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Thu14Mar2024
Our Venerable Father Benedict of Nursia (547).
Great Fast Day 32. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
Office Of Daily Matins
Thursday of the Fifth Week of the Great FastThe church is dark, only the primary lamps have been lit. The priest vests with an epitrakhil. The curtain is opened, the holy doors remained closed.
Priest: Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving and undivided trinity, always, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Reader: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace; among people good will. (3)
Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. (2)
The Six Psalms are chanted by the Reader. During the first three, the priest, standing at the Holy Table, quietly recites the Matins Prayers.
Psalm 3
Confidence under persecutionO Lord, why did those who afflict me multiply?* Many are those who rise up against me;
Many are those who say to my soul,* “there is no salvation for him in his God.”
But You, O Lord, are a shield around me;* my glory, the One Who lifts up my head.
With my voice I cried to the Lord,* and from His holy mountain He heard me.
I lay down and slept.* I woke again, for the Lord will be my help.
I will not fear ten thousands of people* arrayed against me on every side.
Arise, O Lord!* save me, O my God!
For You have stricken all who hated me without cause;* You have shattered the teeth of sinners.
salvation is of the Lord!* And mау Your blessing be upon Your people.
I lay down and slept.* I woke again, for the Lord will be my help.
Psalm 37
An acknowledgment of guiltO Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,* nor chasten me in Your wrath,
For Your arrows have sunk into me,* and Your hand weighs heavily upon me.
There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your wrath;* there is no peace in my bones because of my sins,
For my iniquities have overwhelmed me;* like a heavy burden, they have weighed upon me.
My wounds grew foul and festered* because of my foolishness.
I was afflicted and bowed down completely;* I went mourning all the day long,
For my soul was filled with mockery,* and there is no soundness in my flesh.
I was crushed and deeply afflicted;* I roared with the groaning of my heart.
O Lord, before You is all my desire,* and my groaning is not hidden from You.
My heart is troubled, my strength has left me,* and even the light of my eyes has failed me.
My friends and companions approached and stood still,* while my closest of kin stood afar off.
Those who sought my soul took to violence;* and those who wished me evil spoke lies, contemplating treachery all the day long.
But as for me, I remained like the deaf, and heard them not;* like a mute, not opening his mouth.
I became like one who does not hear,* in whose mouth there is no defence,
In You, O Lord, I have hoped;* You will hear me, O Lord my God,
For I said, “Let not my enemies rejoice over me,* for when my feet were shaken, they boasted against me.”
As for me, I am ready to be scourged,* and my pain is continually with me.
Indeed, I will confess my iniquity;* I will live in anguish because of my sin.
But my enemies are alive and are stronger than I,*and those who hate me unjustly are multiplied.
those who render evil for good slandered me,* because I followed after righteousness.
Do not forsake me, O Lord my God,* do not stay afar from me!
Make haste to help me,* O Lord of my salvation!
Do not forsake me, O Lord my God,* do not stay afar from me!
Make haste to help me,* O Lord of my salvation!
Psalm 62
Longing for GodO God, my God, early I rise to You.
My soul has thirsted for You;* How оften has my flesh longed for You in a dry and weary land without water.
Sso I have appeared before You in the holy place* to behold Your power and Your glory,
For Your mercy is better than life,* and my lips shall declare Your praise.
So I will bless You as long as I live,* in Your name I will lift up my hands.
May my soul be filled as if with marrow and fatness;* and my joyful lips will praise Your name.
If I remember You on my bed,* in the early morning I meditate on You,
For You are my helper,* and in the shelter of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul has clung to You;* Your right hand has upheld me.
But those who have sought my life in vain:* they shall enter into the depths of the earth;
they shall be given over to the power of the sword;* and the prey of the jackals they shall be.
But the king shall rejoice in God; and all who swear by Him shall be praised,* for the mouth of liars has been silenced.
In the early morning I meditate on You;* for You are my helper, and in the shelter of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul has clung to You;* Your right hand has upheld me.
After the first three psalms have been chanted, the priest departs via the northern door and stands before the holy doors with head uncovered, where he continues the recitation of the Matins Prayers.
Reader: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
All: Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to You, O God! (3)
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
Reader: Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 87
Prayer in desolationO Lord, God of my salvation,* by day І cried out, and at night, before You.
Let my prayer come before You,* incline Your ear to my petition, O Lord.
For my soul was filled with troubles,* and my life drew near to Hades.
I was counted among those who go down into the pit;* I became like those who have no help, like those forsaken among the dead.
Like the slain, who lie asleep in a grave;* whom You remembered no more, and they were thrust away from Your hand.
You have put me in the depths of the pit,* into darkness and the shadow of death.
Your anger rested heavy upon me,* with all Your waves You overwhelmed me.
You distanced my friends from me and made me an abomination in their sight.* I was handed over and could not walk away;
My eyes grew dim with distress.* I cried out to You, O Lord, all the day long; I stretched out my hands to You.
Will You work wonders for the dead?* Or will physicians raise them up to praise You?
Shall anyone declare Your mercy in the grave,* and Your truth in destruction?
Shall Your wonders be known in darkness,* and Your righteousness in a forgotten land?
And I, O Lord, I cried out to You,* in the morning my prayer comes before You.
Why, O Lord, do You cast off my soul?* Why do You turn away Your face from me?
I am poor and in troubles from my youth;* I was raised high, then humbled and distressed.
Your wrath has swept over me;* Your terrors have left me shaken.
They surround me like water all the day long;* from all sides they beset me together.
You have put far from me every friend* and all my acquaintances because of my misery.
O Lord, God of my salvation,* by day and at night I cried out before You.
Let my prayer come before You,* incline Your ear to my cry, O Lord.
Psalm 102
Praise of God’s mercy and loveBless the Lord, O my soul,* and let all that is within me bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,* and forget not all His benefits,
He forgives all Your iniquities,* He heals all Your diseases.
He redeems your life from corruption.* He crowns you with mercy and compassion;
He satisfies your desire with good things,* your youth will be renewed like an eagle’s.
The Lord works vindication and justice* for all who are being oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,* and His will to Israel’s sons.
Compassionate and merciful is the Lord,* long-suffering and abounding in mercy.
He will not be angry to the end,* nor will He keep His wrath forever.
He did not deal with us according to our sins,* nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,* so great is His mercy on those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,* so far He removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for sons,* so the Lord has compassion for those who fear Him.
For He knows how He formed us;* He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass:* he shall flourish like a flower of the field;
But his spirit passes, and he will be gone;* and will no longer recognize his place.
But the mercy of the Lord is everlasting,* from age to age upon those who fear Him.
And His righteousness to the sons of sons,* to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.
The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,* and His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, all you, His angels,* mighty in strength, doing His bidding to obey the voice of His words.
Bless the Lord, all you, His hosts,* His ministers doing His will.
Bless the Lord, all you, His works,* in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
In all places of His dominion.* Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 142
Prayer in desolationO Lord, listen to my prayer; give ear to my petition in Your truth;* answer me in Your righteousness.
And enter not into judgment with Your servant,* for no one living shall become righteous in Your sight.
For the enemy pursued my soul;* he humbled my life to the ground;
He has made me to dwell in darkness, like those who have been long dead.* And my spirit became weary with grief, my heart was troubled within me.
I remembered the days of old, and I meditated on all Your deeds,* I pondered on the works of Your hands.
I stretched out my hands to You;* like a parched land, my soul thirsts for You.
Make haste to answer me, O Lord; my spirit has failed me.* Do not turn Your face away from me, lest I be like those in the pit;
Make me hear Your mercy in the morning,* for I have put my hope in You.
O Lord, teach me the way I should go,* for I have lifted up my soul to You.
O Lord, deliver me from my enemies:* it is to You that I have fled for refuge.
teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.* Your good spirit will guide me on level ground.
For Your name’s sake, O Lord, You will keep me alive.* In Your righteousness, You will deliver my soul from affliction.
And in Your mercy, You will destroy my enemies.* And bring to nought all those who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant.
Lord, hear my prayer;* and enter not into judgment with Your servant.
Lord, hear my prayer;* and enter not into judgment with Your servant.
Your good spirit will guide me* on level ground.
Reader: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
All: Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to You, O God! (3)
Great Litany
Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For peace throughout the world, for the well-being of God’s holy Churches and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the most holy universal Pontiff, (name), the Pope of Rome, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our most blessed Patriarch, (name), our most reverend Metropolitan, (name), our God-loving Bishop, (name), for the revered priesthood, diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For our nation under God, and our government, and for all the military, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For this city, for every city and country and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For favourable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: For the seafarers and travellers, for the sick and the suffering, for those held captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: That we may be delivered from tribulation, wrath, and misfortune, let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help and save, have mercy, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life, to Christ our God.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For all glory, honour, and worship befit You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Alleluia
Sung in the Tone of the weekAll: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Deacon: My spirit seeks You early in the morning, O God, for Your commandments are a light upon the earth! (Is 26:9)
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Deacon: Learn righteousness, you who dwell on earth! (Is 26:9)
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Deacon: The wrath of God shall fall upon a disobedient people, and fire shall now devour the enemy. (Is 26:11)
All: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Deacon: Bring more evils upon them, O Lord; bring more evils upon them who are glorious on earth. (Is 26:15)
Hymns to the Trinity
Tone One
Through bodily images let us ascend* to the spiritual and immaterial understanding of the bodiless powers;* singing the Thrice-Holy Hymn* and awaiting the illumination of the Godhead in three Persons,* let us cry aloud as the cherubim to the one and only God:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, have mercy on us.
Glory...
With all the heavenly hosts,* let us offer the Thrice-Holy Hymn of praise* and cry aloud as the cherubim to Him who dwells on high:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God,* through the prayers of all Your Saints, have mercy upon us.
Now...
Rising from sleep, we fall down before You, loving Lord,* and with the angels’ song we cry to You, All-Powerful:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God,* through the Theotokos,* have mercy upon us.
Tone Two
Doing as the powers on high,* we on earth offer You, O loving Lord, a hymn of victory:* Holy, holy, holy are You our God;* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, have mercy on us.
Glory...
O uncreated Nature, Maker of all things,* open our lips that we may proclaim Your praises, crying:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God,* through the prayers of all Your Saints, have mercy upon us.
Now...
You, O Lord, have raised me from my bed and sleep;* enlighten my mind and my heart,* and open my lips that I may praise You, Holy Trinity:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God,* through the Theotokos, have mercy upon us.
Tone Three
O Trinity, one in Essence and undivided,* Unity in three co-eternal Persons,* to You as God we sing the angels’ hymn:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas,* have mercy on us.
Glory...
Daring to give glory to the one Godhead,* to the eternal Father, the co-eternal Son, and the timeless Spirit,* as the cherubim we say: Holy, holy, holy are You, our God,* through the prayers of all Your Saints, have mercy upon us.
Now...
Suddenly the Judge will come, and the acts of every man will be laid bare.* But at midnight let us cry with fear:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God,* through the Theotokos, have mercy upon us.
Tone Four
Daring, mortal though we are, to offer to You* the hymn of Your angelic ministers, we say:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, have mercy on us.
Glory...
As the angelic hosts of heaven,* we on earth, standing now with fear,* offer to You, O loving Lord, a hymn of victory:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God:* through the prayers of all Your Saints, have mercy upon us.
Now...
Daring to give glory to Your eternal Father,* and to You, O Christ our God,* and to Your Most Holy Spirit,* as the cherubim we say: Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the Theotokos, have mercy upon us.
Tone Five
Now is the hour for praise and prayer;* let us cry fervently to the one and only God:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, have mercy on us.
Glory...
We dare to act as icons of Your spiritual hosts,* and with our unworthy mouths we cry to You O Trinity without beginning:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God:* through the prayers of all Your Saints, have mercy upon us.
Now...
O Christ our God, who though contained within a virgin womb,* was not divided from the Father,* accept us as we call upon You with the angels:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the Theotokos, have mercy upon us.
Tone Six
With fear and trembling standing in Your presence,* the cherubim and seraphim offer the Thrice-Holy Hymn with voices that are never still.* And with them we sinners also cry aloud:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas,* have mercy on us.
Glory...
In never-silent hymns of glory,* with their bodiless mouths the six-winged seraphim* sing to You our God the Thrice-Holy Hymn;* and we on earth offer praise to You from our unworthy lips:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God:* through the prayers of all Your Saints, have mercy upon us.
Now...
Let us glorify the Godhead, three in one,* united and yet unconfused,* and let us sing the angels’ hymn:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the Theotokos, have mercy upon us.
Tone Seven
Praised by the cherubim in Your almighty power,* and worshipped by the angels in Your divine glory,* accept us sinners also who, though unworthy, dare to cry to You:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas,* have mercy on us.
Glory...
Casting off both sleep and slothfulness, O my soul,* bring to the Judge more fervent hymns of praise, and cry aloud with fear:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God:* through the prayers of all Your Saints, have mercy upon us.
Now...
To the Godhead that no man can approach,* to the Trinity in Unity, let us offer the Thrice-Holy Hymn of the seraphim,* and cry aloud with fear: Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the Theotokos, have mercy upon us.
Tone Eight
Lifting up our hearts to heaven,* let us imitate the hierarchy of angels.* Let us fall down with fear before the righteous Judge,* singing a triumphal hymn of praise:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God; through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, have mercy on us.
Glory...
Daring not to gaze upon You, the winged Cherubim cry out* in the words of the Thrice-Holy Hymn inspired by God;* and with them we sinners also cry out: Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the prayers of all Your Saints, have mercy upon us.
Now...
Bent beneath the multitude of our iniquities,* we dare not look up at the height of heaven;* but, bowing down in soul and body,* with the angels we sing to You:* Holy, holy, holy are You, our God;* through the prayers of the Theotokos, have mercy upon us.
Sessional Hymns of Repentance
Tone One
With the net of their preaching and the rod of the Cross,* the fishermen overcame the pagans skilled in cunning speech,* and they taught the nations to glorify You, the true God, with holy worship.* Therefore we cry out to You who has given them power:* Glory be to the Father and the Son;* glory be to the consubstantial Spirit;* glory be to Him who through the apostles has enlightened the world.
Their voice is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
O wise fishers of the inhabited earth,* you received from God the gift of compassion.* Intercede for us who cry aloud:* O Lord, save Your people and Your city,* and through the apostles deliver our souls from distress.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Let us all pray to the martyrs of Christ,* for they intercede for our salvation.* Let us all draw near to them with faith,* for they dispense the grace of healing,* and as guardians of the faith they drive away the hosts of demons.
Glory… Now…
In ways past speech and understanding,* without father have you borne on earth Him who has no mother in heaven.* O Theotokos, pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Tone Two
In Your surpassing love for man, O Christ our God,* You have made the fishers wiser than those skilled in speech,* and You have sent them out as preachers into all the earth.* Through them make strong Your Church, and send Your blessing down upon the faithful,* O You who alone are merciful and love mankind.
Their voice is gone throughout all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Through Your surpassing love for man, O Christ our God,* the fishers drew the nations into their net,* and taught the ends of the earth to worship You.* Through them make strong Your Church and send Your blessing down upon the faithful,* O You who alone rest among the saints.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Apostles, martyrs, and prophets, hierarchs, holy monks and righteous men,* who have fought the good fight to the end and kept the faith;* since you have boldness in the presence of the Saviour,* intercede before Him, we entreat you, that in His love* He may grant salvation to our souls.
Glory… Now…
We magnify you, O Theotokos, and we cry aloud:* Hail, Cloud that held the never-setting Light,* who has carried in your womb the Lord of glory.
Tone Three
Choosing to suffer Crucifixion and death,* You have set up the Cross in the midst of creation.* When You had consented, O Saviour, that Your body should be nailed to the wood,* the sun hid its rays.* Seeing this, the thief confessed You as God and cried out to You:* ‘O Lord, remember me’; and because of his faith he was granted Paradise.
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool for He is holy.
You were exalted, Lamb of God, upon the cypress, the pine and the cedar,* so as to save those who worship in faith Your voluntary Crucifixion.* Glory be to You, O Christ our God.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Through your faith you shine as radiant lights,* O physicians of the true worship of God, holy and glorious martyrs.* You were not terrified by the torments of the tyrants,* but you cast down the blasphemous teachings of idolatry,* taking up the true Cross as your emblem of victory.
Glory… Now…
By Your own free choice, O compassionate Christ,* You have endured a shameful death upon the Cross;* and when Your Mother saw You, she was wounded in her heart.* Through her prayers, O Lord, alone supreme in love,* through Your tender mercy have pity on the world and save it,* for You take away its sin.
Tone Four
You have made Your disciples, O Christ,* as lights that shine to the ends of the earth,* and by preaching You they illumine our souls.* Through them You have made dark the error of idolatry* and enlightened the world with the teachings of the True Faith.* At their intercessions save our souls.
Their voice is gone throughout all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Just as Moses by the strength of Your right hand, O Master,* led Israel through the Red Sea out of bondage* and drowned Pharaoh in the waves,* so have Your wise disciples by their miracles* forced a passage through the sea of bitter godlessness* and guided the people to You, O Word without beginning,* who alone loves mankind.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Armed with Your Cross, O Christ our God,* Your victorious martyrs defeated the devices of the enemy from whom all evil comes.* They shone like torches, guiding mortal men,* and they grant healing to those that ask with faith.* At their intercessions save our souls.
Glory… Now…
We acknowledge that the Word of the Father, Christ our God,* has taken flesh from you, O Virgin Theotokos.* You alone are pure, you alone are blessed:* therefore we sing your praises without ceasing* and we magnify you.
Tone Five
With all mankind, in spiritual hymns and songs let us glorify the wise apostles* as eyewitnesses of the Word and servants of Christ.* For they pray fervently to Christ on our behalf,* as we praise their holy memory and venerate their relics.
Their voice is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Let us glorify with one accord the apostles of Christ,* for they shine as torches throughout the inhabited earth.* They have caught the nations in the net of the true Faith;* and bringing us light they teach us to honour the Holy Trinity,* one in Essence yet divided in Persons.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
The powers of heaven greatly marvelled at the victory of the holy martyrs;* for, contending bravely in their mortal bodies,* invisibly they conquered the bodiless enemy by the power of the Cross.* And now they intercede before the Lord,* that He may have mercy on our souls.
Glory… Now…
O Bride unwedded and Ever-Virgin,* in the company of the angels we sing your praises without ceasing;* for your Son and God has done great things for us through you.* Begotten before all ages from the Father,* He was pleased to be contained within your womb* and to set us free from error.
Tone Six
As You were present in the midst of Your disciples, O Saviour,* and gave them peace, come also to us and save us.
Their voice is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Your disciples, O Jesus, were sent to the ends of the earth,* and in their zeal for the true faith they caught the nations like fish* and brought them as an offering to You, O loving Lord.* And trusting in their prayers we cry to You:* Bestow upon Your people Your great mercy.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
The memorial of Your martyrs, O Lord,* is like the Paradise in Eden,* for it brings joy to all creation.* Through their prayers grant us peace and Your great mercy.
Glory… Now…
Hallowed Lady, Mother of Christ our God,* you have borne ineffably the Maker of all.* In union with the holy apostles pray to Him at all times,* that in His love He may release us from the passions* and grant us the remission of our sins.
Tone Seven
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!
Tone Eight
Blessed are You, O Christ our God,* who made the fishermen wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit;* and through them You have drawn the inhabited earth into Your net.* O Lord who loves mankind, glory to You.
Their voice is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Let us sing the praises of the holy disciples of our God.* They are burning torches, guides to all the world, first-fruits of our salvation.* They have caused the Light to shine on us in darkness,* and to all they have made known the Sun of glory.* They have destroyed the error of idolatry, preaching the Trinity in one Godhead.* Therefore we entreat them: O apostles of Christ our God,* intercede for the forgiveness of our sins,* as we celebrate with love your holy memory.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Contending bravely to the end, O holy martyrs,* you withstood the tyrants.* You put to death your bodies on this earth,* and so you were rewarded with the life of heaven.
Glory… Now...
Hail, for through the Angel you received the Joy of the world!* Hail, for you have borne your Maker and your Lord!* Hail, for you were counted worthy to become the Mother of Christ our God!
The Life of our Holy Mother,
Mary of Egypt (+522)Part 1
“It is good to hide the secret of a king, but it is glorious to reveal and preach the works of God” (Tobit 12:7). So said the Archangel Raphael to Tobit when he performed the wonderful healing of his blindness. Actually, not to keep the secret of a king is perilous and a terrible risk, but to be silent about the works of God is a great loss for the soul. And I (says St. Sophronius), in writing the life of St. Mary of Egypt, am afraid to hide the works of God by silence. Remembering the misfortune threatened to the servant who hid his God-given talent in the earth (Matthew 25:18-25), I am bound to pass on the holy account that has reached me. And let no one think (continues St. Sophronius) that I have had the audacity to write untruth or doubt this great marvel—may I never lie about holy things! If there do happen to be people who, after reading this record, do not believe it, may the Lord have mercy on them because, reflecting on the weakness of human nature, they consider impossible these wonderful things accomplished by holy people. But now we must begin to tell this most amazing story, which has taken place in our generation.
There was a certain elder in one of the monasteries of Palestine, a priest of the holy life and speech, who from childhood had been brought up in monastic ways and customs. This elder’s name was Zosimas. He had been through the whole course of the ascetic life and in everything he adhered to the rule once given to him by his tutors as regard spiritual labours. He had also added a good deal himself while labouring to subject his flesh to the will of the spirit. And he had not failed in his aim. He was so renowned for his spiritual life that many came to him from neighbouring monasteries and some even from afar. While doing all this, he never ceased to study the Divine Scriptures. Whether resting, standing, working or eating food (if the scraps he nibbled could be called food), he incessantly and constantly had a single aim: always to sing of God, and to practice the teaching of the Divine Scriptures. Zosimas used to relate how, as soon as he was taken from his mother’s breast, he was handed over to the monastery where he went through his training as an ascetic till he reached the age of 53. After that, he began to be tormented with the thought that he was perfect in everything and needed no instruction from anyone, saying to himself mentally, “Is there a monk on earth who can be of use to me and show me a kind of asceticism that I have not accomplished? Is there a man to be found in the desert who has surpassed me?”
Thus thought the elder, when suddenly an angel appeared to him and said: “Zosimas, valiantly have you struggled, as far as this is within the power of man, valiantly have you gone through the ascetic course. But there is no man who has attained perfection. Before you lie unknown struggles greater than those you have already accomplished. That you may know how many other ways lead to salvation, leave your native land like the renowned patriarch Abraham and go to the monastery by the River Jordan.”
Zosimas did as he was told. He left the monastery in which he had lived from childhood and went to the River Jordan. At last he reached the community to which God had sent him. Having knocked at the door of the monastery, he told the monk who was the porter who he was; and the porter told the abbot. On being admitted to the abbot’s presence, Zosimas made the usual monastic prostration and prayer. Seeing that he was a monk the abbot asked:
“Where do you come from, brother, and why have you come to us poor old men?”
Zosimas replied: “There is no need to speak about where I have come from, but I have come, father, seeking spiritual profit, for I have heard great things about your skill in leading souls to God.”
“Brother,” the abbot said to him, “Only God can heal the infirmity of the soul. May He teach you and us His divine ways and guide us. But as it is the love of Christ that has moved you to visit us poor old men, then stay with us, if that is why you have come. May the Good Shepherd Who laid down His life for our salvation fill us all with the grace of the Holy Spirit.”
After this, Zosimas bowed to the abbot, asked for his prayers and blessing, and stayed in the monastery. There he saw elders proficient both in action and the contemplation of God, aflame in spirit, working for the Lord. They sang incessantly, they stood in prayer all night, work was ever in their hands and psalms on their lips. Never an idle word was heard among them, they know nothing about acquiring temporal goods or the cares of life. But they had one desire—to become in body like corpses. Their constant food was the Word of God, and they sustained their bodies on bread and water, as much as their love for God allowed them. Seeing this, Zosimas was greatly edified and prepared for the struggle that lay before him.
Many days passed and the time drew near when all Christians fast and prepare themselves to worship the Divine Passion and Resurrection of Christ. The monastery gates were kept always locked and only opened when one of the community was sent out on some errand. It was a desert place, not only unvisited by people of the world but even unknown to them.
There was a rule in that monastery which was the reason why God brought Zosimas there. At the beginning of the Great Fast [on Forgiveness Sunday] the priest celebrated the holy Liturgy and all partook of the holy Body and Blood of Christ. After the Liturgy they went to the refectory and would eat a little lenten food.
Then all gathered in church, and after praying earnestly with prostrations, the elders kissed one another and asked forgiveness. And each made a prostration to the abbot and asked his blessing and prayers for the struggle that lay before them. After this, the gates of the monastery were thrown open, and singing, “The Lord is my light and my Saviour; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 26:1) and the rest of that psalm, all went out into the desert and crossed the River Jordan. Only one or two brothers were left in the monastery, not to guard the property (for there was nothing to rob), but so as not to leave the church without Divine Service. Each took with him as much as he could or wanted in the way of food, according to the needs of his body: one would take a little bread, another some figs, another dates or wheat soaked in water. And some took nothing but their own body covered with rags and fed when nature forced them to it on the plants that grew in the desert.
After crossing the Jordan, they all scattered far and wide in different directions. And this was the rule of life they had, and which they all observed—neither to talk to one another, nor to know how each one lived and fasted. If they did happen to catch sight of one another, they went to another part of the country, living alone and always singing to God, and at a definite time eating a very small quantity of food. In this way they spent the whole of the fast and used to return to the monastery a week before the Resurrection of Christ, on Palm Sunday. Each one returned having his own conscience as the witness of his labour, and no one asked another how he had spent his time in the desert. Such were the rules of the monastery. Every one of them while in the desert struggled with himself before the Judge of the struggle—God—not seeking to please men and fast before the eyes of all. For what is done for the sake of men, to win praise and honour, is not only useless to the one who does it but sometimes the cause of great punishment.
Zosimas did the same as all. And he went far, far into the desert with a secret hope of finding some father who might be living there and who might be able to satisfy his thirst and longing. And he wandered on tireless, as if hurrying on to some definite place. He had already walked for 20 days and when the sixth hour came, he stopped and, turning to the East, he began to sing the Sixth Hour and recite the customary prayers. He used to break his journey thus at fixed hours of the day to rest a little, to chant psalms standing, and to pray on bent knees.
And as he sang thus without turning his eyes from the heavens, he suddenly saw to the right of the hillock on which he stood the semblance of a human body. At first, he was confused thinking he beheld a vision of the devil, and even started with fear. But, having guarded himself with the sign of the Cross and banished all fear, he turned his gaze in that direction and in truth saw some form gliding southwards. It was naked, the skin dark as if burned up by the heat of the sun; the hair on its head was white as a fleece, and not long, falling just below its neck. Zosimas was so overjoyed at beholding a human form that he ran after it in pursuit, but the form fled from him. He followed. At length, when he was near enough to be heard, he shouted:
“Why do you run from an old man and a sinner? Slave of the True God, wait for me, whoever you are, in God’s name I tell you, for the love of God for Whose sake you are living in the desert.”
“Forgive me for God’s sake, but I cannot turn towards you and show you my face, Abba Zosimas. For I am a woman and naked as you see with the uncovered shame of my body. But if you would like to fulfil one wish of a sinful woman, throw me your cloak so that I can cover my body and can turn to you and ask for your blessing.”
Here terror seized Zosimas, for he heard that she called him by name. But he realized that she could not have done so without knowing anything of him if she had not had the power of spiritual insight.
He at once did as he was asked. He took off his old, tattered cloak and threw it to her, turning away as he did so. She picked it up and was able to cover at least a part of her body. Then she turned to Zosimas and said: “Why did you wish, Abba Zosimas, to see a sinful woman? What do you wish to hear or learn from me, you who have not shrunk from such great struggles?”
Zosimas threw himself on the ground and asked for her blessing. She likewise bowed down before him. And thus, they lay on the ground prostrate asking for each other’s blessing. And one word alone could be heard from both: “Bless me!” After a long while the woman said to Zosimas: “Abba Zosimas, it is you who must give blessing and pray. You are dignified by the order of priesthood and for many years you have been standing before the holy altar and offering the sacrifice of the Divine Mysteries.”
This flung Zosimas into even greater terror. At length with tears he said to her: “O mother, filled with the spirit, by your mode of life it is evident that you live with God and have died to the world. The Grace granted to you is apparent—for you have called me by name and recognized that I am a priest, though you have never seen me before. Grace is recognized not by one’s orders, but by gifts of the Spirit, so give me your blessing for God’s sake, for I need your prayers.”
Then giving way before the wish of the elder the woman said: “Blessed is God Who cares for the salvation of men and their souls.”
Zosimas answered: “Amen.”
And both rose to their feet. Then the woman asked the elder: “Why have you come, man of God, to me who am so sinful? Why do you wish to see a woman naked and devoid of every virtue? Though I know one thing—the Grace of the Holy Spirit has brought you to render me a service in time. Tell me, father, how are the Christian peoples living? And the kings? How is the Church guided?”
Zosimas said: “By your prayers, mother, Christ has granted lasting peace to all. But fulfil the unworthy petition of an old man and pray for the whole world and for me who am a sinner, so that my wanderings in the desert may not be fruitless.”
She answered: “You who are a priest, Abba Zosimas, it is you who must pray for me and for all—for this is your calling. But as we must all be obedient; I will gladly do what you ask.”
And with these words she turned to the East and raising her eyes to heaven and stretching out her hands, she began to pray in a whisper. One could not hear separate words, so that Zosimas could not understand anything that she said in her prayers. Meanwhile he stood, according to his own word, all in a flutter, looking at the ground without saying a word. And he swore, calling God to witness, that when at length he thought that her prayer was very long, he took his eyes off the ground and saw that she was raised about a forearm’s distance from the ground and stood praying in the air. When he saw this, even greater terror seized him and he fell on the ground weeping and repeating may times, “Lord, have mercy.”
And while lying prostrate on the ground he was tempted by a thought: Is it not a spirit, and perhaps her prayer is hypocrisy. But at the very same moment the woman turned round, raised the elder from the ground and said: “Why do thoughts confuse you, Abba, and tempt you about me, as if I were a spirit and a dissembler in prayer? Know, holy father, that I am only a sinful woman, though I am guarded by holy baptism. And I am no spirit but earth and ashes, and flesh alone.”
And with these words she guarded herself with the sign of the Cross on her forehead, eyes, mouth, and breast saying: “May God defend us from the evil one and from his designs, for fierce is his struggle against us.”
Hearing and seeing this, the elder fell to the ground and, embracing her feet, he said with tears: “I beg you, by the Name of Christ our God, Who was born of a Virgin, for Whose sake you have stripped yourself, for Whose sake you have exhausted your flesh, do not hide from your slave, who you are and whence and how you came into this desert. Tell me everything so that the marvellous works of God may become known. A hidden wisdom and a secret treasure—what profit is there in them? Tell me all, I implore you. For not out of vanity or for self-display will you speak but to reveal the truth to me, an unworthy sinner. I believe in God, for whom you live and whom you serve. I believe that He led me into this desert so as to show me His ways in regard to you. It is not in our power to resist the plans of God. If it were not the will of God that you and your life would be known, He would not have allowed me to see you and would not have strengthened me to undertake this journey, one like me who never before dared to leave his cell.”
Much more said Abba Zosimas. But the woman raised him and said: “I am ashamed, Abba, to speak to you of my disgraceful life, forgive me for God’s sake! But as you have already seen my naked body, I shall likewise lay bare before you my work, so that you may know with what shame and obscenity my soul is filled. I was not running away out of vanity, as you thought, for what have I to be proud of—I who was the chosen vessel of the devil? But when I start my story you will run from me, as from a snake, for your ears will not be able to bear the vileness of my actions. But I shall tell you all without hiding anything, only imploring you first of all to pray incessantly for me, so that I may find mercy on the day of Judgment.”
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, in the greatness of your compassion;* according to the multitude of your mercies blot out my offence.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,* and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my iniquity,* and my sin is always before me.
Against you alone have I sinned* and done what is evil in your sight.
That you may be justified when you speak* and win when you judge.
Behold, in wickedness I was conceived,* and in sin my mother bore me.
For see, you have loved truth;* you have shown me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom.
Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.* Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow;
Make me hear joy and gladness;* the bones that were crushed shall rejoice.
Turn your face from my sins,* and blot out all my lawlessness.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,* and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not from your presence,* nor deprive me of your Holy Spirit.
Give me again the joy of your salvation,* and sustain me with your sovereign Spirit.
I will teach transgressors your ways,* and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from blood-guilt, O God, the God of my salvation,* and my tongue shall ring out your justice.
Lord, you will open my lips* and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For if you wanted sacrifice, I would have given it,* you will not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit,* a humbled and contrite heart God will not spurn.
Deal favourably, O Lord, with Sion in your good pleasure* and let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt.
Then you will be well pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, oblations and whole burnt offerings;* then they will lay calves upon your altar.
Litany
Priest: Save Your people, O God, and bless Your inheritance. Visit Your world with Your mercy and generosities. Raise up the strength of Christian peoples and send down upon us Your abundant mercy. Through the prayers of the most pure Lady, the Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary; through the might of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the honourable, heavenly, incorporeal powers; of the honourable, glorious prophet, forerunner, and baptiser, John; of the holy, glorious, and all-praiseworthy apostles; of our fathers among the saints, the great universal teachers and hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our father among the saints, Nicholas the Wonderworker, archbishop of Myra in Lycia; of the holy Cyril and Methodius, equals-to-the-apostles, teachers of the Slavs; of the grand prince Volodymyr [Vladimir], and the grand princess Olha [Olga], equals-to-the-apostles; and of our holy priest-martyr Josaphat, archbishop of Polotsk; of all the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing fathers, Anthony and Theodosius of the Monastery of the Caves at Kyiv; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anne; and of all the saints; we beseech You, O all-merciful Lord, hear us sinners praying to You, and have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy. (12)
Priest: Through the mercy and compassion and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed together with Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, both now and forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete
We then begin to sing the Canon slowly and with compunction. Before each verse of the Canon, we make the sign of the Cross and make a prostration.
Ode 1
Irmos He is my Helper and Protector, and has become my salvation. This is my God. I will glorify Him, my Father’s God. I will exalt Him for gloriously has He been glorified.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Where shall I begin when I weep for all the deeds of my life? How shall I sing of my grief? But in Your goodness, O Christ, grant me the forgiveness of my sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Come, my soul, and lead your body to glorify the Creator; henceforth, regain sound judgment that you may offer to God the tears of repentance.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
By straying far from You, I have imitated our first parents; and like Adam, I have been deprived of Your divine grace and unending kingdom because of my sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Alas, O my poor soul, why do you imitate the first Eve? Your look was evil and you were bitterly seduced; you have touched the tree and tasted the fruit, the bitterness of sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In place of the Eve of former times, a spiritual Eve surges up in me; it is the thought of carnal desires, recounting sensual pleasures and unceasingly relishing the bitterness of sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Justly was Adam dispelled from Paradise for one sin, O my Saviour; but what shall my punishment be, for I have unceasingly rejected Your life-giving word?
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have followed in the footsteps of Cain, I have chosen to become a murderer; for I have led my poor soul to death, by living according to the flesh in the wickedness of my deeds.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O Jesus, how is it that I could not follow the path of the just Abel, that I could not present to You pure offerings, holy deeds and an unblemished sacrifice, by the purity of my life?
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Like Cain, we offered to the Creator of the universe our evil deeds, blemished sacrifices, and our worthless life; therefore, we shall be condemned.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have formed me from clay, O Creator, and You have given me flesh and bones, breath and life; You have created me, O Lord; now lead me back to You, O my Judge and my Saviour.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I confess the sins I have committed before You, O Saviour; You see the wounds of my soul and my flesh, for I have fallen beneath the blows of the Enemy which rob me of my power to think.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Despite my faults, O Saviour, I truly know that You are the Lover of us mankind. You chastise those whom You love, and generous is Your mercy; You behold my tears, and You hasten to meet me, Your prodigal.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I stand before Your gate, O Saviour, do not reject me; in my old age, do not cast me into Hades; but before the end, O Lord, grant me the forgiveness of my sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I am the traveller who has fallen into the thievery of my thoughts; completely wounded, I am covered with bruises; come to save me, O Christ, and heal me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
A Priest sees me but continues on his way; a Levite notices my grief and scorns my nudity; but you, O Jesus, who come from Mary, you bring me help.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Lamb of God, who take away the sin of the world, lighten my burden and free me from the yoke of my sins; in Your love, grant me the forgiveness of my sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In this season of repentance, I hasten to You, O Creator; deliver me from the weight of my faults; in Your great goodness, grant me the forgiveness of my sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Do not reject me far from Your face, O my Saviour; but take upon yourself the heavy burden of my transgressions; in Your mercy, grant me the forgiveness of my sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Forgive and wipe away all the sins I have committed, O Saviour, voluntarily or involuntarily, by day or by night, known and unknown; forgive me, O God, and save me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
From my youth I have scorned Your commandments, O my Saviour; I have spent my life in carelessness and in the laziness of passions. Therefore, I cry to You, O my Saviour: Before the end, save me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have foolishly wasted the riches of my soul in luxurious living; deprived of everything and starved of virtue, I cry to You, O Father all-good: Have mercy on me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I bow before You, O Jesus; I have sinned against You. Forgive me and drive far from me the burden of my sins; in Your goodness, grant me the tears of repentance.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Do not bring me into judgment, recalling all that I should have done, examining my deeds and correcting my wrongs. In Your mercy, overlook my transgressions, and save me, O God almighty.
Holy Mother, Mary, pray to God for us.
Since you have a special place with God, give me the light of grace from on high to enlighten the darkness of my passions, that, in joy, I may praise, O Mary, your holy life and your wondrous virtues.
Holy Mother, Mary, pray to God for us.
Submitting yourself to the divine precepts, you have followed Christ; wisely you have overcome the power of your passions, and more than all, you live the life of virtue.
Holy Father, Andrew, pray to God for us.
By your prayers, O holy Andrew, keep us from our passions; make us worthy, we pray you, to share in the kingdom of Christ; filled with faith and love, we praise you.
Glory…
Heavenly Trinity, I bow before your unique majesty; lift from my shoulders the heavy burden brought about by the yoke of my sins; in your goodness, grant me the tears of compunction.
Now…
O Theotokos, the hope and protection of those who praise you, lift off the weight, the burden of my sins; accept me, O most holy Lady, for I am transformed by repentance.
Katavasia He is my Helper and Protector, and has become my salvation. This is my God. I will glorify Him, my Father’s God. I will exalt Him for gloriously has He been glorified.
Ode 2
Irmos Attend, Heaven, and I will speak, and I will sing of Christ, who dwelt with us in flesh, which He took from the Virgin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Listen to my voice, O heaven, O earth, lend your ear to my cry; for God draws me back to him, and I will praise him.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O Lord, God of mercy, look upon me with compassion and accept the confession of my sins from my lips.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
More than all have I sinned against You, O Lord; forgive me, O God and Saviour, for I am the work of Your hands.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The storm of sin resounds around me; stretch forth Your hand to me, O Lord, as you did to Peter upon the water.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I cry out to You, O Christ, with the tears of the Sinful Woman; in Your love, O Saviour, have mercy on me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The pleasures I sought have darkened the grace of my soul; and through them, my spirit has been brought back to dust.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have torn the beautiful garment that the Creator wove for me in the beginning; and now I am covered with rags.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have clothed myself in the rags that the Serpent wove for me; I followed his counsel and now I am covered with shame.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
To see the beauty of the Tree, my mind was misled; henceforth, I am naked and filled with shame.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The workers of iniquity have ploughed upon my back, and they have made their long furrows of sin upon me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Through my sin I have lost both my beauty and original dignity; I am ashamed of my nudity.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Sin has clothed me with a robe of skin, since I have been deprived of the garment formerly given to me by God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I am covered with shame as with fig leaves, thus proving that the passions rule me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
My garment is defiled, shamefully stained by the blood of my life given over to pleasures.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have dragged the tunic of my flesh in the mire, disfiguring Your image and likeness, O my Saviour.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The passions have ruled me and corrupted me; therefore, the Enemy now oppresses me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Instead of poverty, I preferred the riches and pleasures of life; and now, O my Saviour, I am bent beneath the weight of sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have adorned the idol of my flesh with the gaudy robe of my impure thoughts, and now I am condemned.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Being attentive only to outer beauty, I have neglected the inner temple fashioned by God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Concealing the ugliness of my passions, in my thirst for pleasure, I have tarnished the beauty of my soul.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
By my passions, O Saviour, I have lost the beauty of Your image; but You have sought and found it as You once did to the lost coin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I cry out to You as did the Sinful Woman: I have sinned, against You alone have I sinned; accept my tears, O God and Saviour, as You once accepted myrrh.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Like David, I have fallen into the abyss where I am covered with mire; but cleanse me with my tears, as You once did to him, O my Saviour.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I cry to You as did the Publican: Forgive me, O Saviour, for no descendant of Adam has sinned as I have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have neither compunction nor tears of repentance; grant these to me, O my Saviour and my God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O Lord, Lord, do not close the door to me on that day; but deign to open for me the gate to repentance.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O Lord and Lover of mankind, who desire the salvation of all, in Your goodness call me back and receive my repentance.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Give ear to my sighs and to the murmurs of my heart; accept the tears of my eyes, and save me, O God my Saviour.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
O Virgin Theotokos, you are most pure and alone are worthy of our songs; intercede unceasingly that we may be saved.
Irmos Behold and see! I am your God.* I made manna rain down in former times,* and for my people, I made water gush from the rock.* by my own hand and the strength of my arm.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Behold and see! I am your God. Listen to the Lord, O my soul; separate yourself from your former perversion, in the fear of your God who shall come to judge you.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
To whom shall I compare you, O my poor soul? To Cain, the first murderer, or to Lamech? For you have stoned your body and slain your spirit, by your misdeed and the fervour of your sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my soul. if you are compared to all those before the Law, you have surely not imitated those who turned their life around, such as Seth, Enos, Enoch and Noah; no, you have not followed the righteousness of their life.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You alone have opened the windows of the wrath of God; as in the time of the flood, you have submerged your flesh and the works of your life, and you have not entered into the ark of salvation.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have killed a man for a wound, a child for a bruise, said Lamech amid his tears; and you, O my soul, you do not tremble for having despoiled your flesh and defiled your spirit.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
How have I imitated Lamech the murderer, by killing my spirit as a man and my soul as a child? Like Cain the murderer, I have killed my brother the body, in the fervour of my passions.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Through your desires, O my soul, you sought to build a tower and to establish a fortified city; but the Creator has upset these plans, and He has overturned your projects.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Behold, I am wounded and injured, for the arrows of the Enemy have pierced my soul and body; my bruises and the inflammation of my sores bear witness to the violence of my passions.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In days of old, the Lord of heaven rained down fire upon Sodom which was inflamed with evil desires; and you , O my soul. are fanning the flames of Gehenna into whose fires you shall descend.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Behold and understand, I am your God, who searches hearts and corrects thoughts, who lays open deeds and burns away sins, who renders justice to the orphans, the weak and the little ones.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having sunk into the pit of temptation, you stretched out your hands, O Mary, toward the mercy of God; and, as he did to Peter, the Lover of mankind reached out his helping hand, for it was your conversion that he sought above all.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
With a burning heart, you have hastened to follow Christ, leaving your former way of sin to now live in the solitude of the desert, observing his divine commandments with a pure heart.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
Let us behold and contemplate the love of the divine Master for us; before the end, let us bow before Him, and let us cry out in tears: Through the prayers of our holy father Andrew, O Saviour, have mercy on us.
Glory…
Eternal Trinity and indivisible Unity, accept me in repentance and save me, a sinner; do not despise the work of Your hands; protect me and deliver me from the fires of judgment.
Now…
O holy Lady, Mother of God, hope of those who hasten to you, harbour who save us from the wrath of the waters, implore your Creator and your Son to spare us through your intercession.
Katavasia Attend, Heaven, and I will speak, and I will sing of Christ, who dwelt with us in flesh, which He took from the Virgin.
Ode 3
Irmos Establish, O Lord, my unstable heart on the rock of Your commandments, for You only are holy and the Lord.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
From the height of heaven, the Lord once rained down a deluge of fire upon the land of Sodom.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Seek safety on the mountain, O my soul, as once did Lot who took refuge in Zoar.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Flee the flaming sword, O my soul, flee the fire of Sodom, flee the affliction of the divine flames.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I confess to You, O my Saviour, that I have sinned without measure against You; but in your goodness, wipe out my sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Against You have I sinned, more than all have I fallen; O Christ our Saviour, have mercy on me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You are truly the Good Shepherd; come in search of me, O Lord; do not despise Your lost sheep.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O Jesus, You are the sweetness of my life; You have created me; in You, O Saviour, I shall be justified.
O Holy Trinity, O God, have mercy on us.
O one Divine Trinity, save us from straying, from temptations and all dangers.
Most holy Mother of God, save us.
Rejoice, O womb that bore God; rejoice, O throne of the Lord; rejoice, O Mother of our Life.
Irmos Establish, O Lord, my unstable heart on the rock of Your commandments, for You only are holy and the Lord.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
For me, You are the fountain of life and the One who conquered Death, and with all my heart I cry out to You before the end: I have sinned; forgive me and save me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have followed the example of those who lived in the time of Noah; and I deserve the same punishment in the flood that engulfed them.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have sinned against You, O Lord, forgive me, for I have sinned; there is no sinner whom I have not surpassed by my sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my soul, you have imitated the filial disrespect of Ham, for you have not covered the shame of your neighbour, walking backwards so as not to see.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have not received the blessing of Shem, O my poor soul; you have not inherited the vast domain of Japheth, in the land of forgiveness.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Departing from Haran, O my poor soul, leave behind the land of sin, for the land which flows with immortality, which Abraham received as an inheritance.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have heard, O my soul, how Abraham left the land of his ancestors and became a stranger upon earth; imitate his example and his resolve.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Beneath the oak of Mamre, the Patriarch showed hospitality to the angels; and despite his advanced age, he received the fulfilment of the promise of God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my soul, you know the new sacrifice of Isaac, the spiritual holocaust offered to the Lord; seek to imitate his resolve.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have heard, O my soul, how Ishmael, the child of slavery, was chased away; keep watch so as not to become a servant of the passions, that you do not incur the same banishment.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have imitated the mother of Ishmael, Hagar the Egyptian of old, for you have made yourself the slave of your desires and have boasted about what you conceived.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You know, O my soul, about the Ladder of Jacob, which reached from earth to heaven; why then have you not ascended the rungs of piety?
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Seek to imitate the life of Melchizedek, the priest of God and the king with no genealogy, who was a splendid image of Christ.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Do not become a pillar of salt by turning around to see what is behind you; fear the example of Sodom and be saved by ascending to Zoar.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Like Lot, O my soul, flee from the flames of sin; far from Sodom and Gomorrah, flee from the fire of your evil inclinations.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, have mercy on me, such shall be my cry when You come with Your holy angels to judge each of us according to our deeds.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O Master, do not reject the prayer of those who sing to You; but spare them in Your goodness, granting to the faithful the forgiveness of their sins.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
I am assaulted by the storm of my sins; come to my aid, O mother, and guide me to the harbour, the way that leads to God.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Offer your prayer of intercession, O venerable mother, to the tenderness of the most-pure Virgin, thus opening for me the door that leads to God.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
Through your prayers, grant me the forgiveness of my sins, O holy Andrew, bishop of Crete; for you are indeed the best of guides to repentance.
Glory…
O Trinity all-worthy of our praise, one God in three Persons, save us who in faith bow before Your majesty.
Now…
O marvellous wonder! Without seed, the Virgin and Mother of God has conceived the Son of the eternal Father, and you have given birth to him in time.
Katavasia Establish, O Lord, my unstable heart on the rock of Your commandments, for You only are holy and the Lord.
Small Litany
Sessional Hymn, Tone 8
Divinely-shining lights, eyewitnesses of the Saviour,* illuminate us in the darkness of this life,* that we may now walk honestly as in the day;* with the torch of abstinence may we drive out the passions of the night,* and behold with joy the splendour of Christ’s Passion.
Glory...
O company of the twelve apostles, chosen by God,* offer now to Christ your supplication,* that we may all complete the course of the Fast,* saying our prayers with compunction and practising the virtues with an eager heart;* and so may we obtain the glorious Resurrection of Christ our God,* bringing to Him praise and glory.
Now...
The Son and Word of God whom nothing can contain,* in ways past speech and understanding was born from you, O Theotokos.* With the apostles pray to Him,* that He may bestow true peace upon the inhabited earth* and grant to us before the end forgiveness of our sins,* in His boundless love counting your servants worthy of the heavenly Kingdom.
The Life of our Holy Mother,
Mary of Egypt (+522)Part 2
The elder wept and the woman began her story.
“My native land, holy father, was Egypt. Already during the lifetime of my parents, when I was twelve years old, I renounced their love and went to Alexandria. I am ashamed to recall how there I at first ruined my maidenhood and then unrestrainedly and insatiably gave myself up to sensuality. It is more becoming to speak of this briefly, so that you may just know my passion and my lechery. For about seventeen years, forgive me, I lived like that. I was like a fire of public debauchery. And it was not for the sake of gain—here I speak the pure truth. Often when they wished to pay me, I refused the money. I acted in this way so as to make as many men as possible to try to obtain me, doing free of charge what gave me pleasure. Do not think that I was rich and that was the reason why I did not take money. I lived by begging, often by spinning flax, but I had an insatiable desire and an irrepressible passion for lying in filth. This was life to me. Every kind of abuse of nature I regarded as life.
“That is how I lived. Then one summer I saw a large crowd of Lybians and Egyptians running towards the sea. I asked one of them, ‘Where are these men hurrying to?’ He replied, ‘They are all going to Jerusalem for the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, which takes place in a few days.’ I said to him, ‘Will they take me with them if I wish to go?’ ‘No one will hinder you if you have money to pay for the journey and for food.’ And I said to him, ‘To tell you truth, I have no money, neither have I food. But I shall go with them and shall go aboard. And they shall feed me, whether they want to or not. I have a body—they shall take it instead of pay for the journey.’ I was suddenly filled with a desire to go, Abba, to have more lovers who could satisfy my passion. I told you, Abba Zosimas, not to force me to tell you of my disgrace. God is my witness; I am afraid of defiling you and the very air with my words.”
Zosimas, weeping, replied to her: “Speak on for God’s sake, mother, speak and do not break the thread of such an edifying tale.”
And, resuming her story, she went on: “That youth, on hearing my shameless words, laughed and went off. While I, throwing away my spinning wheel, ran off towards the sea in the direction which everyone seemed to be taking. And, seeing some young men standing on the shore, about ten or more of them, full of vigour and alert in their movements, I decided that they would do for my purpose (it seemed that some of them were waiting for more travellers while others had gone ashore). Shamelessly, as usual, I mixed with the crowd, saying, ‘Take me with you to the place you are going to; you will not find me superfluous.’ I also added a few more words calling forth general laughter. Seeing my readiness to be shameless, they readily took me aboard the boat. Those who were expected came also, and we set sail at once.
“How shall I relate to you what happened after this? Whose tongue can tell, whose ears can take in all that took place on the boat during that voyage! And to all this I frequently forced those miserable youths even against their own will. There is no mentionable or unmentionable depravity of which I was not their teacher. I am amazed, Abba, how the sea stood our licentiousness, how the earth did not open its jaws, and how it was that hell did not swallow me alive, when I had entangled in my net so many souls. But I think God was seeking my repentance. For He does not desire the death of a sinner but magnanimously awaits his return to Him. At last we arrived in Jerusalem. I spent the days before the festival in the town, living the same kind of life, perhaps even worse. I was not content with the youths I had seduced at sea and who had helped be to get to Jerusalem; many others—citizens of the town and foreigners—I also seduced.
“The holy day of the Exaltation of the Cross dawned while I was still flying about—hunting for youths. At daybreak I saw that everyone was hurrying to the church, so I ran with the rest. When the hour for the holy elevation approached, I was trying to make my way in with the crowd which was struggling to get through the church doors. I had at last squeezed through with great difficulty almost to the entrance of the temple, from which the life-giving Tree of the Cross was being shown to the people. But when I trod on the doorstep which everyone passed, I was stopped by some force which prevented my entering. Meanwhile I was brushed aside by the crowd and found myself standing alone in the porch. Thinking that this had happened because of my woman’s weakness, I again began to work my way into the crowd, trying to elbow myself forward. But in vain I struggled. Again, my feet trod on the doorstep over which others were entering the church without encountering any obstacle. I alone seemed to remain unaccepted by the church. It was as if there was a detachment of soldiers standing there to oppose my entrance. Once again I was excluded by the same mighty force and again, I stood in the porch.
“Having repeated my attempt three or four times, at last I felt exhausted and had no more strength to push and to be pushed, so I went aside and stood in a corner of the porch. And only then with great difficulty it began to dawn on me, and I began to understand the reason why I was prevented from being admitted to see the life-giving Cross. The word of salvation gently touched the eyes of my heart and revealed to me that it was my unclean life which barred the entrance to me. I began to weep and lament and beat my breast, and to sigh from the depths of my heart. And so, I stood weeping when I saw above me the ikon of the most holy Mother of God. And turning to her my bodily and spiritual eyes I said:
‘O Lady, Mother of God, who gave birth in the flesh to God the Word, I know, O how well I know, that it is no honour or praise to you when one so impure and depraved as I look up to your ikon, O ever-virgin, who kept your body and soul in purity. Rightly do I inspire hatred and disgust before your virginal purity. But I have heard that God Who was born of you became man on purpose to call sinners to repentance. Then help me, for I have no other help. Order the entrance of the church to be opened to me. Allow me to see the venerable Tree on which He Who was born of you suffered in the flesh and on which He shed His holy Blood for the redemption of sinners and for me, unworthy as I am. Be my faithful witness before your Son that I will never again defile my body by the impurity of fornication, but as soon as I have seen the Tree of the Cross I will renounce the world and its temptations and will go wherever you will lead me.’
“Thus I spoke and as if acquiring some hope in firm faith and feeling some confidence in the mercy of the Mother of God, I left the place where I stood praying. And I went again and mingled with the crowd that was pushing its way into the temple. And no one seemed to thwart me, no one hindered my entering the church. I was possessed with trembling and was almost in delirium. Having got as far as the doors which I could not reach before—as if the same force which had hindered me cleared the way for me—I now entered without difficulty and found myself within the holy place. And so, it was I saw the life-giving Cross. I saw too the Mysteries of God and how the Lord accepts repentance. Throwing myself on the ground, I worshipped that holy earth and kissed it with trembling. Then I came out of the church and went to her who had promised to be my security, to the place where I had sealed my vow. And bending my knees before the Virgin Mother of God, I addressed to her such words as these:
‘O loving Lady, you have shown me your great love for all men. Glory to God Who receives the repentance of sinners through you. What more can I recollect or say, I who am so sinful? It is time for me, O Lady, to fulfil my vow, according to your witness. Now lead me by the hand along the path of repentance!’ And at these words I heard a voice from on high: ‘If you cross the Jordan you will find glorious rest.’
Hearing this voice and having faith that it was for me, I cried to the Mother of God: ‘O Lady, Lady, do not forsake me!’
“With these words I left the porch of the church and set off on my journey. As I was leaving the church a stranger glanced at me and gave me three coins, saying: ‘Sister, take these.’
“And, taking the money, I bought three loaves and took them with me on my journey, as a blessed gift. I asked the person who sold the bread: ‘Which is the way to the Jordan?’ I was directed to the city gate which led that way. Running on I passed the gates and still weeping went on my journey. Those I met I asked the way, and after walking for the rest of that day (I think it was nine o’clock when I saw the Cross) I at length reached at sunset the Church of St. John the Baptist which stood on the banks of the Jordan. After praying in the temple, I went down to the Jordan and rinsed my face and hands in its holy waters. I partook of the holy and life-giving Mysteries in the Church of the Forerunner and ate half of one of my loaves. Then, after drinking some water from the Jordan, I lay down and passed the night on the ground. In the morning I found a small boat and crossed to the opposite bank. I again prayed to Our Lady to lead me where she wished. Then I found myself in this desert and since then up to this very day I am estranged from all, keeping away from people and running away from everyone. And I live here clinging to my God Who saves all who turn to Him from faintheartedness and storms.”
Zosimas asked her: “How many years have gone by since you began to live in this desert?”
She replied: “Forty-seven years have already gone by, I think, since I left the holy city.”
Zosimas asked: “But what food do you find?”
The woman said: “I had two and a half loaves when I crossed the Jordan. Soon they dried up and became hard as rock. Eating a little I gradually finished them after a few years.”
Zosimas asked: “Can it be that without getting ill you have lived so many years thus, without suffering in any way from such a complete change?”
The woman answered: “You remind me, Zosimas, of what I dare not speak of. For when I recall all the dangers which I overcame, and all the violent thoughts which confused me, I am again afraid that they will take possession of me.”
Zosimas said: “Do not hide from me anything; speak to me without concealing anything.”
And she said to him: “Believe me, Abba, seventeen years I passed in this desert fighting wild beasts—mad desires and passions. When I was about to partake of food, I used to begin to regret the meat and fish which of which I had so much in Egypt. I regretted also not having wine which I loved so much. For I drank a lot of wine when I lived in the world, while here I had not even water. I used to burn and succumb with thirst. The mad desire for profligate songs also entered me and confused me greatly, edging me on to sing satanic songs which I had learned once. But when such desires entered me, I struck myself on the breast and reminded myself of the vow which I had made when going into the desert. In my thoughts I returned to the ikon of the Mother of God which had received me and to her I cried in prayer. I implored her to chase away the thoughts to which my miserable soul was succumbing. And after weeping for long and beating my breast I used to see light at last which seemed to shine on me from everywhere. And after the violent storm, lasting calm descended.
“And how can I tell you about the thoughts which urged me on to fornication, how can I express them to you, Abba? A fire was kindled in my miserable heart which seemed to burn me up completely and to awake in me a thirst for embraces. As soon as this craving came to me, I flung myself on the earth and watered it with my tears, as if I saw before me my witness, who had appeared to me in my disobedience, and who seemed to threaten punishment for the crime. And I did not rise from the ground (sometimes I lay thus prostrate for a day and a night) until a calm and sweet light descended and enlightened me and chased away the thoughts that possessed me. But always I turned to the eyes of my mind to my Protectress, asking her to extend help to one who was sinking fast in the waves of the desert. And I always had her as my Helper and the Accepter of my repentance. And thus, I lived for seventeen years amid constant dangers. And since then even till now the Mother of God helps me in everything and leads me as it were by the hand.”
Zosimas asked: “Can it be that you did not need food and clothing?”
She answered: “After finishing the loaves I had, of which I spoke, for seventeen years I have fed on herbs and all that can be found in the desert. The clothes I had when I crossed the Jordan became torn and worn out. I suffered greatly from the cold and greatly from the extreme heat. At times the sun burned me up and at other times I shivered from the frost, and frequently falling to the ground I lay without breath and without motion. I struggled with many afflictions and with terrible temptations. But from that time till now the power of God in numerous ways had guarded my sinful soul and my humble body. When I only reflect on the evils from which Our Lord has delivered me, I have imperishable food for hope of salvation. I am fed and clothed by the all-powerful Word of God, the Lord of all. For it is not by bread alone that man lives. And those who have stripped off the rags of sin have no refuge, hiding themselves in the clefts of the rocks (Job 24; Hebrews 11:38).”
Hearing that she cited words Scripture, from Moses and Job, Zosimas asked her: “And so you have read the psalms and other books?”
She smiled at this and said to the elder: “Believe me, I have not seen a human face ever since I crossed the Jordan, except yours today. I have not seen a beast or a living being ever since I came into the desert. I never learned from books. I have never even heard anyone who sang and read from them. But the Word of God, which is alive and active, by itself teaches a man knowledge. And so, this is the end of my tale. But, as I asked you in the beginning, so even now I implore you for the sake of the Incarnate Word of God, to pray to the Lord for me who am such a sinner.”
Thus, concluding here tale she bowed down before him. And with tears the elder exclaimed: “Blessed is God Who creates the great and wondrous, the glorious and marvellous without end. Blessed is God Who has shown me how He rewards those who fear Him. Truly, O Lord, You do not forsake those who seek You!”
And the woman, not allowing the elder to bow down before her, said: “I beg you, holy father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our God and Saviour, tell no one what you have heard, until God delivers me of this earth. And now depart in peace and again next year you shall see me, and I you, if God will preserve us in His great mercy. But for God’s sake, do as I ask you. Next year during Lent do not cross the Jordan, as is your custom in the monastery.”
Zosimas was amazed to hear that she knew the rules of the monastery and could only say: “Glory to God Who bestows great gifts on those who love Him.”
She continued: “Remain, Abba, in the monastery. And even if you wish to depart, you will not be able to do so. And at sunset of the holy day of the Last Supper, put some of the life-giving Body and Blood of Christ into a holy vessel worthy to hold such Mysteries for me, and bring It. And wait for me on the banks of the Jordan adjoining the inhabited parts of the land, so that I can come and partake of the life-giving Gifts. For, since the time I communicated in the temple of the Forerunner before crossing the Jordan even to this day I have not approached the Holy Mysteries. And I thirst for them with irrepressible love and longing. And therefore, I ask and implore you to grant me my wish, bring me the life-giving Mysteries at the very hour when Our Lord made His disciples partake of His Divine Supper. Tell John the Abbot of the monastery where you live. Look to yourself and to your brothers, for there is much that needs correction. Only do not say this now, but when God guides you. Pray for me!”
With these words she vanished in the depths of the desert. And Zosimas, falling down on his knees and bowing down to the ground on which she had stood, sent up glory and thanks to God. And, after wandering through the desert, he returned to the monastery on the day all the brothers returned.
For the whole year he kept silent, not daring to tell anyone of what he had seen. But in his heart should he pray to God to give him another chance of seeing the ascetic’s dear face. And when at length the first Sunday of the Great Fast came, all went out into the desert with the customary prayers and the singing of psalms. Only Zosimas was held back by illness—he lay in a fever. And then he remembered what the saint had said to him: “and even if you wish to depart, you will not be able to do so.”
Many days passed and at last recovering from his illness he remained in the monastery. And when all the monks returned and the day of the Last Supper dawned, he did as he had been ordered. and placing some of the most-pure Body and Blood into a small chalice and putting some figs and dates and lentils soaked in water into a small basket, he departed for the desert and reached the banks of the Jordan and sat down to wait for the saint. He waited for a long while and then began to doubt. Then raising his eyes to heaven, he began to pray: “Grant me, O Lord, to behold that which You have allowed be to behold once. Do not let me depart in vain, being the burden of my sins.”
And then another thought struck him: “And what if she does come? There is no boat; how will she cross the Jordan to come to me who am so unworthy?”
And as he was pondering thus, he saw the holy woman appear and stand on the other side of the river. Zosimas got up rejoicing and glorifying and thanking God. And again, the thought came to him that she could not cross the Jordan. Then he saw that she made the sign of the Cross over the waters of the Jordan (and the night was a moonlit one, as he related afterwards) and then she at once stepped on to the waters and began walking across the surface towards him. And when he wanted to prostrate himself, she cried to him while still walking on the water: “What are you doing, Abba, you are a priest and carrying the divine Gifts!”
He obeyed her and on reaching the shore she said to the elder: “Bless, father, bless me!”
He answered her trembling, for a state of confusion had overcome him at the sight of the miracle: “Truly God did not lie when He promised that when we purify ourselves, we shall be like Him. Glory to You, Christ our God, Who has shown me through this your slave how far away I stand from perfection.”
Here the woman asked him to say the Creed and the Our Father. He began; she finished the prayer and according to the custom of that time gave him the kiss of peace on the lips. Having partaken of the Holy Mysteries, she raised her hands to heaven and sighed with tears in her eyes, exclaiming: “Now You may let Your servant depart in peace, O Lord, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation.”
Then she said to the elder: “Forgive me, Abba, for asking you, but fulfil another wish of mine. Go now to the monastery and let God’s grace guard you, and next year come again to the same place where I first met you. come for God’s sake, for you shall again see me, for such is the will of God.”
He said to her: “From this day on I would like to follow you and always see your holy face. But now fulfil the one and only wish of an old man and take a little of the food I have brought for you.”
And he showed her the basket, while she just touched the lentils with the tips of her fingers and taking three grains said that the Holy Spirit guards the substance of the soul unpolluted. Then she said: “Pray, for God’s sake, pray for me and remember a miserable wretch.”
Touching the saint’s feet and asking for her prayers for the Church, the kingdom and himself, he let her depart with tears, while he went off sighing and sorrowful, for he could not hope to vanquish the invincible. Meanwhile she again made the sign of the Cross over the Jordan and stepped on to the waters and crossed over as before. And the elder returned filled with joy and terror, accusing himself of not having asked the saint her name. But he decided to do so next year.
And when another year had passed, he again went into the desert. He reached the same spot but could see no sign of anyone. So, raising his eyes to heaven as before, he prayed: “Show me, O Lord, Your pure treasure, which You have concealed in the desert. Show me, I pray You, the angel in the flesh, of which the world is not worthy.”
Then on the opposite bank of the river, her face turned towards the rising sun, he saw the saint lying dead. Her hands were crossed according to custom and her face was turned to the East. Running up he shed tears over the saint’s feet and kissed them, not daring to touch anything else.
For a long time, he wept. Then reciting the appointed psalms, he said the burial prayers and thought to himself: “Must I bury the body of a saint? Or will this be contrary to her wishes?” And then he saw words traced on the ground by her head: “Abba Zosimas, bury on this spot the body of humble Mary. Return to dust that which is dust and pray to the Lord for me, who departed in the month of Fermoutin of Egypt, called April by the Romans, on the first day, on the very night of our Lord’s Passion, after having partaken of the Divine Mysteries.” [St. Mary died in 522 ad]
Reading this the elder was glad to know the saint’s name. He understood too that as soon as she had partaken of the Divine Mysteries on the shore of the Jordan she was at once transported to the place where she died. The distance which Zosimas had taken twenty days to cover, Mary had evidently traversed in an hour and had at once surrendered her soul to God.
Then Zosimas thought: “It is time to do as she wished. But how am I to dig a grave with nothing in my hands?”
And then he saw nearby a small piece of wood left by some traveller in the desert. Picking it up he began to dig the ground. But the earth was hard and dry and did not yield to the efforts of the elder. He grew tired and covered with sweat. He sighed from the depths of his soul and lifting up his eyes he saw a big lion standing close to the saint’s body and licking her feet. At the sight of the lion he trembled with fear, especially when he called to mind Mary’s words that she had never seen wild beasts in the desert. But guarding himself with the sign of the cross, the thought came to him that the power of the one lying there would protect him and keep him unharmed. Meanwhile the lion drew nearer to him, expressing affection by every movement.
Zosimas said to the lion: “The Great One ordered that her body was to be buried. But I am old and have not the strength to dig the grave (for I have no spade and it would take too long to go and get one), so can you carry out the work with your claws? Then we can commit to the earth the mortal temple of the saint.”
While he was still speaking the lion with his front paws began to dig a hole deep enough to bury the body.
Again, the elder washed the feet of the saint with his tears and calling on her to pray for all, covered the body with earth in the presence of the lion. It was as it had been, naked and uncovered by anything but the tattered cloak which had been given to her by Zosimas and with which Mary, turning away, had managed to cover part of her body. Then both departed. The lion went off into the depth of the desert like a lamb, while Zosimas returned to the monastery glorifying and blessing Christ our Lord. And on reaching the monastery he told all the brothers about everything, and all marvelled upon hearing of God’s miracles. And with fear and love they kept the memory of the saint.
Abbot John, as St. Mary had previously told Abba Zosimas, found a number of things wrong in the monastery and got rid of them with God’s help. And Saint Zosimas died in the same monastery, almost attaining the age of a hundred, and passed to eternal life. The monks kept this story without writing it down and passed it on by word of mouth to one another.
But I (adds Sophronius) as soon as I heard it, wrote it down. Perhaps someone else, better informed, has already written the life of the Saint, but as far as I could, I have recorded everything, putting truth above all else. May God Who works amazing miracles and generously bestows gifts on those who turn to Him with faith, reward those who seek light for themselves in this story, who hear, read and are zealous to write it, and may He grant them the lot of blessed Mary together with all who at different times have pleased God by their pious thoughts and labours.
And let us also give glory to God, the eternal King, that He may grant us too His mercy in the day of judgment for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom belongs all glory, honour, dominion and adoration with the Eternal Father, and the Most Holy and Life-giving Spirit, now and always, and through all ages. Amen.
Ode 4
Irmos The Prophet heard of Your coming, O Lord, and was terrified, that You were about to be born of a Virgin and appear to men, and he said, I have heard the report of You and am afraid. Glory to Your power, O Lord.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Do not despise the work of Your hands, nor scorn Your creation, O just Judge, even though I alone have sinned more than all, O merciful God; for You are the God of the universe, and it is You who forgive sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The end is near, O my soul, it approaches, and you neglect to prepare yourself; the time is at hand; arise, for the Judge is at the door; our life disappears like a dream or a flower, and we toil in vain.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Awake, O my soul, and think about what you have done in your life; let your tears flow as you meditate upon your past; confess your deeds and secret thoughts to Christ, and you shall be justified.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O Saviour, there is nothing in this life that I have not done, no sin nor evil deed that I have not committed, in word or intention, deliberately, in thoughts or in deeds, more than any other at any time.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
For this I am condemned, for this I am also judged by my own conscience which has no equal in this world; you probe me, and you know me, O Redeemer, spare me, and save me, your servant.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The ladder that the Patriarch Jacob once contemplated is the ascetical effort, the mystical ascent; O my soul, if you wish to understand these two, renew yourself and be made new.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
To gain his two wives, the Patriarch endured the heat of day and the freezing of night, in labour and in combat, cunningly increasing his flock day by day.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The two wives are action and contemplation; Leah is action, because she had many children; Rachel is knowledge, which is gained only with toil; and we gain the fruit of both of these only with struggle.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Be watchful, O my soul, and strive as did Jacob, so that you may not only be filled with action, but that you may also gain knowledge and the vision of God, and radiant contemplation, that pearl of great price.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Jacob was the father of the twelve Patriarchs, and thus he provided a mystical ladder of ascent, setting up his sons as so many steps, that the most-wise might rise up.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Imitating that miserable Esau, O my soul, you have sold the birth-right of your original beauty to the Deceiver, and thus you have been deprived of the paternal blessing; henceforth, do penance.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Esau was called Edom because of his raging passions; burning with lust and stained with pleasure, he was called Edom which means the blazing of a soul that is smitten with sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
From Job, you have learned submission, O my soul, with which he sat upon the ash heap and was justified; but you have not imitated his courage and steadfastness; perseverance is still lacking in you.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Behold he now sits naked upon the dung heap, he who not long ago was seated upon a throne; this illustrious father of yesteryear now has no home nor children; the ash heap is his palace, and his sores take the place of precious jewels.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Not long ago he was clothed with royal garments, wearing the purple and the diadem; the just man had much wealth and countless flocks; but suddenly he is deprived of all his splendour.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
When a just person such as Job, who is totally beyond reproach, cannot hold off the attacks of the Evil One, what shall you do, O my soul, when misfortune falls upon you?
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
My body and my spirit are stained and corrupted; O Christ, the Physician of souls, heal my wounds; wash me through repentance, purify me and make me whiter than snow.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You offered Your body and Your blood upon the Cross for the salvation of all, O Word: Your body to re-create me and Your blood to cleanse me; You handed over Your spirit, O Christ, to bring me to the Father.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You worked salvation in the middle of the earth, to save us, O Lord; You ascended the Cross to open Paradise for us; all creation and the nations who are redeemed now bow before You.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
May the blood and water flowing from Your side be both a baptism and a redeeming drink for me, so that, doubly purified, I may draw Your life-giving Word from both Your chalice and Your anointing.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have been banished from the bridal chamber, far from the wedding of the Lamb; my lamp has no more oil and the doors are closed; the banquet has been eaten, and I am thrown outside, hands and feet tied.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
From Your life-giving side, O Saviour, the Church has inherited a chalice, which flows with a double stream of knowledge and forgiveness, in the image of the one who unites both Testaments, the Old and the New.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
My life is short, filled with evil and grief; accept me in repentance, and call me into Your light that I may not become a prize for the Enemy; have mercy on me, O Saviour.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
My heart is filled with vanity; do not condemn me, Pharisee that I am, but grant me the humility of the Publican and count me with him, through Your goodness and just judgment.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have sinned and defiled the temple of my body; now accept me in repentance and call me into Your light, that I may not become a prize for the Enemy; have mercy on me, O Saviour.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have become my own idol, defiling my soul through the passions; now accept me in repentance and call me into Your light, that I may not become a prize for the Enemy; have mercy on me, O Saviour.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Instead of listening to your voice, I have transgressed Your Law; now accept me in repentance and call me into Your light, that I may not become a prize for the Enemy; have mercy on me, O Saviour.
Holy Mother Mary, Pray to God for us.
Living the angelic life in the flesh, O holy Mary, you have received the greatest grace from God; thus, you can intercede for the faithful who honour you, and we now implore you: through your prayers, deliver us from all temptation.
Holy Mother Mary, Pray to God for us.
Having fallen into the abyss of sin, you did not remain there as a booty; but, taking flight by your works, you were raised up to the heights of virtue, thus inspiring the admiration of the angels.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
You are the glory of the Fathers and the adornment of Crete, O holy Andrew; do not forget to intercede with the Holy Trinity, for the deliverance from eternal punishment of those who call upon you for aid.
Glory…
I confess the Holy Trinity as God, three Persons sharing the same royal throne, indivisible in essence and beyond confusion; my voice resounds with the triple hymn of the angels.
Now…
You have given birth, O Virgin, and you still remained a Virgin, for your virginal womb brought forth the One who renewed the laws of nature in himself; for God has willed it so.
Katavasia The Prophet heard of Your coming, O Lord, and was terrified, that You were about to be born of a Virgin and appear to men, and he said, I have heard the report of You and am afraid. Glory to Your power, O Lord.
Ode 5
Irmos Out of the night as I rise early to pray, enlighten me I beseech You Lover of men, and guide even me to Your commandments, and teach me, O Saviour to do Your will.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
My life has slipped away in the night, in darkness, deep chaos and the dark night of sin; enlighten me, O Saviour, that I may become a child of light.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Woe is me, for I have become like Ruben; I have sinned and given great offence to the Most High, by transgressing his paternal love.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I confess to You, O Christ my King, that I have sinned; I have sinned as did the brothers of Joseph, who once sold the offspring of wisdom and purity.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The life of the just Joseph was sold by his own brothers, and the gentle young man was brought down to slavery, as a figure of the Lord; and you, O my soul, have sold yourself into sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Follow the footsteps of Joseph, O my poor and miserable soul; imitate the justice and purity of his heart, instead of giving yourself over to the enjoyment of passions which keep you far from God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
When Joseph was thrown into the pit, O sovereign Master, it was a foreshadowing of your burial and your holy Resurrection.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You know the story of Moses, O my soul, how he drifted in his cradle as in an ark of salvation, thus escaping the bitter execution of Pharaoh's plan.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The midwives were supposed to kill every male offspring of wisdom; you know this, O my soul; and now, like Moses, be nursed on the milk of wisdom.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have not struck the spiritual Egyptian, O my soul, as did the great Moses; how will you be able, through repentance, to dwell in the desert of passions.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Moses dwelt in the desert; follow the path of his life, O my soul, that you may also contemplate the burning bush of the divine apparition.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Picture for yourself, O my soul, the rod of Moses striking the sea and holding back the wall of water; it is the image of the holy Cross, by which you also shall work wonders.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Aaron offered God a pure and unadulterated fire; but, like you, O my soul, Hophni and Phinehas brought the impurity of their lives.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
My heart is hardened like that of Pharaoh; I have become like Jannes and Jambres in my soul and body, in the heaviness of my spirit; O Lord, come to my assistance.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Alas, I am sinking into the mire! Wash me, O my Master, in the bath of my tears; make the garment of my flesh whiter than snow.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
When I scrutinize my deeds, O Saviour, I see that I am burdened with sin more than any other, for I have sinned wilfully, and not through ignorance.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Spare the work of Your hands, O Lord; forgive me, for I have sinned; You alone are all-pure by nature; You alone are without sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You covered Your divinity with the robe of my humanity to save me; You worked wonders by healing the lepers, raising up paralyzed people, and stopping the flow of blood by the hem of Your garment.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Follow the example of the woman with the flow of blood, O my soul; draw near and touch the garment of Christ who will deliver you and say to you: Take courage! Your faith has saved you.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Imitating the woman who was stooped over, O my soul, draw near and bow before the feet of Jesus, that He may raise you up and that you may walk uprightly in the way of the Lord.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The well is deep, O Lord, but You draw from Your bosom the living water, which I drink as did the Samaritan woman; thus, I will no longer thirst, for You refresh me with the waters of Your life.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
May my tears become another pool of Siloam for me, O Lord God, that I may wash the eyes of my heart there and contemplate your eternal brightness.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Impelled by an unparalleled love, you wished to prostrate yourself before the Tree of life, and your desire was granted; now make me worthy of the glory from on high. Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having crossed the Jordan River, you found repose, escaping the yoke of carnal desires; deliver us also, O Mary, through your holy prayers.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
I call upon you with all my heart, O holy Andrew, wise pastor and chosen one of God, and in fear I beseech you: through your intercession, may I obtain salvation and eternal life.
Glory…
We glorify you as one God, O thrice-holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, consubstantial divinity, and we unceasingly adore you.
Now…
From you, O most pure Virgin and holy Mother of God, the divine Creator of the ages becomes flesh, to unite himself intimately to our mortal nature.
Katavasia Out of the night as I rise early to pray, enlighten me I beseech You Lover of men, and guide even me to Your commandments, and teach me, O Saviour to do Your will.
Ode 6
Irmos I cried with all my heart to the merciful God, and He heard me from the depths of hell, and raised my life from corruption.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In all purity, I offer You, O God and Saviour, the tears of my eyes, my deep sighs and the cries of my heart: I have sinned; forgive me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have separated yourself from your Lord, O my soul, as did Dathan and Abiram; but cry out to him with all your heart: Spare me, O Lord, and may the earth not open and swallow me!
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You are like Ephraim that raging heifer; and like a gazelle broken free from its reins, save yourself upon the wings of action and contemplation.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
May the hands of Moses, O my soul, confirm for you how God can purify the leprosy of our life and make it white as snow.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Like the waters of the Red Sea, the ocean of my sins has totally engulfed me, as with the Egyptians in days of old.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Like ancient Israel, O my soul, you have made a foolish choice; instead of the manna of heaven, you preferred the food of the passions.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Like Israel in the desert, O my soul, you have preferred the impure fleshpots of Egypt, instead of the food of heaven.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my soul, you have preferred the wells of Canaan to the Rock, the fountain which gushes forth for you, with the wisdom and the knowledge of God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
When Moses, Your servant, struck the rock with his staff, he prefigured Your life-giving side, from which we all draw life and salvation.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Explore, O my soul, the promised land; look over your inheritance, as did Joshua, and dwell in it by keeping the precepts of the Law.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Rise up to do battle with the passions of the flesh, as Joshua once did against Amalek; do not let yourself be deceived by your thoughts, as did the Gibeonites.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Pass through the stream of life as once did the Ark of the covenant; O my soul, take possession of the promise of God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
As you once saved Peter on the waters, O Saviour, hasten to save me; stretch out your hand to me and save me from the abyss of sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In You I find the harbour of salvation, O Master and Lord Jesus; draw me up from the bottomless pit of hopelessness and sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I am the drachma bearing the image of the king which You once lost, O Saviour; now light Your lamp, the forerunner, to find me and refashion Your image.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
To extinguish the flaming sword of your passions, O Mary, you made the streams of your tears flow abundantly; grant that I may also share equally in this grace.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
By your sublime life in this world, O Mary, you have gained heavenly repose; beseech the Lord to deliver from their passions those who sing to you in praise.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
You were the bishop and shepherd of Crete, and now you are an intercessor for the whole world; I come to you also, O holy Father; draw me up from the abyss of sin.
Glory…
I am the indivisible Trinity, one in nature, says the Father, together with the Son and Holy Spirit.
Now…
Your womb has brought into the world for us a God who is conformed to our humanity; O Theotokos, beseech the Creator of the world that, through your prayers, we may be saved.
Katavasia I cried with all my heart to the merciful God, and He heard me from the depths of hell, and raised my life from corruption.
Small Litany
Kontakion, Tone 6
My soul, O my soul, awaken; why do you sleep?* The end draws near and you must be troubled.* Arise therefore that Christ our God may spare you.* He Who is ever-present and fills all things.
Ikos
Seeing the healings worked by Christ and salvation flowing upon Adam, the Devil was struck with grief; in face of this threat, he sighed and said to his companions: What shall I do with the Son of Mary? For he is going to put me to death, the One who is born in Bethlehem, He Who is ever-present and fills all things
The Beatitudes
Sung in Tone 6, Samohlasnyj. The cantor sings the pripiv and everyone sings the troparia, making a bow at each.
In Your kingdom, remember us, O Lord, when You come in Your kingdom.
The Good Thief who cried to You on the Cross:* Remember me, O Lord,* was made a citizen of Paradise;* grant also to me, Your unworthy servant,* the ability to imitate his repentance.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
You know the story, O my soul,* of Manoah who received a visit from God:* and from a sterile womb* was born the fruit of the promise;* imitate his piety towards the Lord.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Having imitated the thoughtlessness of Samson,* you have been shorn of your glorious good deeds;* you have delivered yourself into the hands of the Enemy, O my soul,* by giving up the goodness of a chaste life* for the love of pleasure.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
The one who once struck down the enemies with the jawbone of an ass,* now has become a plaything of fleshly desires;* O my soul, flee from this example of foolishness.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Barak and Jephthah were selected as judges in Israel* and to lead its army;* together with them, the righteous Deborah was also chosen;* O my soul, imitate their courageous virtues.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
O my soul, you know the courage of Jael,* who secured the salvation of Israel* by piercing the head of Sisera;* she slew the enemy with the wooden stake* which foreshadowed the Cross.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
O my soul, offer a sacrifice of praise* by consecrating your life to purity,* as did the daughter of Jephthah;* offer to the Lord your carnal desires* as an oblation.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
You know, O my soul, of the fleece of Gideon;* receive the dew from heaven;* bend down to drink from the stream of the Law,* which flows from the commandments of the Lord.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
You have brought upon yourself, O my soul,* the judgement of the priest Eli,* by giving free reign to your passions;* by your lack of steadfastness,* like the priest of Shiloh you have closed your eyes* upon the godlessness of your children.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
In the Book of Judges, as a sign of grief,* a Levite cut the body of his wife into twelve pieces* and distributed them among the tribes of Israel;* in this way he emphasized the wickedness and injustice* done by the Benjamites.
Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven.
Hannah, the mother of Samuel,* moved her lips in prayer,* even though no one could hear her voice;* and despite her sterility,* she gave birth to a son who was claimed by the Lord.
Remember us, O Lord, when You come in Your kingdom.
Among the Judges was the great Samuel, born in Ramah,* who was reared in the house of the Lord;* learn from him, O my soul,* and judge your own deeds* before you judge those of others.
Remember us, O Master, when You come in Your kingdom.
David was chosen king* and received the holy oil of anointing;* if you desire the kingdom of heaven, O my soul,* pour upon yourself the ointment of tears.
Remember us, O Holy One, when You come in Your kingdom.
Have mercy upon the work of Your hands,* O God of goodness,* spare those who have sinned,* and most of all, spare Your servant* who has scorned Your commandments.
Glory…
I adore the Father who begets in all eternity,* I glorify the only-begotten Son,* and I praise the Holy Spirit* who shines with the same brightness as the Father and the Son.
Now…
We venerate the supernatural fruit of your womb,* without dividing the glory of your Son;* for we confess the oneness of His Person* and the duality of His natures.
Ode 7
Irmos We have sinned, transgressed, done wrong before You, we have neither observed nor performed what You have commanded us; but forsake us not utterly, O God of our Fathers.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have sinned, I have transgressed, and I have scorned Your commandments; for I was born in sin, and I have added to my wounds; but, in Your goodness spare me, O Lord, God of our fathers.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I confess the secrets of my heart to You, O my Judge; behold my grief and my humiliation; be attentive to my judgment, and in Your goodness spare me, O Lord, God of our fathers.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Having gone in search of the asses of his father, Saul found in addition his royal vocation; and you, O my soul, keep watch that you do not prefer the flock of your passions to the kingdom of Christ.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
David, the ancestor of the Lord, once sinned doubly: by being pierced with the arrow of desire, and then by the spear of murder; and you, O my soul, bear even more the weight of your passions.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
David once multiplied the gravity of his sin, adding murder to adultery; but he immediately showed a double repentance. And you, O my soul, have done even worse, without repenting before God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
David once wrote a hymn as the icon of his repentance, publicly revealing his deeds by saying: Have mercy on me, O God of the universe; against You alone have I sinned; in your goodness, purify me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
When the Ark of the covenant was being carried on a chariot and the oxen began to slip, Uzzah placed his hand upon the holy Ark; and for this single gesture, he incurred the wrath of God. Do not imitate his boldness, O my soul, but treat the holy things with respect.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You know the story of Absalom and his rebellion against nature; and you know his abominations, even the defiling of his father’s bed; and yet you imitate, O my soul, his desires and his drives for pleasure.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have enslaved your dignity and your freedom to your body; and you have found in the Enemy another Ahithophel, for you have followed his counsels. But Christ has destroyed them in order to save you.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Filled with grace and knowledge, the wondrous Solomon once distanced himself from God, by doing evil in his sight; and you, O my soul, have modelled yourself after him through your accursed life.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Swept away by pleasure, he was debased by his passions; the lover of wisdom now courts debauchery, and he distances himself from God; and you have followed his path, in the shame of your passions.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Imitating Rehoboam who disregarded his father’s advice, you have also followed the ancient apostasy of Jeroboam, that evil servant; imitate them no more, but cry out to the Lord: Have mercy on me, a sinner.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Through your impurity, you have followed the path of Ahab; you have become a receptacle for the defilements of the flesh and a vile vase of shameful passions. Now sigh deeply from the bottom of your heart, as you confess your sins to the Lord.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Twice, Elijah struck down fifty men of Ahaziah, after having destroyed the prophets of Jezebel to confound Ahab; do not imitate them but cry out to the Lord: Have mercy on me, a sinner.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Heaven is closed to you, and the famine sent by God seizes you; and you, another Ahab, have not come to faith through the warnings of Elijah the Tishbite. Rather, imitate the widow of Zaraphath by welcoming the messengers of God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have willingly piled up the transgressions of Manasseh, O my soul, by setting up your passions upon the altar of abomination, thus multiplying the deeds that displease the Lord; therefore, imitate his conversion by gaining compunction.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I bow before you, and I offer my tearful confession to You: More than the sinful woman have I fallen; more than any other person have I sinned. But, have mercy on Your creature, O Lord, and call me back to your fold.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have tarnished the image of Your splendour, and I have transgressed the Law; my beauty is disfigured by the breath of my passions; my lamp no longer burns. But, give me joy along with your grace, O Lord, as David sings.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Repent and turn back to the Lord, lay bare your secret thoughts to him, and say to God who reads our hearts: You alone, O Lord, know my secrets; but as David says, have mercy on me, O Lord, in Your goodness.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
My days have vanished as someone awakening from a dream; therefore, I cry as did Hezekiah, that the years of my life may be prolonged. But what other Isaiah will come to assist you, O my soul, if not the God most high?
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having sought the help of the holy Mother of God, you turned back the violence of passions, and you covered over the tricks of the Enemy. Give help to me in time of affliction, for I am your servant.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
The One whom you have so desired, whose paths you have followed, has led you and preserved you on the way of repentance; implore this compassionate God unceasingly, that he deliver us from our passions and save us from all danger.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
Strengthen my heart on the rock of faith, O holy Father; encircle me with the fear of God, O holy Andrew; grant me the grace of repentance, I beseech you, and save me from the Enemy who wishes to seize me in his net.
Glory…
O unique and undivided Trinity, consubstantial unity, light with three rays, one fountain of triple holiness, I praise and glorify you, Giver of life and the God of all.
Now…
We praise you, we bless you, and we bow before you, O Mother of God; for you have given birth to One of the Holy Trinity, your Son and your God, opening for us heaven on earth.
Katavasia We have sinned, transgressed, done wrong before You, we have neither observed nor performed what You have commanded us; but forsake us not utterly, O God of our Fathers.
Ode 8
Irmos Him Whom the heavenly hosts glorify, and before Who Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, let every breath and creature praise, bless and exalt to all ages. Let us praise, bless and worship the Lord, and sing and exalt Him forever.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have sinned, O Saviour, have mercy on me; stir my soul to conversion; accept my repentance and spare me when I cry: Against you alone have I sinned, have mercy on me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Riding in the chariot of fire, Elijah was carried aloft on the wings of virtue from earth to heaven; O my soul, imitate his ascent.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Elisha once received the mantle of Elijah and obtained a double grace from the Lord; but you, O my poor soul, you are far from this grace.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Once the course of the Jordan was completely stopped by Elisha when he struck it with the mantle of Elijah; but you, O my poor soul, you are far from this grace.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In her goodness, the Shunammite woman offered hospitality to the just man; but you, O my soul, have not welcomed the stranger or the pilgrim; therefore, you shall weep far from the chamber of the Bridegroom.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my poor soul, you have imitated the vileness of Gehazi; in your waning days, give up your greed, that you may avoid Gehenna which you deserve.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have become a follower of Uzziah, and therefore you received a double portion of his leprosy upon your forehead; for you contemplate infamy and you practice iniquity; renounce evil and reform your thoughts.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You know that the Ninevites repented before God with sackcloth and ashes; but you have not imitated their noble conversion; rather, you go beyond all others in sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Jeremiah once sighed and lamented in the mud pit, pouring out his tears over the city of Sion; imitate his tears, and you shall be saved.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Foreseeing the conversion of the Ninevites, Jonah once fled towards Tarshish; for he knew in advance the tenderness of God, who is always ready to withdraw his judgments.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In the pit, Daniel closed the jaws of lions; and by their faith,* the three Youths extinguished the flaming furnace of the Chaldeans.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have brought before you, O my soul, all the models of the Old Testament; imitate the deeds of the just friends of God and turn away from the example of the wicked.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O just Judge and my Saviour, have mercy on me and save me from the fiery punishment which I shall endure because of a just judgment; before the end, change me through repentance.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
As the Good Thief, I cry, O Lord: Save me; I weep bitterly as did Peter; like the Publican, I cry: Forgive me; and as the sinful woman and the Canaanite woman, I say: O Lord, accept my tears.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Heal my wounded soul, O Saviour; O only Physician, apply the wine and oil, the fruits of repentance, along with tears and compunction.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
As the Canaanite woman, I cry to You: Have mercy on me, Son of David; as the woman with the flow of blood, I touch Your garment; and I weep as did Martha and Mary over Lazarus.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I pour out upon Your head, O my Saviour, the alabaster jar of the myrrh of my tears, as did the sinful woman of long ago;* I implore Your mercy; hear my prayer and grant me Your forgiveness.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Even though no one has offended Your goodness as I have, O my Saviour, still, accept my repentance, along with my cry of love and respect: Have mercy on me, a sinner.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Spare the work of Your hands, O Saviour; O Good Shepherd, go in search of Your lost sheep; preserve me from the ravishing wolf, and make me a sheep of Your flock.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
When You shall be seated in judgment, O Christ, and when You shall be resplendent in glory, Oh, what a frightful moment that shall be, when the flaming furnace blazes, and every person shall tremble before Your awesome judgment seat!
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Illumined by the Mother of the unsetting Light, you escaped the darkness of passions; having received the grace of the Spirit in you, enlighten, O Mary, the faithful who sing to you.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
The holy Zosimas was struck with wonder at the sight of this new miracle; for you became, O Mary, an angel in the flesh;* and rapt with amazement, he glorified Christ forever.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
O holy Andrew, I beseech you, for you can speak boldly before the Lord; by your prayers, free me from sin, that I may praise your glory among the saints.
Glory…
O Father of God the Word, coeternal Son and Word of the timeless God, comforter Spirit and Giver of life, Holy Trinity, have mercy on us.
Now…
Emmanuel was clothed in the purple of your blood, and therefore, we truly honour your divine maternity, O most pure Virgin.
Katavasia Him Whom the heavenly hosts glorify, and before Who Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, let every breath and creature praise, bless and exalt to all ages. Let us praise, bless and worship the Lord, and sing and exalt Him forever.
Magnificat
At the end of the Eighth Ode, the deacon comes with the censer before the icon of the Theotokos on the icon screen. Incensing her icon, he intones:
Deacon: Let us magnify with hymns the Theotokos and the Mother of the Light!
A: My soul magnifies the Lord,* and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
All: More honourable than the cherubim* and by far more glorious than the seraphim;* ever a virgin you gave birth to God the Word,* O true Mother of God, we magnify you.
B: Because He has regarded the humility of His handmaid,* for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
All: More honourable than the cherubim…
A: Because He Who is mighty has done great things for me and Holy is His name;* and His love is from generation to generation to those who fear Him.
All: More honourable than the cherubim…
B: He has shown might in His arm; He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
All: More honourable than the cherubim…
A: He has put down the mighty from their seat and has exalted the humble;* He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
All: More honourable than the cherubim…
B: He has received Israel His servant, being mindful of His love,* as He spoke to our fathers; to Abraham and to His seed forever.
All: More honourable than the cherubim…
Ode 9
Irmos The birth from the seedless conception is ineffable, the fruit of the Maiden Mother is incorruptible, for the birth of God renews nature. Therefore, all we nations magnify you, in the orthodox manner, as Mother, Bride of God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
My soul is wounded, my body is sickly, and my spirit is weak; my thoughts have no strength; the end is near and my life fades away; what shall you do, O my poor soul, when the Judge shall come to reveal your secret deeds?
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have placed before you, O my soul, the writings of Moses concerning the beginning of the world, along with his exhortations, and the story of the just and the wicked; you have imitated these latter and not the former; for you have sinned unceasingly before God, O my soul.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The Law has no force, the Gospel, no fruit; you have no care for the whole of Scripture; the Prophets have no power, nor do the words of the just ones. Your wounds, O my soul, have worsened, for you have no physician to heal you.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I offer you the examples of the New Testament, calling you to compunction, O my soul. Be inspired by the just ones, turn away from sinners and stir up the grace of Christ, by fasting and prayer and the purity of your life.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Christ has become a little child; he was united to my flesh to voluntarily fulfil the entire human condition, except for sin. He shows you, O my soul, the example and image of condescension beyond description.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Christ has become incarnate, calling the thieves and harlots to repentance; repent, O my soul, for the gate of the Kingdom opens, and the pharisees, publicans and repentant sinners go in ahead of us.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Christ has saved the Wise Men and gathered the Shepherds; he called the innocent children to martyrdom; in the Temple, he glorified the Elder and the Widow in her latter years. O my soul, you have not imitated the deeds of their lives; woe to you, for you must undergo judgment!
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Having fasted forty days in the desert, the Lord showed his humanity by being hungry; therefore, do not be discouraged, O my soul, by the assaults of the Enemy; you shall trample them underfoot through fasting and prayer.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Christ knew temptation, for the Devil tested him; he showed him stones to be turned into bread; he led him on the mountain to show him all the kingdoms of the world. Look with dread upon this sight, O my soul; be vigilant and pray to the Lord at all times.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The Dove that dwelled in the wilderness, the voice of one crying in the desert, he is the torch, the Precursor of Christ. He preached repentance; Herod and Herodias preached against God. And you, O my soul, keep watch, that you do not fall into the net of the wicked; rather, return to the Lord.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The Precursor of the grace of God lived in the desert; Judea and Samaria ran to hear his voice; confessing their sins, they received baptism in joy. You alone, O my soul, have not imitated their conversion.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Marriage is an honourable estate, and the nuptial bed is without reproach; for Christ has blessed them when he went to the wedding in Cana, clothed in our flesh, and changed the water into wine. This was the first of the miracles he performed to transform you, my soul.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Christ made the paralyzed man walk straight again, and he carried his mat; he raised the dead, the son of the widow of Nain, and the servant of the centurion; then he revealed himself to the Samaritan woman, and through her, O my soul, he taught you to worship in spirit.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
With the hem of his garment, Christ healed the woman with the flow of blood; he cleansed those with leprosy; He gave light to those who were blind and strength to those who were feeble, and, by his word, He cured those who were deaf and mute, along with the woman who was bent over.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Those who are sick are now healed, and the Gospel is preached to those who are poor, by Christ, the Word of God, who heals all infirmities. He eats at the table of the publicans and mingles with sinners; and taking the daughter of Jairus by the hand, he calls back the breath of life into her body.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The Publican found salvation and the sinful woman regained chastity, but the haughty Pharisee underwent condemnation; for the first one said: Forgive me, and the second said: Have mercy on me; but the third boasted: I give you thanks, O my God, along with other idle words.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Zacchaeus was a publican, but still gained salvation; Simon the pharisee grumbled at his disappointment, when the sinful woman received deliverance and forgiveness from the One who has power to forgive sins. O my soul, hasten to also receive your forgiveness.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
You have not imitated, O my soul, the repentance of the sinful woman; taking the vase of perfume and mixing it with her tears, she poured it over the feet of the Lord, and with her hair, she wiped away the record of her sins.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my soul, you know of the great misfortune that befell the cities where Christ brought the good news of salvation; do not imitate their example, that you may avoid their destiny. Likening them to Sodom, the Master condemned them to Hades.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Do not despair, O my soul; do not let yourself be surpassed by the Canaanite woman; for you know her great faith and the way the Lord healed her child by his all-powerful word; cry out from the depth of your heart, as she did to Christ: Save me, O Son of David!
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In Your mercy, save me, have mercy on me, O Son of David; by Your word, You save those possessed by demons; let me hear Your gentle voice, as once did the Good Thief: Truly I say to You, You shall be with me in Paradise.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
One thief reviled You upon the cross, the other confessed Your divinity; for both were sharing the same suffering. O Lord of all goodness, open for me the door of Your glorious Kingdom, as you did for the Good Thief who recognized you as God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Seeing You upon the Cross, O Lord, creation was seized with fear; mountains and rocks split in terror; the earth trembled and Hades gave up its plunder; the light of day was changed into darkness, when it saw you crucified, O Jesus.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Do not demand worthy fruits of repentance, for my strength is spent; but always grant me contrition of heart and the spirit of poverty, that I may offer these to You, O my Saviour.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my Judge, You probe me and you know me; when You shall come again with the holy angels to judge the whole world, look upon me with kindness and save me; spare me, O Jesus, even though I am filled with sin.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
All the angels of heaven and people on earth are struck with admiration at your sublime life, for you surpassed the human condition; you crossed the Jordan, gliding over the waters, O Mary, as an angel in the flesh and a pure spirit.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Touch the heart of the Creator in behalf of those who praise your name, O holy Mary, that, delivered from the sufferings and dangers that surround us, and freed from temptations, we may always extol the Lord who glorifies you.
Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
O holy Andrew, Shepherd of Crete, O thrice-blessed father, always intercede for those who praise your name; may those who unceasingly honour your memory be delivered from every evil thought, from affliction and from sin.
Glory…
O consubstantial Trinity, we praise the unity of Your Persons, glorifying the Father, extolling the Son, and bowing before the Spirit, truly one God, one triple life, and eternal kingdom
Now…
O most holy Theotokos, keep under your protection the Christian people who share your royal power, and through you, make them triumphant over the assaults of the Enemy and over all temptation.
Katavasia The birth from the seedless conception is ineffable, the fruit of the Maiden Mother is incorruptible, for the birth of God renews nature. Therefore, all we nations magnify you, in the orthodox manner, as Mother, Bride of God.
It is Truly Right
It is truly right to bless you, O God-bearing One, as the ever-blessed and immaculate Mother of our God. More honourable than the cherubim, and by far more glorious than the seraphim. Ever a virgin, you gave birth to God the Word, O true Mother of God, we magnify you!
Small Litany
Hymn of Light
Tone 1
O Christ who makes light to shine,* cleanse my soul from every sin;* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Glory...
O Christ who makes light to shine,* cleanse my soul from every sin,* through the prayers of Your Saints, O Lord, and save me.Now...
O Christ who makes light to shine,* cleanse my soul from every sin,* through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord, and save me.Tone 2
Send forth Your eternal light, O Christ my God,* and illumine the secret eyes of my heart,* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Glory...
Send forth Your eternal light, O Christ my God,* and illumine the secret eyes of my heart,* through the prayers of Your Saints, O Lord, and save me.Now…
Send forth Your eternal light, O Christ my God,* and illumine the secret eyes of my heart,* through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord, and save me.Tone 3
Send forth Your light, O Christ my God, and illumine my heart,* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Glory...
Send forth Your light, O Christ my God, and illumine my heart,* through the prayers of Your Saints, O Lord, and save me.
Now...
Send forth Your light, O Christ my God, and illumine my heart,* through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord, and save me.
Tone 4
O You who make light to shine upon Your world,* cleanse from every sin my soul that is in darkness,* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Glory...
O You who make light to shine upon Your world,* cleanse from every sin my soul that is in darkness,* through the prayers of Your Saints, O Lord, and save me.
Now...
O You who make light to shine upon Your world,* cleanse from every sin my soul that is in darkness,* through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord, and save me.
Tone 5
O Lord and Giver of Light, send down Your light and illumine my heart,* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Glory...
O Lord and Giver of Light, send down Your light and illumine my heart,* through the prayers of Your Saints, O Lord, and save me.
Now...
O Lord and Giver of Light, send down Your light and illumine my heart,* through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord, and save me.
Tone 6
Send down upon our souls Your everlasting light,* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Glory...
Send down upon our souls Your everlasting light,* through the prayers of Your Saints, O Lord, and save me.
Now...
Send down upon our souls Your everlasting light,* through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord, and save me.
Tone 7
Rouse me to sing Your praises, O Lord,* and teach me to do Your will, O Holy One,* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas,* O Lord, have mercy on me.
Glory...
Rouse me to sing Your praises, O Lord,* and teach me to do Your will, O Holy One,* through the prayers of Your Saints,* O Lord, and save me.
Now...
Rouse me to sing Your praises, O Lord,* and teach me to do Your will, O Holy One,* through the prayers of the Theotokos,* O Lord, and save me.
Tone 8
You are the Light, O Christ, fill me with Your radiance,* through the prayers of Your Apostles and St. Nicholas, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Glory...
You are the Light, O Christ, fill me with Your radiance,* through the prayers of Your Saints, O Lord, and save me.
Now...
You are the Light, O Christ, fill me with Your radiance,* through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord, and save me.
Morning Praises
Psalm 148
Praise the Lord from the heavens,* praise Him in the heights.
Praise Him, all His angels,* praise Him, all His host.
Praise Him sun and moon,* praise Him, shining stars.
Praise Him highest heavens* and the waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord.* He commanded: they were made.
He fixed them for ever,* gave a law which shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth,* sea creatures and all oceans,
Fire and hail, snow and mist,* stormy winds that obey His word;
All mountains and hills,* all fruit trees and cedars,
Beasts, wild and tame,* reptiles and birds on the wing;
All earth’s kings and peoples,* earth’s princes and rulers;
Young men and maidens,* old men together with children.
Let them praise the name of the Lord* for He alone is exalted.
The splendour of His name* reaches beyond heaven and earth.
He exalts the strength of His people.* He is the praise of all His saints, of the sons of Israel,* of the people to whom He comes close.
Psalm 149
Sing a new song to the Lord,* His praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker,* let Sion’s sons exult in their King.
Let them praise His name with dancing* and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in His people.* He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,* shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips* and a two-edged sword in their hand,
To deal out vengeance to the nations* and punishment on all the peoples;
To bind their kings in chains* and their nobles in fetters of iron;
To carry out the sentence pre-ordained:* this honour is for all His faithful.
Psalm 150
Praise God in His holy place,* praise Him in His mighty heavens.
Praise Him for His powerful deeds,* praise His surpassing greatness.
O praise Him with sound of trumpet,* praise Him with lute and harp;
Praise Him with timbrel and dance,* praise Him with strings and pipes.
O praise Him with resounding cymbals,* praise Him with clashing of cymbals.* Let everything that lives and that breathes* give praise to the Lord.
Priest: To You is due glory, O Lord our God, and to You we send up glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Small Doxology
Priest: Glory to You who have shown us the light!
A: Glory to God in the highest,* and to His people on earth, peace and good will.
B: Lord God, Heavenly King, Almighty God and Father,* with the Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, and the Holy Spirit.
A: We praise You, we bless You, we worship You,* we glorify You, we thank You for Your great glory.
B: Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,* You take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
A: You take away the sins of the world,* hear our prayer.
B: You are seated at the right hand of the Father,* have mercy on us.
A: For You alone are holy, You alone are the Lord, Jesus Christ,* for the glory of God the Father. Amen.
B: I will bless You day after day,* and praise Your name forever.
A: Lord, You have been our refuge* from one generation to the next.
B: I said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul,* for I have sinned against You.
A: O Lord, I have fled to You, teach me to do Your will,* for You, O Lord, are my God.
B: In You is the source of life* and in Your light we see light.
A: Keep on loving those* who know You.
B: Count us worthy, O Lord,* of passing this day without sin.
A: Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our Fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen.
B: Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* because we have set our hope in You.
A: Blessed are You, O Lord,* teach me Your commandments.
B: Blessed are You, O Master,* make me understand Your commandments.
A: Blessed are You, O Holy One,* enlighten me with Your laws.
B: O Lord, Your mercy endures forever;* do not despise the work of Your hands.
A: It is proper to praise You,* and to You belong hymns.
B: Glory belongs to You,* Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
A: Now and for ever* and ever. Amen.
Litany of Supplication
Deacon: Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help and save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: that this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For the forgiveness and remission of our sins and offenses, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For all that is good and beneficial for our souls and for peace in the whole world, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: That we may spend the rest of our lives in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: For a Christian end to our lives, one that is painless, unashamed, peaceful; and for a good defense at the awesome tribunal of Christ, let us ask the Lord.
All: Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon: Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: For You are a good and loving God, and we give glory to You, Father, son and Holy spirit, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Surrender to God
Priest: Peace be with all.
All: And with your spirit.
Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.
All: To You, O Lord.
Priest: Holy Lord, You live on high and yet stoop to look down upon earth, and with Your divine eyes You see all creatures. Before You we bow down in spirit and body, and we pray You, O Holy of holies, stretch forth Your invisible hand from Your holy dwelling and bless us. If we have sinned in any way, either deliberately or through human frailty, forgive us, for You are good; You give us earthly and heavenly blessings, and You alone love all, For it is You alone who have mercy and save us, and we give glory to You, Father, son, and Holy spirit, now and for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Aposticha, Tone 8
Into the ambushes of thieves you have fallen, O my soul,* and you are sorely wounded, delivered through your own sins* into the hands of enemies without reason.* But while you still have time, cry out with compunction:* O hope of the hopeless, life of the despairing,* raise me up, O 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.
Into the ambushes of thieves you have fallen, O my soul,* and you are sorely wounded, delivered through your own sins* into the hands of enemies without reason.* But while you still have time, cry out with compunction:* O hope of the hopeless, life of the despairing,* raise me up, O Saviour, and save me.
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands
Putting on the breastplate of the Faith* and armed with the Sign of the Cross,* you showed yourselves courageous fighters.* Bravely you resisted tyrants and cast down the delusions of the devil;* and you were rewarded with a victor’s crown.* Ever intercede on our behalf, for the salvation of our souls.
Glory… Now…
O all-pure Virgin Theotokos,* accept the supplications of your servants,* and pray without ceasing that we may be given peace* and the remission of our sins.
Psalm 91
Reader: It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praise to Your Name, O Most High; to tell of Your mercy in the morning and Your truth every night.
Trisagion Prayers
Reader: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Trinity most holy, have mercy on us. Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord; pardon our transgressions, O Master; look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One; for the sake of Your Name.
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Troparion, Tone 1
Standing in Your temple in the presence of Your Holy Glory,* is like standing in Paradise itself.* And you, O Mother of God and Gate of Heaven,* open to us the portals* of your mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy. (10)
B: Lord, have mercy. (10)
A: Lord, have mercy. (10)
B: Lord, have mercy. (10)
All: Give the blessing.
Priest: Blessed is He-Who-Is, Christ our God, at all times both now and for ever.
All: Amen.
Priest: O Heavenly King, uphold our public servants, strengthen the faith, calm the nations, give peace to the world, protect this holy city, grant our departed fathers and brethren a share in the dwelling of the just, and lead us to repent and confess our sins, for You are good and You love mankind.
All: Amen.
A: Lord, have mercy. (3)
B: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
A: Now and forever and ever. Amen.
B: More honourable than the cherubim, and by far more glorious than the seraphim, ever a Virgin you gave birth to God the Word; O true Mother of God, we magnify you!
All: Give the blessing, Father, in the Name of the Lord!
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us.
All: Amen.
Prayer of Saint Ephrem
O Lord and Master of my life! Drive from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust for power, and idle chatter. Prostration
Instead, grant to me, your servant, the spirit of integrity, humility, patience, and love. Prostration
Yes, O Lord and King! Let me see my own sins and not judge my brothers and sisters; for you are blessed for ever and ever. Amen. Prostration
Dismissal
Priest: Glory be to You, Christ God our hope, glory be to You.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,* now and for ever and ever. Amen.* Lord, have mercy. (3)* Give the blessing.
Priest: May Christ, our true God, have mercy on us and save us through the prayers of His most pure Mother, through the prayers of Saint N., patron of this holy church and of Saint N., whom we commemorate this day, and of all the Saints; for He is good and the Lover of Mankind.
All: Amen.
VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
At Psalm 140
Tone 8
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Of my own free will, I put off the beauty of the virtues through my first transgression,* but through Your condescension, O Word of God,* I have been clothed with beauty once again.* For You have not despised me* though I am defiled by grievous passions* and thieves have left me wounded on the road,* but by Your almighty Power, You have kept me safe, granting me Your aid,* O abundantly merciful Lord.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Of my own free will, I put off the beauty of the virtues through my first transgression,* but through Your condescension, O Word of God,* I have been clothed with beauty once again.* For You have not despised me* though I am defiled by grievous passions* and thieves have left me wounded on the road,* but by Your almighty Power, You have kept me safe, granting me Your aid,* O abundantly merciful Lord.
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O martyrs of the Lord,* you sanctify every place and heal every manner of illness:* and now we entreat you,* to pray that our souls may be delivered from the snares of the enemy.
Tone 1
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Affixed, upon the Cross, O Lord,* You have torn up the record of Adam’s sin by the divine lance.* Shred then my bonds, O Word,* that I may offer with faith a sacrifice of praise to You:* for rejoicing I have now come to the goodly acceptable time of the Fast,* which You have appointed for the salvation of all.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Shining with the radiance of fasting,* Moses once beheld the glory of God.* Follow then his example, O my humble soul,* and with deeds of abstinence and prayer serve Him* who for your sake stretched out His hands upon the Cross,* that you may partake of divine delight.
Tone 4
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
We venerate Your life-giving Cross, O Christ,* upon which in Your ineffable and boundless goodness towards us,* You have illumined our souls,* wherefore we praise You without ceasing,* asking that we may complete the course of the Fast with courage and joy;* and thereby attain, O Lord, to the glory of Your Passion,* by which You have saved us.
Tone 8
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O seven martyrs of Christ, you counted as naught the assaults of the torturers and a violent death;* and having readily and valiantly hastened to battle* and covered yourselves with the glory of victory,* you were numbered among all the righteous;* and glorifying you with them forever, we call you blessed.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O seven martyrs of Christ, you counted as naught the assaults of the torturers and a violent death;* and having readily and valiantly hastened to battle* and covered yourselves with the glory of victory,* you were numbered among all the righteous;* and glorifying you with them forever, we call you blessed.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O martyred athlete Agapius,* having loved the well-spring of good things, the summit of desires,* you made haste to drain the cup of martyrdom,* calling upon the divine name of the living God.* O, your courage! O, your endurance, whereby you have been manifestly vouchsafed* to receive glory and splendour!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O all-blessed martyrs, you gave yourselves over to voluntary slaughter, * sanctified the earth with your blood, and enlightened the air with your passing.* And now you live in the heavens, ever praying for us* to the never-waning Light, O you who are in the image of God.
Glory… Now…
Beholding You nailed to the Cross, O Jesus,* accepting suffering of Your own will,* the Virgin, Your Mother, O Master, cried aloud:* “Woe is me, O sweet Child! How is it that You endure wounding unjustly,* O Physician who has healed the infirmity of man* and has delivered all from corruption by Your lovingkindness?”
Prokeimenon I, Tone 7
Exalt the Lord our God* and worship the footstool of His feet: for He is holy.
verse: The Lord is King, let the peoples rage.
Reading I
Genesis 18:20-33
Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
Shout with jubilation to God, all the earth.
verse: Serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with rejoicing.
Reading II
Proverbs 16:17-17:17
and the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts