, O Christ, by the burden of my sinful acts, and in dark discouragement I cry to Thee who lovest man: By Thy precious blood heal the incurable wounds of my soul, that I may sing the praises of Thy Godhead.
I have made iniquity my food and heedlessness my drink, and I continue utterly incorrigible. All to no purpose do I take pleasure in abstinence from food: for such is not the fast that the Lord has chosen.
Theotokion
Thou hast destroyed the sentence of condemnation passed on mankind of old; thou art the restoration of our first Mother Eve, the cause of our reconciliation to God, our bridge to the Creator. Thee, O Theotokos, do we magnify.
Second Canon
Irmos: Virgin Mother pure and undefiled…
When Thou wast crucified upon the Tree, the creation quaked; Thou, who art God, hast in Thy tender mercy suffered in the flesh for our salvation.
Great is the might of Thy Cross, O Lord, for signing ourselves with it, we drive away at once the power of the demons.
Glory be to the Father…
O Unity in three coequal Persons, undivided Trinity, sovereign Nature, Father, Son and divine Spirit, save us all.
Both now…
Theotokion
Rejoice, Theotokos, Mercy-Seat of the world: always fleeing to thee for refuge, all we sinners gain reconciliation with God.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
By the divine power of Thy Cross, O Lord, give me the strength to offer unto Thee this time of fasting blameless and pure.
Irmos: Virgin Mother pure and undefiled, with our songs in faith and true devotion we magnify thee as Theotokos.
Aposticha:
TONE EIGHT
With great gladness let us accept the proclamation of the Fast: for if Adam our forefather had fasted, we should not have suffered banishment from Eden. The fruit that brought death upon me was pleasant to the eyes and good for food. Then let us not be taken prisoner by our eyes; let not our tongue delight in costly foods, for once they have been eaten they are worthless. Let us shun all greed: then we shall not become slaves to the passions which follow an excess of food and drink. Let us sign ourselves with the blood of Him who for our sakes willingly was led to death, and the destroying angel will not touch us; and may we eat the Holy Passover of Christ for the salvation of our souls (twice).
To the Martyrs
What shall we call you, O saints? Cherubim, for Christ rested upon you? Seraphim, for ye glorified Him without ceasing? Angels, for ye have renounced the body? Powers, for ye perform miracles? Manifold are your names, but greater are your gifts of grace: pray for the salvation of our souls.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Unable to endure the sight, the whole creation was changed, and it quaked and trembled, when it beheld Thee, O Saviour, crucified in the place of the skull. The Virgin, Thy pure Mother, cried out to Thee lamenting: ‘Woe is me, my Child, my sweetest Saviour! What is this strange and marvellous sight?’
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE FIVE
Our lives are full of sin and empty of repentance. In Thy mercy, Lord, come swiftly to our help. None other do we know but Thee that is ruler over life and death: save us in Thy love for mankind.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 17):
TONE SEVEN
I will love Thee, O Lord my strength: the Lord is my foundation and my refuge.
℣. My God and my Helper, and I will hope in Him.
Lesson: Isaiah 3:1–14.
Prokimenon (Psalm 18):
TONE SIX
O Lord, my Helper and my Redeemer.
℣. The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament proclaims His handywork.
VESPERS
To Lord, I have cried, ten stichera are sung, beginning with the following:
TONE FIVE
Come, ye faithful, and in the light let us perform the works of God; let us walk honestly as in the day. Let us cast away every unjust accusation against our neighbour, not placing any cause of stumbling in his path. Let us lay aside the pleasures of the flesh, and increase the spiritual gifts of our soul. Let us give bread to those in need, and let us draw near unto Christ, crying in penitence: O our God, have mercy on us (twice).
Then four stichera to the Martyrs in the Tone of the week (see pp. 595 ff), and after that the four following stichera to St. Theodore:
TONE TWO
Come, all ye who love the martyrs, let us rejoice in spirit and keep festival. For today Theodore the martyr has set before us a table laden with mystic food, bringing joy to all of us who gladly celebrate his memory. Unto him we cry: Rejoice, victorious champion, who hast trampled underfoot the tyrants’ threats. Rejoice, thou who gavest thy body of clay to torture for the sake of Christ our God. Rejoice, thou who hast shown thyself, in manifold tribulations, a tested warrior of the heavenly host. O glory of the martyrs, we entreat thee to pray for our souls.
