Monday in the Fifth 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 THREE
The most beautiful of seasons is at hand, the much praised day of abstinence has dawned. Let us make haste, brethren, to be cleansed, that we may appear in purity before our Maker and share in His beauty, at the prayers of her who bore Him, the only pure Mother of God.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
Gabriel marvelled at the beauty of thy virginity and the splendour of thy purity, and he said to thee, O Theotokos: ‘How can I praise thee as I should? By what name shall I invoke thee? I am troubled and amazed. Therefore, as I was commanded, I cry out to thee: Hail, full of grace!’
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE SEVEN
O Lord, Thou hast granted us to reach the present day, on which in radiant light we commence the holy week of the dread raising of Lazarus from the tomb. Count us Thy servants worthy to walk in Thy fear, and to complete the whole course of the Fast.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
All-Holy Virgin, thou art greater in honour than the glorious cherubim. Unable to endure the divine splendour, they veil their faces with their wings as they perform their ministry; but thou dost gaze with thine own eyes upon the Incarnate Word. Without ceasing pray to Him for our souls.
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 first Biblical Canon.
Canticle One
First Canon
TONE THREE
by Joseph
Irmos: Once by a divine command…
Tilling the soil of our mind with the divine ploughshare of the holy Fast, let us reap the sheaf of virtues: then we shall not hunger in eternity, but will rejoice in gladness with a joy that has no end.
I bear within me the passions of many years, that darken my unhappy soul; but with contrite heart I fall down before Thine unconquerable power, O timeless Word of the eternal Father, and I pray: Take pity on me and save me.
Thy holy Fast feeds our hearts, ripening within us thoughts acceptable to God, and causing the deep abyss of our passions to dry up; and with the rain of compunction it cleanses those who in faith offer praise to the Almighty.
Theotokion
Rejoice, holy Virgin, Maiden of many names: Mary Mother of God, glory of the faithful, deliverance from the curse, heavenly ladder, wonder past understanding, bush unburnt, earth untilled.
Another Canon
TONE SEVEN
by Theodore
Irmos: Let us sing a song of triumph…
Now that we have venerated the lifegiving Wood, with gladness let us advance upon the path of the Fast to the Passion of Christ.
Following Christ, let us deny the world and take the Cross upon our shoulders, sharing in His divine suffering.
Glory be to the Father…
Let us all sing the praises of the Godhead, supreme in Essence, one in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Both now…
Theotokion
O pure Virgin that hast not known corruption, pray to Jesus our Saviour whom thou hast borne in ways past understanding, that He may be merciful to thy servants.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
When Thou comest, O Christ, in glory with the angels to judge the whole world, enable us to make a good answer before Thee.
Irmos: Let us sing a song of triumph to the Lord, who drowned all the power of Pharaoh in the sea: for He is glorified.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The Babylonian furnace…
Led astray by the harmful deceptions of the serpent, beguiled in my mind, each day I add new anguish to my pain. And so I cry to Thee, O Saviour: Physician of the sick, come to me and save me.
Strengthened in spirit by fasting, Elisha once raised up the child of the Shunnamite. We have been killed by the pleasures of passion: through the lifegiving Fast, O ye faithful, let us regain life once more.
In Thy compassion, O Lord who lovest mankind, of old Thou hast saved the men of Nineveh when they repented with tears and fasting. In Thy mercy do Thou take pity also upon us, for we are at a loss how to confess Thee through our actions.
Theotokion
O pure and blameless Virgin, who hast remained without corruption after bearing child, we pray thee, deliver from corruption thy servants who sing to thee with faith in unity of soul: O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
Second Canon
Irmos: He is the Lord and Maker of the world…
With God’s help we have rounded the turning post of the Fast. Let us run the remainder of the course with all our strength, and win a victor’s crown.
Seeing my sickly soul barren of fruit, be patient, O Christ, and do not cut me down like the fig tree Thou hast cursed.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Trinity all-sovereign, Unity in three Persons, Father, Son and Spirit, deliver from every danger and temptation those who sing of Thee.
Both now…
Theotokion
Hail, Mountain of God; hail, ever-shining Lamp; hail, new Heaven; hail, Mind bright as lightning; hail, Temple of the Lord; hail, worthy of all praise.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
When I think of the dread trial before Thee, O Christ, I am filled with fear and trembling, and I cry: There is no limit to Thy great mercy; save me in my wretchedness.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: He is the Lord and Maker of the world, who fills the cherubim with awe and the seraphim with wonder: O ye priests and servants and spirits of the righteous, sing His praises.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Strange was the wonder…
The grace of the Fast has filled a divine cup with the wine of compunction, and it calls together all the faithful, crying out clearly: Come and partake with gladness, laying aside the drunkenness of the passions, that ye may be counted worthy of the joy to come.
The judgement is at hand: give heed, my soul. Be attentive to thy conscience, doing what is right, and it will always keep thee uncondemned. For if we have judged ourselves in this present life, we shall not lack witnesses to plead on our behalf at the Judgement in the Age to come, when the guilty are condemned.
Principalities and powers, thrones, seraphim and dominions, authorities and cherubim, angels and archangels: pray to God that we may complete the time of the Fast, doing what is acceptable to Him, that as servants who have pleased Him we may share in glory.
Theotokion
With the martyrs and the prophets and all the saints, Thy Mother intercedes on behalf of us Thy servants who have angered Thee; accept her prayers, for Thou alone lovest mankind, O Christ our Master before whom the hosts of heaven tremble.
Second Canon
Irmos: Mother beyond nature…
Sailing through the calm waters of the Fast with the fair wind of the Spirit, let us pray that we may reach the haven of Christ’s Passion.
Like the woman of Canaan, I cry aloud to Thee: Have mercy on me, O God, Thou Son of David; heal my sick soul, as Thou hast healed her daughter.
Glory be to the Father…
Let us sing the praises of the divine Nature, Unity in three Persons, Father, Son and Spirit.
Both now…
Theotokion
Thou hast conceived within thy womb the Word uncircumscribed, and without seed thou hast borne Him in the flesh: pray fervently for the salvation of our souls.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Thou hast justified the Publican when he cried: ‘Be merciful to me.’ Grant Thy mercy also unto me a sinner, O Judge of all, and forgive me my offences.
Irmos: Mother beyond nature and Virgin by nature, she alone is blessed among women: let us and all the faithful, as is right, magnify her with our songs.
Aposticha:
TONE EIGHT
I am like the man who fell among thieves, O Master of all, for I have fallen among my sins and have been cruelly wounded by them. Yet leave me not without healing, O Lord who camest not from Samaria but from the pure Virgin. Jesus, Name that means salvation, have mercy upon me (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…
Theotokion
The heavenly powers praise thee, O Virgin Mother full of grace, and we also glorify thy childbearing that none can understand. O Theotokos, pray for the salvation of our souls.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE THREE
Our iniquities have risen up against us, but do Thou, O Lord, rise up and help us: for Thou art our Father, and we know none other save Thee.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 83):
TONE EIGHT
Even Thine altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.
℣. How I love Thy dwellings, O Lord of Hosts.
Lesson: Isaiah 37:33–38:6.
Prokimenon (Psalm 84):
TONE EIGHT
Show us Thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation.
℣. Lord, Thou art become gracious unto Thy land: Thou hast turned back the captivity of Jacob.
VESPERS
After the Psalm of Introduction (Psalm 103) and the Great Litany, instead of the eighteenth kathisma from the Psalter, we read the tenth kathisma.
To Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung, the first three being from the Triodion:
TONE THREE
by Joseph
O Word of God, Thou hast given us the time of the Fast, that we may turn again and live, and in no way perish. Grant that all of us may please Thee, O Christ, and serve Thee with fervent compunction, like the wise and holy harlot: for, because of the sweet-smelling ointment and the warm tears which she shed, she received forgiveness of her sins.
Like the blind man, from my heart I call upon Thee: Son of God, give light to the eyes of my heart. Like the faithful woman of Canaan, I cry to Thee: Have mercy on me, compassionate Saviour, for my soul is vexed by the devil of pleasure. But do Thou free it from the darkness of the passions and make me live the remainder of my life in purity, that I may glorify Thy great love.
TONE TWO
by Theodore
The grace of abstinence, radiant with the light of God, shines this day upon us more brightly than the sun; illumining our souls, it drives away the clouds of sinful passions. Embracing it with joy, let us all run with good courage, and finish its course rejoicing; and filled with gladness let us cry to Christ: Sanctify those who complete the Fast with faith, O loving Lord.
Then three 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 85):
TONE FOUR
Guide me, O Lord, in Thy way: and I will walk in Thy truth.
℣. Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, and hear me.
Lesson: Genesis 13:12–18.
Prokimenon (Psalm 86):
TONE FOUR
The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
℣. His foundations are upon the holy mountains.
Lesson: Proverbs 14:27–15:4.
Aposticha:
TONE SEVEN
Like the man who fell among thieves and was wounded, I have also fallen because of my sins, and my soul has been wounded. To whom shall I fly for healing, but to Thee, Physician of souls and bodies? Pour out upon me Thy great mercy, O God.
℣. Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes…
TONE FOUR
Through the sin of long ago, we have lost the joys of Paradise and are brought down to a life of shame. Stripped of holiness and virtue, sunk in sin, we have fallen among thieves; straying from Thy saving teachings, we have become half dead. Yet we entreat Thee, Master born of Mary, who with dispassion hast shared in our passions: bind up our wounds that come from sin, and pour upon us in Thy love Thy boundless mercy and Thy healing care.
℣. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us…
To the Martyrs
Thou hast accepted the patient suffering of the holy martyrs: in Thy love accept our hymns of praise, and at their intercessions grant us Thy great mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
O blessed Theotokos, protect thy servants from every kind of peril, that we may glorify thee, the hope of our souls.