ON FRIDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Master.

Mode 2. N/M (Joseph took You.)

When you come in glory, O Christ, with the holy Angels to judge the universe, when all stand naked before you to give a defence of what they have done, then rank me with your sheep, O Word, granting me release from all the offences, by which in my life I have offended.

Tear up the cords of my passions, dry up the putrefaction of my soul, only Lover of mankind, give me tears of compunction, enlighten my darkened heart, rescue me, I pray, from trouble, the storm of hostile disasters and from temptations of many kinds, from the dread foe and ruler of the world.

Consider in your mind, my soul, that most dreaded hour of the judgement, when fear will seize all creation and the Most High takes his seat on the fearful throne to exact an account of all that we have done; hurry, be reconciled to the Judge and cry out: I have sinned against you, Lord, save me!

Additional for the Theotokos. Same Melody.

Wholly enslaved since my youth to shameful passions and great depravity, I have completely blackened that which is in God''s image and I quail, All-praised Lady, at the judgement to come, when I shall stand before your Son and God. Now therefore, before the end, Pure Virgin, give me cleansing of my passions and redemption of offences.

I tremble at the judgement seat, the eternal penalty of the fire, the sentence, against which there is truly no appeal, the gnashing of teeth and the savagery of the worm that does not sleep, All-blameless Virgin. Therefore in anguish of heart I implore you to deliver me from the fearful condemnation.

When my soul is about to be forcibly parted from my body''s limbs, then stand by my side and scatter the counsels of my bodiless foes and smash the teeth of those who implacably seek to swallow me down, so that I may pass unhindered through the rulers of darkness who wait in the air, O Bride of God.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

The shadow of the law has passed now that grace has come, for as the Bush in flames was not consumed, so as a Virgin you bore a Child and remained a Virgin; instead of a pillar of fire the Sun of righteousness has dawned, instead of Moses Christ, the salvation of our souls.

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode 2. For the Martyrs.

As the holy Martyrs intercede for us and praise Christ, every error is ended and the human race is saved by faith.

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

Choirs of Martyrs stood before the tyrants saying, ''We are soldiers for the King of powers. Even if you destroy us by fire and torments, we will not deny the power of the Trinity''.

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

Great the glory that you gained through faith, O Saints! For not only did you defeat the foe when you suffered, but after death also you drive out spirits; you heal the infirm, O physicians of souls and bodies. Intercede with the Lord to have mercy on our souls.

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

For the Dead.

As a flower withers and as a dream passes, so too every human dies; but once again, when the trumpet sounds all the dead, as by an earthquake will arise to meet you, Christ God; then, Master, establish those whom you have taken over from us in the tents of your Saints, the spirits of your servants, O Christ.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

All my hope I place in you, O Mother of the light; guard me beneath your protection.

__________

ON SATURDAY MORNING

MATINS

After the first Psalter reading. Kathismata for the Martyrs.

Mode 2.

Christ God, who made your Saints more radiant than gold, and glorified your Holy Ones as you are good, besought by them, pilot our life, as you love mankind, and direct our prayer as incense, you alone rest among the Saints.

O victorious Athletes of the Lord, blessed is the ground that was watered with your blood, and holy are the dwellings that received your spirits. You prevailed over the enemy in the stadium, and you openly proclaimed Christ. We pray you will earnestly entreat Him for us, that He save our souls, since He is good.

Apostles, Martyrs, Prophets and Hierarchs, Holy and Righteous Ones, having nobly completed the struggle and kept the Faith, as you have boldness towards the Saviour, we beseech you intercede for us with him, as he is good, that our souls may be saved.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

All your mysteries are beyond understanding, all beyond glory, Mother of God; sealed in purity and guarded in virginity you were known without deception to be a Mother, in giving birth to the true God: implore him that our souls may be saved.

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Martyrs.

The Saints, having you, who robe the heaven with clouds, as their robe, endured the torments of the lawless, and destroyed the error of idols; at their entreaties free us from the invisible foe, O Saviour, and save us.

Additional for the Dead.

N/M (Since you are the source.)

O Giver of life, as God you have authority over all the dead and the living. Be attentive to the petitions of Your servants; show Your humane and tender mercies; and grant forgiveness to the souls of those who hoped in You, and whom You have transferred, O Lord, for You are transcendently good and compassionate.

Remember Your servants, O Lord, since You are good, and forgive them for all their sins in life; for no one is without sin except for You who are able to give rest to those who have passed away.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Holy Mother of the immaculate Light, we honor you with angelic hymns, and magnify you piously.

Canon for all Saints.

Mode 2. Ode i. Heirmos.

Take up Moses'' song, my soul, and shout, ''He has become my helper and protector. This is my God, and I will glorify him.'' [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased.

To the Lord. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

O God, husbandman of fair fruits and planter of good things, make my barren mind bring forth fruit. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. On the rock of the faith. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

The Prophet, foreseeing your birth from a Virgin, cried out and proclaimed, ''I heard your report, O Christ, and I was afraid, for you came from Theman and from a holy shaded mountain.'' [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. I sing your praise. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode v. Heirmos.

Scatter the fog of my soul, my Saviour, and make me radiant with the light of your commandments, for you alone are King of peace. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. O Lord, the giver of light. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

I am held fast by an abyss of sins, O Christ, and am storm-tossed on the sea of life. But as you did Jonas from the beast, bring me up too from the passions, O Saviour, and save me. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Surrounded by a depth of offences. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

The Youths in the furnace, imitating the Cherubim, danced and cried out, ''Blessed are you, O God, for with truth and judgement you have brought all these things upon us because of our sins; you who are highly praised and glorified to all the ages.'' [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. The godless order of a lawless tyrant. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

Him whom the wonder of the Virgin foreshadowed for Moses in the Bush on mount Sinai, praise, bless and highly exalt to all the ages. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. A furnace once. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

The one who in her womb conceived in flesh the Word, who shone from the Father beyond time, in never-silent hymns let us the faithful magnify. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. From your virgin womb. (NM)

Theotokion.

Aposticha of Lauds.

For the Martyrs. Mode 2.

Accepting the Cross of Christ, an invincible weapon, the holy Martyrs destroyed all the strength of the devil; and accepting a heavenly crown they have become a wall for us as they intercede on our behalf.

Your many Saints implore You, O Christ. Have mercy on us, as the One who loves humanity.

Every city, town and village honours your relics, Martyrs and Champions; for you struggled like professionals and received a heavenly crown, and therefore you are the boast of priests, the victory of Kings and the splendour of Churches.

For the Dead.

Alas! Such agony afflicts a soul when it is separated from its body. Alas! How it weeps then, but there is no one to have mercy on it. It turns its eyes towards the Angels and prays to no avail. It reaches for other people, but there is no one who can help. Therefore, my beloved brethren, let us realize how short is our life, and let us pray to Christ to grant repose to the departed, and great mercy to our souls.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. N/M (Joseph took You.)

I, the wretch, have wasted all the time * of my life in sins and in vices, O pure one; now I am left * destitute completely of all good and virtuous deeds. * And I see now that death, alas, * is quickly approaching, * and I shudder at the judgment of your Son, our God. * Rescue me from this, holy Virgin, * and before that anguish, O Lady, * save me and return me to the path of life.

When Alleluia is sung at Matins, we sing the foregoing hymns for the Martyrs as Lauds, and the following Aposticha.

Mode 2. N/M (Joseph took You.)

Master, by Your own life-bearing death * You destroyed the force and corruption that once belonged to death. * You became the source of everlasting life to all * mortal men, and unto the dead * You gave resurrection. * Therefore, Savior, we entreat You to give rest to all * who with faith have passed away to You; * count them worthy of Your immortal * glory, as the Lover of humanity.

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

You accepted voluntary death * after You endured crucifixion, * O Lord, in order to make * human beings sharers in Your divine kingdom and rule. * Therefore, Savior, we pray to You, * that in Your compassion, * You will make the ones who passed away to You with faith * sharers in Your kingdom, O Master; * count them worthy of Your eternal, * everlasting glory and beatitude.

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

Wishing to redeem what You had made, * Lord exceeding good, You rejoiced as You executed Your plan * of salvation, which was a profound mystery. * And You offered Your precious Blood * as payment and ransom * for the world. Therefore we entreat You grant to all * who with faith have passed away to You, * that they may enjoy Your sweet beauty, * since You are the Lover of humanity.

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

Trembling will the dead of every age * stand before Your frightful and awesome throne and tribunal, O Christ, * waiting for Your righteous verdict, O our Savior and God, * and in anticipation of Your just divine judgment. * Then, O Master and our Savior, spare Your servants, we pray, * all those who in faith have departed * to You, O Lord, and count them worthy * of Your everlasting bliss and blessedness.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Let us praise the Mother of the Light * glorifying her, O believers, with our unceasing hymns. * Since she carried our salvation in her womb, let us all * now salute her and say, "Rejoice, * for you only gave birth * to the pre-eternal God, who is more ancient than all. * Unwed and immaculate Virgin, * rejoice, holy Mother of Christ God * Who refashioned our ancestral mother Eve.

__________

LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode 2.

We bring you the prayer of the Thief, and we cry to you: Remember us, O Saviour, in your Kingdom.

Holy Martyrs, since you have imitated Christ''s sufferings, * you continually cure all kinds of human suffering.

The Apostles, monastic Saints, holy Teachers and Prophets all * were well pleasing to the Lord and Creator of the universe.

For the Martyrs.

We entreat You, O God on high, grant repose there with all Your saints * to Your faithful servants whom You took to yourself, O Lord.

Glory.

Consubstantial Trinity, have compassion on those who sing * glorifying You, and ever save them from the snares of the foe.

Both now. Theotokion.

Overlook not the prayers of us your servants, all-blameless Maid; * save us from afflictions that result from our many sins.

END OF TONE 2

Though only second place in rank you hold,

First pleasure falls to you of honeyed flow.

Your melody, all honeyed and most sweet,

Cherishes bones and gives to hearts delight.

The Sirens surely sang in second Mode,

So gently flows your song with honeyed drops. [EL]