Wednesday in the Fourth 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 SIX
The divine and precious Cross lies before us for our veneration, and it sanctifies the time of abstinence. Let us approach with a pure conscience: let us draw from it hallowing and enlightenment, and let us cry aloud with fear: Glory be to Thy compassion, O our Saviour who lovest mankind.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Standing by the Cross of the Child she bore without seed, the Virgin Mother cried aloud: ‘O my Son, a sword has pierced my heart, and I cannot bear to see Thee hanging on the Wood. Before Thee all things tremble, for Thou art their Creator and their God. Glory be to Thee, O longsuffering Lord.’
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE ONE
Clothed in glory by the virtues and cleansed by abstinence, let us draw near and venerate the precious Cross, crying aloud: Sanctify our souls and bodies, O only God of all, and count us worthy to celebrate Thy most pure Passion, granting us Thy mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Beholding Thee, O Christ, stretched dead upon the Cross, Thine all-blameless Mother cried aloud: ‘O my Son, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, what is this ineffable act of love, whereby in Thy compassion Thou hast saved the creation of Thy holy hands?’
The Canon
We use the following Canon of the Cross, with six troparia (including the irmos), and the two three-canticled Canons from the Triodion; we sing the third Biblical Canticle. The Canon to the saint of the day from the Menaion is used at Compline.
Canon of the Cross
Canticle One
TONE FOUR
by Theophanes
Irmos: I shall open my mouth and the Spirit will inspire it…
Filled with light and joy by the Fast, let us venerate the holy Wood on which Christ stretched out His hands, putting to flight the hostile powers, and let us praise and glorify the Lord almighty.
The saving Cross, source of hallowing, lies here before us. Having purified our body and heart, let us approach and draw from it the grace of salvation.
Cleanse me with the fire of Thy commandments, O Lord who lovest mankind, and grant me to behold and venerate with love Thy saving Passion, fortified and preserved by Thy Cross.
Stavrotheotokion
When Thy Mother saw Thee nailed to the Cross out of love for mankind, she lamented crying: ‘How does the Lord of glory and the Judge of all hang here as one condemned?’
Canticle Three
Irmos: O Mother of God, thou living and plentiful fount…
Casting our hearts into the waters of fasting, with faith let us embrace the Wood of the Cross on which Christ our Benefactor was crucified, pouring out upon us the waters of forgiveness.
With the Cross as our sail, swiftly we have journeyed to the middle of the saving Fast. By this Thy Cross, O Jesus, Messiah and God, bring us to anchor in the haven of Thy Passion.
Moses prefigured thee, O Cross, upon the mountain when he overthrew the nations; and we make the sign of the Cross as we look upon thee in our hearts, and venerating thee we turn to flight our bodiless enemies through thy power.
Stavrotheotokion
‘By Thine own will wast Thou made man, who art God and Maker of all,’ said Thy Mother, ‘and now, O Christ my Son, I see Thee hanging on the Cross, and my heart is wounded.’
The Three-Canticled Canons
Canticle Three
First Canon
TONE SIX
by Joseph
Irmos: O God the Lord and Creator of all…
O God the Lord and Creator of all, Thou wast raised upon the Cross in the midst of the earth, and Thou hast raised up with Thee the nature of man, fallen through the evil counsel of the enemy. Strengthened by Thy Passion, in faith we glorify Thee.
O ye faithful, let us purify our senses with the light of the Fast, and let us be illumined with the spiritual radiance of the Cross. Let us gaze on it with reverence as it lies this day before us, and venerate it with pure lips and mouth and heart.
Here at the place where the feet of Christ have stood, let us worship the Holy Cross. Let us ask that the feet of our souls may be established on the rock of God’s commandments, and our footsteps guided by divine grace into the way of peace.
Theotokion
Thou hast come forth from a Virgin, O Christ, and from her hast taken human flesh, with a human mind and soul. By Thy Cross Thou hast destroyed the enemy and renewed the nature of mortal men that was grown corrupt. Therefore I glorify Thy compassion.
Another Three-Canticled Canon
TONE ONE
by Theodore
Irmos: Firmly establish Thy Church, O Lord…
Let all the ends of the earth rejoice and sing, beholding the veneration of the Wood whereon Christ was hung and through which the devil was wounded.
