Wednesday

ON TUESDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Cross.

Mode pl. 1. N/M (Rejoice.)

Stop the assaults of the demons, which are launched against me, O Lover of mankind, as they seek to put my lowly soul to death and to bring me down to destruction; bring their plans and plots each day by night and day to nothing and rescue me from them, Master; stop the raging tempest of life, deliver me from Gehenna and eternal darkness, I beg, O Christ, when you come with glory to judge the world as supremely good.

When the books are opened on the day of your fearful coming, O Christ, and all are standing at the judgement seat and awaiting the sentence, as the fire flows before the tribunal and the trumpet loudly sounds, what shall I do, a wretch examined by my conscience and condemned to the unquenchable fire? I beg, therefore, to find release from my faults before the end, Christ my God, who grant the world your great mercy.

You took your Cross on your shoulders, O Christ, as you went to your passion, and granted an example to us who wish to live in you, how we might be glorified with you and live; grant that we may also become partakers of your sufferings and of your glory, bearing your death around with themselves; slay the stirrings of my flesh, O Lover of mankind, and nail down its limbs from your divine fear, making me dead to the world and alive only to your commandments.

Additional Stichera. For the Theotokos. Same Melody.

I weep bitterly and look downcast as I consider the fearful reckoning of accounts, for from my works I have not gained the beginnings of a small defence, wretch that I am. Therefore, before the hidden end of life overtakes me, before the sickle, before death, before judgement, before I am to embark on the paths to the unquenchable fire and the exterior darkness, where that worm is found that devours those who offend, I implore you, pure Lady, give me release from faults and great mercy.

As higher than all creatures you have truly become the cherubim Throne, for in you the divine Word dwelt willingly to refashion our form, and he came forth from you bearing flesh, as he is compassionate he accepted cross and passion for our sake, and as God granted Resurrection. Therefore as it transformed our condemned nature to the Creator, with thanksgiving we cry to you, ''By your prayers grant us pardon of faults and God''s mercy''.

''The streams of weeping from my eyes, my Son so dearly loved, time will never have the strength to dry up wholly'' cried the Pure Virgin in her grief, ''for you are the light that never sets, who enlighten by giving light, through whom the great lights of heaven were fixed in place and the universe was given being. What does it mean to me to see the sun now my light has set? My sweet light, the enlightenment of my face, how have you been put out? But I will wipe the pupils of your eyes with the streams of my tears''.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.

When the Ewe-lamb saw her Lamb hastening to the slaughter, she followed eagerly, crying out to him, ''Where are you going, my sweetest child? For whose sake, my Christ, beloved Jesus, sinless and most merciful Lord, are you tirelessly running this course? Give a word to your servant, my Son so dearly loved, do not in silence disregard me, who awesomely gave you birth, compassionate God, Giver of life, who grant the world your great mercy''.

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 1. For the Cross.

Your Cross, O Christ, though in essence it appears as wood, is wrapped round with divine power, and though visible perceptibly to the world, spiritually it works the wonder of our salvation. As we worship it we glorify you, O Saviour. Have mercy on us.

Verse: I lift my eyes to You, who dwell in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the maidservant look to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God until He shall have compassion on us. [SAAS]

No sooner had the tree of your Cross been fixed, O Christ, than error took to flight and grace flowered; for it was revealed not as punishment of condemnation but as a trophy of salvation for us. The Cross is our strength, the Cross our boast, the Cross our joy.

Verse: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are greatly filled with contempt; our soul is greatly filled with it. We are a disgrace to those who prosper, and a contempt to the arrogant. [SAAS]

For the Martyrs.

Intercede for us, holy Martyrs, that we may be delivered from our iniquities; for you have been given grace to intercede for us.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (Rejoice.)

Standing by your Cross, O Jesus, she who bore you, lamented grieving and crying out: I cannot bear, my Child, to see nailed upon a tree the one I bore; for I escaped the pains of childbirth, as one who had not known man, and how am I now at last seized by pain and blameless torn in heart? At last the word which Symeon spoke has been fulfilled, that a sword would pierce my heart; but now my Son, arise and save those who sing your praise.

__________

ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

MATINS

After the first Psalter reading, Kathismata. For the Cross.

Mode pl. 1.

The Place of the Skull became Paradise; for once the tree of the Cross was planted there, immediately it blossomed the grape cluster of life, namely You, O Savior, to gladden our hearts. Glory to You.

O Savior, the tree of Your Cross became the salvation of the world. For You were willingly nailed to it, and thus You delivered us born on earth from the curse, O Life of all. Glory to You, O Lord.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (Let us worship the Word.)

When Your mother saw voluntarily hanging on the Cross between two robbers, she was cut to the heart as a mother and she said, "My sinless Son, how were you nailed unjustly to a cross? Because You want to give life to the human race, as the most benevolent Lord."

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Cross. N/M (Let us worship the Word.)

O believers, let us extol and worship our Savior and Redeemer, who was voluntarily crucified, as He knew how and was well pleased to do. For He delivered the human race from error, and He nailed the sins of humanity to the Cross, and granted us the kingdom.

Same Melody.

O Lord, who endured crucifixion of Your own will, and freed mankind from corruption, we believer extol You and worship You, for by the power of the Cross You illumined us. And now with fear we glorify You, the compassionate Giver of life who loves humanity.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.

By the Cross of your Son, all the error of the idols came to an end, and the might of the demons was trampled down, O Lady full of grace. Therefore we the faithful dutifully ever extol you and bless you, and we confess you to be Theotokos, literally the Mother of God, and we magnify you.

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Cross. N/M (Let us worship the Word.)

Behold, the prophecies of the Prophets are fulfilled, and Your ancient counsel and plan has come to pass. For You, O King of all, voluntarily impoverished yourself taking flesh, O Christ, and for us You accepted to ascend the Cross and undergo death. Therefore, O Word, we glorify Your incomprehensible condescension.

For the Martyrs.

You have given us the miracles of Your holy Martyrs as an impregnable fortress, O Christ our God. At their entreaties, frustrate the plots of foreign enemies, and strengthen our nation, for You alone are good and love humanity.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (Let us worship the Word.)

When I saw with my own eyes You close Your eyes, most beloved Son of mine, the light of my vision was extinguished. I do not wish to see the sun. Would that my eyes were plucked out, O Word. Be dark, O sunlight, for He who by a word gave you the light has closed His eyes on the Cross.

Canon for the Cross.

Mode pl. 1. Ode i. Heirmos.

Christ, who brings wars to nothing with uplifted arm, shook horse and rider into the Red Sea; but Israel he saved as they sang a song of victory. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos.

Same Heirmos.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

You fixed the earth on nothing by your command, and raised it though ungovernably dragged down; establish your Church on the unshakeable rock of your commandments, O Christ, alone good and lover of mankind. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.