Saturday in the Fourth Week
MATTINS
After the Six Psalms and the Great Litany, we sing Alleluia in TONE TWO, with the same troparia as on the preceding Saturdays: Apostles, martyrs, and prophets…; Glory be to the Father…; Remember Thy servants, O Lord…; Both now…; O holy Mother of the ineffable Light… (see p. 240).
The Canon
As on the preceding Saturdays, we use the Canon to the saint of the day from the Menaion, with six troparia (including the irmos). Up to the end of Canticle Five, this is followed by the Canon to the patron saint of the church or monastery, with four troparia. From Canticle Six onwards, we omit the Canon to the patron saint, and after the Canon from the Menaion we use the two four-canticled Canons from the Triodion, with eight troparia.
Canticle Six
First Canon
TONE FOUR
by Joseph
Irmos: Crossing the sea of life…
O suffering martyrs, ye have surpassed the limits of the flesh, enduring the pains of torment with great patience, and so ye make easy all pain and affliction for those who sing your praises.
The army of the holy martyrs, the faithful servants of Christ, prays to the all-holy God in union with the countless hosts of angels, that we may be delivered from our countless sins.
For the Dead
Thou wast put to death, O Christ, and after sleeping in the tomb, Thou hast raised the dead; and in Thy great love Thou givest rest with all the saints to those who died in faith.
Theotokion
God, the Word of God, seeking to make man godlike, took flesh from thee, pure Virgin, and became a mortal man. Entreat Him without ceasing that we may find mercy in the hour of our examination before His judgement seat.
Another Canon
SAME TONE
by Theodore
Irmos: Drowning in the tempest of my sins…
Not sparing your flesh and your blood, O saints, ye stood undaunted in the face of every torture, never denying Christ; and so He has given you crowns from heaven.
Clothed in robes of light through our actions, let us go to meet the triumphant assembly of the martyrs, and let us cry aloud with songs inspired by God: O martyrs of Christ, ye shine on earth as the morning stars that herald the dawn.
Glory be to the Father…
Holy Trinity, I glorify Thee, sourceless Nature, one God, one Lord, three Persons: Father, Son and Spirit, unbegotten, begotten and proceeding, self-same and everlasting.
Both now…
Theotokion
O blessed Bride of God, how hast thou given birth without knowing a man and remained a virgin as before? For thou hast borne the dread and marvellous God. Pray for the salvation of those who sing thy praises.
℣. God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
To the Martyrs
When your limbs were severed, ye rejoiced in the shedding of your blood. O ever-honoured martyrs, pray to the Lord fervently on our behalf.
℣. Their souls shall dwell in prosperity.
For the Dead
Thou hast formed me from the earth and given me life, and hast bidden me return to the earth once more. Give rest, O Lord, to Thy servants whom Thou hast taken to Thyself, and bring them up from corruption.
Irmos: Drowning in the tempest of my sins, and as though imprisoned in the belly of the whale, with the Prophet I cry out to Thee: Bring up my life from corruption, O Lord, and save me.
Kontakion
TONE EIGHT
With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Thy servants, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but life without end.
Ikos
Thou only art immortal, who hast created and fashioned man: but we are mortal, formed from the earth, and to this same earth shall we return, as Thou hast commanded when Thou madest me, saying: ‘Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.’ There shall all we mortals go, and for our funeral dirge we sing: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Canticle Seven
Irmos: Refusing to worship the golden image…
Putting off the corruptible flesh, O martyrs, ye were clothed by God with incorruption; and now ye stand in light and joy before Him who for our sake took flesh from an uncorrupted Virgin. Sin has stripped me naked: clothe me in a robe of holiness.
The company of the victorious martyrs, who lived in abstinence, gives us strength to run unhindered in the race of the Fast. For bravely they preached Christ in the arena, and now they stand in spiritual joy before the throne of God, crowned with the angels.
For the Dead
At the prayers of Thy holy martyrs, O God, make Thy servants who have fallen asleep in faith to be citizens of Paradise, and count them worthy of the spiritual light, as they cry aloud to Thee without ceasing: Blessed is the God of our fathers.
Theotokion
We entreat thee, Virgin who alone art full of love, cleanse us from our sinfulness; and pray fervently to Christ, for by nature He is love, that we who sing His praises may complete the time of abstinence performing acts of love.
Second Canon
Irmos: Thou hast spoken with Moses…
Thou hast magnified all Thy saints, and through signs and miracles hast made them to be honoured in all the world. O Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou for ever.
Enduring every form of torture, O martyrs of Christ, ye refused to bend the knee to Baal; and ye have received crowns of glory from God.
Glory be to the Father…
Essence worshipped as Trinity in Unity, Father, Son and Spirit, O God of our fathers, watch over those who sing Thy praises.
Both now…
Theotokion
Virgin Mother, Maiden full of light, our only mediator before God: never cease, O Lady, to pray for our salvation.
℣. To the saints that are in the earth, the Lord has shown the wonders of His will.
To the Martyrs
As soldiers of the immortal King, O martyrs, showing perfect faith in Him, ye shed your blood for His sake.
℣. Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thyself, O Lord.
For the Dead
Where Thy living light shines upon them, make Thy faithful servants to dwell, whom Thou hast translated from things temporal, O Lord God of our fathers.