The lifegiving Cross is set before us today. Come, with joy and fear let us worship the precious Cross of the Lord, that we may receive the Holy Spirit.
Glory be to the Father…
O Sun with threefold ray, thrice-glorious Light, O God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Nature and Glory without beginning, deliver from danger those who sing Thy praises.
Both now…
Theotokion
The ranks of angels magnify thee, blessed Theotokos worthy of all praise; and with them now we and all mankind glorify thee, Virgin who hast not known man.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
As I approach to touch thee, O lifegiving Cross, my tongue and understanding tremble, for I see that the divine Blood of my Lord was shed on thee.
Irmos: Firmly establish Thy Church, O Lord, which Thou hast made Thine own by the power of Thy Cross: for by the Cross Thou hast triumphed over the enemy and brought light to the inhabited earth.
Sessional Hymn
TONE SIX
Today the words of the Prophet are fulfilled: for see, we worship at the place on which Thy feet have stood, O Lord; and, tasting from the Tree of salvation, we have been delivered from our sinful passions at the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Thou who alone lovest mankind.
Glory be to the Father…
Thy Cross, O Lord, is holy, and brings healing to those who are in sickness through their sins. Venerating it, we fall before Thee: have mercy upon us.
Both now…
No sooner had the wood of Thy Cross been set up, O Christ our Lord, than the foundations of death were shaken. Hell swallowed Thee eagerly, but it let Thee go with trembling. Thou hast shown us Thy salvation, O Holy One, and we glorify Thee, O Son of God; have mercy upon us.
Canticle Four
Irmos: He who sits in glory upon the throne of the Godhead…
Once the venerable Jacob crossed his hands as he stretched them out to bless his grandchildren; so he foreshadowed the figure of the Cross and signified the blessing of salvation that is given to us all.
Preserved by the seal of the Cross, and kissing it with joyful spirit as it lies before us, let us hasten onward to the saving Passion and put to death the deadly passions of the flesh.
O honoured Cross, weapon of salvation, unconquerable ensign of victory, token of joy whereby death has been slain, we embrace thee and share in the glory of Him who was nailed upon thee.
Stavrotheotokion
‘No angel can approach Thee, Jesus my Son, yet Thou hast appeared to me in visible form, borrowing flesh from me,’ said the Mother of Christ. ‘And now I see Thee nailed upon the Cross, and I lament.’
Canticle Five
Irmos: The whole world was amazed at thy divine glory…
Nailed to the Cross, Thou wast accounted dead, who art the Life and the Salvation of all. Grant, O Saviour, that with a pure heart we may embrace this Thy Cross and look with joy upon Thy saving Passion.
The ranks of angels tremble as they stand before thee, O lifegiving Cross, for Christ poured out His precious Blood upon thee, washing away the polluted blood offered to the demons for man’s destruction.
I am pierced by the sword of the adversary: heal me by Thy Blood, O Word. Make haste, I pray Thee, O Saviour: with Thy lance tear up the record of my sins, and in Thy compassion write my name in the book of the saved.
Stavrotheotokion
‘O ripe Cluster of grapes, how dost Thou hang upon the Tree? O Sun of glory, how art Thou raised on high, darkening the sun’s light by Thy Passion?’ So Thy Mother, O Saviour, cried in her grief to Thee her Lamb.
Canticle Six
Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial…
Fixed in the earth, O honoured Cross of the Lord, thou hast shaken the dwelling-place of hell; and for the faithful thou hast become a firm support and sure protection.
Fruitful in the virtues, let us harvest from the divine Tree the lifegiving fruits borne by Jesus the fruitful Vine, who was stretched out upon it.
We praise Thy great love, O Jesus, and we venerate Thy Cross, with the lance and reed. For through them in Thy compassion Thou hast broken down the middle wall of division and hatred.
Stavrotheotokion
The Virgin bore Thee, who art the fountain of our restoration, the river of life; and, stretched out upon the Cross, Thou hast poured out the waters of salvation.
Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial, the prophet Jonah cried out in the belly of the whale: ‘Deliver me from corruption, O Jesus, King and Lord of hosts.’
Kontakion The fiery sword no longer guards…, and ikos Pilate set up three crosses… (see pp. 293 ff).
Canticle Seven
Irmos: The holy Children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire…
The axe-head that Elisha drew out from the Jordan signified the Cross, O Christ, whereby Thou hast drawn out the nations from the depths of falsehood, and they sing: O Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Earth and heaven rejoice together at thy veneration. For through thee, O Cross, men are united with the angels, and they cry: O Lord God almighty, blessed art Thou.
Let us venerate the Cross of the Lord, offering our tender affection as the cypress, the sweet fragrance of our faith as the cedar, and our sincere love as the pine; and let us glorify our Deliverer who was nailed upon it.
Stavrotheotokion
O chosen city of God, without shaking the heavens God came down to dwell within thy womb; but, when He was hung upon the Cross, He shook the creation. Intercede with Him, that He may set me firmly on His rock that cannot be shaken.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The Offspring of the Theotokos…
Thou hast stretched out Thine hands upon the Tree, O Lord, and so hast freed us from the sin of Adam, who stretched out his hand in greed. Thou wast pierced by a spear, and with that spear Thou hast wounded the adversary. Thou hast tasted gall, and so hast taken away the sweet temptation of evil. Thou wast given vinegar to drink, who art the Joy of all.
With mind and conscience pure, let us joyfully draw near and venerate the precious and honoured Wood that lies here before us. Upon it Christ submitted to a shameful death, and so He raised us to the highest honour, when through the transgression we had fallen into shame and dishonour.
I have been slain by the wood of sin, and through tasting from the pleasures I have been put to death. Bring me to life, O Lord; raise me up from where I lie, and grant that I may worship at Thy Passion and share in Thy divine Resurrection, becoming a fellow heir with those that have loved Thee.
Stavrotheotokion
‘I see Thee lifted on high,’ cried the Holy Virgin, ‘and because of Thy suffering there is neither form nor beauty in Thee; yet when I first saw Thee incarnate in the flesh, Only-begotten Son, Thou wast fairer than all the sons of men. O salvation of all, manifest Thy glory.’
First Three-Canticled Canon
Irmos: Accepting danger for the sake of their fathers’ laws…
By Thine own will, compassionate Lord, Thou wast crucified in the middle of the day in the midst of the earth, and Thou hast plucked the ends of the world from the midst of the dragon’s jaws. Therefore in this middle week of the holy Fast we venerate and glorify Thy precious Cross, crying aloud: Praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
O sign of joy, unconquerable weapon, rampart of the Church, glory of martyrs, adornment of apostles, firm support of bishops, strengthen my sickly soul, and count me worthy to venerate thee and to sing thy praises, crying: O ye works of the Lord, praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
O longsuffering Lord, I mourn and weep and lament, when I call to mind how I shall be condemned before the judgement seat where there is no respect of persons. Therefore spare me and lighten the heavy yoke which weighs upon my soul, that I may cry rejoicing: O ye works of the Lord, praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Stavrotheotokion
O all-blameless Virgin, the bush was a figure of the mystery of thy childbearing that no mind can understand. For like the bush thou hast remained unconsumed when thou hast borne the Fire, Christ our Saviour, who was lifted on the Cross. Pray to Him that I may be delivered from the everlasting fire as I cry aloud: Praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Second Three-Canticled Canon
Irmos: This is the chosen and holy day…
Cleansed by fasting, come and let us embrace with love the Cross of Christ that is set before us. For unto us it is a treasury of strength and sanctification, and by its power we sing the praise of Christ for ever.
Here before us is the great and threefold Cross: though it appears small, yet it reaches up to heaven; by its power it raises men to God, and in its name we bless Christ for ever.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I glorify one Substance in three distinct Beings: Father, Son and Spirit, neither confused in Persons nor divided in Essence; for there is one God in Trinity, ruling over all.
Both now…
Theotokion
Alone among mothers, Mary Bride of God, thou hast remained a virgin. Without knowing man thou hast given birth to the Saviour Christ, yet kept the seal of thy purity unbroken; and with all the faithful we shall call thee blessed for ever.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Let us honour this holy Wood, which, as the Prophet said of old, was put into the bread of Christ by the Israelites who crucified Him; and let us exalt Him above all for ever.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: Daniel, great among the prophets, was cast into the lions’ den; but, stretching out his hands in the form of the Cross, he was delivered from their mouths and kept unharmed, blessing Christ our God for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Let every mortal born on earth…
Thy side was pierced with a spear, and Thou hast poured upon us a fountain of forgiveness. Thou wast nailed to a tree, O loving Lord, and Thou hast destroyed in the midst of the earth the condemnation that came through a tree. On this middle day of the Fast, we embrace the Wood of the Cross and sing the praises of Thy goodness.
O mountains, flow with sweetness, and little hills, pour forth joy and love. Trees of the plain and cedars of Lebanon, rejoice today at the veneration of the lifegiving Cross. Prophets and martyrs, apostles and spirits of the righteous, dance in gladness.
O Lord, look favourably upon Thy people and Thine heritage, who sing Thy praise with fear, and for whose sake Thou hast suffered voluntary death. Let not the countless number of our evil deeds vanquish Thy compassion, but in Thy surpassing goodness and Thy love for mankind save us all by Thy Cross.
Stavrotheotokion
‘Crucified of Thine own will, Thou dost shake the visible world, and yet Thou still remainest hanging on the Cross’, said the Theotokos weeping. ‘For it is Thy purpose, O Christ, to set free the passion-dominated thoughts of the first-formed man and in Thy love to heal his brokenness.’
First Three-Canticled Canon
Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss…
When Elisha once drew the axe-head from the river with a piece of wood, he prefigured thee, O Cross: for thou art the lifegiving wood with which Christ has drawn the nations from the depths of the madness of idolatry, when He was nailed upon thee. We therefore venerate thee and we glorify His power.
O Saviour, the radiance of the sun was turned to darkness at Thy Crucifixion, the light of the moon was quenched, and all the elements trembled and were changed. And so I cry to Thee: My thoughts have been turned to darkness by the passions; changing me with Thy right hand, O Word, give me light and save me.
With the lacerations of Thy body cure the passions of my soul; and with Thy wounded side heal the painful wounds inflicted by the demons. With Thy nails, O Christ, uproot my sensual lusts; and grant that, freed from passions, I may worship at Thy Holy Passion and Thy Resurrection.
Stavrotheotokion
A fair Virgin bore Thee, O Lord fair in beauty; but, seeing neither form nor beauty in Thee at Thy Passion, she said lamenting: ‘I am filled with wonder, O my Son, at this Thy strange abasement, whereby Thou dost save the humbled nature of mankind.’
Second Three-Canticled Canon
Irmos: Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem…
Let all the people of God draw near with gladness; and looking upon the Wood of the Cross that lies before them, with fear let them kiss it and receive joy, ever praising the Lord of glory who was crucified upon it.
O Cross, thou art the divine weapon that protects my life; the Master mounted upon thee and brought me salvation. His side was pierced and poured out blood and water; from them I partake, and I rejoice and give Him glory.
Glory be to the Father…
I worship Thee, O holy God, as Trinity of Persons in Unity of Essence, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: one Power and Kingdom, sovereign over all.
Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Thou art the great mountain, O Virgin, wherein Christ dwelt, as holy David says. By thee we are raised up to heaven, all-blessed Lady, receiving through the Spirit the adoption of sons.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Cross, divine sceptre of the King, the courage of His army, trusting in thee we put to flight the adversary. Grant for ever victory over our enemies to us who venerate thee.
Irmos: O Virgin Mother and true Theotokos, without seed thou hast borne Christ our God, who was lifted in the flesh upon the Cross. We and all the faithful, as is right, magnify thee with thy Son.
Hymn of Light in the Tone of the week, and then the following exapostilarion:
Glory be to the Father…
In the middle of the Fast God calls us all to the veneration of the holy Wood. Through our own sufferings let us join ourselves to the sufferings of Christ. Come, all ye faithful, and let us venerate the Wood of this dread mystery.
Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
The all-holy Virgin Mother of God the Word cried weeping and lamenting: ‘Such are the good tidings of joy that Gabriel brought me. Go forth then, Child, to fulfill the secret counsel and the divine plan of salvation.’
Aposticha:
TONE EIGHT
Having come to the middle point on the path of the Fast that leads to Thy precious Cross, grant that we may see Thy day that Abraham saw and rejoiced, when on the mountain he received Isaac back alive as from the tomb. Delivered from the enemy by faith, may we share in Thy mystical supper, calling upon Thee in peace: Our light and our Saviour, glory to Thee (twice).
To the Martyrs
Invincible martyrs of Christ, ye triumphed over falsehood by the power of the Cross, and gained as your reward the grace of life eternal. Ye felt no terror at the threats of tyrants, and when ye suffered torment ye rejoiced; and now your blood has become the healing of our souls. Intercede for our salvation.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Having reached the middle of the sea of abstinence, let us look towards the haven of salvation, the season of Thy voluntary Passion, O Lord. In Thy lovingkindness and Thy mercy, grant us also to behold in peace the day of Thy glorious Resurrection.
FIRST HOUR
In place of Order my steps…, we sing three times, making three prostrations: We venerate Thy Cross, O Master, and we glorify Thy holy Resurrection.
At the Hours, after Our Father… we use the kontakion The fiery sword… (p. 293).
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE SIX
We venerate Thy Cross, O Master, and we glorify Thy holy Resurrection.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 69):
TONE SIX
Let all those that seek Thee, O God, be joyful and glad in Thee.
℣. O God, attend to my deliverance: make haste to help me, O Lord.
Lesson: Isaiah 26:21–27:9.
Prokimenon (Psalm 70):
TONE SIX
In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
℣. 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 FOUR
The Fast that brings us blessings has now reached its midmost point: it has helped us to receive God’s grace in the days that are past, and it will bring us further benefit in the days still to come. For by continuing in what is right we attain yet greater gifts. We therefore cry to Christ, the Giver of all good: O Thou who for our sakes hast fasted and endured the Cross, make us worthy to share uncondemned in Thy divine Passover. May we spend our lives in peace and rightly glorify Thee with the Father and the Spirit.
TONE FIVE
If we look for a spiritual recompense, let us perform our good deeds in secret; let us not proclaim them in the streets but keep them hidden in our hearts. Then He who sees the secrets of all men will reward us for our abstinence. Let us complete the Fast, not with a sad countenance, but praying in the inner chamber of our souls; and without ceasing let us cry: Our Father, who art in heaven, lead us not into temptation, we pray, but deliver us from the evil one.
To the Martyrs
SAME TONE
Your souls, O holy martyrs, were filled with an insatiable love; not denying Christ ye endured great sufferings and torments, and ye cast down the tyrants’ pride. Ye kept the faith unaltered and unharmed, and now have gone to dwell in heaven. Since ye have boldness before Christ, pray that peace be given to the world, and to our souls great mercy.
Of the Cross
TONE ONE
Let us all wash our souls clean in the waters of the Fast, and, approaching the precious and honoured Cross of the Lord, let us venerate it with faith; let us draw from it divine enlightenment, gathering the fruit of eternal salvation, peace and great mercy.
O Cross, glory of the apostles, attended by principalities and powers and archangels, keep safe from all harm those that venerate thee. Grant us to follow rightly to the end the divine path of abstinence, and to reach the day of salvation when we too shall be saved.
TONE SEVEN
As we venerate today the Cross of the Lord, let us cry: Hail, Tree of Life, victor over hell; hail, joy of the world and slayer of corruption; hail, for by thy power thou scatterest the demons! Strong support of the faithful, weapon that cannot be broken, we pray thee, guard and sanctify those who show thee honour.
Then four stichera to the saint of the day from the Menaion.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
TONE EIGHT
Today He who is in essence unapproachable, becomes approachable for me and suffers His Passion, delivering me from passions. He who grants light unto the blind is spat upon by the mouths of the transgressors, and He gives His back to scourging for the sake of those that are held captive. When the pure Virgin His Mother saw Him on the Cross, she cried aloud in pain: ‘Woe is me, my Child! What is this that Thou hast done? Thou who wast in beauty fairer than all mortal men, dost now appear without life and form, having neither shape nor comeliness. Woe is me, my Light! I cannot bear to look upon Thee sleeping, and I am wounded inwardly, a harsh sword has pierced my heart. I sing the praises of Thy Passion, I venerate Thy merciful kindness: O longsuffering Lord, glory to Thee!’
Prokimenon (Psalm 71):
TONE FOUR
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
℣. Give Thy judgement unto the King, O God; and Thy righteousness unto the King’s son.
Lesson: Genesis 9:18–10:1.
Prokimenon (Psalm 72):
TONE FOUR
It is good for me to cleave to God, to put my trust in the Lord God.
℣. Truly God is loving unto Israel; even unto them that are upright in heart.
Lesson: Proverbs 12:23–13:9.
And the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified.