ON FRIDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Master.

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

Deliver me from Gehenna that awaits me, Judge most just, take me, who am condemned, from the everlasting fire, show me, O Word, to be impregnable to the hostile tempest. Wretch that I am, I tremble when I consider the multitude of my faults, and I fall before you with tears and a broken heart as I ask your mercy.

Who would not weep for me, who have transgressed my Master''s commandment through lack of self-mastery; who dwell in Hades instead of Paradise? Food that seemed to me sweet was turned to gall. I have been shown to be a stranger to your glory, O Compassionate, and to the Angels. But make me repentant, as you are a Lord who is merciful and compassionate because of your great mercy.

For the Dead. Same Melody.

Giver of life, set all those who have fallen asleep in faith in the land of the living, in places of repose, in eternal dwellings, where the light of your face shines out ungrudgingly, where the delight and joy and peace of the Righteous are found, overlooking all their faults in deed, word and thought, Master, through your great goodness.

Additional Stichera. For the Martyrs.

The Martyrs who bore witness for your sake, O Christ, endured many torments and received the perfect crown in heaven, that they may intercede for our souls.

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

Your Cross, Lord, became for your Martyrs an invincible weapon. For they saw the death that lay before them and looking forward to the life to come, they were given power by their hope in you. At their entreaties, have mercy on us.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Who will not call you blessed, All-holy Virgin? Who will not hymn your child-birth without labour? For the only-begotten Son, who shone from the Father beyond time, came forth from you, pure Maiden, ineffably incarnate. By nature he is God, by nature he became man for our sakes, not divided in a duality of persons, but known without confusion in a duality of natures. O honoured and all-blessed, implore him to have mercy on our souls.

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 2.

For the Martyrs.

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

For the Dead.

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

Your command, which fashioned me, was my beginning and my substance; for wishing to compose me as a living creature from visible and invisible natures, you moulded my body from the earth, but gave me a soul by your divine and life-giving breath. Therefore, O Christ, give rest to your servant in the land of the living, in the tents of the righteous.

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

Tasting of the tree in Eden of old decreed pain for Adam, when a serpent vomited poison, for through it death entered and devoured the whole human race. But the Master came, destroyed the dragon and granted us resurrection. To him let us cry, ''Saviour, spare too those whom you have taken, and give them rest with the Just''.

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

At the prayers of her who gave you birth, O Christ, those of your Martyrs, Apostles, Prophets, Hierarchs, Venerable and Righteous ones, and all your Saints, give rest to your servants who have fallen asleep.

__________

ON SATURDAY MORNING

MATINS

After the first Psalter reading. Kathismata for the Martyrs.

Mode pl. 2. N/M (When the angelic powers.)

The martyr athletes offered resistance in the ring, * contesting for the faith, and the tyrants tortured them. * The hosts of Incorporeals observed and were holding the victory medals. * The truly wise contestants amazed the tyrants and kings. * They overturned the devil by their confession of Christ. * O Lord, who strengthened them, glory to You.

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.

O Lord, the memory of Your Saints is like the Garden of Eden, for all creation greatly rejoices in it. Grant us peace and great mercy, by their intercessions.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

You who called your Mother blessed, came to the Passion by your own will; shining by the Cross, wishing to seek out Adam, saying to the Angels: Rejoice with me, for the drachma that was lost is found. You who disposed all things wisely: Glory to you!

After the second Psalter reading. Kathisma 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.

For the Dead.

Everything is truly vanity, and earthly life is a shadow and a dream. Every man stirs himself up in vain, as the Scripture says. Once we gain the world, then we attain the grave, where kings and poor dwell together. Therefore, O Christ God, grant rest to those who have passed away, since You love humanity.

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

You are for us who are on earth * a powerful protection, * as the one who in time gave birth * in the flesh to the timeless * Son and Logos of God, O Mary Mother of God. * Now as His Mother pray * to Him in earnest with the saints, * the Martyrs and the Prophets * and the ascetic Saints, * to save those who have departed.

Canon for all Saints.

Mode pl. 2. Ode i. Heirmos.

[EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased.

Crossing the sea. (NM)

In the celestial chambers forevermore, * the courageous martyr saints importunely pray to You: * Grant the faithful whom You have transferred * from the earth, that they obtain eternal goods, O Christ.

After adorning with order all things, O Lord, * You made me the human being a composite animal * between greatness and humility. * Thus, O Savior, grant repose unto Your servants’ souls.

In the beginning You ordered that I should be * a citizen of Paradise and its tiller. But when I * disobeyed, then You evicted me. * Thus, O Savior, grant repose unto Your servants’ souls.

Theotokion.

He who of old formed our own primal mother Eve * from a rib of Adam now has arrayed himself in flesh * taken from your undefiled womb, * O pure Lady. Thereby He dissolved the might of death.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

[EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. No one is holy.

Your martyr athletes did compete * lawfully, O Life-giver. * And adorned with the crowns of the victory by You, * from You they ask the eternal redemption for the faithful passed away.

With many portents and with signs * in the past You chastised me * who was wand’ring in error. * In these latter days, O Lord, * You emptied yourself, and thus sought and found and saved me, O compassionate One.

O Good One, justify by faith * and by grace those who parted * from the unstable motion of things in flux unto You, * and count them worthy to dwell in eternal habitations pleasantly.

Theotokion.

No one is free of blame like you, * O all-pure Theotokos. * You alone of all women in your womb ever conceived * without a man and gave birth to the true God * who destroyed the power of death.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

[EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Christ is my power. (NM)

You put the choruses of martyrs with the hosts * of the angels and showed thus the tokens of * superior wisdom and Your superexcellent goodness * with regard to gifts, O sovereign Lord.

That they who were translated unto You attain * Your ineffable glory, vouchsafe, O Christ, * wherein is the dwelling place of those who truly rejoice * and the sound of pure exultant joy.

Accept them praising Your divine and sovereign rule, * whom from earth You have taken unto yourself, * making them children of light and also purifying them * from the gloom of sin, merciful Lord.

Theotokion.

The Lord selected you, O Damsel, for himself, * as an all-spotless temple, all-holy ark, * immaculate vessel and the beauty of Jacob, * and the virgin place of holiness.

Ode v. Heirmos.

[EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. With your divine radiance. (NM)

The martyr saints have been offered up * even as a sacred whole-burnt offering and as the first-fruits of * human nature unto the glorified God, * and thus for our salvation they ever arbitrate.

Bestow the heavenly way of life, * sovereign Master, and the distribution of Your charismatic gifts * on Your faithful servants who have before us gone to sleep, * according them redemption from their offences all.

Vouchsafe to those who are now deceased * Your heavenly rule, Master compassionate, only immortal Lord, * who alone by nature are the Creator of life, * the sea of benevolence truly unsearchable.

Theotokion.

O sovereign Lady of all the world, * the Lord who was born from you became the strength and song and salvation of * those who were perishing, and He delivered from the gates * of Hades those who faithfully pronounce you blest.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

[EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Watching life''s sea. (NM)

O good One, upon the cross being nailed, You gathered thus * unto yourself the martyr saints * imitating Your passion, O only Lord. * And therefore we pray to You: * Grant repose unto those translated unto You.

From earth You have taken Your faithful servants to yourself, * Redeemer who are awesome in * Your ineffable glory. Be now well pleased * that they meet You cheerfully on the clouds, * when You come again to judge the world.

The fountain of life are You who in manliness divine, * O Master, brought out those who were * bound in fetters. O Lord, cause Your servants who have faithfully passed away * unto You, to settle in paradisal delight.

Theotokion.

To earth we were sent again for transgressing the divine * command of our Creator God. * But through you unto heaven were we from earth * exalted, O Virgin Maid, * having shaken off the corruption of death.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

[EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. An Angel made the furnace. (NM)

Lord, the Martyrs were redeemed from the primordial * transgression by Your holy blood. * Being sprinkled now with their own blood clearly they portray * the slaughter You willingly endured. * And they cry out: O God of the fathers, blessed are You.

O supremely life-originating Word of God, * You put insolent death to death. * In Your love for man, do receive now those who fell asleep * believing, O Christ, and who extol * and sing to You: O God of the fathers, blessed are You.

O divinely sovereign Master who by Your divine * breath animated me the man, * in Your mercy, account worthy of Your kingly rule * Your servants who passed away, O Christ, * to sing to You: O God of the fathers, blessed are You.

Theotokion.

You became exalted higher than creation all, * O blameless one, conceiving our God * who has shattered the gates of death and crushed the bars thereof. * And therefore we faithful offer hymns * extolling you, O pure one, as the Mother of our God.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

[EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. From flame you made a source. (NM)

Demonstrating yourselves to be steadfast in the feats * of the contest, O Martyrs of Christ, you were adorned * with the crown of victory, O Prize-winners, crying out: * Unto all the ages, supremely we exalt You.

Those believers who sacredly have departed life * and to You, sovereign Master, have passed do now accept * graciously, compassionate Lord, and grant rest to them. * Unto all the ages, supremely they exalt You.

Be well pleased, O our Savior, that those who fell asleep * before us should abide now in the land of the meek, * having justified them by grace and by faith in You. * Unto all the ages, supremely they exalt You.

Theotokion.

O all-blessed and pure one, we all pronounce you blest, * as the woman who gave birth unto the Word of God * who is truly blest, and became flesh for our sake. * Unto all the ages, supremely we exalt Him.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

You received the joyful message through an Angel, * and to your own Creator did you give birth. * All-holy Virgin, save us all who magnify you. [SD]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. It is impossible. (NM)

The hope of blessings to come intensified * the choirs of the martyr saints, and towards ardent love for You * it incited them, being for them a clear * foretoken of the truly unshakeable repose; * which to the departed faithful grant, since You are good, O Lord.

O Christ, deem worthy of Your divine and bright * illumination those who have in faith been translated hence; * and as You alone are very merciful, * grant them repose within the bosom of Abraham; * and account them worthy of Your own eternal blessedness.

Since You are gracious and all-compassionate * by nature, and delight in steadfast love and are an abyss * of compassion, O Savior, to those whom You * translated from this place of punishment and from the * shadow of death, wherein shines Your light assign a place, O Lord.

Theotokion.

O pure one, we know you as the tablet of * the law of grace, the holy tabernacle and sacred ark. * For through you to those who have been justified * by the blood of the One who became incarnate from * your womb has been given absolution, O all-blameless one.

Aposticha of Lauds.

For the Martyrs. Mode pl. 2.

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.

O Lord, if we did not have Your Saints as intercessors, and Your benevolence being compassionate towards us, how would we dare to extol You, O Savior, whom the Angels bless unceasingly? O Master who know our hearts, we pray You to spare our souls.

The memory of the Martyrs brings great joy to those who fear the Lord. They competed for Christ, and they were awarded crowns by Him, and now with confidence they intercede on behalf of our souls.

Glory. For the Dead.

Savior, You honored the work of Your hands by Your image, depicting the likeness of the noetic essence in material form. You gave me to participate in it, by setting me to rule using free will over things on earth, O Word. Therefore, O Savior, give rest to Your servants, in the land of the living, where the righteous dwell.

Both now. Theotokion.

You are our God, who in wisdom creates and fills all things. O Christ, You sent Prophets to prophesy Your coming, and Apostles to proclaim Your mighty works. The former prophesied Your coming, and the latter illumined the nations through baptism. Martyrs suffered and attained what they longed for; and all these, together with Your Mother, intercede with You. O God, grant rest to the souls that You have taken to yourself, and also count us worthy of Your kingdom. You are the one who endured the Cross for me who am condemned, O my Redeemer and God.

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

Mode pl. 2. N/M (When the saints.)

Since incomprehensible is Your compassion towards us, * and abundant is the well of divine benevolence, Lord most merciful, * we entreat on behalf of Your faithful servants * who have died and passed away to You: * let them dwell in the land * of the living, in most beloved and * longed for dwellings, giving them * a possession which is forevermore. * You, O Christ our Savior, * have shed Your holy blood for all mankind, * and thus You ransomed the whole world * for a price that gave us life.

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

Willingly You underwent * life-giving death, as our Savior, * and became the well of life, * and to the believers gave eternal delight, * all by Your most divine * tender-love, O Master, * only sinless and compassionate. * We now entreat You for * those who have reposed in the faith and hope * of resurrection, to forgive * all their sins and place them in Your delight; * thus in every manner Your name might be extolled, O Christ our God, * and being saved we might glorify * Your love for humanity.

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

Christ, we know that You are Lord * of both the dead and the living, * and You rule by Your divine * power and authority. * Hence we pray to You * and entreat on behalf * of Your faithful servants, * who have died and passed away to You, * that You will grant them rest * with all Your elect, only Friend of man, * where they will be refreshed indeed, * in the brilliant splendor of all Your Saints. * You delight in mercy, * our God and benefactor, and You save * those whom You formed in Your image, O only very merciful Lord.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion. Same Melody.

You became a dwelling place that was for God most befitting; * in your body You held God, * and also gave birth to God, holy Virgin Maid. * He was seen by mankind, * as our Lord and Savior, * in one person and two essences. * Earnestly pray to Him, * your firstborn and only beloved Son, * who after being born kept you * spotless and preserved your virginity. * Ask Him to grant rest to the souls of those who fell asleep in faith, * that they may dwell in the light and pure * splendor and in blessedness.

__________

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.

You have glorified the Prophets and the Teachers, * the Devout and the Righteous, O gracious Lord. * By their entreaties, save us in Your love for man.

Holy Martyrs, you did not succumb to fire, * sword, and combing, nor even to wild beasts, * glorious athletes, and you obtained eternal life.

For the Martyrs.

Place the souls of those whom You, O Logos, transferred * from this temporal life, there with all the Saints * and Righteous, so that we may glorify You, O Lord.

Glory.

Holy Trinity, extolled as the almighty * single God: in the bosom of Abraham * place the believers whom You have from earth transferred.

Both now. Theotokion.

You ineffably gave birth unto the truly * blessed God, O immaculate Maid, and thus * all generations know you to be truly blest.

END OF TONE 6

Sixth tone in order, but by far the first,

You rank as second in the second group.

Double-compounded the delights you bear,

Though only second in the second rank.

O dulcet-toned cicada, honey-sweet,

Can any then not love you, fair tone six? [EL]