The God-given grace of thy miracles, O martyr Theodore, thou dost grant to all who turn to thee in faith. We therefore praise thee, saying: Thou dost deliver prisoners and heal the sick; thou givest riches to the poor and guardest those who sail the seas. Thou restrainest slaves from useless flight, and showest robbers what their punishment will be; thou teachest soldiers to abstain from plunder. In thy loving compassion thou dost grant the prayers of children, and thou art the fervent protector of all who keep thy holy memory. With them we also sing the praises of thy martyrdom, O saint of God: pray to Christ that He may show us His great mercy.
O martyr Theodore, thou art a matchless gift from God: for after thy death as during thy lifetime, thou dost grant the petitions of those who turn to thee. Thus once it happened that the son of a poor widow was carried off by soldiers of another faith; and she came weeping to thy shrine. Mounted upon a white horse, in loving compassion thou hast defended her child with thine invisible protection. And, now as then, never dost thou cease from working wonders: pray to Christ our God, for the salvation of our souls.
O thrice-blessed Theodore, I honour thee: rightly art thou named ‘Gift from God’. For thou hast shown thyself a never-setting star of the divine Light, and through thy sufferings thou dost shine on all the world. Proving thyself stronger than fire, thou hast quenched the flames; and thou hast crushed the head of the deceitful serpent. Therefore, in the midst of thy sufferings, Christ came and set a crown upon thy holy head. O Great Martyr, who hast boldness before God, do thou offer fervent intercession for our souls.
Glory be to the Father…
TONE SIX
Using as his tool the Apostate Emperor, the enemy devised a cruel plot: with food polluted by unclean sacrifices he sought to defile the people of God as they purified themselves through fasting. But thou hast defeated his design by a more skilful plan: appearing in a dream to the Archbishop, thou hast revealed to him the evil plot. Therefore we offer thee a sacrifice of thanksgiving, honouring thee as our protector and keeping the yearly memorial of what then was done. May we be kept safe, we pray, from the designs of the enemy at thine intercessions, O martyr Theodore.
Both now…
The Theotokion (Dogmatikon) in the Tone of the week.
Entrance with the censer, O joyful Light, and the prokimenon (Psalm 19):
TONE FIVE
The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble.
℣. The Name of the God of Jacob defend thee.
Lesson: Genesis 2:20–3:20.
Prokimenon (Psalm 20):
TONE SIX
Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength: we will sing and praise Thy mighty acts.
℣. The King shall rejoice in Thy strength, O Lord.
Lesson: Proverbs 3:19–34.
And the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified.
Canon of Intercession to the Holy and Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit
Kolyva is placed beside an analogion on which rests the ikon of the saint of the day, the Great Martyr Theodore. After the prayer behind the ambon at the end of the Liturgy of the Presanctified, the priest says: Blessed is our God…, and the reader answers Amen. O come let us worship…, and then Psalm 142. We sing The Lord is God, followed by the apolytikion of the Saint:
TONE TWO
Great are the achievements of faith! The holy martyr Theodore rejoiced in the fountain of the flames as though in the still waters of rest; consumed in the fire, he was offered as a sacrifice to the Trinity. At his intercessions, Christ our God, do Thou save our souls.
Glory be to the Father…
Repeat.
Both now…
Theotokion
Most glorious and beyond our understanding are all thy mysteries, O Theotokos: for with the seal of thy virginity unbroken, thou hast become in full reality a mother, giving birth to the true God. Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Then we read Psalm 50, and the priest censes the kolyva. Next we begin the Canon to St. Theodore written by St. John of Damascus. Before the first two troparia in each canticle we say, Holy and great martyr Theodore, pray to God for us.
TONE EIGHT
Canticle One
Irmos: Having crossed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped from the wickedness of Egypt, the children of Israel shouted aloud: ‘Let us sing to our Deliverer and our God.’
I know the desire for God which filled thy heart, O Theodore, and I am held fast by burning love for thee: I dedicate to thee my soul and body, and these words of praise.
A decree was published, hateful to the Lord, that sacrifice should be offered to idols and not to the living God. But refusing to obey, O victorious martyr, thou wast thyself offered to God in sacrifice.
Glory be to the Father…
Held fast by divine love, O martyr Theodore, thou hast served as a soldier of the only-begotten Son of the most high God, and wast rewarded for thy faithful service.
Both now…
Theotokion
The hosts of angels and of mortal men praise thee, O Virgin Mother, without ceasing. For thou hast carried their Creator as a babe in thine arms.
