New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
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Thu07Mar2024
Holy Priest-Martyrs and Bishops of Cherson Basil, Ephrem, Capiton, Eugene, Etherius and Others (284-305). Passing into Eternal Life (1935) of Blessed Leonid Fedorov, Exarch of the Russian Catholic Church, and Martyr.
Great Fast Day 25. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
THURSDAY MORNING MATINS
Sessional Hymn I, Tone 7
O Word and Master, You have made Your Apostles husbandmen in Your field,* and they cut down the idols.* Preaching You to the nations,* with true faith and reverence they have magnified You.
Their voice is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
O children of the Church,* let us celebrate the memory of the all-glorious apostles,* and let us sing in praise of Christ.* For through the preaching of repentance they have saved those guilty of sin;* driving out all error, they bring light into the world* and offer intercession for the inhabited earth.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
We entreat you, O saints, intercede for the forgiveness of our sins,* and pray for our deliverance from the torment that awaits us and from bitter death.
Glory… Now…
Hail, for from you the Word took flesh and dwelt among us,* while remaining still unchanged!* Hail, honoured Virgin, joy of the apostles and the martyrs, and salvation of the faithful!* Hail, Mother of Christ our God!
Sessional Hymn II, Tone 1
O glorious apostles, firmly established by the might of the Cross,* you have destroyed the falsehoods of the enemy, interceding on behalf of our souls.* Wherefore you rejoice today in its veneration,* praying on our behalf to Him* who alone is the Lover of mankind.
Glory… Now…
O Mary, holy tabernacle of the Master,* raise us up who have fallen into the pit, of wicked despair, transgressions and afflictions;* for you are the salvation, the help and the mighty protection of sinners,* and you save your servants.
Sessional Hymn III, Tone 7
Beholding, O Lord, Your Cross before us today,* we approach it in faith with hymns and songs,* adoring it in reverent fear and joy.* Sanctify Your servants and grant peace to Your world by its manifestation before us,* for You alone are plenteous in mercy.
Glory… Now…
O Lord, we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture;* bring us back, who have strayed into corruption;* and as a Shepherd gather us the scattered sheep together;* and have mercy on Your flock O Lover of mankind,* and, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, have compassion upon us,* for You alone are free from sin.
Canon
Ode 4
Irmos: On divine watch let the God-inspired Habakkuk stand with us,* and show forth the light-bearing angel clearly saying:* Today salvation is come to the world,* for Christ is risen as Almighty.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
O Holy Cross, which grants us sanctifying grace, you are the firm foundation and glory of the apostles, placed before us for our adoration today, you are exalted throughout the whole inhabited world; lightening the burden of the season of the Fast for us.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Moses foreshadowed the Cross, stretching out his arms and defeating Amalek. Let us emulate him, stretching out our arms in fasting and prayer, that we may conquer the host of demons, who from malicious envy ever war against us.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
With the divine plough of the Cross you have tilled the earth, O disciples of God, making it fruitful with the harvest of true piety. Wherefore singing your praises, we ever glorify Christ.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O Mother of the good and loving God, fill my soul to overflowing with goodness, which the evil one has corrupted by wicked habits, miserably deceiving me; that being found worthy of salvation, I may ever sing your praises, O exceedingly hymned one.
Irmos: Assured of Your coming in the flesh, O Christ,* the Prophet Habakkuk cried aloud: Glory to Your power, O Lord.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Your all-holy Cross has been placed before us today: let us approach and venerate it, for it is the horn of our salvation.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
When your grace and image comes, it scatters the dark multitude of demons; O Cross of Christ, you are an invincible weapon.
Glory…
Unity in Essence, Trinity of Hypostases, I praise and I honour You, the Father, Son, and Most Holy Spirit.
Now…
O all-immaculate Maiden, without knowing a man you have conceived God, who holds the ends of the earth in the hollow of His hand.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
O apostles, intercessors for the world, pray that we also may be saved, who hold the Cross of Christ as our weapon.
Katavasia: Assured of Your coming in the flesh, O Christ,* the Prophet Habakkuk cried aloud: Glory to Your power, O Lord.
Ode 8
Irmos: This chosen and holy day is the first of the Sabbaths,* the queen and lady, the feast of feasts,* and the festival of festivals,* wherein we bless Christ throughout all ages.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Rejoice, O divine tripartite Cross; upon which One of the Trinity was affixed in the flesh, who has delivered us prisoners, from the abyss of godlessness, wherefore we supremely exalt Him throughout the ages.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Receiving power and strength through the Cross, the disciples of the Word set free those held fast in the bitter bondage of the evil one, hymning Your praise: “We supremely exalt You throughout the ages.”
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Woe is me! How fearful shall be that judgment seat upon which You shall sit, O Word, revealing to me my hidden deeds, exposing before all my lack of spiritual sense! But, O Christ, since You are by nature merciful, spare me then.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Without departing from the bosom of the Father, O Jesus, You rested on the bosom of the Virgin; for the restoration of the race of mankind, whose nature, in Your tender compassion, You assumed; wherefore mankind sings Your praises throughout the ages.
Irmos: The King of glory, who is alone without beginning,* before whom all the powers of heaven stand in awe and the hosts of angels tremble:* O you priests praise and you people supremely exalt Him* throughout the ages.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
We reverently honour the week of the veneration of the Cross; as one in which we fall down and worship the precious Wood and cry aloud: “O you priests praise and you people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
How strange is this wonder, O King of the ages! For we Your servants have been granted to behold and venerate the Wood upon which You have been crucified. Wherefore with reverent fear we sing Your praises throughout the ages.
We bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.
O Holy and consubstantial Trinity, the Father, Son, and Most holy Spirit, I glorify Your undivided dominion, and sing the praises of Your only Kingdom throughout all ages.
Now…
Having created Adam in His image, and having assumed Adam’s nature He came forth to free him from the curse. “O you priests praise and you people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
As the twelve-stringed harp of the Church, O apostles, you sing the praises of the Word of wisdom. Entreat Him, that those who honour you may behold the Passion of the Lord and glorify Him throughout the ages.
We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!
Katavasia: The King of glory, who is alone without beginning,* before whom all the powers of heaven stand in awe and the hosts of angels tremble:* O you priests praise and you people supremely exalt Him* throughout the ages.
Ode 9
Irmos: Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has arisen upon you;* dance now and be glad, O Sion,* and exult, O pure Theotokos,* in the arising of Him whom you bore.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
O Church of God, be radiant with joy, illumined by the rays of the Cross exalted by you before all, for the veneration of all the faithful; and you hosts of demons, full of darkness, be scattered.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
The divine Cross is the might of abstinence, the strength of those who fast, the champion of those who struggle; wherefore, gathering before it with all the faithful, let us joyfully fall down and worship it.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
O glorious apostles, divine foundations of the Church of Christ, preserve us all upon the sure foundation of true piety, and establish us upon the firm rock of Him who has chosen you.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O pure One, at the behest of the Archangel you conceived Joy: grant that soul-destroying melancholy be banished from my heart, and replaced with the sorrow that brings joy, that I may receive the Divine comforter.
Irmos: O most pure Mother and Virgin,* you contained within your womb the Word whom nothing can contain,* and gave birth to Him in the flesh.* In our hymns, we magnify you.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
Prefiguring the truth that was to come, O precious Wood, of old you made sweet the waters of Marah. Make sweet my abstinence, O Cross of Christ, which I venerate today.
Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.
You are the unconquerable weapon of the King, the strength of his army, the firm foundation of his council. O Cross of Christ, and in our hymns, we magnify you.
Glory…
We magnify You, the beginningless Father and Master, coeternal Word, and Holy Spirit, with all the faithful in true reverence.
Now…
We magnify in our hymns you, the glorious and only Theotokos, who has contained within your womb, the Word whom nothing can contain, giving birth to Him in the flesh.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
With your fiery tongues, O apostles, you have burnt up all deception and planted true piety throughout the World, wherefore in our hymns we magnify you.
Katavasia: O most pure Mother and Virgin,* you contained within your womb the Word whom nothing can contain,* and gave birth to Him in the flesh.* In our hymns, we magnify you.
Aposticha
Tone 7
Let us, O faithful, strive to emulate the repentance of the Publican,* and not the vain boasting of the Pharisee;* rather, let us offer cries of sorrow from the depth of our heart,* to the compassionately loving God of all.* For He Himself has given us this commandment, saying:* “Every man that exalts himself shall be abased,* and he that humbles himself shall be exalted;* wherefore with one accord let us cry to Him:* God be merciful to us sinners and save us.
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.
Let us, O faithful, strive to emulate the repentance of the Publican,* and not the vain boasting of the Pharisee;* rather, let us offer cries of sorrow from the depth of our heart,* to the compassionately loving God of all.* For He Himself has given us this commandment, saying:* “Every man that exalts himself shall be abased,* and he that humbles himself shall be exalted;* wherefore with one accord let us cry to Him:* God be merciful to us sinners and save us.