Irmos: Thou hast spoken with Moses on the mountain and made the bush a figure of the Virgin: O Lord God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: Standing before Thee in flames of fire…
O glorious martyrs of Christ, honoured by God, through your mighty prayers deliver all of us who praise your memory; release us from our heavy guilt and from torment in the life to come.
Steadfast army of martyrs, elect in sanctity, through your holy prayers in these holy days of the Fast sanctify our mind and heart.
For the Dead
From the worm that torments, from the gnashing of teeth and the outer darkness where there is no light, O Christ our Lord, deliver the faithful whom Thou hast taken; and make them dwell where the light of Thy countenance shines for ever.
Theotokion
O pure Theotokos, we have looked upon the Cross of Christ and venerated it with all our heart: through thy prayers to the Master, may we be cleansed from the passions and counted worthy to see the Holy Passion.
Second Canon
Irmos: Earth and all that is therein…
O happy exchange! Through your death ye have gained life, O holy martyrs of Christ; ye were not afraid of fire and sword, of the cold and the wild beasts, but ye cried aloud: Praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
The choir of angels on high and we men here on earth below glorify your strange sufferings and your courage, O martyrs of Christ; and we bless and praise the Lord, and exalt Him above all for ever.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Light and Life, one Life and three, Father, Son and Spirit that proceeds from the Father, I honour Thee, one God and Essence in three Persons, and I sing: I bless Thee and I praise Thee, O Lord, and exalt Thee above all for ever.
Both now…
Theotokion
What man born on earth will not praise thee, Dove pure and undefiled? For thou hast conceived the great Light, the riches of life, Jesus the Saviour. We sing His praises as Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
℣. God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
To the Martyrs
O martyrs, we glorify your struggles and your sufferings; we bless and worship God the Benefactor, who gave you strength in the arena; and we exalt Him above all for ever.
℣. Their souls shall dwell in prosperity.
For the Dead
Thou art the Lord and God of death and life, who dost raise up those who died in sanctity. Make them to dwell in the tabernacles of the righteous, as they bless and praise Thee, O Lord, and exalt Thee above all for ever.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: Earth and all that is therein, seas and all fountains, the heaven of heavens, light and darkness, cold and heat, sons of men and priests, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: For He that is mighty has done for me great things…
O suffering martyrs of Christ, ye are as the fixed stars in the firmament; illumine our thoughts and give us strength to do the pure and radiant will of God.
O noble martyrs of the Lord, ye are as swords that kill the enemy: through your protection deliver us from the arrows of the evil one.
For the Dead
O compassionate Lord, supreme in love, Creator of all, give rest in the bosom of Abraham to Thy servants who have departed from us and gone to Thee in faith.
Theotokion
O pure Virgin, who in ways past understanding hast borne God in the flesh, put to death the movements of my flesh and give light to my understanding, for thou art the cloud of Light.
Second Canon
Irmos: We all magnify Thy love for mankind…
All of us sing in honour of your memory, all-blessed martyrs, and looking with amazement at the arena where ye suffered, we magnify Christ.
In the midst of their sufferings the victorious martyrs said to one another: ‘Let us not spare the flesh, but come, let us die for Christ that we may live in joy for ever.’
Glory be to the Father…
O Trinity one in Essence, Father unbegotten, Son begotten and Spirit that proceeds: in Thy mercy keep from harm those who sing Thy praises.
Both now…
Theotokion
Hail, Mary pure and worthy of all veneration, glory of virginity, strength of mothers, helper of mankind, joy of the world, Mother and Handmaiden of our God.
℣. To the saints that are in the earth, the Lord has shown the wonders of His will.
To the Martyrs
O choir of saints, receive my prayer; and as I have been counted worthy to venerate the Cross, pray to Christ that I may also worship at His holy Passion.
℣. Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thyself, O Lord.
For the Dead
In Thy compassion and love for mankind, forgive and pardon those who have gone to dwell with Thee, and grant them rest in the tabernacles of the elect; for Thou art Life and Resurrection.
Irmos: We all magnify Thy love for mankind, O Lord our Saviour. Thou art the glory of Thy servants and the crown of the faithful, who hast magnified the memory of her that bore Thee.
The Hymn of Light in the Tone of the week (twice), and the exapostilarion for the Dead, O Thou who hast authority as God… (see p. 73).
Lauds: We sing four stichera to the Martyrs; Glory be to the Father…; the appointed verse for the Dead; Both now…; and the Theotokion, all in the Tone of the week (see pp. 595 ff).
Aposticha for the Dead in the Tone of the week, by Theophanes (see pp. 595 ff).
Then It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord…; and the rest of Mattins, as outside Lent, with the troparion, Apostles, martyrs and prophets…; Glory be to the Father…; Remember Thy servants, O Lord…; Both now…; O holy Mother of the ineffable Light… (see p. 240), and the usual Litany, Have mercy upon us, O God…
DIVINE LITURGY
We follow the same order as on the preceding Saturdays, except that the readings are as follows.
Epistle: For the day: Hebrews 6:9–12.
For the Dead:1 Corinthians 15:47–57.
Gospel: For the day: Mark 7:31–37
For the Dead: John 5:24–30.