Wednesday

ON TUESDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Cross.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (That woman, who was spurned.)

God, who wish that should be saved, look upon and see my prayer, and do no reject my tears as vain. For who ever approached you, falling down before you, and was not immediately saved? Who ever cried out fervently to you, and was not immediately heard? For you, Master and Lord are found swift to save all those who ask you, through your great mercy.

In your love for mankind, O Compassionate, raise me up, who have been swallowed down by sins and torn in pieces by love of pleasures. Do not let me become an object of malignant joy to demons. Do not dismiss me as unworthy of your dread mysteries. But accept me as you are merciful before the groans and tears of my departure, and free from the passions.

Lament, my soul, before your departure; fall down before the Creator in repentance; offer tears from your whole heart; cry out to Christ in compunction, ''I have sinned against you, O Word, do not despise me, do not reject me, just Judge, nor send me away to fire, O Long-suffering, through your great mercy.''

Additional Stichera. For the Theotokos. N/M (When the saints.)

''The marriage of the heavenly Bridegroom has been prepared'', cry the heralds. Why do you willingly delay, my black soul? Truly everything about is filthy, your garments are those of sensuality, and so how, wretch, are you going to enter? Come, fall down, crying out before the end to her who did not know wedlock, ''Sprinkle me with the hyssop of your intercessions, pure Virgin, cleanse me and make me worthy of the bridal chamber, that I may magnify you.

With purity of mind, O holy, all-pure Virgin, Isaias foretold that you would give birth to the Maker of all creation. For you appeared from eternity as alone all-blameless. Therefore I beg you, purify my defiled heart, and make me a partaker in the divine radiance of your Son, O Maiden, and of a place at his right hand, when, as it is written, he takes his throne to judge the whole world.

The Harlot, when of old she emptied out the alabaster jar of sweet myrrh upon your feet, Master, was freed of all that she had done. The Thief was no sooner seen to remember you, than you led at once into Paradise. But what shall I do, wretch that I am? I have no sweet myrrh, no compunction. Have mercy on me freely, take pity on me, O Word, your immaculate Mother entreats, whom you have given to your world as a mighty refuge.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.

''The judges of Israel condemned you to a judgement that carried death with it, my Son, standing you, Saviour, who judge the dead and the living, before a tribunal as one to be judged; and they set you before Pilate and condemned you trial. Ah, the lawless ones! And as I see it, I am wounded and condemned with you, O Lord. Therefore I judge that to die is better than to live'' cried the Mother of God with groans, O only Merciful.

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 2. For the Cross.

Your Cross, Lord, is life and resurrection for your people, and trusting in it we sing your praise, our God who was crucified in the flesh. 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]

Your Cross, Lord, opened Paradise to the human race, and freed from corruption we sing your praise, our God who was crucified in the flesh. Have mercy on us.

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.

The Martyrs, Champions and citizens of heaven, having struggled on earth, endured many torments. At their intercessions and prayers, Lord, keep us all.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (O Christ, as it is written.)

When she saw you crucified, O Christ, she who bore you cried out, ''What is the strange mystery I see, my Son? How are you, the giver of life, hanged in the flesh, dying on a Tree?

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ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

MATINS

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

Mode pl. 2.

No sooner had the Tree of your Cross been set up, Christ our Lord, than the foundations of death were shaken. Hell swallowed you eagerly, but it let you go with trembling. You have shown us your salvation, O Holy One, and we glorify you, Son of God. Have mercy on us.

Lord, the life of all, the Jews condemned You to death; they who by the rod of Moses crossed the Red Sea on foot, had you nailed to the Cross; they who suckled honey from the rock, gave You gall to drink. But You endured it all, so that you might free us from slavery to the enemy. O Lord, glory to You!

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (You are the good hope.)

The ever-virgin Maiden who gave birth to You, O Christ, saw you lifted on the Cross for us, and her soul was pierced with the spear of sorrow; and she wept, and as a mother she lamented. At her supplications, have mercy on us, O Lord of mercy.

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Cross.

Today the words of the Prophet have been fulfilled: for see, we worship at the place on which your feet have stood, Lord; and tasting from the Tree of salvation, we have been delivered from our sinful passions at the prayers of the Mother of God, only lover of humankind.

Your Cross, O Lord, has been made holy, for by it comes healing to those who are in sick in sins. Though it we fall down before you. Have mercy upon us.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (You are the good hope.)

When the Virgin, who had given birth to God in the flesh, saw Him hanging on the Cross, she lamented and cried, "I am astounded by Your ineffable long-suffering, O my Son. How could these unlawful men nail You, the just Judge and only Master, to the Cross, as if You were a convict?"

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Cross. N/M (You are the good hope.)

In Eden, the tree brought corruption to our ancestor. But now on Calvary, the tree of the Cross has blossomed life. For the wickedness of the enemy has been trampled; and because of Christ''s crucifixion, Adam has obtained mercy, and he has found Paradise. Therefore he cries aloud, "O tree, you are blessed!"

For the Martyrs.

The holy athletes endured the contest, and they received from You the medals of victory. They destroyed the machinations of the lawless, and they received the crowns of incorruption. Through them, O God, save our souls.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion.

O Virgin Theotokos, entreat your Son, Christ our God, who voluntarily was nailed to the Cross, and freed the world from deception; and pray Him to have mercy on our souls.

Canon for the Cross.

Mode pl. 2. Ode i. Heirmos.

Crossing the sea as on dry land Israel watched Pharao the pursuer drowning in the deep and they cried out, ''Let us sing a song of victory''. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos.

Same Heirmos.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

None is holy as you, O Lord my God, who have exalted the horn of your faithful people, O Good one, and established me on the rock of confession of you. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.