Tuesday in the Second Week
MATTINS
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns of repentance in the Tone of the week.
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE EIGHT
Restraining the passions with the bridle of pure fasting, let us all strive to raise our mind in perfect faith to holy contemplation. Let us despise the pleasures of this earthly life, that we may gain the heavenly life and divine illumination.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
Through the great number of my wicked and unlawful acts, I have fallen into the troubled waters of despair. I am utterly perplexed and held captive by despondency. O sovereign Lady Theotokos, save and help me, for through thee sinners receive atonement, cleansing and salvation.
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE EIGHT
Setting before us a mystic table, the Fast invites us all to take our fill. Our food shall be the everlasting gifts of the Spirit; our drink, divinely flowing streams of tears. Let us make glad and without ceasing offer praise to God.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
Save us, most holy Virgin, from all the threats and wickedness of men. For to thee, and to thy Son and our God, we flee for refuge, Mother of God: thou art our guardian and protector. Pray to Him that we may be delivered from dangers and distress.
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 read the second Biblical Canticle (Deuteronomy 32:1–43).
Canticle Two
First Canon
TONE EIGHT
by Joseph
Irmos: See now, see that I am your God, before all ages begotten from the Father, and in the last times conceived without man by the Virgin: and I have destroyed the sin of Adam the forefather in My love for mankind.
Groan and weep, my soul, turn back and repent. The day is at hand, the Judge is at the door. Make ready thine answer and cry aloud: I have sinned against Thee, O merciful Lord, compassionate and loving: do Thou take pity on me.
O my soul, hate the destructive surfeiting of sin, and rejoice in the strict observance of the Fast. Take as thy food the commandments of salvation, which will enable thee through faith to enjoy eternal blessings.
O ye angels, powers and principalities, archangels, dominions and thrones, rulers, cherubim and seraphim, pray to God, the Giver of all good, that we may be granted remission of our sins and release from the passions.
Theotokion
O all-blameless Lady, thou alone hast borne the eternal Word. He took flesh from thee, yet without changing He continued as He was before: and thou hast not known man, but hast remained a virgin after bearing child. Pray for us all that our life may be delivered from corruption.
Another Canon
SAME TONE
by Theodore
Same Irmos.
We have seen and we know that out of love for us Thou hast appointed this season to bring us to repentance. Receive, O merciful God, the prayers which we offer in the Fast: may they be set forth in Thy sight as fragrant incense and an acceptable sacrifice.
I tremble and am full of fear when I reflect how greatly I have sinned. How shall I meet Thee? How shall I stand before Thy judgement seat where there is no respect of persons? Spare me, then, O merciful Lord, in the hour when Thou shalt come to judge all the earth.
Glory be to the Father…
Unity in three Persons, supreme in Godhead and surpassing all perfection, Father unbegotten, Son only-begotten, Spirit proceeding from the Father and made manifest through the Son: single in Essence and in Nature, one Lordship and one Kingdom, save us all.
Both now…
Theotokion
The wonder of thy conceiving is past speech, O Mother and Virgin: for how hast thou given birth and yet remained undefiled? How dost thou bear child, without knowing a man? ‘All this is understood by the Word of God, who was born from me in a new way, surpassing nature.’
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
When the men of Nineveh repented and fasted, Thou hast delivered them from the wrath that threatened them; but Thou hast consumed with fire the men of Sodom in their wanton shamelessness. Deliver me, O Christ, from the punishment which they suffered.
Irmos: See now, see that I am your God, who have sanctified for you the tenth part of the days of every year as acceptable first-fruits: and this commandment have I given to My people for their deliverance from the passions and as a beginning of salvation.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: Inspired by God, the Children in the furnace…
Thou hast justified the Publican who groaned aloud, and hast taken pity on the Harlot who wept from her heart. O Saviour, save and take pity on the souls of those who sing Thy praises.
By fasting let us bring to the Lord the fruit of our virtuous deeds. Let us refrain from harmful thoughts, that we may share in perfect joy.
The choirs of the angels, the company of the apostles and the army of the martyrs entreat Thee, O Jesus, to give Thy people pardon.
Theotokion
With all the faithful, let us bless the Virgin: for she is the Mountain not cut by the hand of man, the Candlestick that bore the Light, the Ladder easy to climb, the dwelling-place of God.
Second Canon
Irmos: Glorified in the holy mountain…
On this solemn day of abstinence let us all blow the trumpet and sing hymns: and keeping festival with holy joy, let us praise the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Of old the man of God was led astray by the prophet and ate the food of disobedience, and he was devoured by a lion. Be watchful, then, my soul, and suffer not the serpent of gluttony to deceive thee.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
As Unity in Essence I sing Thy praises; as Trinity in Persons I venerate Thee, Father, Son and All-Holy Spirit. The power of Thy Kingdom that has no beginning I glorify unto all ages.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Theotokos, thou hast become the Mountain of God in which Christ came to dwell; and He has made into divine temples all those who sing: Praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Come, ye people, let us greet the Fast with love, for it is the guardian of purity and the mother of dispassion; and let us praise the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: Glorified in the holy mountain, the Lord revealed the mystery of the Ever-Virgin to Moses in the burning bush: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: The burning bush upon the mountain…
The holy Fast enriches our heart, and makes it by the power of God increase in virtue, like a full ear of wheat. Let us therefore fast with gladness in these holy days, and so receive sanctification.
I am defiled by many sins, wounded and under condemnation. Look upon me in Thy mercy, O compassionate Lord: take pity and save me by the prayers of Thy saints.
Alas for thee, most miserable soul, what answer shalt thou make? What fear will seize thee, when the Judge is seated on His throne and ten thousands of the angels stand at His side! Make haste, then, and repent before the end.
Theotokion
O chariot of the King, cloud of light, rich mountain, hill flowing with milk, we entreat thee, O Virgin who hast not known marriage: heal the passions of our souls.
Second Canon
Same Irmos
Let us keep a true fast before the Lord: let us abstain not only from food but from angry speech and lying, and from every other passion, that we may behold Easter in purity.
Fasting bore Samuel as fruit; through fasting Samson grew up brave and strong; through fasting priests and prophets were made perfect: and through the holy Fast may we also be sanctified.
Glory be to the Father…
O Lord, the threefold Brightness of Thy single Power shines on our mind with the light of revelation; it turns us from the error that divides, and brings us to the divine life that unites.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Theotokos, thou art our armour and our rampart; thou art the defence of those that run to thee. And now we implore thine intercession, that we may be delivered from our enemies.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
The Holy Spirit calls us to the rich banquet of the Fast: with gladness let us take our fill from His gifts of grace and sing His praises as our God.
Irmos: The burning bush upon the mountain revealed in prophecy to the Giver of the Law Christ’s birth from the Ever-Virgin for our salvation: and with never-silent songs of praise we magnify Him.
Aposticha:
TONE FIVE
In thine idleness, my soul, why art thou become a slave of sin? And in thy sickness why dost thou not run to the physician? Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the true day of salvation. Rise up and wash thy face with tears of repentance, and make thy lamp burn brightly with the oil of good deeds, so that Christ our God may grant thee cleansing and great mercy (twice).
To the Martyrs
Thy victorious martyrs, O Lord, imitated the life of the angelic hosts: with patience they endured the tortures as though they had no body, setting all their hope in the blessings Thou hast promised. At their prayers, O Christ our God, grant peace to Thy world, and to our souls great mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
We call thee blessed, O Virgin Theotokos, and with all the faithful we give thee glory as is right. Thou art the city that never shall be shaken, the rampart that the enemy shall never overcome, the sure protection and the refuge of our souls.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE SIX
We cannot sing Thy praises as we should, but as suppliants we entreat Thee: Destroy us not in our iniquities, O Lord, for Thou art always ready to forgive.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 25):
TONE FOUR
Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the dwelling-place of Thy glory.
℣. Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in innocence.
Lesson: Isaiah 5:7–16.
Prokimenon (Psalm 26):
TONE THREE
The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear?
℣. The Lord is the defender of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?
VESPERS
To Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung, the first three being from the Triodion:
TONE ONE
by Joseph
O Christ, Thou hast stretched out Thy sinless hands upon the Cross, gathering together the ends of the earth. Therefore I cry unto Thee: Gather together my scattered mind, taken captive by the passions; cleanse me in every part through abstinence, and make me a sharer in Thy sufferings.
Fasting gave strength to the Children in Babylon of old and made them, as it is written, mightier than the flames of fire. Fast, then, my humble soul, kindling within thyself love for the Master, and thou shalt escape from the Gehenna to come and burn up the destroying passions.
TONE THREE
by Theodore
The season of the Fast is one of gladness. In shining purity and unfeigned love, filled with the light of prayer and every virtue, with rejoicing let us cry aloud: Most Holy Cross of Christ, that hast brought us life and joy, count us all worthy to venerate thee with pure hearts, and grant us forgiveness and great mercy.
Then three stichera to the saint of the day from the Menaion. Glory be to the Father… Both now…; and the Stavrotheotokion from the Menaion.
Prokimenon (Psalm 27):
TONE SIX
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
℣. Unto Thee have I cried, O Lord, my God.
Lesson: Genesis 4:8–15.
Prokimenon (Psalm 28):
TONE SEVEN
The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
℣. Ascribe unto the Lord, ye sons of God, ascribe unto the Lord glory and honour.
Lesson: Proverbs 5:1–15.
Aposticha:
TONE THREE
When Thou wast crucified in the flesh, O Lord, Thou hast crucified our fallen nature with Thyself; when Thy side was pierced by the spear, Thou hast pierced the serpent that destroyed mankind. Nail my flesh with the fear of Thee and wound my soul with Thy love, that, gazing on Thy Passion, in abstinence I may pass through the appointed time of the Fast, governing not my stomach only, but all the other entrances of sin. Repenting over my past sins, may I offer Thee in sacrifice a humble spirit and a contrite heart. O deliver me from my offences in Thy love for mankind (twice).
To the Martyrs
The prophets, the apostles of Christ and the martyrs have taught mankind to sing the praises of the consubstantial Trinity; they have given light to the nations that were gone astray, and they have made the sons of men companions of the angels.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Seeing thy Son hanging upon the Tree, O undefiled Virgin, lamenting thou hast cried aloud: ‘Where is Thy light-giving beauty gone, with which Thou hast adorned man’s nature, O my beloved Child?’