ON THURSDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Cross.

Grave Mode. N/M (No longer are we barred.)

That you might make man god you became mortal, O supremely Good, and are crucified. Glory to your glory!

When the Hebrew people condemned you to a cross, O Word, earth was shaken and the radiance of the sun was hidden.

When you were crucified, O Merciful, the sun grew dark and creation was shaken. Glory to you!

Additional Stichera. For the Theotokos. N/M (Judas today is vigilant.)

Bend your loving ear to me as I implore, All-Blameless, and do not cast me from your presence, not send me far from your help. For by trickery the trickster strives to destroy me; stirs my heart with irrational passions. But do you keep me wholly safe from his harm.

The can no advantage from matter, O my soul, for which you strive for emptiness of life, for which you melt yourself with cares. So cast all your care on the Lord, who is coming to judge you, and cry out with tears: Master who love mankind, save me at the prayers of her who gave you birth.

Having put the name of true devotion right outside me, O Virgin, within I am a plaything of fornication, and despised as a laughing stock of imposture. For through my heedlessness I faced by two wild beasts as opponents. Therefore deliver me, for you are the joy and assurance of my soul.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. Same Melody.

Once at your birth, my Child, I heard words that bring joy, through which I looked to be filled with joy, and to bring joy to afflicted souls; but these things have been manifestly turned to grief by your crucifixion, grief overcomes me and I would rather die, for grief fills my soul.

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Grave Mode. For the Cross.

We are no longer barred from the Tree of life, having our hope in your Cross. Lord, glory to you.

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]

Hanged upon a Tree, O Immortal, you smashed the snares of the devil. Lord, glory to you.

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.

Glory to you, Christ God, boast of Apostles, joy of martyrs, whose preaching is the consubstantial Trinity.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (Judas today is vigilant.)

I have been wounded by the sword of sorrow, as I see you on the Cross, who established the earth on the waters and stretched out the sky like a tent cloth; for I see you hanging naked and slaughtered; and I had rather died first myself, O most beloved. Earth, tremble and be shaken, said the All-pure through her tears.

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ON FRIDAY MORNING

MATINS

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

Grave Mode.

O Christ God, who for me endured being nailed to the Cross, accept my vigilant praise, in Your love for humanity.

O Christ God, the commander of the bodiless hosts, You know the laziness of my soul. By Your Cross, save me, in Your love for humanity.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion.

O ever-virgin Theotokos, as your saw your Son hanging on the Cross, as a mother you lamented; but you magnified His terrific condescension, O immaculate Lady.

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Cross.

You made Your Cross, O Christ, brighter than any fire, ⁄ clearer than any flame. ⁄ It enlightens the hearts of men ⁄ and burns the sins of those in sickness, ⁄ as they sing the praises of Your voluntary crucifixion. ⁄⁄ O Christ our God: Glory to You.

Worshiping You, O Christ our God, ⁄ the Church, with the cedar, pine and cypress, cries out to You: ⁄ At the prayers of the Theotokos, ⁄⁄ grant victory to those in authority and have mercy on us.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

O Christ, when You were crucified of Your own will, the Theotokos stood nearby and said, "Lord, Lord, no other woman has endured the pain I suffer now. From Your miracles, I know that You are God; and behold, I see You hanging dead on the Cross! Nevertheless, rise, as You said You would, on the third day, so that I may rejoice and shout to You: Glory to You!"

After the third Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Cross.

On the tree of the cross, you saved us from the ancient curse; ⁄⁄ save us also, O Lord, by healing the wounds of our hearts.

For the Martyrs.

O Saints, we pray you to intercede for us, that we be granted forgiveness for our offences, and that we be delivered form impending evils and from bitter death.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion.

O Virgin: you conceived without seed ⁄ the one whom you saw nailed to the cross. ⁄⁄ Ever pray to him that our souls may be saved.

Canon for the Cross.

Grave Mode. Ode i. Heirmos.

Let us sing a hymn of victory to God, who disposed of Pharaoh in the Red Sea, for He is glorified. [SD]

Troparia.

When Christ was lifted on the Cross, He drew all mortals to himself, and cast down the enemy who had cursed everyone.

O Master Jesus, from Your life-bearing side You poured out for me a stream of life, and becoming dead You put the enemy to death.

For the Martyrs.

O medaled Martyrs, offer fervent supplication to Christ on our behalf, that we all be delivered from the frightening judgment.

O wise Martyrs, you were humiliated for the sake of Christ, and by divine grace you completely overthrew the pompous enemy.

Stavrotheotokion.

O Lady, when you saw on the Cross your Son, who rose from you in His extreme compassion, you lamented and also glorified Him.

Canon for the Theotokos.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

The Church is established in the faith of Christ; and she unceasingly sings hymns and says: "Holy are You, O Lord, and my spirit praises You." [SD]

Troparia.

How can You who in essence do no suffer undergo Passion? How can You who breath life into me now die on the Cross? Great are Your mercy and Your longsuffering!

O Logos, You were unjustly crucified between two robbers, and You justified the one who recognized You as the Creator of all creation, who was suffering willingly.

For the Martyrs.

O medaled Athletes, you endured the flaying of your skin, amputation of your hands and feet and all your members; and for this you obtained glory, and you intercede for us.

O wise Martyrs, you were divinely burnished by the extreme tortures, and now you have inherited the surpassing glory. You ever intercede for the salvation of our souls.

Stavrotheotokion.

O pure Virgin, you were pregnant with God the Logos. He became man and was nailed to the Cross. As His mother, intercede with Him to forgive us our debts.

Canon for the Theotokos. You established the heavens. (NM)

Ode iv. Heirmos.

I have heard Your report and was afraid; I considered Your works and was greatly astonished, O Lord. [SD]

Troparia.

O Master who loves humanity, You were lifted on the Cross like a most ripe cluster of grapes, and You dripped with the sweet wine that gladdens hearts.

O Master, when You accepted Your voluntary Passion in the flesh, You truly put an end to the very painful sufferings of humanity.

For the Martyrs.

The medaled Athletes competed with valor, and they wounded the waring opponent. And now they are physicians of our souls.

The medaled Athletes lined up against the tyrants. They won, and they were awarded crowns of victory.

Stavrotheotokion.

O Virgin, without seed you gave birth to the Logos, who by His Cross vanquished corruption, in His benevolence.

Canon for the Theotokos. Your virtue, O Christ. (NM)

Ode v. Heirmos.

[EL]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

Jonah cried out from the belly of Hades: "Raise up my life from corruption." And we now pray to You: "O almighty Savior, have mercy on us." [SD]

Troparia.

Since human nature was sick, You appeared on earth in Your tender-mercy, O Physician of the sick, and by Your Cross and Passion You cured it.

Of old, Adam was condemned because of a tree. Now, by the tree of the Cross, he is justified, and he is given entry to Paradise and he enjoys its delight.

O supremely good King, we extol You who were lifted on the Cross; we glorify You who wore the crown of thorns and who crowned humanity with glory.

For the Martyrs.

The Athletes rejected all the destructive harm of idolatry. They embraced the tortures and died, and now they reign with Christ.

Stavrotheotokion.

O pure and all-blameless Virgin Mother, you extol Him who was incarnate of you, and you lament as you see Him lifted on the Cross.

Canon for the Theotokos.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

The Youths of old revealed the furnace that blazed with fire to be moist with dew, as they sang the praise of the one God and said, ''O highly exalted and highly glorified God of our Fathers''. [EL]

Troparia.

O supremely good Jesus, You were lifted on the Cross between to outlaws, and thus You lightened the weight of my own lawlessness, O God of our fathers, exalted beyond measure and supremely good.

O Savior, You were pierced in the side with a lance, and You rectified the fall of Adam''s side. And You command the flaming sword from now on to allow me entry into Paradise.

For the Martyrs.

The Church''s Saints have become like stars set in the heights, and they illumine creation with the splendor of their medals and the cheer that their cures bring.

The Book of the living shows that the Martyrs of the Lord are eternally recorded in it, for they eagerly kept the recorded commandments of God, and they competed in martyrdom mightily.

Stavrotheotokion.

The all-holy Lady lamented as she watched the all-holy Logos, who had risen from her, being lifted on the holy Cross and thus sanctifying humanity.

Canon for the Theotokos. Imitating the Youths. (NM)

Ode viii. Heirmos.

The ranks of bodiless hosts of Angels in heaven * with all the Powers shudder as they are blessing * the only beginningless King of glory. * O priests and people, sing and exalt Him beyond measure * unto all the ages. [SD]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

All-lauded Virgin, who are higher than the heavens, * who without seed conceived the unoriginate Logos, * and who for the sake of mankind gave birth to God incarnate, * all we the faithful sing hymns magnifying you. [SD]

Troparia.

For the Martyrs.

Stavrotheotokion.

Canon for the Theotokos.

At the Aposticha of Lauds.

Aposticha. Grave Mode. For the Cross.

N/M (No longer are we barred.)

O Life-giver and Lover of man, as Master * You have ransomed the entire world through Your crucifixion. * Glory to You, O Lord!

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]

Same Melody.

When You were crucified of Your own volition * for the world, O merciful Savior, the sun was darkened. * Glory to You, O Lord!

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. Same Melody.

We celebrate the memory of Your holy * medal-winning Martyrs, and thereby we extol You. * Glory to You, O Lord.

Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion. N/M (Judas today is vigilant.)

You endured crucifixion and slaughter * as a criminal, forbearing Lord, * so that by the tree of the Cross You, O Savior, * might lift us who by a tree of old had fallen. * As Your Virgin Mother saw You dead, she was perplexed and wept. * Suffering from shock, overcome with grief she sighed and cried, * "What unjust madness is this! * These lawless men have killed the Righteous One!"

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LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Grave Mode.

The fruit that killed me of old was good for food and beautiful to contemplate. But Christ is the very tree of life, from which I eat and die not. And echoing the Robber''s words, I cry out, "Remember me in Your kingdom, O Lord."

In order to heal the wound that Adam * sustained at the counsel of the foe, * You let yourself be crucified, O King; * You let yourself be wounded: * Your hands and feet were pierced with nails. * Hence, O Word, we glorify * Your immense longsuffering.

A crowd of Jews gave You up to Romans, * and they had You crucified among * the outlaws, You the Giver of the Law * and the only Redeemer, * as You redeemed the human race * from all sin and lawlessness. * Therefore we extol You, O Christ.

For the Martyrs.

The scars they bear from their many tortures * are like medals that decorate * the holy Martyr Athletes of the Lord. * And they are recognized as * the bright adornment of the Church, * as they ever intercede * with Christ on behalf of our souls.

Glory.

Deliver us, Your unworthy servants * who extol You, Holy Trinity. * Make us strong by the power of the Cross, * and guide on our journey * to the city that is on high. * And once we have entered it, * we hope to find mercy there.

Both now. Stavrotheotokion.

O Christ our God, when You had been lifted * on the tree of the Cross in the flesh, * Your all-pure Virgin Mother saw You there * bereft of form and beauty. * And in distress she cried aloud, * "Alas! How have lawless men * mutilated You, my Child?"