Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 7
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
That You might make man a god,* You became a man and were crucified, О supremely good Christ.* Glory be to Your power!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
When the assembly of the Jews condemned You to die on the Cross, О Jesus,* the earth quaked and the sun hid its light.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The iniquitous assembly crowned You with thorns, О Immortal and holy King,* who cut off the thorns of delusion at the root.
Tone 4
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You lived in purity, preserving your virginity chaste and undefiled.* You distributed your wealth, fulfilling the commandment of Christ.* Following Him, you forsook the world and all that is in it.* Therefore Jesus, the Lover of mankind and Saviour of our souls,* has given you heaven and the things of heaven!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
As a most fervent lover of wisdom* you displayed self control and an undying quality of soul.* You sought to be pure from the stains of sin and clear from all pollution,* that you might be free from the restraints of the body,* having neither spot nor wrinkle, God-pleasing one.* Now you stand pure and without blemish before the Bridegroom!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Your face was enlightened by the brilliant radiance of Christ, all-laudable one.* After death He glorified you as His godly virgin,* merciful and beaming with joy, as one sympathetic and speaking words from God,* for you lived an angelic life on earth,* pleasing God with the radiance of your life!* Pray that the Lord will grant our souls peace and great mercy!
Tone 7, Glory… Now…
О all-holy Virgin Lady, who has given birth to the Lord* who in His loving-kindness was nailed to the Cross,* pouring forth a stream of life upon the world:* Entreat Him, that our souls may be saved;* for we the faithful have you alone as a refuge, bulwark, and aid.* Wherefore, we flee to your protection.
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.
verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.
Aposticha
Tone 7
No longer are we forbidden the Tree of life,* for we have Your Cross as our hope.* О Lord, glory be to You!
I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.
Suspended upon the Tree, О Immortal One, *You broke the snares of the devil.* O Lord, glory be to You!
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.
Glory be to You, О Christ God,* boast of the apostles and joy of the martyrs,* who preached the consubstantial Trinity!
Tone 7, Glory… Now…
When the all-immaculate one beheld You willingly nailed to the Tree,* weeping, she hymned Your dominion.
Troparia
Tone 8
The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O mother,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh which passes* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* And so, O venerable woman, Macrina,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.
Glory… Now…
When the Mother beheld upon the cross* the Lamb, the Shepherd, and the Saviour of the world,* she exclaimed tearfully:* The world rejoices at the sight of its redemption,* but my heart is afire as I see Your pain on the cross,* which You accept for the sake of all, O my Son and my God!
DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O mother,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh which passes* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* And so, O venerable woman, Macrina,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: For love of the Lord, O venerable woman,* you scorned the desire for rest and enlightened your soul through fasting,* for you have mightily conquered the beasts.* Through your prayers thwart the rage of fiends.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)
Epistle
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.
verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)
Gospel
Matthew 21:12-14, 17-20
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)