ON FRIDAY EVENING

At, Lord, I have cried, Prosomoia.

Stichera for the Master.

Mode pl. 4.

Martyrs of the Lord, we beg you: intercede with our God and ask for our souls a multitude of mercies and pardon of our many transgressions.

Model Melody.

Your Martyrs, Lord, forgetting the affairs of life and despising torments because of the life to come, have been declared its heirs; therefore they rejoice with Angels. At their entreaties grant your people your great mercy.

It there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, it belongs to the Saints; for they bowed their necks to swords for your sake, who bowed the heavens and came down; they poured out their blood for your sake, who emptied yourself and took the form of a slave; they humbled themselves even to death, imitating your poverty. At their prayers, according to the multitude of your mercies, O God, have mercy on us.

Additional Stichera. For compunction. N/M (What a paradoxal.)

I have become like a fruitless tree, wearing the holy scheme like empty leaves, and I tremble, Master. Do not cut me off and despatch me into the unquenchable and everlasting fire. But grant me a time for turning back, that I may bring you the fair fruit of virtuous deeds and be counted worthy of your Kingdom.

Lord, Lord, do not cast from your presence me, your servant who each day greatly anger your loving-kindness, Lover of mankind. Do not chastise me, O Christ, in your just wrath. I have sinned, I have sinned against you as no one else. Take pity and save me at the prayers of your Mother.

For the Dead. Same Melody.

When you sit upon the throne of judgement in your glory as King of the universe, while your holy Angels stand around you in fear, all human nature will be judged, O Christ. Then, Lord, at the entreaties of your Mother, deliver from all punishments those who have fallen asleep in faith.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

The King of heaven through love for mankind appeared on earth and lived among men; for taking flesh from a pure Virgin and coming forth from her with the addition, he is one Son, double in nature, but not in person; therefore proclaiming him as truly perfect God and perfect man, we confess Christ our God; implore him, Mother without bridegroom, to have mercy on our souls.

At the Aposticha.

Aposticha. Mode pl. 4.

For the Martyrs.

Martyrs of the Lord, you hallow every place and heal every disease; and now we beg intercede that our souls may be delivered from the snares of the foe.

For the Dead.

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

I grieve and I lament whenever I consider death, and see the beauty that was fashioned for us according to God''s image lying in the tombs without form, without glory, having no shape. O the wonder! What is this mystery that has happened concerning us? How have we been handed over to corruption? Truly it is at God''s command, as it is written, God who grants rest to those who have passed over.

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

Your death, Lord, has become the cause of immortality; for had you not been laid in a tomb, Paradise had not been opened; and so give rest to those who have passed over, as you love mankind.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Pure Virgin, Gate of the Word, Mother of our 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. 4.

Holy Martyrs, you were shown to be spiritual luminaries; for by faith you ended the fogginess of error, you brightened the lamps of our souls, and with glory you entered the celestial bridal hall with the Bridegroom. Now we pray you entreat Him to save our souls.

N/M (When he perceived.)

When they had deadened burning impulses and movements * of sinful passions by their self-control and virtue, * then the Martyrs of Christ were given the divine grace * of driving away the illnesses of the sick * and working wonders, alive and after their death. * Paradoxical miracle it is indeed, that naked bones * should pour out cures abundantly. * Glory be to our only God.

N/M (By conceiving.)

By your strong faith as martyrs you have become * ever radiant torches for all the world, * for you placed your every hope * in the Lord, who enabled you; * you kept your souls, like lamps, lit * with the spiritual oil * of the all-holy Spirit, * O Martyrs extolled by all. * Therefore you are also known as spiritual wine bowls * that serve up as beverages * cures and healings to all mankind, * O victorious martyr saints. * Intercede with Christ our God * that He grant forgiveness of offences * to those who with longing observe your holy memory.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

You were born for us from a Virgin, and endured crucifixion, loving Lord; by your death you despoiled Death, and revealed resurrection as God; do not despise those whom you fashioned with your own hand; show us your compassion, O Merciful; accept the Mother of God who bore you as she intercedes for us, and save, our Saviour, a people in despair.

After the second Psalter reading, Kathismata.

For the Martyrs.

This tabernacle today is flooded with heavenly light; for in it the armies of Angels rejoice, and with them the choirs of the Righteous are glad, at the commemoration of the Victors. At their entreaties, O Christ, send down upon your world peace and great mercy.

For the Dead.

In Your great love for humanity, O Master, * number our brethren, who have piously from this life * passed away, with the Righteous in dwellings of the chosen. * Since You are good, forgive all their offences, * voluntary and involuntary as well. * Let them rest in the places where those who are celebrating dwell, * and grant them the eternal delight * of the Garden of Paradise.

O only Creator who out of love for man arrange all things with depth of wisdom, and impart to all what is beneficial, O Lord, grant repose to the souls of Your servants. For they have placed their hope in You our Creator and Fashioner and God.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

We have you as a fortress and a port and an acceptable intercessor with God, whom you bore, O unwedded Theotokos, the salvation of the faithful.

Canon for all Saints.

Mode pl. 4. Ode i. Heirmos.

Let us sing to the Lord, who led his people in the Red Sea, for he alone has been greatly glorified. [EL]

Troparia.

Crowns are by precious jewels * ornamented; so likewise the holy Church * is by you decorated, * O most brave and victorious Martyrs of Christ.

Wise hierarchs were flashing * with divine resplendence and with holy light * of doctrines and of virtues; * they illumined the hearts of believers all.

Logos of God the Father, * wondrous in the Prophets and ascetic Saints, * we implore You to save us, * by their earnest entreaties on our behalf.

For the Dead.

Logos and Judge most righteous, * when You come with righteousness to judge the world, * we pray You to consider * uncondemned those who have departed to You.

Theotokion.

Choirs of holy women * know you as the Mother of the Lord and King; * and behind you, O Virgin, * they were brought to Him, after their martyrdom.

Canon for the Deceased.

On crossing the water.

The Martyrs all imitated You, O Christ: * Your death by their own death, * Your divine Passion by their own * suffering; and therefore they were granted * divine and blessed everlasting life.

We pray for Your servants who are deceased: * Savior, overlook all * sins committed when they were young, * and pass over all of their offenses, * O Christ, and number them with Your elect.

O God very merciful, we entreat: * Richly grant the glory * and the joy of all who attain * blessed life in heaven to Your servants, * whom You have taken to yourself, O Lord.

Theotokion.

O Maid, you conceived God the Father''s Word, * when He was united * hypostatically with the flesh * from you. And then He abolished Hades * by divine power, O all-blameless one.

Ode iii. Heirmos.

The heavens You established by Your own word, * and on many waters You stabilized the earth. * Establish me as a singer * glorifying You from my heart, O Lord. [SD]

Troparia.

The holy Athletes, unshaken in their faith, * shook off every odious pagan sacrifice; * instead they became the purest * sacrifice to Christ who was sacrificed.

With holy words and sacraments you renewed * those whom sins and passions had rendered sick and old * and proved that you were Disciples * of God who refashioned the universe.

The Holy Spirit''s grace, which was given of old * to the holy Prophets of God discernibly, * endowed the later ascetics * and saints with divine charismatic gifts.

For the Dead.

O God, include in the chorus of the Saints * those who have departed this life with faith in You; * and in Your marvelous mercy, * may they dwell with You, Lord, in Paradise.

Theotokion.

Our Savior Jesus, whom nothing can contain, * comfortably resided in your immaculate * and holy womb, O all-lauded * Virgin, when for us He became a man.

Canon for the Deceased. You constructed.

You were cleansed of the ancient ancestral fall through the rite * of baptismal regeneration, O blessed Martyr Saints, * and sprinkled with your own puddles of blood in the contests. * Now you reign forever with the Savior Christ the King.

Voluntarily, Savior, You were laid dead in a tomb, * calling back the dead who are dwelling in graves since time began. * O Lord, we pray that You, in Your good pleasure, will grant them * whom You took, to dwell in habitations of the Just.

Savior, being entreated by Your compassion as God * and the goodness that is perceived as intrinsic to yourself, * will You forgive and remit all the sins and transgressions * of Your faithful servants and grant them eternal rest.

Theotokion.

O immaculate, only all-lauded Mother of God, * Christ, who in your womb was incarnate when He became a man, * and who uniquely loves the human race, as its Maker, * rescues from the gates of death and saves humanity.

Ode iv. Heirmos.

I have heard, Lord, the mystery * of your dispensation, I heard and was afraid, * I have meditated on your works * and exalt and glorify your Deity. [EL]

Troparia.

Holy Athletes, blessed of God, * you went to the stadium of your martyrdom * and you burned up the material * of the pagan error with the Spirit''s fire.

Lord, You splendidly glorified * Your devout Monastics and holy Hierarchs. * Of Your glory may I too partake, * by their godly prayers to You on my behalf.

The divine Spirit''s energy, * which of old illumined the holy Prophets, now * gave to godly women might and strength * to bring down the insolence and pride of the foe.

For the Dead.

Be entreated, O Lord, and grant * that Your servants whom You have taken to yourself * join the chorus of all Saints on high * in the dwellings of the Saints, O God most good.

Theotokion.

You without nature''s normal laws * gave birth to the Lord who provides the law of God, * when He mercifully formed anew * fallen human nature, O all-blameless one.

Canon for the Deceased. You, Lord, are my strength. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode v. Heirmos.

Lord, enlighten us, * with your ordinances and commands, * and with your upraised arm grant unto us your peace, * for you alone, O Lord, are Lover of humanity. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Why have you rejected me. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vi. Heirmos.

Have mercy on me, O Saviour, for my offences are many; and bring me up from the deep of evils, I beg; for to you I have cried; and hearken to me, O God of my salvation. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Have mercy on me. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode vii. Heirmos.

God-fearing holy Servants did not worship * the image of gold of old in Babylon. * They were thrown in the furnace, * where no fiery flame, but moist * whistling wind refreshed them, as they extolled * the Lord and sang: "O God of our fathers, blessed are You." [SD]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. The Hebrew Youths. (NM)

Theotokion.

Ode viii. Heirmos.

Those Servants, speaking from God, in the furnace trampled * the fire and also the error * and the deception and they sang, "All you works of the Lord, praise and bless the Lord." [SD]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. At the sound.

Theotokion.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

Mother of God most High, who knew not wedlock, who through a word conceived beyond understanding the true God, who are higher than the immaculate Powers, with never silent hymns of glory we magnify you. [EL]

Troparia.

For the Dead.

Theotokion.

Canon for the Deceased. Everything that hears trembles. (NM)

Theotokion.

Aposticha of Lauds.

For the Martyrs. Mode pl. 4.

Holy Martyrs, you contested greatly: you bravely endured the tortures of the lawless, and you confessed Christ before kings. And now, since you have passed from this life, you work miracles in the world, and you heal the infirm of their ailments. We entreat you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.

Invincible Martyrs of Christ our God, * having triumphed over error by the power of the Cross, * you have duly now received the grace of everlasting life. * Of tyrants’ * angry threats you were not terrified. * Tormented * by their tortures, you were full of joy. * And now your blood has become for us * the cure of body and soul alike. * Do intercede, * we entreat you, that our souls be saved.

Clothed in the armour of faith, ⁄ armed with the sign of the cross, ⁄ you were soldiers who were worthy of God. ⁄ Manfully you opposed the torturers, ⁄ crushing the devil’s deceits. ⁄ You were victors, made worthy of crowns. ⁄⁄ Pray to Christ for us that our souls may be saved.

Model Melody.

What shall we call you, holy ones? Cherubim, for Christ takes his rest on you. Seraphim, for you ceaselessly glorify him. Angels, for you abandoned the body. Powers, for you perform wonders. your names are many and your graces more. Intercede that our souls may be saved.

Glory. For the Dead.

Both now. Theotokion.

O Virgin and holy Theotokos, I take refuge in your protection. I am confident of my salvation, for you, O Pure One, are able to help me.

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

Mode pl. 4. N/M (What a paradoxal.)

With royal authority, O Master, ⁄ you signed the charter of my freedom in the purple of your blood. ⁄ And now, I pray to you with faith: ⁄ In your compassion, give rest to those who have gone to dwell with you; ⁄ number them with your first-born, ⁄⁄ counting them worthy to share in the joy of the righteous.

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

Fulfilling priestly mediation, as man, ⁄ sacrificed as a lamb, ⁄ you redeemed mankind from corruption, ⁄ offering it as an oblation to the Father. ⁄ Now, in your love, make the departed dwell in the land of the living, ⁄⁄ where streams of joy flow with the fountains of eternal life.

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

O Lord, in the depth of Your ineffable wisdom, You set the limits of life, and You foresee the death of Your servants, and You transfer them to another life. We pray for those whom You have taken, that You place them near the still waters of rest, in the splendor of the Saints, where exultation and praise resound.

Verse: And their memorial abides from generation to generation. [SAAS]

O invisible Logos, one in nature and sharing the throne with the Father and the Spirit, You became visible in the flesh for me the human being. I pray now for those whom You have taken from this life, that You adorn them with the splendor of Your majesty and beauty, as You are merciful and You love humanity, O life-giving Lord.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

O Mother of God: since you conceived the eternal Word of God the Father, ⁄ pray fervently, with a mother''s boldness, ⁄ that he may establish your servants in the eternal choir ⁄ of all who exult and praise you, ⁄ in a place of everlasting light, ⁄⁄ in the midst of the joyful sound of those who feast.

__________

LITURGY

The Beatitudes. Mode pl. 4.

Remember us, Christ, Saviour of the world, as you remembered the Thief on the tree, and count us all worthy, O only Merciful, of your heavenly Kingdom.

Bravely you endured the pain of all the tortures. * By your holy wounds, O medaled Martyr Athletes, * you greatly weakened the myriads of the demons, * mortally wounding them by grace divine.

All the Saints of Christ, monastic men and women, * holy Hierarchs, the chorus of the Prophets, * have been allotted a place to reside in heaven. * Now let us call them blessed as is right.

For the Martyrs.

God, we pray for all who left this life believing: * Grant them all to dwell in the land of the righteous. * As they extol You as God, may they be allotted * a place of residence in Paradise.

Glory.

Holy Father, Son, and Spirit, one in nature, * You are God, and by a word created all things. * You are unceasingly glorified, praised, and worshiped * by all the Angels and humanity.

Both now. Theotokion.

Virgin, you gave birth to Him who is the fullness * of everything good. Fulfill now our entreaties, * and pray He grant the forgiveness of all offenses, * illumination, and great mercy to us.

END OF TONE 8

Seal of the tones, O Plagal of the Fourth,

As bearing in yourself all fairest sounds.

You broaden out the ranges of the songs,

The final flourish of the Tones, and end.

As limit in both notes and voices’ pitch,

Limit of sound I call you twice, and end. [EL]