Wednesday in the Fifth 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 EIGHT
Sinfully Adam ate from the tree, and reaped in bitterness the fruits of his greed; but Thou wast lifted on the Tree, O merciful Lord, and hast delivered him from his grievous condemnation. Therefore we raise our cry to Thee: Grant us, Master, to abstain from the fruit that brings corruption, and to do Thy will, that we may receive Thy mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
O holy Virgin, Christ took flesh from thy pure womb and was born from thee in ways beyond our understanding; seeing Him hang between two evildoers on the Cross, thy heart was filled with anguish, and with a mother’s grief thou hast cried out: ‘Woe is me, my Child! What is this divine and ineffable act of Thy loving providence, whereby Thou hast restored to life Thy creature? I sing the praises of Thy deep compassion.’
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE TWO
Singing the praises of the most holy Wood of the Cross, we ever venerate Thy boundless love, O Christ our God. For through the Cross Thou hast put to shame the hosts of the enemy, and hast given a sign to those that set their trust in Thee. Therefore in thanksgiving we cry aloud to Thee: Grant that with good courage and in peace we may all complete the time of the Fast.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
When the Ewe-Lamb saw the innocent Shepherd hanging on the Wood, with a mother’s grief she cried aloud: ‘O my Son, Thou hast spread out a cloud for Thy people as they journeyed through the wilderness, but with ingratitude they have condemned Thee to death. Woe is me! I have no husband, and now I have no Child. But, arise, O Sun, and let Thy light shine forth; and I shall be glorified among the children of mortal men.’
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.
Canticle Three
First Canon
TONE EIGHT
by Joseph
Irmos: O Lord, Thou Builder of the vault of heaven…
Stretching out Thine hands upon the Cross, O just Judge, Thou hast condemned the enmity that separated man from God; and now save me the prodigal condemned by my sins, for I have provoked Thee, O longsuffering Saviour.
As the beasts I have desired a way of life that inflames the passions; I have departed far from Thy commandments, loving Saviour, and have become the servant of alien and unclean citizens. But now I turn back to Thee: accept me and save me.
As once Thou hast opened the ears and loosed the tongue of the man with an impediment in his speech, open now the ears of my soul that is grown deaf in its understanding, and count it worthy to hear Thy saving word, O Jesus who alone lovest mankind.
Theotokion
All-holy Lady, Gate of salvation, Bridge to God, Protector of Christians, pilot me on my way, O Virgin, for I am beset by the troubles of this life and tossed to and fro.
Another Canon
TONE TWO
by Theodore
Irmos: O God, the husbandman of all good trees…
In Thy tender love Thou hast mounted on the Cross, O Christ, and drawn me up from the pit of the passions, raising me to heaven.
Stretching out Thy hands upon the Cross, O Christ, Thou hast embraced all the nations that were far from Thee, and hast brought them close to Thy dominion.
Glory be to the Father…
Unity in three Persons, Trinity supreme in Essence, one Godhead, Father, Son and Spirit of righteousness, save those who honour Thee.
Both now…
Theotokion
Who among those born on earth can praise thee as is right, O Virgin Mother? For thou alone wast chosen among women, and art blessed by all.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
For my sake, who have provoked Thee by my disobedience, Thou wast lifted up on the Cross, O Jesus, and Thy side was pierced and Thou hast tasted gall.
Irmos: O God, the husbandman of all good trees and fruit, make fruitful my barren mind in Thy compassion.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The Chaldaean tyrant in his madness…
With Thine unsleeping eye look upon me and take pity on me: for I am held fast by the drowsiness of sloth and lie upon the bed of the passions, a slave to the sleep of sensual pleasure. Thou hast bowed Thine head upon the Cross, O Christ, and of Thine own will Thou hast awaked from sleep; and Thou hast driven away the night of sin, for Thou art the Light of righteousness.
I was adorned at Baptism with Thy rich gifts of grace; but instead I have loved the poverty of evil, and in my misery I have become a stranger to the virtues. I have wandered into a far country of sin: but make me turn back, O Saviour, and embrace me, fencing me round with Thy Cross unto eternity.
Cast aside, my soul, the drunkenness of the passions, and by fasting seek the cleansing wine of tears that makes glad the heart of man, withering lust and putting out the furnace of the flesh. Make haste to be crucified with Christ, who for thy sake was nailed upon the Wood, and to live with Him unto eternity.
Theotokion
Most pure Mother of God, cleanse the wounds of my soul and the scars of my sins, bathing them in the fountain that flows from thy Son’s side. To thee I cry, O full of grace, to thee I flee for refuge, and I call upon thee.
Second Canon
Irmos: With every mortal born on earth, let us sing to God…
The angels and we men born on earth sing for ever the praises of Jesus, who was crucified in the flesh, yet did not suffer in His divine nature.
At Thy Crucifixion, O Christ, choosing an accursed and shameful death, Thou hast delivered us from corruption and saved us.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
With the cherubim, O Trinity, I praise Thee, singing: Holy, Holy, Holy, one Godhead, simple, without beginning, beyond the understanding of all.
Both now…
Theotokion
In songs of praise, pure Virgin, all generations honour thee with gladness, for thou hast borne the Maker. O dread wonder and all-blessed work!
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Solely for the sake of my salvation, O Christ, Thou hast consented to suffer all things. I sing the praises of Thy Crucifixion, nails and death unto all eternity.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: With every mortal born on earth, let us sing to God who is glorified in heaven by the voices of the angels; and let us praise Him unto all eternity.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Heaven was amazed at this…
Seeing Thee nailed upon the Cross, O King of all, the sun hid its rays; and the whole earth was seized with trembling, looking on Thee suffering of Thine own will, though Thou art by nature impassible. And so I pray to Thee, O Christ the physician: Heal the passions of my soul.
Forsaking the ways of salvation, I have gone along the path that leads to hell; round me is the deep darkness of lust, the slippery places of the passions, and the tempest of temptation. Therefore I entreat Thee: Save me by Thy Cross, O Christ, for Thou alone art rich in mercy.
Beset by the storm of temptations, drowning in the waves of passion, and assailed by the tempest of lust, I have now reached the sea of the Fast that is mild and calm. Pilot me across it by Thy Cross, O compassionate Lord, and bring me to the harbour of salvation.
Theotokion
Without seed, O Virgin, and without the desires of the flesh thou hast conceived the Word of God who created all things; and without corruption and the pangs of travail thou hast given birth to Him. Therefore with both tongue and heart we confess thee to be Theotokos and we magnify thee.
Second Canon
Irmos: O Theotokos undefiled, with never-silent hymns…
Of Thine own will, O our Saviour, Thou hast endured Crucifixion, to deliver us all from death and to give us life.
By a tree was I killed, and by the Tree of the Cross have I returned to life: for my Christ was nailed upon it and has slain the enemy.
Glory be to the Father…
Let us with one mind worship the Son who coexists with the Father, and the Holy Spirit who is ever present with them.
Both now…
Theotokion
O marvellous wonder! O strange tidings! How dost thou give birth as a mother, O pure Lady, while still remaining inviolate as a virgin?
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
I sing of Thy lance, I praise Thy nails, the sponge, the reed and the Cross: for through them I have been saved, O Jesus my God.
Irmos: O Theotokos undefiled, with never-silent hymns we magnify thy virginity, that was not burnt by the fire of the Godhead.
Aposticha:
TONE THREE
Forsaking the height of the virtues, O my soul, thou hast descended to the depths of sin, and fallen among evil thieves upon the road; and now thou dost lie covered with rotting sores, prostrate and helpless. But cry aloud to Christ thy God, who was crucified and wounded of His own will for thy sake: ‘Take care of me, O Lord, and save me.’
℣. We were filled in the morning with Thy mercy…
TONE EIGHT
In my misery I have been wounded by thieving thoughts and left half dead, O Lord. The company of the prophets passed me by, seeing me at the point of death, incurable by human skills. Therefore, in my cruel suffering, with humbleness of heart I cry to Thee: O Christ my God, in Thy compassion pour upon me Thy great mercy.
℣. And let the brightness of the Lord our God shine upon us…
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…
Stavrotheotokion
When the all-pure Virgin saw Thee hanging in the flesh upon the Cross, her heart was wounded and she cried with tears: ‘O Word, where hast Thou gone, O most beloved Jesus, my Son and my Lord? I am Thy Mother: leave me not alone, O Christ.’
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE ONE
Accept, O Lord, as prayers of intercession, the sufferings of the saints which they endured for Thy sake: and, we pray Thee, heal all our anguish in Thy love for mankind.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 91):
TONE FOUR
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises to Thy Name, O Most High.
℣. To tell of Thy mercy in the morning, and of Thy truth every night.
Lesson: Isaiah 41:4–14.
Prokimenon (Psalm 92):
TONE SIX
The Lord is King, and has put on glorious apparel.
℣. The Lord has put on His apparel, and girded Himself with strength.