ON THURSDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Cross.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (O Christ, as it is written.)

My God, long-suffering, loving mankind, full of mercy and pitying, how did you endure slaughter and death on a Tree for the sake of the human race? We glorify your compassion.

You endured blows, crucifixion and abuse, O long-suffering and only Giver of life, wishing to redeem all from the hand of the deceiver, and you bear all things, O supremely Good.

As Shepherd you ascended the Cross and stretched out your hands, crying out, ''Come to me and be enlightened, mortals darkened by deception. For I am light''. Glory to you, only Giver of light.

Additional Stichera. For the Theotokos. N/M (That woman, who was spurned.)

O Virgin, set upright my soul, bowed down and bent double by the heavy and unbearable weight of offences. For with your mother''s boldness you can easily persuade the Saviour who sets upright those who are broken down. And by your mediation tear up the record of my sins through your great mercy.

See one who is condemned by sins, ruined by iniquities and who has despised the commands of God, and do not cast me from your presence. For you, Mother of God, are my hope and defence. Therefore by your intercessions attend to me, cleanse me of every stain through your great mercy.

Open to me the door of repentance, All-holy Virgin. Give me a fount of tears, grant me compunction and a temperate heart, for I name you my only sure defence. I place on you all my expectation. Do not reject me in my shame, but accept me and save me, Sovereign Lady, through your great mercy.

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

The all-pure Virgin, seeing you nailed to the Tree, cried aloud, ''My Son and God, what is this strange and marvellous report of you that you endure through your great pity?''

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.

Your Martyrs, Lord, did not deny you, they did not abandon your commandments. At their prayers, have mercy on us.

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

The Virgin once stood with the virgin Disciple by the Tree at the time of the crucifixion and weeping she cried out, ''Alas, how you suffer all things, O Christ who are dispassion!''

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ON FRIDAY 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.

Your people condemned you to death, O Lord, ⁄ yet you are the life of all: ⁄ with the rod of Moses you led them on dry ground through the Red Sea, ⁄ yet they nailed you to the cross; ⁄ you fed them with honey from the rock, yet they gave you gall. ⁄ But you willingly endured these things to free us from the bondage of the enemy. ⁄⁄ O Christ our God: Glory to you.

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

O only Virgin Mother of God, * as the all-blameless Ewe-lamb, * as you beheld your only Son who from your pure blood was incarnate * to hang upon the Cross of His own will, * O Maiden, you cried out * while shedding bitter tears: * "O most forbearing Son of mine, * I hymn and I extol * Your plan for our salvation."

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.)

The Virgin Mother stood by the cross * of the Lord who became incarnate * without passion from her * in an ineffable manner; * she wept and maternally cried out: "I cannot bear to see You crucified and dead, * who granted breath to everything * that lives upon the earth, * O my Son and my God."

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

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

O blessed tree of the cross: ⁄ you heal all ills and expel all demons. ⁄ You are the strength and protection of believers, ⁄ the prize of kings and true pride of the Orthodox, ⁄ the support of the Church of Christ: ⁄⁄ be our safeguard, our assurance and our rampart.

For the Martyrs.

Light always dawns for the righteous. The saints were illumined in You, and they shine like stars forever, and they extinguish the lamp of the impious. By their prayers, You will light my lamp, O Lord, and save me.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion.

O all-holy Theotokos, during my lifetime, I pray do not abandon me, nor entrust me to merely human protection; rather you help me yourself and have mercy on me.

Canon for the Cross.

Mode pl. 2. Ode i. Heirmos.

The One, who of old hid the pursuing tyrant with the waves of the sea, the Children of those he saved have hidden beneath the earth; but let us, like the young maidens, sing to the Lord, for he has been greatly glorified. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos.

Same Heirmos.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

When creation saw you hanging on Golgotha, who had hung the whole earth freely on the waters, it was seized with amazement and cried: None is Holy, but you, O Lord. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

Foreseeing your divine self-emptying on the Cross, Avvakum cried out marvelling: You have cut short the strength of the mighty, loving Lord, and preached to those in Hell, as all-powerful. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.

Ode v. Heirmos.

I rise for you at dawn, who through compassion without change emptied yourself for the one who had fallen, and impassibly bowed yourself to the Passion, O Word of God. Grant me peace, O Lover of humankind. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Isaias, as he watched. (NM)

Ode vi. Heirmos.

Prophet Jonah was in the belly of the whale detained, but not retained. For, in that he prefigured You, the One who suffered and was buried, he sprang forth from the beast as from a bridal room, and he cried out to the guard of soldiers, "You, who are keeping watch and follow vanity and lies, have forsaken the mercy that was meant for you." [SD]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

Wonder past speech! He who delivered the Holy Youths in the furnace from the flame, is laid as a corpse without breath in a tomb for the salvation of us who sing: Redeemer, our God, blessed are you! [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

Be astonished, O heaven, tremble and let the earth''s foundations be shaken; for see, the God who dwells in the highest is numbered among the dead and is lodged in a little tomb. Youths bless, priests praise, people highly exalt him to all the ages! [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

Do not weep for me, Mother, as you behold in a tomb the Son whom you conceived in your womb without seed. For I will arise and be glorified and as God exalt in glory those who magnify you in faith and love. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos. Same Heirmos.

At the Aposticha of Lauds.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 2. For the Cross.

I now have hope, because of the Cross, and I boast in it, saying: "O humane Lord, bring down the arrogance of those who do not confess You to be both God and man."

Verse: We were filled with Your mercy in the morning, and in all our days we greatly rejoiced and were glad; gladden us in return for the days You humbled us, for the years we saw evil things. And behold Your servants and Your works, and guide their sons. [SAAS]

We who are shielded by the Cross stand up to the enemy, and we are not frightened by his tactics and traps. For the proud one has been brought down, and he has been trampled by the power of Christ, who was nailed to the Cross.

Verse: And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the works of our hands. [SAAS]

For the Martyrs.

O Lord, all creation celebrates at the memory of Your Saints: the heavens and the Angels are exultant, and the earth rejoices with its people. By their supplications, have mercy on us.

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

As man, I have been nailed to a cross, * and truly I am put to death. * As a mortal, I am laid within a tomb, * but as God, I will in glory * rise again on the third day, * O holy Mother, ever-virgin and pure.

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LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode pl. 2.

Like the robber I entreat You, O my Savior, * when You come in Your kingdom, remember me, * O Lord, and save me, O only God who loves mankind.

Being crucified, O Lord, You spread Your arms out * and embraced all the nations, that now extol * Your tender mercy, O Christ our Savior and God.

You were nailed upon the Cross of Your own will, Lord. * Being crucified, You, by Your might, O Christ, * obliterated the stingers of the evil one.

For the Martyrs.

Holy Martyrs, having reveled in the tortures, * you were granted the pleasures of Paradise; * and you unceasingly pray on behalf of the world.

Glory.

Father, Son, and Spirit, reigning as the one God, * we Your servants entreat You, our single Lord, * to extricate us from torments and punishment.

Both now. Stavrotheotokion.

Then the Virgin saw You crucified, O Savior, * and she wept, heaving sighs of maternal grief. * She intercedes now for us, that You save us, O Lord.