ON FRIDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Master.

Mode 1. N/M (O Martyrs, extolled.)

Of old I died by eating from a tree, urged on by the advice of a serpent, and was exiled, wretch that I am, from your glory. And so, poor fool, I have been put to death by sin. Then, Lover of mankind, alone easily reconciled, make me an inhabitant of Paradise.

Having abandoned all things, my soul, consider your last hour, and make sure you are prepared for your departure, lest sudden death, finding you unprepared, come and take you. And so, ever watchful, pray to the Lord and weep.

Slay the thought of the passions that trouble me, and calm my disordered movements by your divine authority, my God, for you are easily reconciled, compassionate and lover of humankind, granting me, in your compassion, forgiveness of faults, through the wealth of your loving kindness.

Additional for the Theotokos. Same Melody.

Holy Bride of God, make me holy, sanctified and sober, meek, still, well-ordered, upright and devout, true, courageous, prudent, long-suffering, good, fair and measured, blameless, unblemished and without censure, and beyond all these a partaker in Paradise.

Most pure Virgin, I have become fuel for shameless prodigality, an investigator of transgression, a teacher of passions, a guide to lust, entertainer of licentiousness, advocate of intemperance, and I have also taken pleasure in the thought of them. But deliver me from all destruction.

Dread torrents of sin dreadfully buffet me, pains of Hell surround me, the spiritual snare of death awaits me. Merciful Lady, I cry out to you with grief in my heart, ''Hasten, snatch me now from the death of despair and from the destruction of Hell.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Let us hymn the whole world''s glory, engendered from mankind and who gave birth to the Master, the Gate of heaven, Mary the Virgin, the song of the Bodiless Powers and adornment of the faithful; for she has been proclaimed Heaven and Temple of the Godhead. She by destroying the middle wall of enmity has brought peace instead and thrown open the King''s palace. Therefore, holding fast to her as anchor of the faith, we have as champion the Lord born from her. Take courage therefore, take courage, people of God; for he will make war on the foe as All-powerful.

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode.

You are my protector, O God. Your mercy shall go before me.

Verse: Rescue me from my enemies, O God, and redeem me from those who rise up against me. [SAAS]

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode 1. For the Martyrs.

Your confession in the stadium, O Saints, routed the power of the demons and freed humankind from error. And so, as your heads were cut off, you cried, ''May the sacrifice of our lives be acceptable to you, O Lord, because longing for you we despised this temporary life, O Lover of humankind''.

Verse: God is wondrous in His saints. [SAAS]

How fair was your transaction, O Saints! For you gave your blood and inherited heaven, and though tested for a moment, you rejoice eternally. Your merchandise was truly fair! For abandoning things corruptible, you received incorruptible and, as you dance with Angels, you sing without ceasing the praise of the consubstantial Trinity.

Verse: To the saints on His earth, in them the Lord magnified all His will. [SAAS]

Model Melody.

All-praised Martyrs, earth did not hide you, but heaven received you; For you the gates of Paradise stood open, and now within you enjoy the Tree of life. Intercede with Christ that there be granted to our souls his peace and his great mercy.

Verse: Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord. And their memorial abides from generation to generation. [SAAS]

For the Dead.

What pleasure in life remains without its share of sorrow? What glory stands on earth unchanged? All things are feebler than a shadow; all things are more deceptive than dreams; one instant, and death supplants them all. But give rest in the light of your countenance to those whom you have chosen, O Christ, and in the sweetness of your beauty, as you love humankind.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Holy Virgin Mother of God we greet you with our ''Hail!'', honoured treasure of the whole inhabited world, unquenchable lamp, place that contained the Uncontainable, temple that cannot be destroyed. Hail to you, from whom was born the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

On days when Alleluia will be sung at Matins, at Vespers the hymns for the Martyrs are sung at "Lord, I have cried"; at the Aposticha, we sing the first hymn for the Martyrs and two idiomela for the Dead; we split the verse and for the second verse we use: And their memorial abides from generation to generation.

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ON SATURDAY MORNING

MATINS

After the first Psalter reading. Kathismata for the Martyrs.

Mode 1. N/M (The stone.)

As good soldiers, believing with one accord, not trembling before the threats of tyrants, you fervently drew near to Christ, O Saints, having taken up the precious Cross, and having finished your course, you received victory from heaven. Glory to him who gave you strength; glory to him who crowned you; glory to him who through you grants healings to all.

Be entreated by the sufferings, which the Saints endured for you, O Lord; and heal all our pains, we beg, O Lover of mankind.

Let us all beseech Christ''s Martyrs, for they ask for our salvation; and let us in love approach them with faith; they possess the grace of healing; they ward off the regiments of demons, as guardians of the Faith.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. N/M (The stone.)

When Gabriel addressed you, O Virgin, with his ''Hail'', as he spoke the Master of all things became incarnate in you the holy Ark, as righteous David sang. You were proclaimed wider than the heavens, for you carried your Creator. Glory to him who dwelt in you, glory to him who came forth from you, glory to him who has set us free through your bearing child.

After the second Psalter reading. Kathisma for the Martyrs.

The glorious Champions have encompassed you, Lord, with the glory of the contest and the honour of crowns of victory. For by perseverance under tortures they defeated the lawless, and by divine power from heaven they achieved the victory. At their prayers, O Saviour, free me from the invisible foe and save me.

Additional for the Dead.

You destroyed the might of death, O Christ, and poured out incorruption for those on earth; and those who believe in you do not die, but live in you. Give rest then, Lord, to the souls of your servants, and settle them with your saints, at the prayers of the Mother of God, granting them your great mercy.

N/M (The soldiers.)

Give rest, O saviour, in a place of light, in the choir of the Just, those who have passed over to you, for they placed their hopes in you, Lover of mankind. Accept our supplication for parents and children, and justify those whose memory we celebrate, for you are full of mercy.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Creation rejoices in you, O Lady full of grace, beholding the miracle of miracles. For you conceived without seed, and ineffably gave birth to the One whom the orders of the angels cannot see. Entreat Him earnestly on behalf of our souls.

Canon for Prophets and Martyrs.

Mode 1. Ode i. Heirmos.

Your triumphant right hand, in a manner fitting God, has been glorified in strength, O Immortal; for in its infinite strength it broke in pieces the enemy, and made a strange new way for the Israelites in the deep. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased.

Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

You alone know the weakness of mortals and in compassion took its form; gird me with power from on high, to cry to you: Holy the living temple of your ineffable glory, O lover of mankind! [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

Avvakoum with foreseeing eyes perceived you as a mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, from which, he foretold, the Holy One of Israel would come, for our salvation and refashioning. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode v. Heirmos.

O Christ, who enlightened the ends of the world by the brightness of your coming, and made them radiant by your Cross, enlighten with the light of your divine knowledge the hearts of those who hymn you with right belief. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

The deepest abyss has surrounded us, there is none to deliver. We have been counted as sheep for the slaughter. Save your people, O God, for you are the strength and restoration of the weak. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

We the faithful recognise you, O Mother of God, as a spiritual furnace; for as he, the highly exalted, saved the three Children, so he wholly refashioned me, humanity, in your womb, the God of our fathers. praised and glorified above all. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

In the furnace, as in a smelter, the Israelite Youths shone with the beauty of godliness brighter than gold as they said: All you his works bless the Lord, praise and highly exalt him to all the ages. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

The burning bush, that was not consumed, was a type of your child-bearing; quench for us now the raging furnace of temptations we pray, O Mother of God, that we may unceasingly magnify you. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Same Heirmos.

Theotokion.

Exaposteilarion.

Mode 3. As God you adorned.

O only God who reposes * in those alone who are holy, * attend to the intercessions * of Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, * and of the devout monastics, * and save us all who extol You.

Same Melody.

As God you have power over the living and the dead, and through your Angels you lead the whole earth to the light, O Creator of all things save those who sing your praise.

Theotokion. Same Melody.

In you we boast, Mother of God, and you we have as advocate before God: stretch out your invincible hand and trounce our foes, send forth your help to your servants from the holy place.

Aposticha of Lauds.

For the Martyrs. Mode 1.

Come, all you peoples, and let us honour with hymns and spirituals songs Christ''s Champions, the beacons of the world and heralds of the Faith, the ever-flowing source from which healings spring up for the faithful. At their intercessions, Christ our God, grant peace to your world and to our souls your great mercy.

These soldiers of the great King opposed the decrees of tyrants, nobly despised their torments, and having trampled on every error, and been fittingly crowned, they ask of the Saviour peace and for our souls his great mercy.

All-praised Martyrs, neither tribulation, nor suffering, nor starvation, nor persecution, nor scourgings, nor the rage of wild beasts, nor sword nor threatening fire could separate you from God; rather through love for him as though in bodies not your own you struggled and surpassed nature, despising death; and so you have fittingly received the reward of your toils and have become heirs of the Kingdom of heaven. Intercede unceasingly for our souls.

Be glad in the Lord, you Martyrs, because you have fought the good fight; you have stood against Kings and defeated tyrants; you were not frightened by fire and sword; when wild beasts were devouring your bodies you raised a hymn with the Angels to Christ and received the crowns from heaven, asking that peace be given to the world and his great mercy.

For the Dead.

Showing by deed, my Saviour, that you are the resurrection of all, by a word, O Word, you raised up Lazarus from the dead. Then the bars were smashed, the gates of Hell confounded; then the death of mortals was revealed to be a sleep. But do you, who came to save your creature and not to judge, give rest to those whom you have chosen, for you love mankind.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Hail Mary, Mother of God, for you gave birth to the King, the Saviour and radiance of all the ages.

When Alleluia is sung at Matins, we sing the foregoing hymns for the Martyrs as Lauds; for the Aposticha of Lauds we sing the following Prosomoia by St. Theophanis, which, together with the corresponding Prosomoia in the other modes, create an Acrostic in Greek, "O Christ, enroll Your servants in the book of the living."

Mode 1. N/M (O Martyrs, extolled.)

We entreat you, Saviour, grant to the departed sweet participation with you. Settle them in the tents of the Just, in the mansions of your Saints, in the heavenly dwellings, in your compassion overlooking their offences and granting them repose.

Verse: Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord. [SAAS]

No one is sinless, no one, save you, O only Immortal; therefore as you are a merciful God, establish your servants in light, with the choirs of your Angels, in your compassion disregarding their iniquities and granting them repose.

Verse: Their souls shall dwell among good things. [SAAS]

Far above visible things are those which you have promised, O Saviour, which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered the heart, O Master. Be well-pleased that they who have passed over to you may enjoy a loving share in them, O Master, in your merciful compassion.

Verse: And their memorial abides from generation to generation. [SAAS]

Joyful and trusting in your Cross, O Saviour, your servants have departed to you. Grant it, O Master, as a ransom for their offences. For them you poured out the life-giving and precious stream of your Blood: grant them also the enjoyment of your glory that knows no evening.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Implore Christ, your child, O Virgin Mother, to grant pardon of offences to your servants, who devoutly proclaimed you and with true reason declared you to be Mother of God, and count them worthy of the splendour and brilliance of your Saints in your Kingdom.

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LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode 1.

Through food the foe led Adam out of Paradise; but through the Cross Christ led back in the Thief as he cried: Remember me when you come in your Kingdom.

Martyr Athletes and the countless hosts * of prudent Women and of Hierarchs, * the famous Prophets and rest, * all entreat You, O Jesus our God, * Lord who loves humanity. * Grant forgiveness of offences to all.

You who finished that very sacred race, * devout Ascetics of Christ our God, * and you, O holy Hierarchs, * and you Prophets, all were granted to * dwell with Angels joyously * in the heavenly city, as Saints of God.

For the Martyrs.

To those whom You have taken, grant a place * in Your unsetting light, O merciful God, * and overlook their every sin and transgression, O our Savior Christ, * so that we might glorify * Your rich mercy towards us, O Benefactor.

Glory.

Christ our God, with Your unoriginate * eternal Father and all-holy Spirit, * You love humanity, and we * glorify You and we cry aloud: * Remember us Your servants, * at the hour of judgment, O Lord, we pray.

Both now. Theotokion.

We sing hymns, O Virgin, praising you, * as the spacious palace of Christ the King, * and as His glorious throne, * and the cloud of light; and so we pray: * Pure one, drive away the clouds * of the terrible passions afflicting us.

FIRST MODE

The art of music marvels at your sounds,

Gives you the first place. Ah, how well deserved!

As you are called First Mode by music’s art,

First then be eulogised by us in words.

O First, the first of beauties you obtain;

First prize you hold of all in every place. [EL]