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.
Breathing one purpose and looking to a single hope,* vying with each other in the end of their lives,* the passion-bearers looked upon death for Christ as the only entry into life.* O strange Wonder!* Though the tortures may have been suspended,* they seized hold of them as men seize hold of treasure,* saying one to another: “Even though we may not die today,* yet in concordance with the laws of life* a day shall come in which we shall surely pass.* Let us turn that which is inevitable,* into something of generous love;* let us willingly make our own that which is the fate of all,* and let us purchase life with death.”* By their intercessions, O God, have mercy on us.
Glory… Now…
Through the prayers of the Theotokos,* grant peace to the life of us who cry o You:* O merciful Lord, glory be to You!
VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O faithful, having been deemed worthy to adore the ever-blessed Cross,* whereby You have saved us, O Lord,* we hymn Your loving-kindness* and fervently entreat You:* Bestow upon us all, O Saviour,* the joy of Your salvation, granting us to look in penitence* upon Your Resurrection and Your honourable sufferings.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Outstretched upon the Cross,* You endured death, slaying death and raising up the dead by Your life-bearing word.* Wherefore I entreat You: restore my soul to life O Lord,* deadened as it is through sin;* grant me compunction, and deliverance from wickedness,* during these Your holy days of abstinence,* O Lover of mankind.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Having deemed us worthy to look upon Your Holy Cross with joy and to adore it,* we entreat You, O God, our Saviour:* that strengthened by the Fast we may come also to Your most pure Passion.* and falling down, worship and praise Your Crucifixion,* the spear, the sponge and reed, by which You have made us immortal,* leading us back to the sweetness of Paradise, O Lover of mankind.* Wherefore with thanksgiving we now glorify You.
Tone 1
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Watched over by divine guardians, you were preserved unharmed, O father Theophilactus;* and you were shown to be an unshaken pillar of the Church,* undaunted by the trials of the snares of the heretics.* And now pray, that peace and great mercy* be granted to our souls.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O blessed father Theophilactus,* beholding God accessibly and visibly,* and delighting in Him through a better union,* and deified by this partaking,* rejoicing, you received the Blessed One whom alone you desired,* O most honoured hierarch,* making your abode now with the angels.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Having departed the earth, O father Theophilactus,* you hastened aloft to heaven, O blessed one,* and were vouchsafed to live in the heavenly mansions,* because of the persecution which you endured for Christ.* Beseech Him now that He grant peace* and great mercy to our souls.
Glory… Now…
The Mistress, the unblemished ewe-lamb, as she beheld her Lamb upon the Cross,* bereft of form and comeliness, lamenting, said:* “Woe is me! Where has Your comeliness gone, O most Sweet One?* Where is Your splendour? Where is the brilliant grace of Your image,* O my Son most beloved?”
Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
Make your vows and pay them to the Lord our God.
verse: In Judea is God known, His name is great in Israel.
Reading I
Genesis 10:32-11:9
Prokeimenon II, Tone 7
I have cried to the Lord with my voice,* with my voice to God, and He was attentive to me.
verse: In the day of my affliction, I sought out God.
Reading II
Proverbs 13:9-14:6
Aposticha
Tone 6
Learn from the Lord who has humbled Himself,* even to death upon the Cross;* learn from Him, O my soul, of the humbling that comes from being lifted up* and the exaltation that comes from that humility.* Do not exalt yourself in your virtues;* do not judge yourself righteous and condemn your neighbour, like the vainly boastful Pharisee.* But with Your humbled mind, contemplate only Your own sins, and cry like the Publican:* O God, be merciful to me a sinner 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.
Learn from the Lord who has humbled Himself,* even to death upon the Cross;* learn from Him, O my soul, of the humbling that comes from being lifted up* and the exaltation that comes from that humility.* Do not exalt yourself in your virtues;* do not judge yourself righteous and condemn your neighbour, like the vainly boastful Pharisee.* But with Your humbled mind, contemplate only Your own sins, and cry like the Publican:* O God, be merciful to me a sinner 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.
Thy martyrs, O Lord, denied You not* and forsook not Your commandments:* by their intercessions have mercy upon us.
Glory… Now…
The all-pure One, upon seeing You hanging on the Cross, cried aloud saying:* “What is this strange mystery that I see, O my Son?* How can You die upon the Tree, crucified in the flesh?* You who are the Giver of life.”