Wednesday in the Second 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 ONE

Stretched and slain upon the Cross, O Christ, Thou hast slain the serpent our enemy, the source of evil, and those killed by his sting Thou hast restored to life. Therefore I entreat Thee, Saviour: Give life to my deadened soul, for to Thee I turn in prayer and fasting.

Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…

Stavrotheotokion

When the Ewe saw Thee her Lamb, O Christ, hanging upon the Cross between two malefactors, she cried aloud weeping and lamenting bitterly: ‘O dearest Child, what is this wonder that I see?’ ‘O most pure Mother,’ so Thou hast replied, ‘this same wonder shall bring life to all the world.’

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

TONE THREE

As we pass through the solemn time of abstinence, let us blow the trumpet and loudly cry: Through the Fast life has blossomed in the world, and the death that comes from self-indulgence is destroyed. By the power of Thy Cross, O Christ the Word, guard Thy servants in the Fast.

Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…

Stavrotheotokion

By Thine own free choice, O compassionate Christ, Thou hast endured a shameful death upon the Cross; and when Thy Mother saw Thee she was wounded in her heart and, beating her breast, with a mother’s sorrow she lamented. At her prayers, through Thy tender mercy have pity on the world and save it, for Thou dost take away its sin.

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 third Biblical Canticle (1 Kings 2:1–10).

Canticle Three

First Canon

TONE ONE

by Joseph

Irmos: Let my heart be established in Thy will…

O Word of God, supreme in love, Thou hast stretched out Thine hands upon the Cross, and in Thy mercy and compassion Thou hast slain the sin of Adam, who of old stretched out his hand to the tree of knowledge.

Firmly establish my understanding, for it has been shaken through the envy of the serpent. By Thy Passion subdue the assaults of the passions, for through Thy sufferings Thou hast granted to the faithful freedom from the passions.

The grace of the Fast shines upon us, driving out the darkness of sinful self-indulgence. Behold, now is the accepted time and the day of salvation. Let us bring forth fruits of repentance and we shall live.

Theotokion

I have fallen from the cliff of lust, and through my grievous sins I have plunged into the abyss. O pure Virgin, restoration of the fallen, raise me up and lead me back to life.

Another Canon

TONE THREE

by Theodore

Irmos: Firmly establish our hearts, O Lord…

By Thy Cross, O Lord, firmly establish our hearts, that we may not turn away from Thee to evil thoughts or wicked acts.

When they beheld Thy Passion, O Master, heaven and earth were altered visibly, and bore witness that Thou art in truth the King of all.

Glory be to the Father…

O Most Holy Trinity, equal in honour and without beginning; O Unity, Creator of life and Source of light, Father, Son and Spirit, save me.

Both now…

Theotokion

O Mother of God who hast not known man, thou alone hast borne God, yet hast not lost the incorruption of thy pure virginity; but thou hast remained inviolate, as thou wast before childbirth.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I venerate and praise Thy scarlet robe, O Jesus, the nails and the Cross, the sponge and the lance, that have given life to all the world.

Irmos: Firmly establish our hearts, O Lord, and give us light that we may sing Thy praise and glorify Thee for ever, O Saviour.

Canticle Eight

Irmos: Christ our God preserved the Children who sang His praises…

In the abundance of Thy mercy Thou hast accepted to be numbered with the transgressors: blot out my sins, that in faith I may glorify Thee for ever.

With the lance that pierced Thy side, tear up the record of my sins, O Lord, and heal the agony of my heart that is pierced by evil demons with the arrow of wickedness.

With the blood that flowed from Thy side, wash clean my heart, blackened by the defilement of sin, that I may glorify Thee for ever.

Theotokion

O Virgin, unhusbanded thou hast borne the heavenly Ear of wheat who feeds all things by His divine power: fill my hungry and humiliated soul.

Second Canon

Irmos: In His divine power the Lord descended…

Rejoice, O Cross, for by thy power the thief in a single moment acknowledged Christ’s divinity, crying: ‘Lord, remember me in Thy Kingdom.’ Make us also sharers in that Kingdom.

Pierced with a spear, O Christ, Thou hast turned back the sword of fire and opened Paradise again to mortal men. Let us enter there and rejoice for ever in the immortal life that comes from Thee.

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

With the Father we worship the Son and the Holy Spirit in unity of essence, and from our mouths of clay we cry without ceasing: Glory in the highest to God in Trinity.

Both now…

Theotokion

Thou alone, O full of divine grace, hast given birth while still remaining virgin. O great mystery, dread and marvellous! For thou hast borne God made flesh, the Saviour of the world.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Cross of Christ, the hope of the ends of the earth, grant that through thy piloting we may pass calmly over the sea of the holy Fast, and save us from the tempest of sin.

We praise, bless and worship the Lord…

Irmos: In His divine power the Lord descended into the flames and was seen walking with the Children of the Hebrews: O ye priests, bless and exalt Him above all for ever.

Canticle Nine

Irmos: Let us honour in hymns the Theotokos…

Elisha, so it is written, after fasting brought the dead child back to life: let us also fast, killing all our carnal thoughts, that in the Age to come we may receive eternal life.

Woe to thee, my soul! Fearful is the court of judgement, and terrible the sentence of the Judge. Make haste, repent, be reconciled to Christ, who was nailed for thy sake on the Cross and has delivered the faithful from condemnation.

