ON FRIDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Master.

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

Spare your servant, O Christ, when my soul is about to be parted from the body at your command, who brought into one dust and spirit by divine decree. When invisible enemies assail me with their assault and wickedness to tear me fiercely asunder and make me their fodder, deliver me count me worthy to find refreshment where sorrow and groaning have fled, where there is the torrent of delight, the sound of those who feast and rejoicing.

Fearful of the final hour and the dread assault of the demons, from a soul in agony, wretch that I am, I cry to you, ''Smash their snares and stumbling blocks, Lord and Master, and do not me, your servant, be a victim of their perversity. See my dejection, attend to my affliction and free my wretched soul from griefs, all-compassionate God, who great the world great mercy''.

Like the woman of Canaan, Saviour, I too cry out to you, ''Cure my soul and deliver it from the harm of demons and the assault of enemies who ever trouble me unnaturally, destroy that which is according to your image, Lord, and draw the judgement of my thought to senseless and blameworthy desires. Wipe them from my heart, I pray, and plant in it your purest fear and grant that I may end my life in peace in humility of soul.

For the Martyrs.

Wearing the shield of faith and having roused themselves with the sign of the Cross, your Saints, Lord, bravely submitted to tortures and destroyed the error and arrogance of the devil. At their intercessions, as all-powerful God, send down peace to the world and to our souls your great mercy.

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

With insatiable force of soul, holy Martyrs, you did not deny but endured the dread and diverse tortures of sufferings; you cast to the ground the arrogance of tyrants; having kept the faith unwavering and unharmed, you passed over to heaven; therefore as you have also won boldness, ask that we may be given his great mercy.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

In the Red Sea was once depicted an image of the Bride who knew not wedlock. There Moses the parter of the water, here Gabriel the servant of the marvel; then Israel marched dry shod through the deep, but now the Virgin has given birth to Christ without seed; the sea after Israel''s passage remained untrodden; the Blameless one after bearing Emmanuel remained incorrupt. O God, who exists and pre-exists, and appeared as man, have mercy on us.

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 1.

For the Martyrs.

Despising all the things of earth and bravely facing torments, you did not fail in your blessed hopes, but have become heirs to the Kingdom of heaven, all-praised Martyrs. As you have freedom to speak before the God who loves humankind, ask peace for the world, and for our souls his great mercy.

For the Dead.

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

I remember the Prophet crying: I am earth and ash; and again I looked into the graves and saw naked bones, and I said: Which then is King or soldier, rich or poor, just or sinner? But give rest, Lord, with the Just to your servants, as you love mankind.

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

You fashioned me, Lord, and laid your hand upon me, and commanded me and said: You will go back again to earth. Guide me into your straight way, pardon my offences and forgive me, I beg, as you love mankind.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

We beg you, Blessed One, as Mother of God, intercede that we may be saved.

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ON SATURDAY MORNING

MATINS

After the first Psalter reading. Kathismata for the Martyrs.

Mode pl. 1. N/M (Let us worship the Word.)

The Powers of heaven wondered greatly at the achievements of the holy Martyrs, because struggling nobly in a mortal body, by the power of the Cross they invisibly conquered the bodiless foe; and they intercede with the Lord to have mercy on our souls.

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.

Lord, the Champions filled with the desire for the cup of your suffering abandoned all the pleasure of life and have become companions of the Angels. At their entreaties grant our souls forgiveness of sins and your great mercy.

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

Hail gate of the Lord, though which none may pass; hail wall and protection of those who flee to you; hail haven without storms, and who did not know wedlock, who bore in the flesh your Maker and God, do not cease to intercede for those who praise and worship your Offspring.

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Martyrs.

The memory of the Champions shines today, for it takes its radiance from heaven; the choir of Angels keeps festival, and the human race feasts with them, and so they intercede with the Lord to have mercy on our souls.

For the Dead.

Grant rest with the Righteous to Your servants, O our Savior, and grant them to dwell in Your courts, as it is written. Since You are good, overlook their offences, both voluntary and involuntary, and all that they committed in knowledge or in ignorance, O Lover of man.

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

O Virgin Mother, unwedded Bride: ⁄ you brought the Savior into the world, ⁄ and gave birth to him in the perfection of two natures: ⁄ Together with the holy prophets, martyrs, and all the saints, ⁄ entreat him, that he may grant peace to the world, ⁄⁄ and great mercy to our souls.

Canon for all Saints.

Mode pl. 1. Ode i. Heirmos.

Land on which the sun had never shone, had never seen; deep which the vault of heaven had never seen laid bare, Israel passed through dry-shod, O Lord. And you led him to the mountain of your sanctification as he sang and chanted a hymn of victory. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased.

To God the Saviour. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

Establish my heart, Lord, which is tossed by the waves of life, as God guiding it to a fair haven. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased.

Theotokion.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

I heard your report, Lord, and was afraid; I knew of your dispensation and I glorified you, only Lover of mankind. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. I heard your report, Lord. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode v. Heirmos.

Come, take pity on my wretched soul, fighting a night battle with the darkness of the passions, and make beams bright as day shine in me, O spiritual Sun, to part the light and darkness. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Rising at dawn. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

As you delivered the Prophet from the beast, bring me, I beg, up too from the deep of ungovernable passions that I may look again upon your holy Temple. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. The deep closed round me. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

The prayer of the Youths extinguished the fire, the furnace turned to dew was herald of the wonder, not burning, not consuming those who sang the praise of the God of our Fathers. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. You saved the Youths. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

O company of Angels, assembly of mankind, the King and Creator of the universe you priests praise, Levites bless, people highly exalt to all the ages. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. The Son and God. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

For He who is all-powerful, as God almighty, has done * great things for me, and holy is His name. * And his mercy is on those who truly fear Him * from generation to generation. [SD]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. As Mother of God. (NM)

Theotokion.

Aposticha of Lauds.

For the Martyrs. Mode pl. 1.

The holy Martyrs struggled upon earth, they remained steadfast in the open air, they were given up to fire, water received them; this was their cry: We have passed through fire and water, and you have brought us to repose. At their prayers, O God, have mercy on us.

Your victory-bearers, Lord, imitated the ranks of angels, ⁄ for they held up under tortures as though they were bodiless, ⁄ having only one thought: the hope of enjoying the promised blessings. ⁄ By their intercessions, Christ our God, ⁄⁄ grant peace to the world, and to our souls, great mercy.

As they were being tortured the Saints rejoiced and cried out: These are contracts for us with the Master; for instead of the stripes which assail the body, he will place on us a garment of light at the resurrection; instead of prison cells there will be Paradise; and instead of condemnation with malefactors, life with the Angels. At their prayers, Lord, save our souls.

For the Dead.

There is not a single thing in this life that will not pass away, neither wealth, nor tyranny, nor the bloom of youth. For death destroys them all alike, and then come things immovable. It is sown in corruption, it rises in incorruption; it is sown in indignity, it resurrects in glory. Therefore, O Christ, grant rest with the righteous to Your servants whom You have taken, as the One who loves humanity.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Beneath your tender compassion we take refuge, O Theotokos. Despise not our supplications in distress, but deliver us from all peril. You alone are pure; you alone are blessed.

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

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

With the splendor of your countenance, O Christ, ⁄ in your compassion, shine on the departed; ⁄ lead them to a place of green pasture, beside the still waters of your divine rest. ⁄ Give them repose, according to their hearts’ desire, with Abraham the forefather, ⁄ where your light is made manifest in all its purity, ⁄ and the streams of your love flow out, ⁄ where the choirs of saints rejoice, and exult in your goodness. ⁄⁄ place your suppliants with them, and grant them your great mercy.

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

Grant to your departed to sing * your praise, O Lord, with a voice that is harmonious, * to give glory to your great might and mercy to those who are now * taking leave of their cares * and turning to you, * O Master and loving Lord, * as you give beauty and your light, * bestowing sweetness * and communion with divine joy. * Grant as well to them * as a loving God that they may * take rest and take enjoyment of your all-holy purity. * At your throne the angels and the saints attend you with songs of praise; * with them grant your servants * your great mercy and as well, O Lord, sweet rest eternal.

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

Grant rest to those asleep now in faith, * where prophets'' choirs and ranks of martyrs and apostles * and all from the ages who have been made in you justified * in your saving passion and salvific blood, * through which you redeemed humanity from our captivity, * as many sins as we commit, you forgive them all; * loving God you are, and the friend of all humankind; * for you alone are without sin, the earth you have civilized, * you alone may we call holy and you alone are made free in death; * therefore grant your servants * your great mercy and as well, O Lord, sweet rest eternal.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Lady, when you conceived in your womb * the very Giver of the Law, namely Christ the King, * O only Mother and Virgin, you freed the human race * that had been in bondage to the law of sin. * Through Him we are justified by His free gift and grace divine. * Will you implore Him to inscribe in the book of life * those acknowledging that you are the Mother of God, * so that we who are saved through your entreaties, all-blameless one, * may thus obtain what we long for, namely redemption from Christ your Son, * whom we are extolling * as the Savior who is granting great mercy to the world.

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LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode pl. 1.

The Thief on the cross, believing you to be God, O Christ, confessed you sincerely from his heart, crying, ''Remember me, Lord, in your kingdom!''

Holy Martyrs, as you died, * you destroyed the evil archenemy, * and you passed away into the heights of heaven, * where you stand near God the King of all, * with halos of victory.

Being illumined with the light * of the holy priesthood, the Hierarchs * have been glorified; and the Saints who were monastics * have attained eternal life on high. * Hence they are beatified.

For the Martyrs.

Master, grant a place of rest * to those whom You have taken from this life * with the hosts of the elect in heaven, overlooking * all their sins committed while on earth, * O Logos and Savior Christ.

Glory.

Holy Trinity, we pray, * be implored by sacred struggles endured * by the Hierarchs and Martyrs, and grant Your great mercy * and salvation to the souls of all * who have died with faith in You.

Both now. Theotokion.

Lady, full of grace divine, * you contained the uncontainable God, * and you bore Him, transcending nature and reason. * Earnestly entreat Him now to be * merciful toward us all.

END OF TONE 5

Mournful you are and greatly pitying,

But for the most part rhythmically you dance.

O mind, which art with music has informed,

Which is the bent oblique of plagal tones?

Rank holds you fifth, but first of the unique,

And calls you so, O Plagal of the First. [EL]