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Event Information:
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Mon26Feb2024
Our Holy Father Porphyrius, Bishop of Gaza (420). Blessed Edigna.
Great Fast Day 15. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
MONDAY MORNING MATINS
Sessional Hymn I, Tone
I think upon the fearful day and lament my evil acts.* What answer shall I give to the immortal King?* And with what boldness shall I the Prodigal gaze upon the Judge?* O compassionate Father, only-begotten Son, and Holy Spirit,* have mercy on me.
O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, neither chasten me in Your wrath.
In the valley of lamentation, in the place You have appointed,* when You shall sit, O merciful Lord, to execute just judgment,* publish not my secret sins; condemn me not before the angels;* but spare me, O God, and have mercy on me.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
There is light at all times for the righteous.* For, illumined by You, the saints shine always as the stars of heaven,* quenching the lamp of the godless.* Through their prayers, O my Lord and Saviour,* make my lamp to shine and save me.
Glory… Now…
With all our heart and never silent mouths* let us praise the most glorious Mother of God, more holy than the holy angels.* Let us confess her as Theotokos, for in very truth she gave birth to God made flesh,* and without ceasing she prays for our souls.
Sessional Hymn II, Tone 8
With the fire of abstinence let us burn up the thorns of the passions,* and with the streams of our tears let us extinguish the unquenchable flame;* and let us cry aloud to Him who shall come to judge all the world:* O Saviour and tenderly-compassionate Lord, preserve us uncondemned* and grant us the forgiveness of sins.
Glory… Now…
O pure and blessed one, who are full of the grace of God,* with the powers on High, the archangels and all the incorporeal ones,* beseech Him who was born from you* out of the loving-kindness of His compassion;* that before the end He grant us forgiveness,* the cleansing of our sins and amendment of life,* that we may find mercy.
Sessional Hymn III, Tone 8
O holy and venerable Trinity, as we enter now upon the third week of the Fast,* preserve us safe from harm and condemnation.* Count us worthy to pass through the time that yet remains,* fulfilling all Your commandments;* that offering up our hymns of praise with a pure conscience,* we may behold the glorious Resurrection.
Glory… Now…
You are the protection of the faithful, O Birthgiver of God,* the joy of the suffering, and comforter of those who mourn;* O all-pure Virgin, pray on our behalf to Him who was supra-naturally born from your womb,* together with the angels and the principalities,* that in the hour of judgment* we may be delivered from condemnation.
Canon
Ode 1
Irmos: Let us, O you people, send up a hymn to our wondrous God* who has freed Israel from bondage,* chanting a hymn of victory and crying aloud:* We sing to You, O only Master.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In Your divine compassion, accept me in repentance. I have wasted my life like the Prodigal, but cry aloud to You: “I have sinned and have no need of accusers; for I myself bring before You all my shameful deeds.”
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have forsaken the food of angels, and like a beast, fed upon evil wickedness. But now that I have turned back, receive me as one of Your hired servants, O heavenly Father.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O faithful, let us forsake the night of pleasures, and hasten to the light of truth, that we be deemed worthy to share in the radiant feast of joy.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, most holy Temple, the Fleece upon which the dew of God has fallen, the sealed Fount of the waters of immortality. Preserve your flock, O Lady, from the attacks of every enemy.
Irmos: Let us sing to God,* who delivered Israel from the bitter bondage of Pharaoh,* guiding them with a pillar of fire and a cloud of light,* for He has been glorified.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
As of old Israel fasted for three days, so let us sanctify ourselves, O brethren, during the first three weeks of the Fast; let us draw near to the mount of prayer and, harkening to the divine voice, let us sing in praise of Christ.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Come, O people, and strengthened by fasting like Samson, let us destroy the demon of gluttony, as he once destroyed the lion; but let us take heed lest the Delilah of our passions deceive us.
Glory…
Like the cherubim I sing Your praises, O Holy Divinity: three Lights and one Light, one Life and three; God who begets, God the begotten, and the Spirit of Life proceeding from the Father.
Now…
Rejoice, joy of Eve: for through your childbearing, O pure One, her sorrow has ended. Rejoice, radiant cloud of the never-waning Light, from which Christ our God has dawned forth.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
As David once armed himself with faith, so let us arm ourselves with humility; and as he overthrew Goliath, so let us overthrow our proud mind, and slay the hosts of sensual passions.
Katavasia: Let us sing to God,* who delivered Israel from the bitter bondage of Pharaoh,* guiding them with a pillar of fire and a cloud of light,* for He has been glorified.
Ode 8
Irmos: Treading down the fiery flame in the furnace, the divinely eloquent children sang:* “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.”
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have wasted the riches the Father has given me with harlots and have been cast out from the forecourt of grace; but receive me back, O Father, according to Your immeasurable mercy.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Let us shine with the effulgent radiance of prayer and fasting, and so escape from the darkness of sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The choir of the noetic powers entreats You, the cherubim pray to You together with the company of the saints: O most merciful Christ, save our souls.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O Virgin Theotokos, who has conceived the un-husbanded Vine, bring me who am darkened by the drunkenness of sin, back to sobriety, for you are the hope of our souls.
Irmos: O You who have covered Your high places with the waters,* who hast set the sands to bound the sea and upholds all things:* the sun sings Your praises, the moon gives You glory, every creature offers a hymn to You,* as the Fashioner of all, throughout the ages.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Come, O brethren, and let us delight in the Fast, for it is the Father’s treasury, a thing of wonder, and the mother of all who worship Christ the Master. It gives strength to the body and enlightens the mind and heart.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Emulate the wondrous example of Gideon, O my soul, and bearing as your weapons the three virtues of faith, hope, and love for Christ, go out and slay the alien passions, as he did, conquering the people of Midian with three hundred men.
We bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.
I glorify You as the Trinity, and I sing Your praises as a single Unity: one Godhead, the almighty Father, the Sovereign Son, and the Holy Spirit; One Power ruling over all, one Nature, and one Kingdom, worshipped in three Hypostases.
Now…
She who in a manner transcending nature escaped the pain of labour, Your Mother, suffered at Your Holy Passion, for she was overcome with agony upon seeing You willingly nailed upon the Cross by the Jews, O You who suspended the earth upon the waters.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
When You shall come again in glory with thousands and ten thousands of Your heavenly powers to judge all the earth, O Lord, spare me then, forgive me, and deliver me from condemnation. Put me not to shame; condemn me not to the never-ending fire.
We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!
Katavasia: O You who have covered Your high places with the waters,* who hast set the sands to bound the sea and upholds all things:* the sun sings Your praises, the moon gives You glory, every creature offers a hymn to You,* as the Fashioner of all, throughout the ages.
Ode 9
Irmos: The prophetic vision of the lawgiver on the mountain, in the fire of the burning bush,* prefigured thy birth-giving, O Ever-Virgin,* the salvation of us the faithful,* wherefore with never silent hymns we magnify you.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O Father, I have departed far from Your love, and have enslaved myself to sensual desires. But receive me now who have returned to You, as did the Prodigal, for You alone are plenteous in mercy.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In my wretchedness I am like the withered fig tree, for the only fruit I have borne is wickedness; and I deserve to be cast into the fire. Show me to be fruitful O Lord, that I may offer You the fruit of my good actions.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my soul, abstain from wickedness and evil; refrain from anger, wrath, and every sin. For such is the fast desired by Jesus, the Lover of mankind.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O Theotokos, you are our defence and rampart; you are the help of those who flee to you, and we implore you now, that we be delivered from our enemies.
Irmos: We magnify you, O all-undefiled One, Mother of Christ our God,* for you were overshadowed by the Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
As an acceptable gift, let us offer to Christ God a pure fast and abstinence from evil.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my soul, seeing how Elisha fed the prophets in the days of old, partake of whatever food there be, giving thanks to Christ.
Glory…
I sing Your praises, O Godhead, one Form in three Hypostases, the beginningless Father, the Son, and the Spirit of Life.
Now…
O Maiden, Mother of God, bridal chamber of Christ the heavenly King, save by your intercessions those who praise you with love.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
Daniel in the lion’s den tamed the wild beasts with the muzzle of abstinence: let us also subdue the passions by fasting.
Katavasia: We magnify you, O all-undefiled One, Mother of Christ our God,* for you were overshadowed by the Holy Spirit.
Aposticha
Tone 4
Clothed in the fetid garment of my sins,* I have been cast out from the bridal chamber of joy;* but in accordance with Your ineffable compassion, take pity on me,* as You took pity on the Prodigal Son,* and be merciful to me.
In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth Your work to Your servants; let Your glory shine on their children.
Clothed in the fetid garment of my sins,* I have been cast out from the bridal chamber of joy;* but in accordance with Your ineffable compassion, take pity on me,* as You took pity on the Prodigal Son,* and be merciful to me.
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands, give success to the work of our hands.
Who is not filled with wonder,* at beholding the good struggle of the holy martyrs?* How, armed with the Cross and confessing Christ,* while yet in the body, they defeated the bodiless foe;* whereby, they put to flight the demons and conquered the barbarian enemies.* Pray without ceasing that our souls be saved.
Glory… Now…
O inextinguishable lamp, and throne of righteousness* most pure Sovereign Lady:* pray that our souls be saved.
MONDAY EVENING VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 1
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Let us love the Fast:* for by the power of the Spirit it withers the most wicked passions,* giving us strength to do godly works;* it enables our mind to ascend to heaven,* and gains the forgiveness of sins,* from our compassionate God.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
In my wretchedness I have shamefully wasted my life with harlots, O Lord,* but like the Prodigal, I cry out to You with compunction:* I have sinned, O heavenly Father;* cleanse and save me.* Reject me not who have departed far from You and am now destitute of blessed deeds.
Tone 3
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Come, let us with cymbals and songs of praise* greet the season of honourable abstinence;* for through the Fast we noetically trample underfoot the serpent, the origin of evil.* Wherefore with boldness let us cry out to Christ:* Grant us, O Saviour, to gaze upon Your all-holy Cross without condemnation * and to venerate it, radiantly keeping festival* with psalms and hymns.
Tone 4
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
With most pious thought, with purity, and holiness of mind,* by restraining the passions, and by observing the commandments of Christ and piety,* O most blessed one who are most rich,* you strove to preserve the dignity of the image* which was, in the beginning,* fashioned according to the image and likeness of God.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Having first undertaken ascetic endeavour,* and followed it afterwards with suffering in divinely wise manner,* in both you were well pleasing to the Creator,* who alone requires of us purity and nobility of soul.* And glorifying His advent in the flesh,* you venerated the holy image of His divine manhood.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Denouncing, O venerable one,* those who wickedly rejected the incarnation of the Word,* you perfected the truth, upholding it by enduring wounds and all manner of afflictions,* by your fetters and imprisonment;* wherefore, you became an heir to the kingdom of Christ,* to ineffable joy and everlasting radiance.
Glory… Now…
As you have untiring supplication* and abiding entreaty before God, O all-pure one,* quell the temptations and still the waves of my wretched soul;* calm my heart, which is afflicted, I beseech you, O Maiden,* and bring grace to my mind,* that I may glorify you as is meet.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
In God we will boast all the day long:* and in Your Name will we give praise in the age to come.
verse: O God, with our ears we have heard, for our fathers have told us.
Vespers Reading I
Genesis 6:9-22
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
I shall commemorate your name* in every generation and generation
verse: My heart is inclined unto a good word.
Vespers Reading II
Proverbs 8:1-21
Aposticha
Tone 2
O good Father, in my madness I am stripped bare of Your good gifts.* I have wandered far from You and enslaved myself to a strange citizen.* I lead unclean beasts to pasture,* and eating of their food I remain hungry.* But, knowing Your loving-kindness, I flee to You:* in Your love for mankind, cover my nakedness and save me.
I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.
O good Father, in my madness I am stripped bare of Your good gifts.* I have wandered far from You and enslaved myself to a strange citizen.* I lead unclean beasts to pasture,* and eating of their food I remain hungry.* But, knowing Your loving-kindness, I flee to You:* in Your love for mankind, cover my nakedness and save me.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.
Because the holy martyrs intercede for us* and sing in praise of Christ,* all deception has ceased,* and humanity saved been saved by faith.
Glory… Now…
From your virginal womb the light of the Word* has shone forth upon the world.* Beseech Him, O pure all-holy Virgin,* that our souls be delivered from the snares of the enemy.