Canticle Three
Irmos: Thou art the strong support of those that run to thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of those in darkness, and my spirit sings in praise of Thee.
I offer a hymn from my lips and a prayer from the affliction of my soul. Take pity on them, O victorious martyr Theodore.
Thou hast subjected the flesh to the dominion of thy mind, O glorious martyr, and with both of them thou servest the Creator.
Thou hast stood before the judgement-seat of the tyrant, bearing witness to Christ, thy King and God; and thou hast refused to offer sacrifice to false gods, O Theodore.
Theotokion
To us and to all Christians, O pure Virgin, thou art at all times a refuge and a rampart, and with never-silent voices we glorify thee.
Canticle Four
Irmos: O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have considered Thy works, and I have glorified Thy Godhead.
Initiated into the divine mysteries, O martyr Theodore, thou hast confessed our sure redemption through the birth of God.
Because they served the passions, they thought that God Himself is subject to passion; but, enlightened by the Spirit, O victorious Theodore, thou hast proved them to be wrong.
As we sing thy praises we entreat thee, blessed Theodore, through thine intercessions deliver us from passions and from all distress.
Theotokion
Untilled field, bearing the quickening Ear of wheat that gives life to the world, save those who sing thy praises, O Theotokos.
Canticle Five
Irmos: Early in the morning we cry to Thee, O Lord: save us, for Thou art our God, and we know no other god but Thee.
‘Love the Lord who loves you’, thou hast cried out, O martyr Theodore, to the others that suffered martyrdom with thee.
Thy heart on fire with zeal, O victorious saint, thou hast burnt up the idol of the false goddess together with the heathen temple.
With thine invincible power, victorious Theodore, destroy my passions and the insolent boldness of the enemy.
Theotokion
O Theotokos, we praise thee as a virgin after childbirth, for thou hast brought into the world God the Word made flesh.
Canticle Six
Irmos: Be merciful to me, O Saviour, for many are my transgressions, and lead me up, I beseech thee, from the abyss of evil: for unto thee have I cried; hearken unto me, O God of my salvation.
How weak, how frail is the arrogance of the false gods: they need men to defend them, and they are conquered by the fortitude of the martyrs who reject all lies and who proclaim the truth (twice).
O blessed Theodore, glory of martyrs, made strong by the power of God, thou hast regarded the torments of the ungodly as though they were arrows shot by children, for thou hast foreseen the eternity of the Age to come.
Theotokion
May we be delivered from our grievous transgressions by thy prayers, O pure Mother of God, and may we dwell in the divine glory of the Son of God, who took flesh ineffably from thee.
Kontakion
TONE EIGHT
Thou hast carried as a shield the faith of Christ within thy heart, and trampled underfoot the power of the enemy, O greatly-suffering martyr; thou hast received a heavenly and eternal crown, for thou wast undefeated in the battle.
Canticle Seven
Irmos: The Children of Judaea, who dwelt of old in Babylon, trampled underfoot the flame of the furnace through their faith in the Trinity, as they sang aloud: ‘O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.’
Thy body was scourged, for the sake of God the Word, scourged in the flesh because of us; and rejoicing, O victorious martyr Theodore, with thanksgiving thou hast cried aloud to Him: ‘O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.’
The Deliverer of all was laid in the tomb and of His own will sealed up; and in the same way thou wast sealed up in the prison, O victorious martyr Theodore, and there hast cried aloud: ‘O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.’
Thou hast slain the passions and shaken off the desires of the flesh, O victorious martyr. Nourished not by food but by the love of God, thou hast sung: ‘O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.’
One of the undivided Trinity appeared to thee in prison, O victorious martyr, as once He appeared to the Children in the furnace; and He gave thee strength to cry aloud, ‘O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.’
Theotokion
Since it was Thy will, O Saviour, to bestow on us salvation, Thou hast taken up Thy dwelling in the Virgin’s womb, and Thou hast made her the protector of the world. O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The Chaldaean tyrant in his madness ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more for the holy Children; but seeing them saved by a greater power, he cried aloud: ‘O ye Children, bless the Creator and Deliverer; O ye priests, sing His praises: O ye people, exalt Him above all for ever.’
Blinded in his understanding, the governor of the lawless people impiously rebuked thee for thy faith in God: ‘Fool! Why dost thou vainly set thy trust in a man that was put to death?’ But thou hast cried aloud: ‘O ye children, bless ye Christ; O ye priests, sing His praises; O ye people, exalt Him above all for ever.’
As a wise and prudent steward of grace, O Theodore, with the grace given to thee by God thou hast cried aloud to the commander when he ordered thee to offer impious sacrifice: ‘This would be a disgrace to me and all who sing: O ye children, bless ye Christ; O ye priests, sing His praises; O ye people, exalt Him above all for ever.’
Resisting with courage, thou hast boldly accused the tyrant, saying: ‘Why art thou so mad as to bid me forsake the Creator and falsely worship things created? But I cry aloud: O ye children, bless ye Christ; O ye priests, sing His praises; O ye people, exalt Him above all for ever.’
Theotokion
Through visible forms, through dark figures and symbols, Moses and the Prophets foretold, O Virgin, thy marvellous childbearing in ways surpassing nature. Joyfully, then, with true faith we sing thy praises, and we exalt Christ above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Mother of God and Virgin who hast not known man, in ways beyond our understanding, at the word of the Angel, thou hast conceived the true God. Thou art higher than the spiritual powers of heaven, and with never-silent hymns of praise we magnify thee.
It was thy love of God that brought thee to martyrdom. Thy body was consumed by the material fire, and thou hast departed rejoicing to the divine Fire, O victorious martyr Theodore, servant of God.
All-honoured saint, thou wast not destroyed by the fire, but hast thyself burnt up error and falsehood: thou standest in God’s presence, alive and rejoicing in Him with a martyr’s joy, O victorious martyr Theodore, servant of God.
We acknowledge Thee, O Christ, to be one of the Trinity, in two perfect natures. At the prayers of Thy martyr Theodore, save this Thy people that Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.
Theotokion
Thou hast carried in thine arms the invisible God, who is praised in the heavens by all the angelic powers. Through thee at all times He grants to us salvation, and in our distress we magnify thee.
Repeat the irmos Mother of God and Virgin…
Then Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the apolytikion of the saint:
TONE TWO
Great are the achievements of faith…
Glory be to the Father…, and the kontakion:
TONE EIGHT
Thou hast carried as a shield, O Christ…
Both now…
Theotokion
SAME TONE
All of us in our sinfulness have thy fervent succour as our protection and our sure defence, O most pure Mary, Virgin and Mother, the salvation of Christians. Cease not to intercede for us before the Saviour, that we may receive forgiveness.
Then the priest blesses the kolyva:
Let us pray to the Lord.
O Lord, who hast brought all things to perfection through Thy word, and hast commanded the earth to bring forth all manner of fruits for our enjoyment and food; who through grain and vegetables hast made the three Children and Daniel fairer than the Babylonians who lived in luxury: do Thou Thyself, all-loving King, bless this grain and fruit, and sanctify those who shall partake of them: for they have been offered by Thy servants to Thy glory, in honour and memory of the Holy and Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit, and for a memorial to those who have fallen asleep in the true Orthodox faith. Grant, O gracious Lord, to those who have prepared this offering and who keep this memorial, all their petitions that are for their salvation, and count them worthy to rejoice in Thine eternal blessings: at the prayers of our most pure Lady the Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, of the Holy and Great Martyr Theodore, whose memory we keep, and of all Thy saints. For it is Thou who dost bless and hallow all things, Christ our God, and to Thee we ascribe glory, with Thine eternal Father and Thy most holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Then we sing Blessed be the Name of the Lord…, and we read Psalm 33, followed as usual by the Dismissal.
COMPLINE
In the modern Greek use, the Akathistos Hymn is sung at Small Compline on the first four Fridays of the Lent. After reading the office as usual as far as Truly it is right to call thee blessed…, we sing I shall open my mouth and the Spirit will inspire it…, with the rest of the Canon to the Mother of God (see pp. 401 ff); then To thee, our leader in battle…, followed (on this first Friday) by the first section of the Akathistos Hymn, up to the fourth kontakion Tossed inwardly by a storm of doubts… (see pp. 398 ff). Then we sing again To thee, our leader in battle…, and we say Holy God…, etc., the Lord’s Prayer, the kontakion of St. Theodore, and the rest of Small Compline. After All my hope I set in thee…, the priest reads the Gospel (John 15:1–7); then come the Dismissal, the litany Let us pray for the peace of the world…, the sessional hymn Gabriel stood amazed…, and so the priest ends by saying At the prayers of our holy fathers…