Holy and Great Tuesday
MATTINS
After the Six Psalms and the Great Litany we sing Alleluia in TONE EIGHT, slowly and solemnly, with the appointed verses, and then the troparion:
TONE EIGHT
Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night; and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching, but unworthy is he whom He shall find in slothfulness. Beware, then, O my soul, and be not overcome by sleep, lest thou be given over to death and shut out from the Kingdom. But return to soberness and cry aloud: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O God: through the Theotokos have mercy upon us (three times).
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymn:
TONE FOUR
Brethren, let us love the Bridegroom and prepare our lamps with care, shining with the virtues and right faith; that, like the wise virgins of the Lord, we may be ready to enter with Him into the wedding feast. For God the Bridegroom grants to all the crown incorruptible.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Repeat.
After the second reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymn:
TONE FOUR
The priests and scribes with wicked envy gathered a lawless council against Thee, and persuaded Judas to betray Thee. Shamelessly he went and spoke against Thee to the transgressing people:
‘What will ye give me, and I will betray Him into your hands?’ Deliver our souls, O Lord, from the condemnation that was his.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Repeat.
After the third reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymn:
TONE EIGHT
Impious Judas with avaricious thoughts plots against the Master, and ponders how he will betray Him. He falls away from the light and accepts the darkness; he agrees upon the payment and sells Him that is above all price; and as the reward for his actions, in his misery he receives a hangman’s noose and death in agony. O Christ our God, deliver us from such a fate as his, and grant remission of sins to those who celebrate with love Thy most pure Passion.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Repeat.
Gospel: Matthew 22:15–23:39.
Psalm 50.
The priest: O Lord, save Thy people…
The Small Litany, and then the kontakion:
TONE TWO
Think, wretched soul, upon the hour of the end; recall with fear how the fig tree was cut down. Work diligently with the talent that is given to thee; be vigilant and cry aloud: May we not be left outside the bridal chamber of Christ!
Ikos
Why art thou slothful, O my wretched soul? Why dost thou waste thy days in thinking of unprofitable cares? Why art thou busy with the things that pass away? The last hour is at hand and we shall soon be parted from all that is here. While there is still time, return to soberness and cry: I have sinned against Thee, O my Saviour, do not cut me down like the unfruitful fig tree; but, O Christ, in Thy compassion take pity on me as I call on Thee in fear: May we not be left outside the bridal chamber of Christ!
We use the two-canticled Canon by St. Kosmas. In each canticle the irmos is sung twice, and then the troparia are repeated four or six times so as to make up the number twelve. The irmos is sung at the end of each canticle as katavasia. Before the troparia we say Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
TONE TWO
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The three holy Children were not obedient to the decree of the tyrant; but when cast into the furnace they confessed God, singing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Let us cast aside slothfulness and go to meet Christ, the immortal Bridegroom, with brightly shining lamps and with hymns, crying: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
May there be sufficient oil of fellowship in the vessels of our soul, and then we shall not lose our reward because we have gone to buy oil; and let us sing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
Ye have all received equal grace from God; cause your talent to increase, with the help of Christ who gave it you, and sing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Canticle Nine
We do not sing the Magnificat and Greater in honour than the cherubim…
Irmos: Thou hast enclosed within thy womb the God whom nothing can enclose, and thou hast brought joy into the world. We sing thy praises, O most holy Virgin.
‘Watch’, Thou hast said to Thy disciples, O loving Saviour. ‘For ye know not in what hour the Lord shall come to reward every man.’
At Thy fearful second coming, O Master, number me with the sheep at Thy right hand, overlooking the multitude of my sins.
Exapostilarion
TONE THREE
I see Thy bridal chamber adorned, O my Saviour, and I have no wedding garment that I may enter there. Make the robe of my soul to shine, O Giver of Light, and save me (three times).
Lauds. We sing four stichera:
TONE ONE
Into the splendour of Thy saints how shall I enter? For I am unworthy, and if I dare to come into the bridal chamber, my clothing will accuse me, since it is not a wedding garment; and I shall be cast out by the angels, bound hand and foot. Cleanse, O Lord, the filth from my soul and save me in Thy love for mankind (twice).
TONE TWO
I slumber in slothfulness of soul, O Christ the Bridegroom; I have no lamp that burns with virtue, and like the foolish virgins I go wandering when it is time to act. Close not Thy compassionate heart against me, Master, but dispel dark sleep from me and rouse me up; and lead me with the wise virgins into Thy bridal chamber, where those who feast sing with pure voice unceasingly: O Lord, glory to Thee (twice).
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
TONE FOUR
O my soul, thou hast heard the condemnation of him who hid his talent: hide not the word of God. Proclaim His wonders, increase the gifts of grace entrusted to thee, and thou shall enter into the joy of thy Lord.
Aposticha:
TONE SIX
Come, ye faithful, and let us serve the Master eagerly, for He gives riches to His servants. Each of us according to the measure that we have received, let us increase the talent of grace. Let one gain wisdom through good deeds; let another celebrate the Liturgy with beauty; let another share his faith by preaching to the uninstructed; let another give his wealth to the poor. So shall we increase what is entrusted to us, and as faithful stewards of His grace we shall be counted worthy of the Master’s joy. Bestow this joy upon us, Christ our God, in Thy love for mankind.
℣. We were filled in the morning with Thy mercy…
When Thou shalt come, O Jesus, in glory with the angelic hosts and shalt sit upon the throne of judgement, do not send me from Thy presence, O good Shepherd. Thou dost accept those who stand upon the right, but those upon the left have turned away from Thee. Destroy me not with the goats, though I am hardened in sin, but number me with the sheep on Thy right hand, and save me in Thy love for mankind.
℣. And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us…
O Bridegroom, surpassing all in beauty, Thou hast called us to the spiritual feast of Thy bridal chamber. Strip from me the disfigurement of sin, through participation in Thy sufferings; clothe me in the glorious robe of Thy beauty, and in Thy compassion make me feast with joy at Thy Kingdom.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
TONE SEVEN
Behold, my soul, the Master entrusts thee with a talent. Receive His gift with fear; make it gain interest for Him; distribute to the needy, and make the Lord thy friend. So shalt thou stand on His right hand when He comes in glory, and thou shalt hear His blessed words: ‘Enter, servant, into the joy of thy Lord.’ I have gone astray, O Saviour, but in Thy great mercy count me worthy of this joy.
And the rest of Mattins, as yesterday.
At the Hours we read the appointed portions of the Psalter and of the Gospel.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE ONE
To those who sin beyond measure, give plenteous forgiveness, O Saviour. At the intercessions of Thy most pure Mother, grant us uncondemned to venerate Thy holy Resurrection, for Thou alone art rich in mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 129):
TONE SIX
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption.
℣. Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord.
Lesson: Ezekiel 1:21–8.
Prokimenon (Psalm 130):
TONE FOUR
Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth and for evermore.
℣. Lord, my heart is not exalted, nor are mine eyes lofty.
And the rest of the Sixth Hour as on Great Monday.
VESPERS
To Lord, I have cried, ten stichera are sung, from Lauds and the Aposticha at Mattins (see pp. 488 ff):
Into the splendour of Thy saints… (twice).
I slumber in slothfulness of soul… (twice).
O my soul, thou hast heard the condemnation of him who hid his talent… (twice).
Come, ye faithful, and let us serve the Master eagerly… (twice). When Thou shalt come, O Jesus, in glory…
O Bridegroom, surpassing all in beauty…
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Behold, my soul, the Master entrusts thee with a talent…
Entrance with the Gospel, O joyful Light…
Prokimenon (Psalm 131):
TONE SIX
Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest: Thou and the Ark of Thy holiness.
℣. Lord, remember David and all his meekness.
Lesson: Exodus 2:5–10.
Prokimenon (Psalm 132):
TONE FOUR
Behold, how good and joyful it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
℣. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard.
Lesson: Job 1:13–22.
Then Let my prayer be set forth in Thy sight…
Gospel: Matthew 24:36–26:2.
And the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified.
GREAT COMPLINE
After the Small Doxology we use the following three-canticled Canon by St. Andrew of Crete. The irmoi are sung twice. Before each of the troparia we say Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
TONE TWO
Canticle Three
Irmos: O God, the husbandman of all good trees and fruit, make fruitful my barren mind in Thy compassion.
It is the moment of the end: let us turn back, attentive to Christ’s teaching. For He shall come in the twinkling of an eye; He shall come and shall not tarry, to judge His world.
To show us how sudden will be His Coming, Christ spoke of the unforeseen destruction that overwhelmed the earth in the days of Noah.
The door of the bridal chamber is open; God’s wedding feast has been prepared within; the Bridegroom is at hand and calls us. Let us then make ready.
The house of Simon contained Thee whom nothing can contain, O Jesus our King, and the woman who was a sinner anointed Thee with oil of myrrh.
The woman was filled with a mystical fragrance and was delivered from the stench of her many sins, O Saviour: for from Thee flows the myrrh of life.
In loving self-abasement, O Christ, Thou hast eaten with men, although Thou art Thyself the heavenly food and the Life of those that hunger.
The ungrateful disciple turned traitor and denied Thee, O Christ; and taking the whole band of wicked men, he brought them to seize Thee.
Glory be to the Father…
I worship Thee, O Son, with the Father and the Spirit of righteousness: I sing in praise of the one Nature, distinguishing the Persons but uniting the Essence.
Both now…
Theotokion
The Ewe that bore Thee, O Jesus my God, Shepherd and Lamb, ever makes intercession for all those born on earth who believe in Thee.
Sessional Hymn
TONE ONE
Lo, the evil council has gathered in hatred to condemn the Lord who sits on high as Judge of all. Herod and Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas now join together, to try Him who alone is longsuffering.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The Lord of old foreshadowed the miracle of the Virgin to Moses in the bush upon Mount Sinai: let us praise, bless and exalt Him above all for ever.
Although Thou wast not ignorant of the time of our end, for Thou dost watch over all the ages, yet Thou hast said Thou knewest not that day; and so Thou hast set bounds to all men’s knowledge, to keep them in humbleness of mind.
When Thou sittest in judgement, like a shepherd dividing the sheep from the goats, as Thou hast said, then deprive us not, O Saviour, of a place at Thy divine right hand.
O Christ, Thou art our Passover, sacrificed as Lamb and Victim on behalf of all; Thou art the propitiation for our sins; and we exalt Thy divine Passion above all for ever.
All thy life, my soul, is like a mill, a field, and a house: therefore acquire a heart ready for God, that the corruption of the flesh may not hold thee back.
Not only with Pharisees, O Saviour, not only with Simon wast Thou pleased to eat as guest; but publicans and harlots also share in Thy compassion.
In his love for money the traitor Judas, when the ointment was poured out, took thought how he might sell the Master; and going to wicked men he agreed with them upon the price.
O blessed hands, O blessed hair and lips of the chaste harlot! With her hands, O Saviour, she poured out the ointment on Thy feet, and she wiped them with her hair, and kissed them often with her lips.
As Thou was sitting at supper, O Word, a woman came to Thee; and, weeping at Thy feet, she took the alabaster box and poured the oil of myrrh upon Thy head, who art the myrrh of immortality.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
With the Father we glorify the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity one in Godhead, and we cry: Holy, holy, holy art Thou unto all ages.
Both now…
Theotokion
At the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and of Thine apostles, O Saviour, send down Thy mercy on us in abundance and grant Thy peace to Thy people.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Repeat the irmos, The Lord of all foreshadowed…
Canticle Nine
Irmos: With faith let us magnify the only Theotokos, for in ways surpassing nature she has conceived within her womb, according to the flesh, the Word that outside time shone forth from the Father.
It is the time for work: our aim is salvation. O my soul, take thy talent, the image that was given to thee of old, and by trading gain eternal life.
Let us prepare our souls like shining lamps, and when the Bridegroom comes, let us enter with Him into the eternal marriage feast, before the door is shut.
O Jesus, wishing to show Thy surpassing humility unto all, Thou who art food to the hungry hast eaten in the house of Simon.
O Jesus, life-giving bread, Thou hast eaten with Simon the Pharisee, that the harlot might gain Thy grace that is beyond all price, by pouring out the ointment on Thy head.
‘My hands are filthy and I have a harlot’s lips; my life is impure and my body corrupt; but release and forgive me’, cried the harlot to Christ.
The woman drew near to Thee, O Saviour, and poured out the sweet-smelling ointment on Thy feet; and she received the sweet fragrance of forgiveness.
‘Rich in sweet scents, yet poor in virtues, I offer Thee what I have: grant me in return what Thou hast, and release and forgive me’, cried the harlot to Christ.
‘My oil of myrrh is corruptible, Thine is the myrrh of life, for Thy Name is myrrh poured out upon the worthy. But release and forgive me’, cried the harlot to Christ.
Glory be to the Father…
Thou art without beginning, O Father; Thou art uncreated, O Son; Thou dost sit upon the same throne, O Spirit; Unity in Nature, Trinity in Persons, one true God.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Theotokos, the hope of those that ever honour thee, cease not to pray to thy Son, that I may he delivered from danger and all manner of temptations.
Repeat the irmos, With faith let us magnify…