O Christ who at Thy Crucifixion hast granted the thief a swift and easy entry into Paradise, open unto me the gates of repentance and close within me the doors through which the passions enter, that I may glorify Thy love.

Theotokion

I am cast into the deep waters of sin; I am tossed to and fro by adverse thoughts; I have become obedient to demons and the slave of pleasure. Help me, O pure Virgin Mother, and guide me to the path of salvation.

Second Canon

Irmos: In the bush upon Mount Sinai…

O Thine own will wast Thou given up, and Thou hast surrendered Thyself to Thy murderers; standing before the judgement seat, Thou wast struck by the hands which Thou hast made. Thou wast crucified and mocked, and pierced by the lance, O Lord; Thou hast suffered in the body, enduring all things in Thy tender love, so as to save us.

The hosts of angels trembled when they saw Thee on the Cross. The lights of heaven hid their brightness, the earth quaked, and all things were shaken at the outrage done to Thee, Lord. By Thy divine sufferings, O God, Thou hast accomplished our salvation.

Glory be to the Father…

The Trinity supreme in Godhead is by Essence an undivided Unity. Though single in Nature, it is distinguished in Persons; though indivisible, it is divided; though one, it is three: Father, Son and Spirit of Life, together guarding all things.

Both now…

Theotokion

Who has ever heard of a virgin that bore child and a mother that knew not man? O Mary, this miracle hast thou accomplished, but tell me how? ‘Do not enquire into the mystery of my childbearing: it is altogether true, yet beyond man’s understanding.’

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

By Thy wounds have we all been healed from the passions of sin: for, raised upon the Cross, Thou hast struck down the enemy, the source of evil. Count us worthy to pass through the time of the Fast without condemnation, and so to reach the Resurrection.

Irmos: In the bush upon Mount Sinai Moses saw thee, who hast conceived within thy womb the fire of the Godhead, and yet wast not consumed. Daniel saw thee as a mountain not cut by hand of man, and Isaiah proclaimed thee as the Rod that blossomed from the root of David.

Aposticha:

TONE SEVEN

Through Thy Cross, O Lord, Thou hast destroyed the death that came into the world when Adam ate from the forbidden tree in Paradise. Through this present Fast do thou deliver us from every pleasure that corrupts the soul; and, we entreat Thee, count us worthy to labour for the Food which endures unto eternal life, that we may obtain crowns of everlasting joy, which Thou hast prepared for those who truly fast (twice).

To the Martyrs

O victorious martyrs worthy of all praise, shining as the lights of heaven upon the inhabited earth, ye cry aloud to Christ: O Lord, glory to Thee.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Stavrotheotokion

When she saw Thee nailed of Thine own will upon the Cross, the all-pure Virgin lamented and sang the praises of Thy power.

SIXTH HOUR

Troparion of the Prophecy:

TONE SIX

O God Most High who dwellest in the heavens, who hast created everything that has breath, save us, for we have put our hope in Thee, our Saviour.

Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.

Prokimenon (Psalm 29):

TONE FIVE

Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, and unto my God will I make supplication.

℣. I will exalt Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me.

Lesson: Isaiah 5:16–25.

Prokimenon (Psalm 30):

TONE SIX

In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust: let me never be ashamed.

℣. Deliver me in Thy righteousness and set me free.

VESPERS

To Lord, I have cried, ten stichera are sung, the first six being from the Triodion:

TONE ONE

Keeping a spiritual fast, O brethren, let us speak no lies with our tongue, not giving our brother cause for scandal; but through repentance let us make the lamp of our soul burn brightly, and let us cry with tears to Christ: Forgive us our trespasses in Thy love for mankind (twice).

To the Martyrs

O martyrs worthy of all praise, your bodies were not buried in the earth, yet heaven has received you; the gates of Paradise were opened to you, and entering within ye have eaten from the Tree of Life. Pray to Christ that He may grant peace and mercy to our souls.

TONE THREE

by Joseph

At the prayers of Thy divine apostles, grant in Thy love, O merciful Lord, that we may spend the time of the Fast with truly contrite minds: so may we all be saved and glorify Thee.

Mighty and terrible shall be Thy Coming, O Lord, when Thou shalt sit in righteous judgement. Though I deserve punishment, condemn me not, but accept the prayers of Thine apostles and spare me, O God.

TONE SIX

by Theodore

O apostles of Christ, shining lights to mortal men, treasuries of the wise knowledge of our God, filling the world with riches: through your holy prayers deliver us from temptation as we sing your praises, and guide us through the season of the Fast, watchfully guarding our lives in peace. So shall our prayers be acceptable to Christ as we celebrate His Passion, and with boldness we shall offer glory to our God.

Then four stichera to the saint of the day from the Menaion. Glory be to the Father… Both now…; and the Theotokion from the Menaion.

Prokimenon (Psalm 31):

TONE SIX

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous: and be joyful, all ye that are upright of heart.

℣. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven.

Lesson: Genesis 4:16–26.

Prokimenon (Psalm 32):

TONE ONE

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have set our hope in Thee.

℣. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous: it is fitting for the just to give praise.

Lesson: Proverbs 5:15–6:3.

And the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified.