New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
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Mon04Mar2024
Our Venerable Father Gerasimus of the Jordan (475).
Great Fast Day 22. 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 7
Since repentance will cure you from all sickness, O my soul,* draw near with tears and sighing to this house of healing,* and cry to the Physician of our souls and bodies:* ‘Free me from my sins, O Lord who loves mankind,* and number me with the Harlot, the Thief and the Publican;* grant me, O God, the forgiveness of my trespasses and save me.
O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, neither chasten me in Your wrath.
I have not emulated the repentance of the Publican;* I have not gained the tears of the Harlot.* In my blindness, I cannot understand how to amend my life as they did.* But in Your compassion, O God, save me, for You love mankind.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Your saints, O Lord, fought bravely on this earth:* they trampled underfoot the enemy and overthrew the error of idolatry.* Therefore, they received crowns from You, O loving Master,* God of all compassion, have mercy on us.
Glory… Now…
All-holy Virgin, you are 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 you gaze with your own eyes upon the Incarnate Word.* Without ceasing pray to Him for our souls.
Sessional Hymn II, Tone 8
O faithful, let us bow down before the all-honoured Wood* upon which the Fashioner of all has been raised.* It lays before us, sanctifying the body and soul of those who draw near with faith,* washing clean the defilement of sin from all who fast and ever sing the praises of Christ,* the only Benefactor.
Glory… Now…
The Word of the Father came down to earth,* and an angel of light cried to the Theotokos:* “Rejoice, O blessed One, who alone have guarded the bridal chamber:* you shall conceive the pre-eternal God and Lord,* that in His divine power He may save mankind from delusion.”
Sessional Hymn III, Tone 3
Having reached the middle of the season of abstinence, O my Christ,* and attained to the veneration of Your life-giving Cross,* we fall down before it and call upon You:* Mighty are You, O Lover of mankind,* and mighty are Your works,* for You have made manifest Your precious Cross,* before which we fall down in fear and worship as we cry aloud:* Glory to Your exceedingly loving compassion.
Glory… Now…
As an uncultivated vine, O Virgin,* you sprouted forth the most comely Cluster of grapes* which pours forth upon us the wine of salvation* making glad the souls and bodies of all.* Wherefore, ever blessing you as the cause of good things,* with the angel we cry out to you:* Rejoice, O you who are full of grace!
Canon
Ode 1
Irmos: The wonderworking staff of Moses, striking and dividing the sea in the figure of a cross,* once drowned Pharaoh the pursuing charioteer,* while it saved the fleeing people of Israel as they fled on foot,* chanting a hymn to God.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
The feast of the veneration of the Cross has appeared to all, effulgent with the sunlight of salvation, and shedding its radiance upon all those held fast by the darkness of the passions. Let us then make haste with pure hearts to adore the Cross.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Having been cleansed by the grace of the Fast, let us with voices of thanksgiving cry aloud with pure minds to Him who alone is pure: “You have given Your blood for our sake, O Word, sanctifying us by Your Cross.”
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
At all times bound by the attacks of the serpent, I lie gravely wounded, O Saviour. By Your Passion on the Cross, by which You have raised up our first-formed parents; raise me up and guide me to fulfil Your will.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Standing by Your Cross, O Lord and Master, the Virgin looked upon Your wounds: and, pierced in her soul, she cried aloud: “Woe is me, O my Son! I did not feel the pain of childbirth when I bore You, but now I suffer in anguish.”
Katavasia: Let us sing to the Lord, who has wrought marvellous wonders in the Red Sea:* for in the deep waters He has drowned our enemies and saved Israel.* To Him alone let us sing,* for He is glorified.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
This is a holy and light-bearing week, in which the precious Cross has been exalted before all the world. With enlightened souls let us come, adoring it with fear and love, and let us glorify in songs Christ who has been crucified thereupon.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
We fall down and worship Your Cross, O Christ, and in expectation glorify Your Resurrection; we chant in praise of the nails that pierced You, and we honour Your spear, for through them the eyes and lips of our souls and bodies are made pure.
Glory…
We hymn the Trinity praised in a Unity of Essence, the Father and Son with the Holy Spirit, beginningless Godhead, eternal and uncreated, Life and fountain of Light: with all mankind we worship You who have brought all things into being.
Now…
We sing of you, O pure Virgin Theotokos, the cherubic chariot, from whom God has been born. For you alone are a fount of incorruption, bringing forth life to all, and from whence we draw the waters of healing.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
Having reached the middle of the forty days’ Fast, with eager hearts let us press forward with Christ to the divine Passion; that, crucified with Him, we may be sharers in His Resurrection.
Katavasia: Let us sing to the Lord, who has wrought marvellous wonders in the Red Sea:* for in the deep waters He has drowned our enemies and saved Israel.* To Him alone let us sing,* for He is glorified.
Ode 8
Irmos: In his wrath the Chaldean tyrant made the furnace blaze,* with heat fanned sevenfold for the servants of God;* but when he perceived that they had been saved by a greater power* he cried aloud to the Creator and Redeemer;* “O children bless, O priests praise,* O people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
O Lord, have mercy on my soul and mind, wounded as they are by poisonous passions; compassionately assuage me by Your Cross and the Blood that flows from Your side, that I may sing with heartfelt fervour: “O priests bless and people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Of old Moses prefigured you, O precious Cross, lifting his arms up upon the mountain, putting Amalek to flight; and today, as we fall down and worship you, we put the hosts of demons to flight, chanting with faith: “O priests bless and people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
I am shaken by the passions, ensnared by enemies, and led away by evil habits. Have compassion upon me, O compassionately loving Lord, and protect me with Your Cross, that with an unshaken heart I may chant: “O children bless, O priests praise, O people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Lamenting in anguish, crying out with a mother’s grief, unable to bear the agony in the depths of thy soul, you gazed upon Him who has been born from your womb, hanging upon the Cross, and cry aloud: “O Child, what is this that I see? How do You suffer, who by nature cannot suffer? It is because You seek to deliver all mankind from corruption.”
Katavasia: God is unceasingly glorified on high by the Angels,* O heaven of heavens, earth and mountains, plains and abysses, and all the human,* with hymns as to the Creator and Redeemer,* bless and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Beholding the Cross of Christ lying before us in Church, let us draw near in fear and faith, O brethren, and let us fall down and worship it crying aloud: “You have brought life to mankind, O Giver of Light.”
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Heaven revealed you, O life-giving Cross, as the ensign of victory in battle, the unconquerable weapon of kings, the destroyer of enemies, the horn of the Churches, and the salvation of the faithful.
We bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.
I glorify the Holy Father, I honour the Holy Son, and I sing in praise of the Holy Spirit, simple Trinity, one in Essence. Each Person is God, Light and Lights, emanating from a single Sun.
Now…
Rejoice, impassible Gate; Rejoice, Bush unconsumed by fire; Rejoice, golden Vessel of manna; Rejoice, Mountain un-hewn by man; Rejoice, O Theotokos, the indestructible hope and rampart of those who put their trust in you.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
O brethren, having come to the middle of the Fast, in good courage and with willing hearts let us complete with the help of God, the part which still remains, that with joy we may behold the Pascha of the risen Christ.
We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!
Katavasia: God is unceasingly glorified on high by the Angels,* O heaven of heavens, earth and mountains, plains and abysses, and all the human,* with hymns as to the Creator and Redeemer,* bless and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Ode 9
Irmos: All are awestruck at hearing of God’s ineffable condescension,* for the Most High voluntarily descended and assumed flesh,* becoming man in the Virgin’s womb;* wherefore we the faithful magnify the most pure Theotokos.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Blessing his grandchildren of old, Jacob openly prefigured the precious Cross, by which, O compassionate Lord, bless and grant grace to us who fall down and worship it, and glorify You as the Redeemer of all.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Having cleansed the soul and mind by the water of fasting, O faithful, let us adore the life-giving and divine Wood that lays before us: for it is a fount of forgiveness and heavenly light, a source of life and true rejoicing.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
I know, O Lord, that You are to come in the glory of the Godhead as the dread Judge, laying bare the hidden sins of all. Wherefore I call upon You, O Good One: I have sinned, forgive me and count not my many and grievous sins.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
The Ewe-lamb having beheld the Lamb nailed upon the cross, and the light of the sun darkened, said weeping: “O Jesus, sun of glory, You have set in death. But shine forth with the light of Your Resurrection upon those who love You.”
Katavasia: Upon Mount Sinai Moses saw you in the bush,* as one who conceived the fire of the Godhead within your womb, and yet remained unconsumed.* Daniel saw you as a mountain not cut by the hand of man,* and Isaiah proclaimed you as the Rod that blossomed forth from the root of David.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Today let us all fall down and worship the most precious Cross at the place where the feet of our God and Master stood, as David prophetically said, for He who encloses all things in the hollow of His hand, has ascended it.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
O you that dwell on earth, cleansed by fasting draw near and behold today, the all-honoured Cross that lies before you. Fall down and worship it in fear and rejoice in faith, as you draw from it the sanctification of your souls.
Glory…
The Trinity supreme in Godhead is by Essence an undivided Unity. Though single in Nature, it is distinguished in Hypostases; though indivisible, it is divided; though one, it is three: the Father, Son, and Spirit of Life, together watching over all things.
Now…
Who has ever heard of a virgin that bore a child and a mother that knew not a man? O Mary, this miracle has been accomplished in you, but pray-tell how? “Do not enquire into the mystery of my childbearing: it is altogether true yet transcends the understanding of man.”
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
With all mankind let us offer thankful praise to God, as we now behold and adore the all-holy Cross. Understand, you demons, and submit to the Cross; understand, you barbarian peoples, and submit to it: for by it God is with us.
Katavasia: Upon Mount Sinai Moses saw you in the bush,* as one who conceived the fire of the Godhead within your womb, and yet remained unconsumed.* Daniel saw you as a mountain not cut by the hand of man,* and Isaiah proclaimed you as the Rod that blossomed forth from the root of David.
Aposticha
Tone 6
The most excellent path to exaltation is humility,* as You Yourself have shown us, O Christ;* for You emptied Yourself and take the form of a servant.* You did not hearken to the arrogant prayer of the Pharisee,* but accepting the contrite sighing of the Publican in the heavens,* You have manifest Yourself as the blameless sacrifice.* Wherefore I also cry out to You: Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,* O my Saviour, and save 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.
The most excellent path to exaltation is humility,* as You Yourself have shown us, O Christ;* for You emptied Yourself and take the form of a servant.* You did not hearken to the arrogant prayer of the Pharisee,* but accepting the contrite sighing of the Publican in the heavens,* You have manifest Yourself as the blameless sacrifice.* Wherefore I also cry out to You: Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,* O my Saviour, and save 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.
At the commemoration of Your martyrs, O Lord,* the whole of creation keeps festival;* heaven with the angels rejoices,* and the earth with all mankind is exceedingly glad.* By their intercessions have mercy upon us.
Glory… Now…
You received the word of the Archangel,* revealing yourself to be the throne of the cherubim,* and you bore in your arms, O Theotokos* the Hope of our souls.
VESPERS ON MONDAY EVENING
At Psalm 140
Tone 8
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Having reached the middle of the season of abstinence today,* by the power of the Cross,* let us now praise Him who has been raised upon it in the midst of the earth;* and crying aloud let us glorify Him as our Saviour and God:* Grant us to behold, O Master, Your Passion and Your holy Resurrection,* and bestow upon us forgiveness and great mercy.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Let us humble the passions of the body,* by abstinence from food and turning away from pleasures,* and let us adore with faith the Wood of the Cross;* for it lays before us to be worshiped,* sanctifying with divine grace all of mankind,* wherefore let us cry aloud to the Lord:* We thank You, O compassionately loving One,* who through the Cross have saved our souls.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Falling down and worshiping the Cross, let us all cry aloud:* Rejoice, Wood of life; Rejoice, holy sceptre of Christ;* Rejoice, heavenly glory of mankind; Rejoice, might of the faith;* Rejoice, unconquerable weapon; Rejoice, vanquisher of enemies;* Rejoice, radiant light that saves the world;* Rejoice, great glory of the martyrs; Rejoice, power of the righteous;* Rejoice, splendour of the angels;* Rejoice, all-honoured Cross!
Tone 8
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O unwaning, divine ray, luminous radiance of the commandments of God,* ever-memorable athlete, most excellent of martyrs!* You have dispelled the gloom of darkness* like a brilliant star, O blessed one!* O good offering, and unblemished sacrifice!* Wherefore, unceasingly entreat Christ, that He save our souls.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O proclaimer of the truth!* Showing yourself to be a sword-wielding opponent of ungodliness,* you felled the enemy with the suffering of your head, O all-wise one,* and clearly proclaimed the command of God,* saying good things to the unlearned people.* O Conon, dweller with the martyrs:* entreat the Deliverer, that He deliver from the passions* your servants who hymn you.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O good change which the Lord of our fathers wrought upon you* by the right hand of the Most High, O most glorious athlete!* You were shown to be a fruit blossoming forth from the root of unbelief, O most blessed and all-praised Conon,* and, having Christ as your most excellent Leader,* you mightily overthrew the hordes of the demons.
Glory… Now…
Rejoice, bearer of the divine Light,* star most bright, and tabernacle of sanctity!* From your all-pure womb Light has shone upon us,* illumining the ends of the earth, and enlightening them with His grace.* Rejoice, O all-pure one, origin of salvation!* Rejoice, report and saying awesome to them that trust in you!
Prokeimenon I, Tone 8
Hearken, O God, to my prayer,* when I make supplication to You.
verse: Rescue my soul from fear of the enemy.
Reading I
Genesis 8:21-9:7
Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
Hearken to us, O God our Saviour,* hope of all the ends of the earth* and of them that be far off at sea.
Verse: To You is due praise, O God, in Sion; and to You shall a vow be rendered in Jerusalem.
Reading II
Proverbs 11:19-12:6
Aposticha
Tone 8
The self-praising Pharisee was rejected for his boasting,* but the humble-minded Publican was justified by his silent prayer.* Wherefore learn, O my soul, the difference between the two;* and choosing humble-mindedness, embrace it in your heart:* for Christ has promised to give grace to the humble,* since He is the Lover of mankind.
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.
The self-praising Pharisee was rejected for his boasting,* but the humble-minded Publican was justified by his silent prayer.* Wherefore learn, O my soul, the difference between the two;* and choosing humble-mindedness, embrace it in your heart:* for Christ has promised to give grace to the humble,* since He is the Lover of mankind.
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.
O martyrs of the Lord, we beseech you,* offer intercession to our God:* pray that abundant compassion be graced upon our souls* and the forgiveness of our many sins.
Glory… Now…
I flee to your protection, O holy Virgin Theotokos,* for I know that through you I shall obtain salvation;* for you are able to help me, O pure one.