Friday in the Sixth 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 FOUR
Two of the disciples are sent to bring the foal of an ass, in accordance with the prophecy; and, mounting upon it, Christ comes in His beauty, accepting the divine praise offered by the children. So let us eagerly hasten to meet Him, bearing as palms our acts of righteousness.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
O Virgin undefiled, Mother of Christ our God, a sword pierced thine all-holy soul, when thou hast seen thy Son and God crucified of His own will. O blessed among women, never cease to intercede that in this season of the Fast He may grant us pardon of our sins.
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE EIGHT
Two of the disciples are sent today to bring the foal of an ass to the Master of all. He who is borne on high by the hosts of the seraphim comes riding on a colt, and all-devouring death, the ruler of this world, begins to be afraid; for, through Lazarus first of all, he is despoiled of mankind.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Standing at the Passion of her Son, the pure Virgin lamented bitterly and cried in sorrow: ‘Woe is me, my Child! Thou art glorified by the angels with never-silent hymns; how have the Hebrew children brought Thee before the judgement seat of Pilate? O Word, I sing the praises of Thy great and ineffable compassion.’
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 fifth Biblical Canticle.
Canticle Five
First Canon
TONE FOUR
by Joseph
Irmos: Shine upon me, Lord, with the light of Thy commandments…
Falling asleep upon the Cross, O Lord and Master, Thou hast put death to sleep. For Thou hast cried: ‘My friend Lazarus is sleeping, but I shall go now to awake him.’
Fulfilling the sayings of the prophets, in Thy compassion Thou hast come, O Christ, to the city that killed the prophets; and there of Thine own will Thou shalt be slain, saving from corruption me who am dead.
All ye who through abstinence and prayer have made your rebellious body submissive to the Word, both monks and laity, go out and meet Christ who rides upon a foal and comes to His Passion.
Theotokion
O all-pure Virgin, with the drops of thy mercy water my heart that is tormented in the flame of sin. O Gate of the Light, kindle my lamp that has gone out.
Another Canon
TONE EIGHT
by Theodore
Irmos: O Christ my God, Giver of Light…
Approaching Bethany, O Christ, Thou sendest two of Thy disciples to fetch Thee a foal on which no man had sat. For none but Thyself, O Saviour, has brought into subjection the peoples who were without reason.
A great number of Jews came today from Jerusalem to Bethany and shared the sorrow of the sisters of Lazarus; but when they learned on the next day that Lazarus had come out from the tomb, they sought to kill Christ.
Glory be to the Father…
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and all-creative Spirit, blessed Godhead, Essence without beginning, threefold Light, all-seeing Power, guard Thy servants.
Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
When she beheld Thee nailed upon the Cross, O Christ, with blood and water flowing from Thy lifegiving side, in her love Thy Mother suffered with Thee as none but a mother can, for she knew Thee as her Son.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Behold, Christ makes ready to enter Jerusalem. Let all who dwell as solitaries in the mountains and the desert assemble together and come to meet Him, sharing in the joy of the whole world.
Irmos: O Christ my God, Giver of Light, who hast driven out the primeval darkness of the abyss, disperse, O Word, the darkness from my soul, and give me the light of Thy commandments, that early in the morning I may glorify Thee.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: Earth and all that is therein…
Why, O women, do ye weep bitterly for your beloved brother, when ye have with you the Resurrection and the Life? He who brings gifts to all has come and will restore to life His true friend, through Lazarus’ resurrection foretelling the resurrection of all.
Monks from your hermitages, sheep in the flock of the Word, assemble now with branches in your hands to meet Christ the Chief Shepherd. The Lord comes willingly as a lamb to the slaughter, that He may destroy the tyranny of the wolf.
As Thou wast approaching Bethphage, hell our adversary heard the sound of Thy feet, and he touched the feet of Lazarus, saying: ‘If the Life calls thee, delay not, but go out: for I know that my destruction will come swiftly.’
Theotokion
The holy voices of the prophets proclaim thee symbolically, O Virgin, as Gate and Mountain, sacred Ark and Cloud of light, from whom the Sun, the only Giver of Light, has shone forth on those in darkness and shadow.
Second Canon
Irmos: O ye angels and ye powers of heaven…
Two of the disciples were sent to fetch an ass for Him who rides upon the clouds, whom all things praise and exalt above all for ever.
Christ is at the door: so be not sad, O Bethany. For He will change thy sorrow into joy by raising from the tomb Lazarus thine offspring, who sings His praises.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Trinity is one God: the Father is not begotten like the Son, nor does the Son proceed like the Spirit, but each keeps His distinctive properties; and I glorify the Three as Light and God for ever.
Theotokion
Thou alone hast conceived and yet remained inviolate; thou alone hast given suck to thy child, yet hast not known the pains of travail; thou alone hast borne thy Maker and Master, and thou art both His handmaid and His mother. We sing thy praises, O Virgin Mother, for ever.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Invisibly with the branches of our virtues, and visibly with branches from the trees, let us prepare to receive Christ who is twofold in nature. He comes riding on a colt, and we exalt Him above all for ever.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: O ye angels and ye powers of heaven, sing to Him who sits upon the throne of majesty, and is glorified unceasingly as God: bless, praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: For He that is mighty has done for me great things…
‘Behold, we go up to the Holy City,’ Thou hast foretold to Thy disciples, O Jesus; ‘and by the hands of murderers I shall be delivered to Crucifixion, and I shall be truly slain according to the flesh.’
Wishing to deliver Thy friend from death, Thou dost make haste to suffer death for our sake in the flesh, granting immortality to mortal men who believe in Thee, O Word who alone art immortal.
Let us offer the palm branches of our self-control to Christ, who draws near humbly in the flesh upon a foal, and let us say to Him: O Saviour who comest to Thy Passion, blessed art Thou.
Theotokion
Dread is thy childbearing, Theotokos and Mother of Christ; therefore in faith we and all generations call thee blessed, and in reverence we glorify thee to all ages.
Second Canon
Irmos: The burning bush upon the mountain…
Sending out His disciples now, Christ said to them: ‘Loose the colt and bring it to me, and I will ride upon it, that I may loose the nations from their lack of reason, and as Son bring them into subjection to the Father.’
The Lord draws near: open thy gates, Bethany, and receive the Master with faith. He is come to raise Lazarus from the tomb, for He alone is all-powerful.
Glory be to the Father…
O Lord, the threefold Brightness of Thy single Power shines on our mind with the light of revelation; it turns us from the error that divides, and brings us to the divine life that unites.
Both now…
Theotokion
Rejoice, Palace of the King of all. Through thee, O Virgin Theotokos, the Kingdom of Heaven has been opened to us on earth and we dwell with the angels.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
All who dwell in deserts, in mountains and in caves, draw near and assemble with us, to meet the King and Master with palms in your hands; for He comes to save our souls.
Irmos: The burning bush upon the mountain revealed in prophecy to the Giver of the Law Christ’s birth from the Ever-Virgin for our salvation: and with never-silent songs of praise we magnify Him.
Aposticha:
TONE FOUR
by the Emperor Leo
Despising the divine commands, my soul, thou hast become an easy prey to the snares of the enemy; and by thine own choice thou hast surrendered thyself to corruption. Sunk in slumber through thy many trespasses, thou hast covered with filth the garment that God wove for thee, and made thyself unfit for the wedding of the King; and thou shalt be dragged away because of thy sin. For if thou sittest at the wedding feast clad in the raiment of the passions, He will ask thee how thou camest in, and thou shalt be cast out from the bridal chamber. But cry to the Saviour: O dread eye of God, Thou hast become what I am, without ceasing to be who Thou wast. Before Thy Crucifixion, for my sake Thou hast worn a robe of mockery: tear in pieces my sackcloth and clothe me with gladness; deliver me from the outer darkness and eternal weeping, and have mercy upon me (twice).
To the Martyrs
Come, all ye peoples, and with hymns and spiritual songs let us honour the victorious martyrs of Christ. They are lights to the world and preachers of the faith, and an everlasting fountain that flows with healing for the faithful. At their prayers grant peace to Thy world, O Christ our God, and to our souls great mercy.
Glory be to the Father…
TONE EIGHT
Having completed the forty days that bring profit to our soul, we beseech Thee in Thy love for man: Grant us also to behold the Holy Week of Thy Passion, that in it we may glorify Thy mighty acts and Thine ineffable dispensation for our sakes, singing with one mind: O Lord, glory to Thee.
Both now…
Repeat: Having completed the forty days…
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE THREE
O Lord, Thy wrath that threatens sinners cannot be endured; we are not worthy to lift up our eyes and ask for mercy from Thee. Destroy us not in Thine anger, for with Thine own hand Thou hast formed us from the earth.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 121):
TONE FOUR
I was glad when they said unto me: we will go into the house of the Lord.
℣. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee.
Lesson: Isaiah 66:10–24.
Prokimenon (Psalm 122):
TONE SIX
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℣. Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens.