AT THE LITURGY
so, they kneel again, and the Reader standeth up, and singeth,
L
ORD, I have cried unto thee, hear me:
attend to the voice of my prayer when I cry unto thee.
Then he kneeleth, and the Choir and People on the left stand up, and sing,
Let my prayer be set forth . . . .
And they kneel again, and the Reader standeth up, and singeth,
S
ET a watch, O Lord, before my mouth,
and keep the door of my lips.
And again he kneeleth, and the Choir and People on the right stand up, and sing,
Let my prayer be set forth . . . .
And again they kneel, and again the Reader standeth, and singeth,
I
NCLINE not my heart to evil words to
make excuses for sins.
And yet again he kneeleth, while the Choir and People on the left stand up, and sing,
Let my prayer be set forth . . . .
And they kneel once more, and the Reader standeth up, and singeth,
OF THE PRE-SANCTIFIED. I73
L
ET my prayer be set forth before thee
as incense.
And he goeth to his place, while all stand, and both Choirs loudly sing,
T
HE lifting up of my hands as the evening
sacrifice.
Then followeth the Prayer of S. Ephrem with the Genuflections.
In Holy Passion Week here is read the Gospel, or, if a Festival, they read the Epistle and Gospel thereof
Then the Great Ectenia.
Let us all say with our whole soul .... Vide page I0.
After the Exclamation concluding this, followeth the Ectenia for the Catechumens. Vide page I48.
[Now from the Wednesday of Mid-Lent, the following Ectenia is added in this place, after the Exclamation, That they also, together with us ....
As many as are Catechumens, depart. Ye Catechumens, depart. As many as are about to be illuminated, depart. Pray, ye that are about to be illuminated. Let us pray to the Lord. Choir. Lord, have mercy. And so after the succeeding petitions.
I74 AT THE LITURGY
Ye Faithful, for our brethren that are preparing for holy illumination, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord our God may confirm and strengthen them, let us pray to the Lord.
That he may enlighten them with the light of knowledge and piety, let us pray to the Lord.
That he may grant unto them in due time the laver of regeneration, the forgiveness of sins, and the garment of incorruption, let us pray to the Lord.
That he may make them born again of water and of the Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That he may bestow upon them the perfection of faith, let us pray to the Lord.
That he may number them among his holy and elect flock, let us pray to the Lord.
Save them, have mercy on them, help them, and keep them, O God, by thy grace.
Ye that are about to be illuminated, bow your heads to the Lord.
Choir. To thee, O Lord. Exclamation.
Priest. For thou art our illumination, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages.
OF THE PRE-SANCTIFIED. I75
Choir. Amen.
Deacon. As many as are about to be illuminated, depart. Ye that are about to be illuminated, depart. As many as are Catechumens, depart. Let there be no Catechumens.]
As many as are Faithful, again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
And the Ectenia of the Faithful, as in the Liturgies of S. Chrysostom and S. Basil. The second Exclamation however is, Through the grace of thy Christ, with whom thou art blessed, together with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages.
Choir. Amen. And continueth,
OW the heavenly Powers invisibly minister with us; for, behold, the King of glory is borne in. Behold, the mystic Sacrifice, having been perfected, is borne aloft by Angels.
Let us draw near with faith and love, that we may become partakers of life eternal. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Deacon. Let us accomplish our evening prayer to the Lord.
For the precious and pre-sanctified Gifts that are offered, let us pray to the Lord.
That our man-loving God, who hath re-
I76 AT THE LITURGY
ceived them on his holy .... And the rest of the Ectenia, as at page 157, concluding with the Our Father. Exclamation. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Choir. Amen.
Priest. Peace to all.
Choir. And to thy spirit.
Deacon. Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
Choir. To thee, O Lord. Exclamation.
Priest. Through the grace, compassion, and love to men of thine only-begotten Son, with whom, together with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, thou art blessed, now and ever, and to ages of ages.
Choir. Amen. Deacon. Let us attend.
Priest. Holy things pre-sanctified for holy persons.
Choir. One holy, one Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
And the Communion Hymn.
O
TASTE and see that the Lord is good.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Priest. Draw near with fear of God, and faith, and love.
Choir. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
OF THE PRE-SANCTIFIED. I77
Come, taste the Bread of heaven, and the Cup of salvation, and see that the Lord is good. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
[Here the Communicants, if there be any, shall receive the holy Sacrament.]
Priest. O God, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance.
Always, now and ever, and to ages of ages.
Choir. Amen. Let our mouth be filled . . . .
And the rest, as in the Liturgies of Saints Chrysostom and Basil, saving only that they shall say this whole evening instead of this whole day in the Ectenia, that the Priest shall substitute for the prayer beginning, Lord, who blessest them .... the following,
LMIGHTY Lord, who in wisdom madest all things, who, after thine unspeakable foreknowledge and great goodness, dost sanctify unto us these sacred days for the cleansing of our souls and bodies, for the subduing of our passions, and for the hope of resurrection, and who after forty days didst give unto thy servant Moses the divinely written tables of the law; grant thou unto us, O Blessed One, that we may fight the good fight, may finish the course of the fast, may keep perfectly the faith,
I78 AT THE LITURGY ETC.
may crush the heads of the invisible serpents, may become victorious over sin, and without condemnation may attain unto the time to worship thy holy Resurrection. For blessed and glorified is thine all-honourable and majestic name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
And that the Dismissal shall be on this wise,
[In Holy Passion Week, He that for our salvation willingly endured passion,] Christ our true God, through the prayers of his all-pure Mother, through the might of his precious and life-giving Cross, through the prayers of our holy Father, Gregory the Divine, and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us; for he is good and the Lover of men.
XVII. SUNDAY SERVICE IN THE SIXTH TONE.
AT THE GREAT VESPERS.
With the Lord, I have cried, Stichera on the Resurrection in Tone 6.
HOU didst ascend the Cross, O Christ, to win victory over hades, that, together with thyself, thou mightest raise them that sat in the shades of death. O almighty Saviour, thou that art the Redeemer of the dead, from whose light springeth life, have mercy upon us.
Verse. If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark transgression, O Lord, who should stand? But with thee there is propitiation.
T
O-DAY Christ treadeth down death, as
he said. He is risen and giveth joy
unto the world. Therefore in hymns we
cry, O almighty Saviour, who art the Foun-
I80 SUNDAY SERVICE
tain of life and of light inaccessible, have mercy upon us.
Verse. For thy name'Äôs sake have I waited for thee, O Lord: my soul hath waited for thy word, my soul hath trusted in the Lord.
O
LORD, who art everywhere present, whither shall we sinners go to find thee? To heaven? there thou dwellest. To hades? there thou didst tread down death. Into the depth of the sea? there is thine hand. O Lord, we come to thee, and unto thee falling down, we pray, O thou that didst rise from the dead, have mercy upon us.
Verse. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord.
W
E exult because of thy Cross, O Christ, and sing and glorify thy Resurrection; for thou art our God, and besides thee we know none other.
Verse. For with the Lord is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption, and he shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions.
E
VER blessing the Lord, we sing his Resurrection; for, enduring crucifixion, death by death he overthrew.
Verse. Praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise him all ye peoples.
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I8I
G
LORY to thy might, O Lord, for thou hast abolished him that had the power of death, and hast renewed us by thy Cross, giving us life and immortality.
Verse. For his mercy is confirmed upon us, and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
O
LORD, thy Burial hath burst the bonds of hades, and thy Resurrection from the dead hath enlightened the world. Glory to thee, O Lord.
W
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
HO would not bless thee, most pure Virgin? who would not sing thy holy child-birth? For he that shone for ever from the Father, even the only-begotten Son, came forth from thee unspeakably incarnate. He that is by nature God became by nature man for us. He was not divided into two persons, but appeared, without confusion, in two natures. Beseech him, O most pure and blessed one, to have mercy on our souls.
Then the Tranquil Light, and the Pro-kimenon. Vide page 8.
The Stichera with Verses. Tone 6.
HY Resurrection, O Saviour Christ, Angels sing in heaven. Vouchsafe to us also upon earth to extol thee with pure heart.
I82 SUNDAY SERVICE
Verse. The Lord is King : he hath put on glorious apparel.
O
GOD almighty, thou didst shatter the gates of brass and burst the bonds of hades, and thou didst raise the fallen race of men. Therefore with one accord we cry, O Lord, who didst rise from the dead, glory to thee.
Verse. He hath made the whole world so sure that it cannot be moved.
W
ILLING to restore our old estate, Christ was nailed to the Cross and placed in the grave, and the myrrh-bearing women, seeking him with tears, lamenting said, Alas! Saviour of all, how didst thou deign to dwell within a grave? And having dwelt there, who hath stolen thee? Whither art thou gone? And what place hideth thy quickening Body? Appear to us, O Lord, as thou didst say, and stay our wailing tears. As thus they wept, an Angel cried to them, Cease now your tears, and tell to the Apostles that the Lord is risen, granting propitiation and great mercy to the world.
Verse. Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.
O
CHRIST, thou hast been crucified, as thou didst will, and by the grave hast spoiled death, and on the third day, as God,
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I83
hast risen with glory, bestowing life unending and great mercy on the world.
M
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
Y Maker and Redeemer, Christ the Lord, came forth from thee, most pure one, endued like me, and delivered Adam from the ancient curse. Therefore the Angel's greeting we exclaim to thee, the all-pure Mother of God, the Virgin true, Hail! Lady, mediatress, defender, and salvation of our souls.
Then, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant .... Trisagion. O most holy Trinity. And, after Our Father,
The Troparion in Tone 6.
NGELIC powers are at thy tomb, and the guards are deadened, and Mary standeth at the grave seeking thy most pure Body. Thou madest hades captive, not being tempted by it. Thou didst meet the Virgin, and grantest life. O risen Lord, glory to thee.
To the Virgin.
T
HOU who didst call thy Mother blessed, of thine own will earnest to suffer, and shining on the Cross that thou mightest bring back Adam, telledst the Angels, Rejoice with me, for the lost drachma is found.
I84 SUNDAY SERVICE
O God, who in wisdom hast made all things, glory to thee.
AT THE GREAT MATINS.
After the Six Psalms, The Lord is God, and hath appeared , . . . in Tone 6.
And we say the Troparion.
Angelic powers are at thy tomb ....
Glory. Both now.
Thou who didst call thy Mother .... And the usual Kathisms of the Psalter.
After the First Kathism, Kathismal Hymn in Tone 6.
HE grave being open and hades lamenting, Mary cried to the hidden Apostles, Come forth, ye workers of the vineyard, and proclaim the word of the Resurrection, The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
O
MOTHER of God, Gideon did thy conception pre-narrate, and David told thy bringing forth. For as the dew came down upon the fleece, so did the Word into thy womb, and without seed thou bearedst fruit, O holy land, even the world's salvation, Christ our God, thou that art full of grace.
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I85
After the Second Kathism, Kathismal Hymn in Tone 6.
HE Life is placed in a grave, with a seal laid upon the stone. As a sleeping king the soldiers guarded Christ, and, invisibly beating down his enemies, the Lord arose.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
O
VIRGIN Mother of God, beseech thy
Son, who of his own will was nailed to the Cross and from the dead arose, even Christ our God, to save our souls.
After the Blessed are they that are un-defiled . . . . i. e., Psalm 118 (119),
The Troparia as at page 25. Blessed art thou, O Lord . . . .
The assembly of Angels . . . .
After these, the Hypaco?´ in Tone 6.
O
CHRIST, by thy voluntary and life-
effecting death, thou didst, as God, overthrow the gates of hades and open unto us the ancient paradise, and, risen from the dead, hast saved our life from corruption.
Then the Graduals in Tone 6.
Antiphon I.
NTO heaven have I lifted up mine eyes, even unto thee, O Word. Have compassion upon me, that I may live to thee.
I86 SUNDAY SERVICE
Have mercy upon us who have been set at naught, making us again thy serviceable vessels, O Word.
Glory. Both now.
In the Holy Spirit is an all-saving fount. On whom he breatheth, according to their worth, he quickly raiseth from things of earth, he lifteth them, exalteth them, and placeth them on high.
Antiphon II.
I
F the Lord were not with us, we none
could have withstood the enemy's attacks. For they that overcome are thereby exalted.
Let not my soul as a bird be caught in their teeth, O Word. Alas! how shall I be delivered from the enemy, who am myself
a lover of sin.
Glory. Both now.
Through the Holy Spirit cometh inspiration unto all, goodwill, understanding, peace and blessing; for he is co-worker with the Father and the Word.
Antiphon III.
T
HEY that trust in the Lord are terrible to enemies, and wonderful to all men; for they look on high.
Let not the inheritance of the righteous, who have thee, O Saviour, as their helper, stretch forth their hands unto iniquity.
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I87
Glory. Both now.
Of the Holy Spirit is the might in all things: him the Hosts above worship, and everything that hath breath below.
Prokimenon. Tone 6.
O
LORD, stir up thy strength, and come
and save us.
Verse. Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock.
The Lection from the holy Evangelist Matthew. Section 116.
T that time, the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Then, Having seen the Resurrection of Christ .... And the rest. Vide page 28.
I88 SUNDAY SERVICE
THE CANON ON THE RESURRECTION. Tone 6. Ode I. Irmos.
I
SRAEL, passing through the deep on foot, as on dry land, saw Pharao their pur- suer overwhelmed, and cried, Let us sing a victorious song to God.
Refrain. Glory to thy holy Resurrection, O Lord.
O blessed Jesus, thou didst stretch forth thine hands upon the Cross, and so fulfil thy Father'Äôs will. Therefore we sing a victorious song to thee.
Death, as a bidden servant, approached thee in fear, O Lord of life, and thou thereby dost grant us endless life and resurrection.
Glory.
At Pilate'Äôs judgment-seat, unlawfully accused, willed to stand, as one condemned, the Judge; and God, before whom tremble heaven and earth, is smitten on the face by wicked hands.
Both now. To the Virgin.
O pure one, thou hast in truth appeared creation'Äôs Queen, whose unsown womb conceived thine own Creator, when he did will incomprehensibly to be made man.
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I89
Ode III. Irmos.
O
LORD, my God, there is none holy like to thee, who dost exalt thy faithful peoples horn, stablishing us, O Blessed One, upon the rock of thy confession.
Creation saw thee crucified in flesh, O God, and feared; though, by thine upholding hand, who wast crucified for us, it is most firmly stablished.
Death, slain by death, lieth condemned and prone; for this strong one bore not the divine approach, and died, and resurrection is bestowed on all.
Glory.
Glory to thine Arising, O our almighty Saviour; for out of death, and hades, and corruption thou hast delivered us, and singing unto thee we cry, There is none holy like to thee, O Lord, thou Lover of mankind.
Both now. To the Virgin.
The wonder of thy divine child-birth, O pure one, surpasseth nature's way; for thou didst conceive God within thy womb, and bring him forth, and ever remainest Virgin.
C
Ode IV, Irmos.
HRIST is my Might, my God and Lord; and the sacred Church, divinely breaking forth in song, with pure intention keepeth a feast unto the Lord.
I90 SUNDAY SERVICE
O Christ, the tree doth blossom with true life; for the Cross is raised, and, soaked with blood and water from thine immortal side, it groweth life for us.
No longer doth the serpent deity by guile suggest to me; for Christ, the divine Maker of human nature, hath now, without forbidding, opened the path of life to me.
Glory.
The grave, O Saviour, received thee, who willingly for our sake didst die; but in no wise could it hold thee, Word of God, for thou didst rise and save our souls.
Both now. To the Virgin.
The mystery of thy divine child-bearing, O ever-virgin Mother of God, cannot be told nor understood by those on earth nor those in heaven.
Ode V. Irmos.
S
HINE, I pray thee, thy divine light, O blessed and true Word of God, on them that lovingly rise early unto thee, and bid them flee the night of sin.
Now do the Cherubim retire from me, O Lord, and the naming sword is turned back, because they saw thee, O true Word of God, shewing the thief the way to Paradise.
No longer do I fear returning unto earth, O Christ my Lord, for thou, in thy great
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I9I
mercy, hast, through thy Resurrection, called me on high from earth's forgetfulness to immortality. Glory.
O Blessed One, thou, by thy death, hast spoiled the power of death, and opened the fount of life, and given us immortality. Therefore, in faith thy Burial and thy Resurrection we adore, O God, whereby thou hast enlightened all the world.
Both now. To the Virgin.
O thou, the world's most blessed Queen, save them that from their soul confess thee Mother of God; for thou art an invincible mediatress, who truly didst bear God.
Ode VI. Irmos.
B
EHOLDING the sea of life swelling with a storm of temptations, I take refuge in thy calm haven, and cry unto thee, Raise up my life from corruption, O most Merciful One.
O Lord, when thou wast crucified, thou, by the nails, our condemnation didst annul; and, when thy side was pierced with the lance, thou didst tear up the handwriting against Adam, and set the world at liberty.
Adam was smitten in the heel and borne down to hades' depths; but the merciful God went down to deliver him, and to carry him on his shoulder, and to raise him with himself.
I92 style=" SUNDAY SERVICE
Glory.
Thou wast contained in the tomb, O Saviour, but not detained there; for, though thou willingly didst taste of death, O Word, thou didst arise as God almighty, and with thyself didst raise them that were held in hades'Äô bonds, and didst change the sadness of the women into joy.
Both now. To the Virgin.
O most holy Lady, who didst bring into the world the Lord, the Pilot of mankind; calm the inconstant and evil surgings of my passions, and grant quiet to my heart.
Condakion. Tone 6.
HRIST God, the Giver of life, hath raised the dead from the dark abodes by his quickening hand, and granted resurrection to the human race; for he is the Saviour, Resurrection, Life, and God of all.
O
Icos. (Stanza.)
GOD, almighty and immortal Giver of
life, thy Cross and Burial we thy faithful sing and worship; for thou didst bind hades captive, and with thyself didst raise the dead. Thou didst, as God, overcome the gates of death, and bring the might of hades down. Therefore we earth-born
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I93
glorify thee lovingly, who didst arise and overthrow the adversary'Äôs power, raising them that believe in thee, and delivering the world from the serpent'Äôs darts and the adversary'Äôs wiles; for thou art the God of all things.
Ode VII. Irmos.
A
S the Angel made the furnace to bedew
the pious Youths, so the command of God burned the Chaldceans, and bade the tyrant say, Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
At thy Passion, O Lord, the sun lamented and clothed himself with darkness, and at noon the light through all the world grew dim, crying, Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
The lowest depths were filled with light at thy descent, O Christ, and our Forefather there was seen replete with joy, and, keeping festival, with joy he cried, Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers. Glory.
O strange event! He that redeemed Israel from Pharao'Äôs bondage is crucified by them of his own will, and looseth the bonds of sinners. To him in faith we sing, O God, the Redeemer, blessed art thou.
Both now. To the Virgin.
O Mother Virgin, through thee light
13
I94 SUNDAY SERVICE
shineth throughout all the world; for thou didst bear the Maker and God of all. Pray him, most pure one, to bestow great mercy on us faithful ones.
Ode VIII. Irmos.
I
N the flame thou didst bedew the faithful ones, and burn with water the just one'Äôs sacrifice; for thou doest all things by thy will alone, O Christ. Thee we set up for ever.
The Jews, of old a prophet-killing race, through envy now are slayers of God, since they raised thee upon the Cross, O Word of God, whom we set up for ever.
Thou didst not leave the heavens, yet wentest down to hades, and with thyself, O Christ, didst raise corrupt mankind, and art set up for ever. Glory.
The ears with trembling hear how the Most High, of his own will, came down on earth, and, by his Cross and Burial, destroyed the might of hades, and called all men to arise. Bless him, ye youths; sing him, ye priests; ye people, set him up for ever.
Both now. To the Virgin.
O glorious Virgin, in whom God'Äôs Spirit dwelt, thou didst conceive from Light the
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I95
light-originating Word, and bring him forth. Therefore we sing thee evermore.
Then we sing,
The more honourable than the Cherubim . . . .
Ode IX. Irmos.
M
an cannot look on God, and angel Hosts dare not behold him; but through thee, most pure one, the incarnate Word was seen of men, whom, with the heavenly Hosts, we magnify, and call thee blessed.
Unpassionate thou didst remain, O Word of God, when thou in flesh wast joined to passions, but thou didst free mankind from passions, dealing with passions by thy Passion; for thou, our Saviour, art alone the Immortal and Almighty One.
O Lord, when death'Äôs corruption touched thee, thou didst keep thy Body from decay, and thy Spirit, life-giving and divine, was not detained in hades; but as from sleep thou didst arise, and raise us with thyself.
Glory.
We glorify God the Father with pure lips, and his co-unbeginning Son, and honour the unspeakable and glorious might of the most Holy Spirit; for thou, O undivided Trinity, art alone almighty.
13*
I96 SUNDAY SERVICE
Both now. To the Virgin.
O most pure Mother of God, through thine ineffable and unspeakable child-bearing, resurrection is bestowed on the dead; for Life, clothed in flesh from thee, now shineth unto all, dispersing the shades of death.
Exapostilarion.
SAVIOUR, when thou wast risen from the tomb, to shew that thou wast man, thou stoodest in the midst of thy Disciples, and didst partake of meat, and teach the baptism of repentance. Then straightway into heaven thou didst ascend unto the Father, promising to send the Paraclete. Glory to thine Arising, O most divine God-Man.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
T
HE Maker of creation and the God of all things took human flesh from thy pure blood, most holy Virgin, and my corrupted nature made anew. And thou moreover after giving birth remainedst as before. Therefore in faith we praise thee and exclaim, Hail! Queen of all the world.
With the Psalms of Praise, Stichera on the Resurrection in Tone 6.
Verse. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. O praise God in his Saints,
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I97
praise him according to the greatness of his majesty.
HY Cross, O Lord, is life and resurrection to thy people, and we that trust therein sing unto thee, our risen God, Have mercy on us.
Verse. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet, praise him with psaltery and harp.
T
HY Burial, O Lord, hath opened Paradise unto the race of men, and we that are delivered from corruption sing unto thee, our risen God, Have mercy on us.
Verse. Praise him with timbrel and choir, praise him with stringed instruments and organ.
T
O Christ, who from the dead arose we sing, as also to the Father and the Spirit, exclaiming unto him, O thou that art our Resurrection and our Life, have mercy on us.
Verse. Praise him with well-tuned cymbals, praise him with loud cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.
O
CHRIST, thou didst arise the third day from the tomb, as it is written, and raisedst our Forefather with thyself. Therefore the race of men extolleth thee and praiseth thy Resurrection.
I98 SUNDAY SERVICE
O
Glory. The Evangelical Verse.
CHRIST, the Peace of God to man, when, after thine Arising, thou camest to give peace to thy Disciples they were afraid, thinking they saw a spirit. But thou didst shew thine hands and feet, and quiet their disturbed souls. And to them that still believed not, thou didst, when partaking of the meat and recalling unto them thy teachings, open their minds that they might understand the scriptures, and, repeating unto them the fatherly promise and blessing them, thou didst return to heaven. Therefore with them we worship thee. Glory to thee, O Lord.
Both now. To the Virgin. Most blessed art thou, Virgin ....
And the Doxology, and the rest. Vide page 39, et seq.
AT THE LITURGY.
With the Beatitudes in Tone 6.
EMEMBER me, O God, my Saviour, when thou comest in thy kingdom, and save me; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.
Verse. Blessed are the pure in heart . . . .
IN THE SIXTH TONE. I99
A
DAM, who was beguiled by a tree, thou didst save again by the tree of the Cross when the thief exclaimed, Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom.
Verse. Blessed are the peace-makers ....
T
HOU didst destroy the gates and bars of hades, O Giver of life, and hast raised all things, O Saviour, and they cry, Glory to thine Arising.
Verse. Blessed are they that are persecuted ....
R
EMEMBER me, O thou who didst spoil death by thy Burial and fill all things with joy by thy Resurrection; for thou art most merciful.
Verse. Blessed are ye when men shall revile ....
T
HE myrrh-bearing women went to the tomb, and heard the Angel say, Christ is risen, and hath enlightened all things.
Verse. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad....
O
CHRIST, who wast nailed on the tree
of the Cross, and didst save the world from guile, with one accord we sing to thee.
Glory.
200 SUNDAY SERVICE
To the Trinity.
L
ET us glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, saying, O holy Trinity, save our souls.
Both now. To the Virgin.
O
VIRGIN, who didst unspeakably conceive and bring forth thine own Creator, save them that honour thee.
Prokimenon in Tone 6.
O
LORD, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance.
Verse. Unto thee have I cried, O Lord my God: keep not silence concerning me.
The Lection from the Epistle to the Ephesians. Section 233.
RETHREN! Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having
IN THE SIXTH TONE. 20I
on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; and above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The Lection from the holy Evangelist Luke. Section 71.
T that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in nowise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work, in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. The Lord then answered him and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and
202 SUNDAY SERVICE IN THE SIXTH TONE.
lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
XVIII. PENITENTIAL SERVICE TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
AT VESPERS.
With the Lord, I have cried, Stichera in Tone 6.
HEN thou, O righteous Judge, shalt sit upon thy throne of glory to execute a righteous judgment, when the fiery river shall carry all men before thy terrible judgment-seat, when the heavenly Hosts shall stand around, and every man according to his works be tried, then spare us, we earnestly beseech thee, and bless us to be numbered with the saved, O Christ, thou Lover of mankind.
Who would not lament for me because I have transgressed the commandments of the Most High? For by mine intemperance my
204 PENITENTIAL SERVICE
place is hades and not paradise. Through desiring sweet food I am given up to death and am become a stranger to divine glory and life. But, Lord, accept my repentance for thy great mercy'Äôs sake, O Merciful One, thou Lover of mankind.
L
OOK upon mine affliction and my pain, and upon the measurelessness of mine iniquity, upon the passions of my soul and the temptations of my mind. Hearken unto my despairing and condemned voice, and give me, Lord, a broken spirit, a contrite heart, and a fountain of tears, and pardon my many offences, for thy great mercy'Äôs sake. Glory.
O
GOD, that desirest that every man should be saved; attend unto my prayer, and reject not my tears as vain. Who hath come unto thee weeping and hath not been saved? And who hath earnestly cried unto thee and hath not been heard? Yea, Lord, thou art quickly found to save them that pray to thee; for thy mercy cannot be overcome.
Both now. To the Virgin.
U
NTO me, accursed, O most pure Virgin, shew the greatness of thy loving-kindness, the depth of thy tenderness, and the grace of thine unspeakable pity. Quiet my
TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. '> 205
sinful desires, grant me continence, and preserve my soul and body undefiled.
Then the Tranquil Light.
The Stichera with Verses. Tone 6.
T thy fearful advent, O Christ, let us not hear: I know you not. For in thee, O Saviour, we have put our trust, even though, because of our negligence, we have not kept thy commandments. Still spare our souls, we pray thee.
Verse I. Unto thee have I lifted up mine eyes .... Vide page 58.
I
HAVE no repentance, neither have I
tears. Therefore, O Christ my God, I pray thee to convert me before the end cometh, and to grant me penitence that I may escape the torment.
Verse 2. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy .... Vide page 58.
T
HY Martyrs, O Lord, did not deny thee, neither did they swerve from thy commandments. Through their prayers have mercy upon us.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
O
MOST pure God-bearing Virgin, none
that hath recourse to thee is sent away shamed, but when he asketh blessing, he gaineth grace to pray acceptably.
206 PENITENTIAL SERVICE
On Tuesday and Thursday Evenings the following is substituted for the foregoing.
O
To the Virgin at the Cross.
MOST pure God-bearing one, when thou sawest our Life hanging on the tree, thou didst weep as mother, and exclaim, My Son and God, save them that sing to thee with love.
AT MATINS.
After the Six Psalms and the Troparion of the Day, or the proper Song to the Trinity, as indicated at page 94, et seq., the first proper Kathism of the Psalter is read. Then,
Kathismal Hymn. Tone 5.
HEN the Judge shall sit and the An- gels shall stand around, when the trumpet shall sound and the flame shall burn, what wilt thou do, O my soul, when thou lookest upon the Judge? For then shall thy wickedness stand forth, and thy secret sins be revealed. Therefore, before the end, cry unto the Judge, O God, cleanse and save me.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
O
SENTIENT vine, growing for us the divine Cluster, whence we have drunk the wine of incorruption; pour cleansing
TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 207
water on my soul, even contrition, by the grace of thy prayers.
After the second proper Kathism of the Psalter,
Kathismal Hymn. Tone 6.
THINK of the terrible day, and I lament over my evil deeds. How shall I answer the immortal King? How shall I, a prodigal, dare to look upon the Judge? O loving Father, O only-begotten Son, and O Holy Ghost, have mercy upon me.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
O
MOST pure God-bearing Virgin, grant unto thy servant thy quick protection, and help, and mercy, and calm the waves of my vain thoughts, and raise up my fainting soul; for thou canst do all thou willest.
Then is read Psalm 50 (51).
CANON TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Tone 6. Ode I. Irmos.
A
HELP and protectionhath he become to
me unto salvation, he is my God and I will glorify him, my fathers'Äô God and I will exalt him; for he hath triumphed gloriously.
Refrain. Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.
208 PENITENTIAL SERVICE
O '> God, when thou shalt come with thou
sands and ten thousands of Angels, and with
the heavenly Principalities, vouchsafe that I,
accursed, may meet thee in the clouds, O
Christ.
Enter not into judgment with me, neither reveal my actions, nor search out my words, nor correct me for my passions, but in thy pity despise my wickedness, and save me, O Almighty One. Glory.
The unquenchable fire of hell terrifieth and affrighteth me, the bitter worm, the gnashing of the teeth. But pardon and forgive me, O Christ, and appoint my place with thine elect. Both now.
To the Virgin.
I '> am bowed down by many temptations
and evil deeds, and with soul and body I
bow down to thee, O pure one, and ceas-
lessly exclaim, Do thou convert me.
Ode III. Irmos.
O
LORD, stablish my fainting heart upon the rock of thy commandments; for thou alone art holy and the Lord.
The Lord shall come, and who shall endure the terror of him? Who shall stand before his face? Then be ready, O my soul, to meet him.
TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 209
O Lord, how shall I, who have disobeyed thy commandments, endure thine unendurable anger; but spare me, spare me in the hour of judgment. Glory.
O Lord, I cry unto thee, Have mercy upon me, have mercy upon me when thou shalt come with thine Angels to render unto all according to their deeds.
Both now. To the Virgin.
O Lady, who art the door of grace, who openest the gates of heaven to the faithful; open unto me the shining doors of re-pentance, and deliver me from the gates of death.
Kathisma. Tone 6.
N the vale of weeping, in the place which thou hast appointed, when thou shalt sit, O Merciful One, to execute a righteous judgment; declare not my secrets, neither shame me before the Angels, but spare me, O God, and have mercy upon me.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
O
BLESSED God-bearing Virgin, the hope of the world, I entreat thine alone aw-ful mediation. Shew thy gentleness to us, a favoured people, and pray the merciful God to deliver our souls from all that hreateneth us, O thou blessed one.
2I0 PENITENTIAL SERVICE
Ode IV. Irmos.
T
HE Prophet heard of thine advent, O Lord, and was afraid; for thou didst will to be born of a Virgin and to appear unto men, and he cried, I have heard the report of thee and I feared. Glory to thy might, O Lord.
The day draweth nigh, already at the doors the judgment is, keep watch, O soul! where kings and princes, the rich together with the poor shall meet, and as each one hath wrought, so each shall worthily receive.
Inviolate is thy judgment-seat, thy judging darkened not by crafty words, or sophistry of orators, or parrying righteous evidence of witnesses. For unto thee, O God, the hidden things of all stand forth. Glory.
O Word of God, my Christ, let me not come to the land of weeping, let me not see the place of darkness, neither be bound hand and foot, and cast out of thy chamber and condemned, because my garment is a defiled one that perisheth not.
Both now. To the Virgin.
O most pure one, my stronghold, my refuge, mine unassailable wall, and my me-diatress with God; deliver me from the eternal flame and hell.
TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2II
Ode V. Irmos.
R
ISING early from the night, I pray thee, O Lover of mankind, to enlighten and instruct me in thy commandments, and to teach me, O Saviour, to do thy will.
An inexpressible trembling and fear shall be; for the Lord shall come, and every one'Äôs deeds shall be before him. Who is there therefore that shall not greatly bewail?
Spare, spare, O Lord, thy creature, and forgive me who have sinned; for thou alone art in essence sinless, and save thee there is none without defilement. Glory.
I have no tears, no repentance, no contrition; but, O God, my Saviour, grant these to me. Both now. To the Virgin.
O undented Mother of God, my intentions are defiled and accursed because of my faults, but I pray thee, Have compassion upon me, and save me by thy mediation.
Ode VI. Irmos.
I
CRIED with my whole heart to the merciful God, and he heard me from the depths of hades, and raised my life from corruption.
O Christ, my Saviour, when thou shalt reveal thyself from heaven at thy terrible advent, when the thrones shall be set and
14*
2I2 PENITENTIAL SERVICE
the books be opened, then spare, O spare thy creature.
When God shall sit in judgment then nothing shall be able to help thee, neither care, nor artifice, nor glory, nor friendship, nothing save the virtue of thy deeds, O my soul. Glory.
Let me not hear thy sentence rejecting me from thee, O Lord, neither that bidding me go into the fire of the condemned; but let me hear the voice for which the righteous long. Both now.
To the Virgin.
O most pure and undefiled one, who cleansest us before the face of God; pray that in the day of judgment we may escape the fearful torment who confess thee to be the true Mother of God.
Condakion.
GOD, when thou shalt come on earth with glory, when all shall quake, when the fiery river shall carry away to the judgment-seat, when the books shall be opened and all secrets revealed, then do thou save me from unquenchable fire, and bless me, O righteous Judge, to stand at thy right hand.
TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2I3
F
Icos. (Stanza)
EARFUL shall be thy judgment-seat and righteous thy judgment, but my deeds are wicked; yet, O merciful Lord, prevent and save me, and deliver me from torment. Let not my part be among the goats, but bless me, O righteous Judge, to stand at thy right hand.
Ode VII. Irmos.
W
E have sinned, we have prevaricated, we have been unrighteous before thee. We have neither loved, neither kept those things that thou hast commanded. Still, reject us not at the last, O God of our fathers.
The Lord shall come to judge, and who shall endure his appearing? Tremble, O condemned soul, tremble and prepare to meet thy deeds. May the Merciful, Blessed and Gentle One convert thee, even the God of our fathers.
I fall down before thee, and offer thee my words as tears. I have sinned as the sinful woman sinned not, and have transgressed like as none other upon earth. But, Lord, have pity on me whom thou didst make, and call me back to thee. Glory.
Then shut not thy door upon me, O Lord, O Lord; but open it unto me, a penitent,
2I4 PENITENTIAL SERVICE
who in the grief of my heart fall down before thee. O God, have mercy upon me.
Both now. To the Virgin.
When the Bridegroom shall come in the
night to judge the earth, then, O pure one, vouchsafe to conduct me with a shining lamp to meet him, and to worship his appearing.
H
Ode VIII. Irmos.
IM that heavenly Hosts glorify and Cherubim and Seraphim fear, let every spirit and every creature sing, bless and set up for ever.
O Lord, when I think of meeting thy terrible second advent, I tremble at thy threatenings, I fear thine anger and exclaim, From this hour save me for ever.
O Merciful One, I trust in thy goodness, I fall down before thee, and I ask thee to pardon mine iniquity. O Lord reject me not.
Let us bless the Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
O my God and Lord, the Judge of all men; let me hear thy welcome voice in that day, let me see thy great light, let me behold thy dwelling-place, let me contemplate thy glory and rejoice for ever.
Let us praise, let us bless, let us worship the Lord, singing unto him and setting him up for ever.
TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2I5
To the Virgin.
In the day of judgment reveal thyself, O Lady, and mediate for me, and deliver me from the torment and from the fire, that I may be saved by thee, and may sing thine invincible goodness.
Ode IX. Irmos.
T
HE unspeakable birth from a seedless conception of a husbandless mother is an incorruptible fruit; for the birth of God re-generateth nature. Then do all generations right-believingly magnify thee as the divine-bride Mother.
The Lord shall come to torment the sinners and to save the righteous. Let us weep, let us lament, and let us take thought for that day on which every unknown and secret thing shall be revealed, and every man be meted after his deserts.
Daniel feared the hour of trial. What then shall I, accursed one, endure when the Lord shall come on the terrible day? Still grant me before the end to serve thee acceptably, and to attain unto thy kingdom. Glory.
The fire is ready, the worm is prepared. Gladness, glory, rest, light without evening,
2I6 PENITENTIAL SERVICE
and joy are for the righteous. Who then shall be blessed to escape the torment of the one, and to gain the inheritance of the other?
Both now. To the Virgin.
The surge of passion dismayeth me, and pleasure overwhelmeth me. O most undefiled Virgin, who didst bear the Pilot, Christ; stretch forth thine hand to help and save me, thou who alone art the salvaton of them that in faith call thee blessed.
The Lucern.
LORD, when the thrones shall be set and the books be opened, and thou, O Judge, shalt come to try the deeds of men; condemn not us, whom thine hands did make, to the fire of gehenna, but vouchsafe to us thy kingdom, O Saviour.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
H
E that was born of thy blood, O pure one, is perfect man and true God and Lord. O pray him to deliver us from eternal fire.
The Stichera with Verses. Tone 6.
HE enemy found me void of good works, and wounded me with the arrows of sin. But thou, O God, as the Physician of my soul and body, heal the wounds of my soul, and have mercy upon me.
TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. style=" 2I7
Verse I. Let us be filled early with thy mercy .... Vide page 105.
O
SAVIOUR, Physician of my soul and
body, heal the wounds of my heart caused by my sins, and forgive mine iniquities, and grant me tears of repentance, and loose me from my trespasses. O Lord, have mercy upon me.
Verse 2. And let the brightness of the Lord our God .... Vide page 105.
O
LORD, if we had not thy Saints to pray
for us and thy goodness so merciful unto us, how should we have dared, O Saviour, to sing to thee whom Angels without ceasing glorify? O Searcher of hearts, spare our souls.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
O
PURE Mary, golden vessel of fragrance,
receptacle of one of the undivided Trinity, in whom the Father took delight, and in whose holy womb the Son, through the operation of the most Holy Spirit, dwelt; pray that in the day of judgment we may obtain forgiveness of our sins.
2I8 PENITENTIAL SERVICE
AT LITURGY.
Verses with the Beatitudes in Tone 6.
EMEMBER me, O God, my Saviour, when thou comest in thy kingdom, and save me, for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.
O
CHRIST, thou didst accept the tears of
Peter : accept also my repentance, and grant me forgiveness of my sins.
T
HOU that dost enlighten the heavenly
choirs, O Christ; do thou enlighten the eyes of my heart.
O
BAPTIST and Forerunner of the Lord,
thou didst preach repentance unto men. I pray thee to vouchsafe that I may repent from my soul.
T
HOU wast of thine own will nailed to
the tree, O Christ, and by thy power didst destroy the sting of the proud.
A
S mysterious rays ye have penetrated the
world, O glorious Apostles, and with
faith ye have enlightened the race of men.
T
HOU that hast glorified the Prophets, and
Teachers, and Venerables, and Just; save our souls by their prayers, O Lover of mankind. Glory.
TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2I9
W
E glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, saying, O holy Trinity, save our souls. Both now.
O
MOST pure one, thou art called blessed
throughout all generations, for of a truth thou didst bear the blessed God.
The Epistle to the Colossians. Section 258.
RETHREN! Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The Gospel from S. Mark Section 37.
HE Lord said : Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose
220 PENITENTIAL SERVICE ETC.
it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel'Äôs, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy Angels. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
XIX. THE OFFICE FOR THE HOLY COMMUNION OF THE DIVINE MYSTERY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.
A. PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
Let him that purposeth to approach the most pure Mysteries recite Compline, and after the I believe in one God, say with contrite heart the following Canon in Tone 2.
Ode I. Irmos.
C
OME, ye people, and let us sing a hymn to Christ our God, who divided the sea and guided the people whom he delivered from the bondage of Egypt; for he hath been glorified.
222 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
Verse. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
O bountiful Lord, may thy holy Body and thy precious Blood become the bread of everlasting life to me, and the healing of manifold diseases.
Verse. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
Defiled as I am, O Christ, by unbecoming deeds, I am not worthy of the communion of thy most pure Body and divine Blood. Still, do thou vouchsafe the same to me.
Glory. Both now.
O thou most blessed Bride of God, the good soil which grew the Corn ointilled and saving to the world; grant that partaking thereof I may be saved.
Ode III. Irmos.
S
TABLISHING me on the rock of faith, thou hast enlarged my mouth against mine enemies. Then doth my heart rejoice to sing, There is none holy as the Lord our God, nor any just save thee, O Lord.
O Christ, give me those tearful drops which cleanse my heart'Äôs impurity, that, with a conscience pure, I may approach with faith and fear, O Lord, to the communion of thy divine Gifts.
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 223
O thou that lovest mankind, may thy most pure Body and divine Blood be to the remission of my sins, to the communion of the Holy Ghost, to life everlasting, and to freedom from passions and afflictions.
Glory. Both now.
O thou most holy table of the Bread of life, which, for mercy'Äôs sake, came from above and giveth new life unto the world; grant that I may now, unworthy as I am, taste thereof in fear and live.
Ode IV. Irmos.
T
HOU earnest from the Virgin, neither as a mediator, nor as an angel, but as the Lord himself incarnate, and hast aved all men. Therefore I cry to thee, Glory to thy might, O Lord.
O most Merciful One, thou didst will to take flesh for our sake, and to be slain as a lamb for the sins of men. Therefore I beseech thee, Cleanse my sins also.
O Lord, heal the wounds of my soul and sanctify me wholly, and grant, O Master, that I, a prodigal, may partake of thy divine and mystical Supper.
Glory. Both now.
O Lady, propitiate him who was born of thee towards me, and preserve me, thy
224 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
servant, pure and undefiled, so that, by receiving the goodly Pearl, I may be sanctified.
Ode V. Irmos.
O
Lord, Giver of light and Creator of eternity, lead us in the light of thy commandments; for save thee, we know none other God.
As thou, O Christ, didst foretell, so let it be unto thine unprofitable servant, and in me abide, as thou didst promise; for, lo! I eat thy divine Body and drink thy Blood.
O Word of God and God, may the coal of thy Body be to the enlightenment of my darkness, and thy Blood to the cleansing of my defiled soul.
Glory. Both now.
O Mary, Mother of God, thou honourable tabernacle of sweet odour; make me, by thy prayers, a chosen vessel, that I may receive the sanctification of thy Son.
Ode VI. Irmos.
G
ROVELLING in the abyss of sin, I invoke the unfathomable depth of thy mercy. O God, raise me from corruption.
O Saviour, sanctify my mind, my soul, my heart and my body, and bless me, O Lord, to approach uncondemned thy terrible
Mysteries.
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 225
Grant that I may be rid of my passions, increase in thy grace, and be confirmed in my life by the communion of thy holy Mysteries, O Christ.
Glory. Both now.
O God, O God, O holy Word, wholly sanctify me now approaching thy divine Mysteries, through the supplications of thy holy Mother.
Condakion. Tone 2.
F
ORB1D me not now, O Christ, to receive the Bread, which is thy Body, and thy divine Blood; and, reprobate though I am, let me partake, O Lord, of thy most pure and awful Mysteries. Let these not be to my judgment, but to everlasting and immortal life.
Ode VII. Irmos.
T
HE wise children did not serve the golden image, and themselves went into the furnace and reviled their gods, and cried in the midst of the flame, and the Angel bedewed them. For the prayer of your lips was heard.
O Christ, Fountain of blessings, may the communion of thine immortal Mysteries be to me now light and life, and freedom from pain, and to my growth and increase in
226 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
divine virtues, that I may glorify thee who alone art good.
Grant that now approaching thine immortal and divine Mysteries in. fear and love and piety, I may be delivered, O Lover of mankind, from passions and enemies, and from every affliction; and vouchsafe that I may sing to thee, Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers.
Glory. Both now.
O thou God-favoured one, who didst above comprehension bear the Saviour Christ, I, thy servant, pray thee now, the impure the pure, Cleanse me, desiring now to approach the most pure Mysteries, from all defilement of flesh and spirit.
O
Ode VIII. Irmos.
YE works of the Lord, sing unto God, who came down unto the Hebrew children in the fiery furnace and changed the flame to dew, and set him up for ever.
O Christ, grant that I now, uncondemned, may become a partaker of thy heavenly, terrible and holy Mysteries, and of thy divine and mystical Supper, O God, my Saviour.
Seeking refuge in thy loving-kindness, O Blessed One, I cry to thee with fear, Abide in me, O Saviour, and let me also, as thou didst say, abide in thee; for, lo! trusting in
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 227
thy mercy, I eat thy Body and I drink thy Blood.
Glory. Both now.
I tremble in taking this fire lest I should be consumed as wax or as grass. O fearful mystery! O the loving-kindness of God! How is it that I, being but dust, partake of the divine Body and Blood, and am made incorruptible ?
Ode IX. Irmos.
T
HE Son of the unbeginning Father, the God and Lord incarnate of the Virgin, hath appeared to us, to enlighten the darkened and to gather the scattered. Therefore do we all magnify thee, the all-praised Mother of God.
O taste and see that it is Christ the Lord, who, for our sake, made like to us of old, once offered up himself as an offering to his Father, and now is ever slain, sanctifying the communicants.
O Lord, let me be sanctified in body and soul, let me be enlightened and saved, and become thy dwelling through the communion of thy holy Mysteries, having thee, O most merciful Benefactor, living in me, with the Father and the Spirit. Glory.
May thy Body and thy precious Blood, O my Saviour, be as fire and light to me,
15*
228 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
consuming the substance of sin and burning the tares of my passions, and wholly enlightening me, that I may worship thy Divinity. Both now.
God took flesh from thy pure blood. Therefore do all generations sing thee, O Lady, and the hosts of spirits glorify thee; for, through thee, they clearly behold him that ruleth all things endued with human nature.
And straightway. It is very meet to bless thee .... Vide page 61.
Then, Trisagion. O most holy Trinity . . . . After the Our Father,
The Troparion of the occurring Festival.
If it is not one, the following in Tone 6.
Have mercy upon us ....
Glory. O Lord, have mercy upon us . . . .
Both now. O blessed Mother of God . . . .
Vide page 72.
Lord, have mercy, forty times.
And the Prayer to the most holy Mother of God.
O thou Virgin spotless . . . . Vide page 77.
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 229
ON THE MORROW, THE USUAL OFFICE OF HOURS.
And after the Beatitudes,
The Lection from the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Section 149.
RETHREN! I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord'Äôs death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh condemnation to himself, not discerning the Lord'Äôs body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and
230 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
The Lection from the holy Evangelist John. Section 23.
HE Lord said unto them that came unto him of the Jews, I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven : if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Amen, Amen, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
After the reading of the Gospel,
Remember us, O Lord . ... And the rest, as written in the Typica. Vide page I29.
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 23I
After this, continue with all attention,
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers. . . .
O heavenly King .... Trisagion. After the Our Father, Lord, have mercy, twelve times. Glory. Both now. O come, let us worship .... thrice. And the following Psalms.
Psalm 22 (23).
HE Lord is my Shepherd, therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture, and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul, and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his name'Äôs sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort me. Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and thy cup inebriateth me as with strong wine. And thy mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23 (24).
HE earth is the Lord'Äôs, and all that therein is, the compass of the world and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and prepared
232 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall rise up in his holy place? Even he that hath clean hands and a pure heart, that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbour. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, even of them that seek thy face, O God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? It is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? Even the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Psalm 115 (116).
BELIEVED, and therefore have I spoken, but I was sore troubled. I said in my haste, All men are liars. What reward shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 233
people. Right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Behold, Lord, how that I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast broken my bonds in sunder. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the sight of all his people, in the courts of the Lord'Äôs house, even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Glory. Both now.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to thee, O God, thrice.
Then the following Troparia. Tone 8.
O
LORD, who wast born of the Virgin,
despise my transgressions, and cleanse my heart, making it a temple for thy most pure Body and Blood, and cast me not away from thy presence, O thou who hast mercy without measure. Glory.
How shall I, unworthy, dare to partake of thy holy Sacrament? If, with the worthy, I venture to approach thee, my garment will
denounce me, for it is not a supper one,
and I shall call forth the condemnation of
my most sinful soul. O Lord, cleanse the
defilement of my soul, and save me, for
thou lovest mankind. Both now.
Because of the multitude of my trans-
234 PRATERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
gressions I come to thee, O pure Mother of God, asking for salvation. Visit thou my ailing soul, and beseech thy Son and our God to grant me remission of the evils I have wrought, O thou most blessed one.
But in Holy and Great Quadragesima say,
W
HEN, on the evening of the washing of feet, the glorious Disciples were being enlightened, then was it that the malicious Judas, ailing with the love of silver, was darkened, and betrayed thee, the righteous Judge to the unrighteous judges. Beware then, thou that settest thine heart on riches, beware him whom the same hath brought to strangling. Flee from that insatiate soul which dared such things against the Master. O Lord, good unto all, glory to thee.
Then, Lord, have mercy, forty times.
And as many genuflections as thou wilt.
Then say these lines,
I
F thou wishest, O man, to eat the Body
of the Lord,
Approach in fear, lest thou be scorched, for it is fire,
And, drinking the divine Blood unto communion,
First reconcile thyself to them that have sorrowed thee,
Then venture and eat the mystical food.
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 235
Other lines,
B
EFORE partaking of the fearful Sacrifice
Of the life-creating Body of the Lord,
After this manner pray in fear,
Prayer of Saint Basil the Great.
Lord Jesus Christ our God, Source of life and immortality, Creator of all things visible and invisible, co-eternal Son with the everlasting Father, who, out of thy great loving-kindness, didst in the latter days become incarnate, and wast crucified for us ungrateful and thankless ones, and hast renewed with thine own Blood our nature corrupted by sin; do thou thyself, immortal King, accept the repentance of thy sinful servant, incline thine ear towards me, and hearken unto my supplications. For I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned against heaven and against thee, and I am not worthy to raise mine eyes to the height of thy glory; I have also angered thy goodness by transgressing thy commandments and by not obeying thine ordinances. But thou, O Lord, who art long-suffering and of great mercy, hast not given me over to perish in my sins, always awaiting my conversion. For thou hast said by thy Prophets, O thou Lover of mankind, that thou hast not pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather
236 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
that he should return and live. Thou willest not, O Lord, that the works of thy hands should be lost, neither hast thou pleasure in the perdition of men, but desirest that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore even I, although unworthy of heaven, or yet of earth and of this temporal life, having submitted my whole self to sin and made myself a slave of pleasure, defiling thine image, being still thy creature and thy handiwork, despair not of salvation, reprobate as I am; and, emboldened by thine immeasurable compassion, I come unto thee. Receive me then, even me, O man-loving Lord, like the adulteress, like the thief, like the publican, like the prodigal, and take away the heavy load of my sins, O thou who takest away the sins of the world, who healest the infirmities of men, who callest unto thyself the weary and the burdened and givest them rest, who earnest not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. And do thou cleanse me from every defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, and teach me to perfect holiness in the fear of thee, that, in the pure testimony of my conscience, receiving my portion of thy holy things, I may be united with thy holy Body and Blood, and have thee to dwell and to remain within me, with the Father
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 237
and thy Holy Spirit. Yea, O Lord Jesus Christ my God, grant that the communion of thy holy and life-giving Mysteries may not be to my condemnation, neither let me communicate of them unworthily on account of the ailings of my soul and body; but grant me unto the last breath of my life to partake uncondemned of my share of thy holy things, to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, as a provision for life eternal, and for a favourable answer at thy terrible judgment-seat; that I, even I, may also become with thine elect a partaker of thine incorruptible blessings, which thou hast prepared for them that love thee, O Lord, in whom thou art glorified td'Äô ages. Amen.
Prayer of our Father in the Saints, John Chrysostom.
KNOW, O Lord my God, that I am not worthy nor sufficient that thou shouldest come under the roof of my soul'Äôs habitation, for it is all deserted and in ruins, and thou hast not in me where worthily to lay thy head. But as from the height of thy glory thou didst humble thyself for us, bear now also with my humility; and as thou didst deign to lay thyself down in a manger in a cave, so deign now also to enter into the manger of my mute soul
238 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
and defiled body; and as thou didst not refuse to enter into the house of Simon the leper and to sup there with sinners, so also deign to enter into the habitation of my humble soul, leprous and sinful; and as thou didst not reject the sinful woman who approached and touched thee, so also have pity on me, a sinner, coming to thee and touching thee. And grant that I may partake of thy precious Body and thine honourable Blood to the sanctification, enlightenment and strengthening of my humble soul and body, to the alleviation of the burden of my many sins, to my preservation from all the snares of the devil, to victory over my sinful and evil habits, to the mortification of my passions, to the fulfilment of thy commandments, to the increase of thy divine grace, and to the inheritance of thy kingdom. For it is not in lightness of heart, O Christ my God, that I venture to approach thee, but trusting in thine infinite goodness, and in the fear that being drawn afar from thee I may become the prey of our spiritual enemy. Therefore do I pray unto thee, O Lord, who alone art holy, that thou wouldest sanctify my soul and body, my heart and mind, and, renewing me entirely, wouldest implant in my members the fear of thee. And be thou my Help and Guide, governing
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. style=" 239
my life in the ways of peace, and making me worthy to obtain with thy Saints a place at thy right hand, through the prayers and supplications of thy most pure Mother, of thy bodiless Ministers and honourable Powers, and of all thy Saints who from ages have found favour before thee. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Simeon the Meditative.
ONLY pure and all-holy Lord, who, through immeasurable compassion for man, didst take upon thyself the whole burden of our mortality in thy miraculous conception by the operation of the Holy Spirit and by the good will of the eternal Father; thyself, O Jesus Christ, the Wisdom, the Peace, and the Power of God, who didst deign to take upon thyself thy life-giving and saving passion, the cross, the nails, the spear and death itself; deaden, I beseech thee, my bodily passions which destroy my soul. O thou who by thy burial didst vanquish the kingdom of hell, bury my evil imaginations in good thoughts, and disperse within me the spirits of evil. O thou who in thy life-giving resurrection on the third day didst raise again our fallen forefather Adam, raise me who am dead in sin, and give me the means of repentance. O thou who didst in thy glorious ascension
240 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
deify the flesh that thou hadst taken upon thee, and didst honour it by a seat at the right hand of God, enable me by partaking of thy holy Sacrament to obtain a place on thy right hand with thy redeemed. O thou who by the descent of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, didst render thy, holy disciples worthy vessels, do thou render me also a receptacle for his habitation. O thou who shalt come again to judge the world, bless me also to meet thee, my Creator and Judge, in the clouds with all thy Saints, that I may for ever praise and glorify thee, with thine eternal Father, and thy most holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
Another Prayer of the same Saint.
CHRIST my God, as though I were standing before thy terrible and impartial judgment-seat, awaiting my sentence and rendering an account of mine evil deeds, so, even at this present hour before the day of my judgment has yet come, I stand before thy holy Altar, before thy terrible and holy Angels, and, bowed down by my conscience, I bring before thee my evil and wicked doings, and confess them, and reveal them. O Lord, look down on my humility, and forgive all my sins. See,
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 24I
my transgressions number more than the hairs of my head. What evil have I not done? What sin have I not committed? What wickedness have I not imagined in my soul? Have I not sinned indeed by pride, boasting, slander, idle speech, improper laughter, intemperance, hatred, envy, avarice, self-love, ambition, falsehood? Have I not defiled all my senses, all my members, and have I not been a ready agent of Satan? I know well, O Lord, that mine iniquities have gone over my head ; but I also know that the multitude of thy bounties is without measure, and the mercy of thy great goodness is unspeakable, and there is no sin that can overcome thy loving - kindness. Therefore, O most wonderful King, O most good Lord, do thou shew thy mercies in me, a sinner, manifest in me the power of thy goodness and the might of thy loving-kindness, and receive me who turn to thee. Accept me as thou didst accept the prodigal, the thief, and the sinful woman. Accept me, though in word and in deed, by my evil passions and unreasonable imaginations, I have sinned without measure against thee. And as at the eleventh hour thou didst receive them that came unto thee, though nothing worthy had they done, so also receive me, a sinner; for greatly have I sinned,
16
242 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
and am defiled, and I have grieved thy Holy Spirit, and offended thy loving-kindness in word, in deed, and in thought, by night and by day, openly and secretly, knowingly and unknowingly; and full well I know that thou wilt shew unto me my sins such as I have committed them, and that thou wilt demand an account from me of that wherein I have offended without excuse. But, O Lord, O Lord, rebuke me not in thy righteous wrath, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for though I am weak, I am also thy creature. Thou, O Lord, hast stablished thy fear in me, and
yet I have done evil in thy sight. Against
thee, thee only, have I sinned, but, I beseech
thee, enter not into jugdment with thy ser-
vant. For if, O Lord, thou wilt be extreme
to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who
shall abide before thee ? I shall not, for I
am but an abyss of evil, and am neither
worthy nor sufficient to look up and behold
the height of heaven on account of the
multitude of my sins. For what sins have I not committed? What evil hath not pos-
sessed me ? Every sin have I committed,
every uncleanness have I taken into my
soul, and I have been unprofitable before
thee and before men. Oh! who will raise me fallen into such great and dire sins ?
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 243
O Lord my God, I have put my trust in
thee. If there is any hope of salvation for
me, if thy loving mercy can overcome the
multitude of my transgressions, be thou my
Saviour, and, according to thy goodness and mercy, loosen, remit and forgive all wherein I have sinned; for my soul is full of trouble, and there is no hope of salvation in me. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; deal not with me accord- ing to my sins; but turn, preserve, and de-liver my soul from the evils besetting it, and from all its wicked undertakings. Save me for thy mercy'Äôs sake, that where sin abounded thy grace may much more abound ; and I will glorify thee always, all the days of my life. For thou art the God of the penitent, and the Saviour of sinners, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine eternal Father, and thy most holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of the Divine Damascene.
LORD Jesus Christ our God, who alone hast power to remit the sins of men ; do thou, O most Good and most Merciful One, remit the sins that I have committed wilfully, or in ignorance, and enable me, uncondemned, to receive thy
16*
244 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
divine, glorious, most pure and life-giving Mysteries, not to judgment, not to punishment, not to increase of sin, but to purification and sanctification, to a closer communion with the kingdom and the life to come, as a bulwark and a help to my soul, to the turning away from evil, and to the blotting out of my many sins. For thou art the God of mercy and bounties, and thou lovest mankind; and to thee we ascribe glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Basil the Great.
KNOW, O Lord, that I receive un- worthily thy most pure Body and thy precious Blood, that I am guilty, O Lord, and that I eat and drink to my own condemnation, not discerning the Body and Blood of Christ my God; but, trusting in thy mercy, I come unto thee who hast said, He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood shall abide in me and I in him. Have compassion upon me therefore, O Lord, and make not an example of me, thy sinful servant; but do with me according to thy great mercy, and grant that these holy things may rather operate in me to the healing, purifying, enlightening, guarding, saving and sanctifying of my soul and body,
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 245
to the overthrow of every imagination, evil action, or work of the devil, to loving and acknowledging thee, to the amendment and steadfastness of my life, to the increase of virtue, to the keeping of thy commandments, to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, to the hope of eternal life, and to be an acceptable apology before thine awful judgment seat. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Simeon the New Divine.
ROM soiled lips,
From fouled heart,
From tongue impure,
From soul defiled,
Accept a prayer, my Christ,
And of me despise,
Neither the words, neither the manner, Nor the shamelessness.
Grant me daringly to say
That which I wish, my Christ,
Or rather, teach thou me
What me behoveth to do and say.
I have sinned more than that sinful woman,
Who, learning where thou wast,
Did purchase myrrh,
And came daringly to anoint
The feet of thee, my Christ,
My Master, and my God.
Since thou didst not reject her,
246 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
Coming with her heart to thee,
So loathe not me, O Word of God;
But give me thy feet
To touch and kiss,
And with a flood of tears,
As with most precious myrrh,
To daringly anoint.
Wash me in my tears,
And with them cleanse me, Word of God;
And forgive mine iniquities,
And grant me pardon.
Thou knowest the multitude of evils in me,
Thou knowest my wounds,
And seest my sores;
But thou knowest also my faith,
Thou seest my good intentions,
And hearest my sighs.
There is nothing hidden from thee, O my God,
My Creator, my Redeemer,
Not even a tear-drop,
Nor a part of that drop.
My substance yet imperfect
Thine eyes did behold,
And in thy book
Even things not yet done
Are found written by thee.
Look upon my lowliness,
Look upon my grief how great it is,
And all my sins
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 247
Forgive me, God of all things,
That, with pure heart,
And fearing mind,
And contrite soul,
I may partake of thy spotless
And most pure Mysteries,
Which quicken and deify
All them that eat and drink
In purity of heart.
For thou, my Lord, hast said,
He that eateth my Flesh
And drinketh my Blood
In me shall he abide,
And I abide in him.
True is every word
Of my Master and my God.
For, partaking of thy divine
And deifying blessings,
I am no more alone,
But with thee, O my Christ,
The tri-solar light
Which enlighteneth the world.
Let me not then remain alone
Without thee, O Life-giver,
My breath, my life,
My gladness,
And the salvation of the world.
For this cause have I come to thee,
As thou seest, with tears
And contrite soul,
248 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
Deliverance from mine iniquities
Praying to be granted me,
And of thy life-giving
And perfect Mysteries
To partake uncondemned;
So that thou mayest abide, as thou hast said,
With me, a thrice-accursed one,
Lest, finding me separated
From thy grace, the tempter
Should beguile me,
And, being tempted, draw me
From thy divine-effecting words.
For this cause I fall down to thee,
And earnestly I cry to thee,
As thou didst receive the prodigal,
And the sinful woman who came to thee,
So receive me, a sinner,
And a prodigal, O Compassionate One,
Who, with smitten soul,
Now come to thee.
I know, O Saviour, that no one
Hath sinned so as I have,
Nor done such deeds
As I have wrought;
But this I also know
That not the greatness of iniquity,
Nor the multitude of sins,
Surpasseth of my God
The abundant long-suffering
And exceeding love to men;
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 249
But that, in merciful compassion,
Them that earnestly repent
Thou cleansest and enlightenest,
And makest partakers of light,
And communicants of thy Divinity,
Making no distinctions,
And, strange thing to Angels
And to the thoughts of men!
Conversest with them ofttimes,
As with thy true friends.
This it is that emboldeneth me,
This it is that inspireth me, O my Christ;
And, trusting in the riches
Of thy benefactions unto us,
Joyful and yet trembling,
I partake of fire,
Myself but grass, and, strange the wonder!
Am unconsumedly bedewed,
As of old the bush
Did burn unconsumedly.
And now, with thankful mind,
With thankful heart,
A.nd with thankful songs
Of my soul and body,
I worship, and magnify,
And glorify thee, O my God ;
For thou art blessed
Now and for ever.
250 style=" PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
Prayer of Saint John Chrysostom.
GOD, loosen, remit and forgive my sins against thee, whether in word, in deed, or in thought, willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly committed, forgive them all; for thou art good and lovest mankind. And, through the prayers of thy most holy Mother, of thy heavenly Servants and holy Powers, and of all the Saints who have found favour in thy sight, bless me to receive uncondemned thy holy and immaculate Body and thy precious Blood, to the healing of my soul and body, and to the driving away of my evil imaginations ; for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
Another of Saint Chrysostom.
LORD and God, I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter the habitation of my soul; but as thou willest, according to thy loving-kindness, to dwell in me, I venture to approach thee. Thou biddest me open the gates of my soul, which thou alone hast made, that thou mayest enter therein with thy wonted loving-kindness, that thou mayest enter and enlighten my darkened mind. I believe thou wilt do
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 251
this, for thou didst not cast away the sinful woman coming to thee in tears, nor didst thou reject the penitent publican, nor the thief on the cross who acknowledged thy kingdom, nor didst thou leave the repentant persecutor to himself, but didst number all them that came to thee in repentance among thy friends, O thou that alone art blessed, always, now, and to everlasting ages. Amen.
Another Prayer of Saint Chrysostom.
LORD Jesus Christ my God, loosen, remit, cleanse and forgive me, thine unworthy and miserable servant, all my sins, iniquities, and errors, as often as I have sinned against thee from my youth up to the present day and hour, whether wittingly or in ignorance, whether in word or deed, in thought or imagination, or in all my feelings. And, through the prayers of thy pure Mother, the blessed ever-virgin Mary, my alone sure hope and protection, enable me without condemnation to partake of thy holy, immortal, life-giving, and terrible Mysteries, unto the remission of sins and life everlasting, unto the sanctification, enlightenment, strength and health of my soul and body, to the complete overthrow and destruction of my evil thoughts, prejudices and imaginations; for thine is the kingdom,
252 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
the power, and the glory, the honour and the worship, with the Father and thy Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of Saint John Damascene.
STAND before the gates of thy temple, and yet do my grievous thoughts not leave me. But thou, O Christ my God, who didst justify the publican, didst have mercy upon the Canaanite, and didst open the gates of paradise to the thief on the cross; open unto me thy bowels of compassionate mercy, and receive me coming unto thee and touching thee like the sinful woman and like the sick woman; for she touched but the hem of thy garment, and was healed, and the other embracing thy feet received forgiveness of her sins. But I, a miserable sinner, that dare to partake of thy precious Body, let me not be consumed ; but receive me like unto them, and enlighten my spiritual senses, destroying my sinful errors, through the prayers of thy holy Mother and of the heavenly Hosts; for blessed art thou to ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of Saint John Chrysostom.
BELIEVE, O Lord, and confess that thou art verily Christ, the Son of the living God, who didst come into the
PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION. 253
world to save sinners, of whom I am the greatest. And I believe that this is thy most pure Body, and this thy most precious Blood. I therefore pray thee, Have mercy upon me, and forgive me my sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and in deed, in knowledge or in ignorance committed; and vouchsafe me, uncondemned, to partake of thy most pure Mysteries, to the remission of sins, and to life eternal. Amen.
B
On approaching to communicate, say the following lines of Saint Simeon.
EHOLD I approach the divine Communion !
My Creator, consume me not in the partaking of it;
For thou art a consuming fire to the unworthy :
Purify me now from every stain.
Then say,
F thy mysterious Supper to-day, O Son of God, accept me as a partaker; for I will not reveal thy Mystery to thine enemies, nor give thee a kiss as Judas, but as the thief I will confess thee, Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom.
And again these lines:
O
MAN, behold the divine Blood, and
tremble;
254 PRAYERS BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION.
For it is a fire consuming the unworthy.
The divine Body both deifieth and nour-isheth;
It deifieth the spirit, and strangely nour-isheth the mind.
Also the Troparia.
T
HOU hast sweetened me, O Christ, by thy love, and hast changed me by thy divine favour. Consume my sins with thy spiritual fire, and enable me to be so filled with the love of thee, that, leaping for joy, I may magnify thy presence, O Blessed One.
Into the brilliant company of thy Saints how shall I, unworthy and sinful, enter? If I dare to enter into the bridechamber, my garment will put me to shame, for it is not a wedding one, and I shall be bound hand and foot and cast out by thine Angels. Purify, Lord, my polluted soul, and save me in thy loving-kindness.
Prayer.
RANT, O Lord Jesus Christ my God, that I may not partake of this thy holy Sacrament to my condemnation, because of mine unworthiness, but to the purification and sanctification of my soul and bod)'Äô, and as an earnest of thine everlasting kingdom and life. For it is good for me to cleave unto my God, putting in the Lord the hope of my salvation. Amen.
THANKSGIVINGS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION. 255
B. PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AFTER HOLY COMMUNION.
When thou hast received the blessed communion of the life-giving, mystical Gifts, first give praise, be exceedingly thankful, and fervently from thy soul say,
G
LORY to thee, our God. Glory to thee, our God. Glory to thee, our God.
Then the following Prayer of Thanksgiving.
THANK thee, O Lord my God, that thou hast not rejected me, a sinner, but hast permitted me to become a partaker of thy holy Mysteries. I thank thee that thou hast enabled me, an unworthy one, to receive thy pure and heavenly Gifts. But thou, O Lord most merciful, who didst die for us, and didst rise again, and hast bestowed upon us these awful and life-giving Mysteries to the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies; grant that they may operate in me to the healing of my soul and body, to the overthrow of every evil thing, to the enlightenment of my heart, to the peace of my spiritual faculties, to invincible faith, to sincere love, to increase of wisdom, to the keeping of thy commandments, to growth in grace and to the in-
256 THANKSGIVINGS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION.
heritance of thy kingdom, that, preserved by them in thy sanctification, I may ever call to mind thy grace, and live, not unto myself, but unto thee, our Lord and Benefactor. And thus, when this life on earth shall have passed away in the hope of life eternal, may I attain unto everlasting rest, where the hymn of them that glorify thee is unceasing, and infinite the sweetness of them that behold the unspeakable goodness of thy face. For thou art the true desire and inexpressible joy of them that love thee, O Christ our God, and all creation glorifieth thee to all eternity. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Basil the Great.
LORD Christ our God, King of ages, and Creator of the universe, I thank thee for all the good things thou hast bestowed on me, but above all, for the participation in thy pure and life-giving Mysteries. I therefore pray thee, good and merciful Lord, keep me under thy roof and in the shadow of thy wings, and grant me, in a pure conscience, to my latest breath, worthily to partake of thy holy Sacrament to the remission of sins and to life eternal. For thou art the Bread of life, the Source of sanctification, the Giver of all good ; and to thee we ascribe all glory, with the Father
THANKSGIVINGS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION. 257
and the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Simeon the Meditative, in Verses.
THOU who, of thine own good will, dost give thy Body as food unto me,
Thou who art a fire consuming the unworthy;
Consume me not, O my Creator,
But rather enter into my limbs, my joints, my inmost heart,
And burn the tares of my transgressions.
Cleanse thou my soul, and sanctify my thoughts.
Strengthen my limbs, together with my bones.
Enlighten my five senses. Stablish me wholly in thy fear.
Ever cover me; preserve and protect me from all soul - corrupting words and deeds.
Make me chaste, purify and wash me; garnish me, instruct and enlighten me.
Shew me to be the habitation of thy one Spirit, and in nowise the dwelling - place of sin;
That from me, thy dwelling through the reception of thy Sacrament, all evil, every lust may flee as from fire.
I invoke as supplicants for me all the
258 THANKSGIVINGS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION.
Saints, the Bodiless Powers, thy Baptist, thy wise Apostles, and with them, thy pure, most holy Mother.
Receive their prayers graciously, O my Christ, and render thy servant a son of light.
For thou art our Sanctification, O Blessed One, and the Light of our souls, and to thee, as God and Lord, we ascribe glory every day.
Another Prayer.
AY thy holy Body, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, be for eternal life unto me, and thy precious Blood to the remission of sins; and may this Eucharist be to my joy, health and gladness. And at thy terrible second Advent grant that I, a sinner, may stand at the right hand of thy glory, through the prayers of thy most pure Mother and of all the Saints. Amen.
Another Prayer. To the holy Mother of God.
MOST holy Mother of God, light of my darkened soul, my hope, protection, refuge, comfort and joy; I thank thee that thou hast enabled me, an unworthy one, to be a partaker of the most pure Body and the most precious Blood of thy Son. Enlighten the eyes of my heart, thou who hast borne the true Light. Thou
THANKSGIVINGS AFTER HOLY COMMUNION. 259
who didst bear the Fountain of immortality, quicken thou me, deadened by sin. As the very loving Mother of the merciful God, do thou have mercy upon me, and grant me a repentant and contrite heart and humility of mind, and vouchsafe that to my latest breath I may uncondemned receive the sanctification of the most pure Mysteries, to the healing of my soul and body. And give me tears of repentance and thanksgiving, that I may hymn and praise thee all the days of my life, for thou art blessed and glorified to ages. Amen.
17*
XX. EXTRACTS FROM THE
LENTEN TRIODION.
ON THE SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND PHARISEE.
The Troparion on the Resurrection in the proper Tone, with its Verse to the virgin.
Condakion of the Triodion. Tone 4.
L
ET us avoid the high-flown speech of the Pharisee, and learn the majesty of the Publican'Äôs humble words, penitentially cried, O Saviour of the world, cleanse us, thy servants.
ON THE SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON.
(SEPTUAGESIMA.)
The Troparion on the Resurrection in the proper Tone, with its Verse to the Virgin.
Condakion of the Triodion. Tone 3.
I
HAVE wickedly strayed away from thy
fatherly glory, and wasted the riches thou
EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION. 26I
gavest me among sinners. Then do I raise the prodigal'Äôs cry unto thee, O bountiful Father, I have sinned against thee : take me back as a penitent, and make me as one of thy hired servants.
ON THE SATURDAY OF MEAT FARE. Troparion for the Departed. Tone 2.
THOU Creator, who in the depth of wisdom orderest all things in loving-kindness unto men, and grantest unto all expedient things; give rest, O Lord, unto the souls of thy servants; for in thee, our Maker, Author and God, they have put their trust.
To the Virgin. Same Tone.
W
E have thee as a fortress and a haven,
and as an accepted mediatress with
God whom thou didst bear, O unwedded
Mother of God, the salvation of the faithful.
Condakion. Tone 8.
O
CHRIST, rest the souls of thy servants with the Saints, where there is no sickness, nor sorrow, nor lamentation, but life everlasting.
ON THE SUNDAY OF MEAT FARE. (SEXAGESIMA)
The Troparion on the Resurrection in the proper Tone, with its Verse to the Virgin.
262 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Condakion of the Triodion. Tone I.
O
GOD, when thou shalt come on earth with glory, when all shall quake, when the fiery river shall carry away to the judgment-seat, when the books shall be opened and all secrets revealed, then do thou save me from unquenchable fire, and bless me, O righteous Judge, to stand at thy right hand.
NOTE :'ÄîIn this Week of Cheese Fare cheese and eggs are permitted on Wednesday and Friday, as well as on the other days.
ON THE SATURDAY OF CHEESE FARE,
We commemorate all our venerable and God-bearing Fathers who have been illustrious in asceticism.
Troparion. Tone 4.
GOD of our Fathers, who ever dealest with us according to thy clemency; remove not thy mercy from us, but, by their intercessions, direct our life in peace.
To the Virgin.
O
HOLY Mother of the unapproachable Light, with angelic hymns we honour thee, and with reverence magnify thee.
Condakion. Tone 8.
A
S preachers of piety and silencers of impiety, thou hast made the company of
EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION. 263
the God-bearers lights upon the earth. By their intercessions, O Lord, preserve in perfect peace them that glorify and magnify thee, that they may praise and sing to thee, Alleluia.
ON THE SUNDAY OF CHEESE FARE. (QUINQUAGESIMA.)
The Troparion on the Resurrection in the proper Tone, with its Verse to the virgin.
Condakion of the Triodion. Tone 6.
O
LORD, Teacher of wisdom, Giver of understanding, Instructor of the unwise and Defence of the poor; stablish and enlighten mine heart. Thou Word of the Father, give unto me words, for I will not restrain my lips from calling upon thee. O Merciful One, have pity on me, a fallen one.
NOTE :'ÄîAfter the Sunday of Cheese Fare beginneth the Fast of the Holy and Great Quadragesima, which conlinueth until the Day of Holy Pascha.
ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE FAST,
We commemorate the miracle wrought by the Great Martyr Theodore the Guard.
Troparion. Tone 2.
REAT are the triumphs of faith! In a well of fire as in refreshing water the holy martyr Theodore rejoiced;
264 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
for, sacrificed as sweet bread, he worshipped the Trinity. Through his intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
M
OST glorious and above understanding are thy mysteries, O Mother of God; for spotless and virgin thou art acknowledged a true Mother who didst bear the true God. Pray unto him to save our souls.
Condakion. Tone 8.
A
CCEPTING in thine heart the faith of Christ as a breastplate, thou didst, O Athlete, overcome the hostile powers, and now, as Victor, art eternally crowned with a heavenly diadem.
ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE FAST,
Called, of Orthodoxy, we commemorate the Prophets Moses and Aaron and the rest, and the restoration of the holy and honourable Icons.
The Troparion on the Resurrection in the proper Tone. Glory.
And the following in Tone 2.
O thy most pure Icon we bow down,
O Blessed One, praying for forgive
ness of our sins, Christ our God; for, of thine own will, thou didst condescend to ascend the Cross in flesh, and thereby to
EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION. 265
deliver thy creatures from the yoke of the enemy. Therefore, we thankfully cry unto thee, Thou hast filled all things with joy, O our Saviour, thou who earnest to save the world. Both now.
To the Virgin.
Most glorious and above understanding. . . . Vide preceding page.
Condakion. Tone 8.
O
MOTHER of God, the incomprehensible Word of the Father hath been comprehended by us through his incarnation from thee, and the defiled image, being imbued with divine goodness, is made as of old. Confessing our salvation, we, in word and in deed, represent this.
ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF THE FAST,
Is sung the Office of our Father in the Saints, Gregory, Archbishop and Wonderworker of Thessalonica.
The Troparion on the Resurrection in the proper Tone, and that to the Saint in Tone 8.
WONDERWORKING Gregory, thou light of Orthodoxy, pillar and teacher of the Church, ornament of monks, invincible champion of divines, the boast of Thessalonica and preacher of grace; ever pray that our souls may be saved.
266 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
T
Condakion. Same tone.
HEE, the divinely speaking Gregory, do we with one accord extol as the divine and sacred organ of wisdom and the harmonious trumpet of theology. Do thou, O guiding Father, as the mind present with the First Mind, guide our minds to that Same, that we may cry, Hail! thou preacher of grace.
ON THE THIRD SUNDAY OF THE FAST,
We celebrate the veneration of the honourable and life-effecting Cross.
The Troparion on the Resurrection in the proper Tone, and that to the Cross in Tone I.
O Lord, save thy people and bless .... Vide page 52.
Condakion. Tone 6.
N
O longer doth the fiery weapon bar the gates of Eden; for the wood of the Cross, that glorious help, hath come upon them. The sting of death and the victory of hades are done away; for thou, my Saviour, didst come and tell them that are in hades, Come ye again into Paradise.
ON THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE FAST,
We sing the Office of our venerable Father, John Climacus.
The Troparion on the Resurrection in the
EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION. 267
proper Tone, and that to the Venerable in Tone I.
HOU, our God-bearing Father John, didst appear as a dweller in the desert, an angel in flesh, and a wonderworker. By fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst obtain heavenly gifts, and healest the sick and the souls of them that come to thee in faith. Glory to him who gave thee this power! Glory to him who crowned thee! Glory to him who through thee worketh all manner of healings!
Condakion. Tone 3.
T
HE Lord hath placed thee on the height of true abstinence, like a bright star shining unto the ends of the earth, thee, our Teacher and Father John.
ON THURSDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK,
We sing the Office of the Great Canon.
Irmi of the Great Canon. Tone 6.
I. '> A help and protection hath he become
to me unto salvation, he is my God, and I
will glorify him, my fathers'Äô God, and I will
exalt him; for he hath triumphed gloriously.
II. '> Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will
speak, and I will sing Christ incarnate of
the Virgin.
268 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
See now, see now, that I am he, God, who of old did rain manna in the desert, and draw water from the rock for my people, by mine own right hand and power.
III. O Lord, stablish my mind on the rock
of thy commandments.
O Lord, stablish my fainting heart on the rock of thy commandments; for thou alone art holy and the Lord.
IV. '> The Prophet heard of thine advent,
O Lord, and was afraid; for thou didst will
to be born of a Virgin, and to appear unto
men, and he cried, I have heard the report
of thee, and I feared. Glory to thy might,
O Lord.
V. '> Rising early from the night, I pray
thee, O Lover of mankind, to enlighten and
instruct me in thy commandments, and to
teach me, O Saviour, to do thy will.
VI. '> I cried with my whole heart to the
merciful God, and he heard me from the
depths of hades, and raised my life from
corruption.
Condakion.
M
Y soul, my soul, arise! Why sleepest
thou ? The end draweth near, and thou wilt be troubled. Awake then, that Christ God, who is everywhere and who filleth all things, may spare thee.
EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION. 269
VII. '> We have sinned, we have prevaricated,
we have been unrighteous before thee. We
have neither loved, neither kept those things
that thou hast commanded. Still, reject us
not at the last, O God of our fathers.
VIII. '> Him that heavenly Hosts glorify,
and Cherubim and Seraphim fear, let every
spirit and every creature sing, bless and set
up for ever.
IX. '> The unspeakable birth from a seed-
less conception of a husbandless mother is
an incorruptible fruit; for the birth of God
regenerateth nature. Then do all generations
right-believingly magnify thee as the divine-
bride Mother.
NOTE:'ÄîThese Irmi, sung at Matins today, are also sung at the Great Compline on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the First Week of the Fast.
ON SATURDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK,
We sing the Acathist Hymn to the most holy Mother of God.
Troparion. Tone 8.
AKING the command secretly to heart, the Angel cometh under Joseph'Äôs roof, and saith to the one that knew no husband, He that by his descent hath bent the heavens down, is contained whole and
27O EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
unchangeably in thee, and beholding him taking in thee the form of man, I fearingly cry unto thee, Hail! O unmarried Bride.
T
Condakion. Tone 8.
O thee, O Virgin, the chosen guide, thy servants sing a triumphal song, ascribing thanks to thee for the deliverance from evils, and, since thou hast an invincible might, deliver us, we beseech thee, from every ill, that we may cry unto thee, Hail! O unmarried Bride.
ON THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE FAST,
We sing the Office of our venerable Mother, Mary of Egypt.
The Troparion on the Resurrection in the proper Tone, and that to the Venerable in Tone 8.
N thee, O Mother, is a pattern of certain salvation; for, taking up the Cross, thou didst follow Christ, and didst teach in very deed to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, and to care for the soul, which is immortal. Therefore doth thy spirit, O venerable Mary, rejoice with the Angels.
Icos. (Stanza.) Tone 4.
L
ET us now extol in hymns the lamb and daughter of Christ, Mary the ever-
EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION. 271
memorable, who appeared as the lamb of Egypt, and yet escaped all its wiles, and became a perfect growth in the Church by exercising herself in fasting and prayer above the measure of human nature. Therefore hath the Almighty raised on high the life and deeds of the glorious Mary.
ON THE SATURDAY OF THE HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS LAZARUS.
Troparion. Tone 1.
CHRIST God, thou didst, before thy very Passion, confirm the truth of the general Resurrection by raising Lazarus from the dead. Then do we also, as youths bearing the standard of victory, cry unto thee, the Conqueror of death, Hosanna in the highest! Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Condakion. Tone 2.
C
HRIST, the Joy of all, the Truth, the Light and Life, and the Resurrection of the world, hath appeared to them that are on earth, and is become an image of the Resurrection, granting unto all divine forgiveness.
272 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
ON THE SUNDAY OF PALMS.
Stichera at the Great Vespers, with the Lord, I have cried, in Tone 6.
O-DAY the grace of the Holy Spirit gathereth us together, and, all bearing thy Cross, we say, Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Glory. Both now.
To-day the grace of the Holy Spirit . . . .
Troparion. Tone I.
O Christ God, thou didst before thy very Passion ....
Another, in Tone 4.
URIED with thee in baptism, O Christ our God, we have been blessed with life immortal through thy Resurrection, and, hymning thee, we cry, Hosanna in the highest! Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
T
Hypaco?´ after Ode III. Tone 6.
HE lawless Jews first praised him with the branches, then nailed him to the tree, even Christ our God. But we, with faith unchanging, ever honouring him as Benefactor, cry ceaselessly to him, Blessed art thou that comest to recall from exile Adam.
EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION. 273
Condakion. Tone 6.
O
N the throne in heaven, and on earth borne by a colt, O Christ our God, thou didst receive the praises of Angels and the hymns of children, crying unto thee, Blessed art thou that comest to recall from exile Adam.
Magnifying.
W
E magnify thee, O Christ, Giver of life, Hosanna in the highest we also cry to thee. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
ON HOLY AND GREAT MONDAY.
At Matins after the Alleluia, we sing the Troparion in Tone 8.
Behold the Bridegroom cometh . . . . Vide page 85.
J
Condakion. Tone 8.
ACOB bewaileth the loss of Joseph, and the virtuous one sitteth in a chariot honoured as a king; for, as he would not become a slave to the pleasures of Egypt, he was exalted by him that looketh upon the hearts of men and bestoweth incorruptible crowns.
ON HOLY AND GREAT TUESDAY.
At Matins. Behold the Bridegroom cometh ....
18
274 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRiODION.
Condakion. Tone 2.
O
MY soul, considering the hour of thine end, and fearing the cutting down of the fig tree, do thou carefully cultivate the talent given unto thee, being watchful and crying, Let us hot remain outside the house of Christ.
ON HOLY AND GREAT WEDNESDAY.
At Matins. Behold the Bridegroom cometh ....
Condakion. Tone 4.
O
BLESSED One, I have transgressed more than the sinful woman, but in nowise do I bring unto thee floods of tears. Still, in silence I fall down, longing with love to embrace thy most pure feet, so that thou, O Lord, mayest grant me forgiveness of my trespasses, when I cry unto thee, Deliver me, O Saviour, from the defilement of my deeds.
ON HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY.
At Matins after the Alleluia, we sing the Troparion in Tone 8.
HEN, on the evening of the washing of feet, the glorious Disciples were being enlightened, then was it that the malicious Judas, ailing with the
EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION. 275
love of silver, was darkened, and betrayed thee, the righteous Judge, to the unrighteous judges. Beware then, thou that settest thine heart on riches, beware him whom the same hath brought to strangling. Flee from that insatiate soul which dared such things against the Master. O Lord, good unto all, glory to thee.
Condakion. Tone 2.
T
HE hands with which he took the Bread, the betrayer secretly holdeth forth, and taketh the price of him who with his own hands made man, and remaineth perverse, even Judas, the slave and flatterer.
Icos. (Stanza.)
H
AVING all approached in fear to the mystical table, let us, with pure souls, take the Bread, remaining with the Lord, that we may witness how he washeth the feet of his Disciples, and that we may do as we behold, submitting ourselves one to another, and washing the feet of one another. For Christ thus commanded unto his Disciples, and foretold that it should be done. Yet Judas, the slave and flatterer, heeded it not.
i8*
276 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
ON THE SAME DAY IN THE EVENING.
THE PASSION OF THE LORD.
The Priest beginneth, Blessed be our God ....
Reader. Amen. Glory to thee, our God . . . . O heavenly King ....Trisagion. After Our Father, &c., O come, let us worship . . . . thrice. And the rest as at the beginning of Matins. Vide page 52.
And after the Six Psalms and the Ectenia of Peace, we begin to sing the Alleluia anti-phonally, loudly, and in sweet melody, according to Tone
8. Likewise the Troparion in the same Tone.
When, on the evening of the washing of feet .... Vide page 274.
This is sung thrice, and the Little Ectenia followeth.
Then the Warden disiributeth the tapers which are lighted during the Lections. And the Deacon exclaimeth,
A
ND that he would make us worthy to hear the holy Gospel, let us beseech the Lord God.
Choir. Lord, have mercy, thrice. Deacon. Wisdom! Stand up! Let us hear the holy Gospel.
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 277
Priest. Peace to all.
Choir. And to thy spirit.
And the Priest loudly announceth,
T
HE Lection from the holy Evangelist John, (or, Matthew, or, Mark, or, Luke). Choir. Glory to thee, Lord, glory to thee. Deacon. Let us attend.
NOTE:'ÄîOn this wise are all the Lections preceded.
And the Priest readeth GOSPEL I. FROM S. JOHN.
HE Lord said unto his disciples, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me; and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter
278 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father'Äôs house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also; and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip ? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Be-lievest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me ? The words that I speak
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 279
unto you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works'Äô sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto
28O EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIOD1ON.
him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings; and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father'Äôs which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father; for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 28I
do. Arise, let us go hence. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father'Äôs commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love
282 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name'Äôs sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 283
me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin; but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me; and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth, It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I
284 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 285
to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourself of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs, but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name; and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am
286 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou earnest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come: glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee; as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 287
which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep
288 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know, that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee; but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. When Jesus had
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 289
spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
And after this and every Lection we sing,
G
LORY to thy long-patience, O Lord, glory to thee.
Then we sing the Antiphons. Antiphon I. Tone 8.
T
HE princes of the people were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
They laid a lawless accusation against me, O Lord. O Lord, do thou not forsake me.
Let us present our senses pure unto Christ, and, as his friends, let us sacrifice our souls for him; let us not be overwhelmed with cares of life like Judas, but in our occupations let us cry, Our Father, which art in heaven, deliver us from evil.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
O unmarried Virgin, thou didst bring forth, and virgin didst remain. Mother unwedded, God-bearing Mary, pray Christ our God to save our souls.
Antiphon II. Tone 6.
J
UDAS ran to the wicked scribes, and said, What will you give me, and I will betray
19
290 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
him to you? And thou meantime wast invisibly present among the very men that counselled against thee. O Searcher of hearts, spare our souls.
Let us minister unto God, as Mary at the supper, and avoid Judas'Äô love of silver, that we may ever be with Christ our God.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
Him that is loving-kind unto all men, whom thou, O Virgin, didst inexpressibly bring forth, cease not to pray to deliver from dangers them that betake themselves to thee.
Antiphon III. Tone 2.
B
ECAUSE of the raising of Lazarus, O man-loving Lord, the Hebrew children sang, Hosanna! unto thee. But the malicious Judas willed not to understand.
At thy Supper, O Christ God, thou didst foretell to thy Disciples that one of them should betray thee. But the malicious Judas willed not to understand.
To John'Äôs question, O Lord, who is it that shall betray thee? thou didst reveal him by the sop. But the malicious Judas willed not to understand.
The Jews sought to slay thee by means of thirty pieces of silver and a false kiss.
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 29I
But the malicious Judas willed not to understand.
At thy washing of feet, O Christ God, thou didst persuade thy Disciples, Do as ye behold. But the malicious Judas willed not to understand.
Watch and pray, lest ye fall into temptation, thou didst say, O our God, unto thy Disciples. But the malicious Judas willed not to understand. Glory. Both now.
To the Virgin.
O God-bearing one, save thy servants from dangers; for, after God, we all betake ourselves to thee, as the strong bulwark and mediatress.
Then the little Ectenia (which precedeth all the Kathismata), and we sing,
Kathisma. Tone 7.
F
EEDING the Disciples at the Supper, and foreseeing the intended betrayal, thou didst mete this part to Judas, knowing him to be perverse, and wishing to prove unto all men that thou gavest thyself up of thine own free-will that thou mightest deliver the world from the power of the adversary. O thou that art long-patient, glory to thee.
19*
292 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
And the Priest readeth GOSPEL II. FROM S. JOHN.
T that time, Jesus went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place; for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and said unto them, Whom seek ye ? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as lie had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way; that the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest'Äôs servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant'Äôs name
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. style=" 293
was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him. And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man'Äôs disciples ? He saith, I am not. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold. And they warmed themselves, and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always
294 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me ? Ask them which heard me what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me? Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples ? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again; and immediately the cock crew. Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment. And it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
Antiphon IV. Tone 5.
T
O-DAY Judas forsaketh his Teacher and receiveth the devil. He is blinded by the love of silver, and, being darkened, falleth away from the light. For how could he
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 295
look up, he that sold the Luminary for thirty pieces of silver? Yet he that suffered for the world dawneth upon us, and unto him we cry, Thou that didst suffer for and with mankind, glory to thee.
To-day Judas counterfeiteth the fear of God and becometh an alien from grace, being a disciple he becometh a betrayer, under the wonted kiss he hideth his guile, and senselessly preferreth thirty pieces of silver before the love of his Master, becoming the guide of the wicked assembly. But we who have salvation, even Christ, the same let us glorify.
Let us acquire brotherly love as brethren in Christ, and let us not be without sympathy unto our neighbours, lest we be condemned for the sake of riches, like the unmerciful servant, and, like the repentant Judas, find them of no avail. Glory. Both now.
To the Virgin.
Glorious things have been spoken of thee in all places, O God-bearing Mary; for thou, the all-praised and unmarried one, didst bring forth in flesh the Creator of all things.
Antiphon V. Tone 6.
T
HE Teacher'Äôs disciple maketh agreement concerning the price, and selleth the
296 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Lord for thirty pieces of silver, with a false kiss betraying him to death unto the transgressors.
To-day the Creator of heaven and earth spake unto his Disciples, The hour is nigh, and Judas the betrayer draweth near unto me. Let no one deny me when they see me on the Cross between two thieves. For I suffer as man, but, as Lover of man, I will save them that believe in me.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
Thou that in a manner altogether unspeakable didst conceive and bring forth thine own Creator, save, O Virgin, them that magnify thee.
Antiphon VI. Tone 7.
T
O-DAY Judas is on the watch to betray the Lord, the eternal Saviour of the world, who satisfied the multitude with five loaves. To-day the transgressor denieth his Teacher, and, having been his disciple, be-trayeth his Master. He selleth him for silver who fed man with manna.
To-day the Jews have nailed the Lord to the Cross, even him that divided the sea with a rod and guided them in the wilderness. To-day they have pierced with a Spear the side of him that laid stripes upon
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 297
Egypt for their sake, and have given vinegar to drink unto him that showered manna as food for them.
O Lord, drawing nigh unto thy voluntary Passion, thou didst say unto thy Disciples, If but an hour ye cannot watch with me, how do ye promise to die for my sake? Behold how Judas slumbereth not, but hasteneth to betray me to the wicked. Arise and pray, lest any of you deny me when you see me on the Cross. O thou that art long-patient, glory to thee.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
Hail! O God-bearing one, who didst contain within thee him whom the heavens contain not. Hail! O Virgin, thou proclamation of the Prophets, through whom Emmanuel hath shone upon us. Hail! O Mother of Christ our God.
Kathisma. Tone 7.
W
HAT motive made thee, Judas, the betrayer of the Saviour ? Hath he severed thee from the company of the Apostles, deprived thee of the gift of healing, rejected thee from the companionship of the others at the supper table? Hath he refused to wash thy feet when washing those of the rest? How forgetful art thou of numerous
298 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
blessings, and thine ungrateful temper is plainly seen, while his incomparable long-patience and great mercy are proclaimed.
GOSPEL III. FROM S. MATTHEW.
T that time, the soldiers that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caia-phas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest'Äôs palace, and went in and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, and said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee ? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 299
the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye ? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him, and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ. Who is he that smote thee ? Now Peter sat without in the palace; and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
3OO EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Antiphon VII. Tone 8.
W
HEN thou didst endure, O Lord, to be taken by the wicked, thou spakest thus, Though ye have struck the Shepherd and dispersed the twelve lambs, my Disciples, yet could I have brought against you more than twelve legions of Angels. But I am long-patient, that the unknown and secret things I have revealed to you through the Prophets may be fulfilled. Glory to thee, O Lord.
Thrice Peter denied thee, and straightway understood what had been told him, and brought tears of repentance to thee. O God, cleanse and save me. Glory. Both now.
To the Virgin.
Let us all sing the holy Virgin as the saving porch and pleasant paradise, and shading cloud of everlasting light, saying unto her, Hail!
Antiphon VIII. Tone 2.
S
AY, ye wicked men, What have you heard from our Saviour? Hath he not laid down the teachings of the law and of the Prophets? How can you then purpose to betray to Pilate him that is the Word of God from God, and the Redeemer of our souls ?
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 3OI
Let him be crucified, they cried, even they that ever enjoyed thy gifts, and the evil-doer instead of the Well-doer they preferred to have, they, the slayers of the righteous. But thou didst keep silence, enduring their harshness, for thou didst will to save us, O thou Lover of mankind.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
Since we have not daring on account of our many sins, do thou, O God-bearing Virgin, pray him that was born of thee, for the Mothers'Äôs prayer availeth much to procure the Lord'Äôs clemency. Despise not, O most pure one, the supplications of sinners, for he that vouchsafed to suffer for us is merciful and powerful to save.
Antiphon IX. Tone 3.
T
HEY put down thirty pieces of silver as the price of the Priceless, whom the children of Israel thus valued. Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak. Therefore, watch!
They gave me bitter things to eat, and in my thirst they brought me vinegar. But thou, O Lord, raise me, and I will reward them.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
We Gentiles sing thee, O pure God-bearing one, for thou didst bring forth
3O2 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TR1ODION.
Christ our God, who, through thee, hath delivered mankind from the curse.
Kathisma. Tone 8.
O
HOW could Judas, once thy disciple, seek to betray thee? He, supping with thee hypocritically, a traitor himself and unjust, goeth and saith to the priests, What will ye give me, and I will betray unto you him that destroyeth the law and profaneth the sabbath? O long-patient Lord, glory to thee.
GOSPEL IV. FROM S. JOHN.
T that time, led they Jesus from Caia-phas unto the hall of judgment; and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death; that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 3O3
again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him., Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me ? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew ? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world : if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was Iborn, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth ? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews ? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, and
3O4 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him; for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee ? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above; therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not C?¶sar'Äôs friend: whosoever maketh himself a king
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 3O5
speaketh against C?¶sar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour; and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but C?¶sar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified.
T
Antiphon X. Tone 6.
HOU that clothest thyself with light as with a garment didst stand naked at the judgment-seat, and on the cheek receivedst blows from hands which thou didst make. Yea, the wicked people nailed the Lord of glory to the Cross. Then was the veil of the temple rent in twain, the sun was darkened, unable to behold the outraged God, whom all things fear. Him let us worship. The disciple denied thee, but the thief exclaimed, Remember me, O Lord, in thy kingdom. Glory. Both now.
To the Virgin.
Give peace unto the world, O Lord, thou that from the Virgin didst vouchsafe to take
3O6 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
flesh for the sake of thy servants, that with one accord we may glorify thee, O Lover of mankind.
Antiphon XI. Tone 6.
F
OR the good things thou hast wrought, O Christ, unto the Hebrew race, they have condemned thee to crucifixion and given thee vinegar and gall to drink. But render unto them O Lord, according to their works; for they understood not thy condescension.
The Hebrew men, content not with thy betrayal, wagging their heads, came mocking and reviling thee. But render unto them, O Lord, according to their works; for in vain they strove against thee.
Neither the quaking earth nor the rent rocks convinced the Jews, neither the torn temple veil, nor the rising of the dead. But render unto them, O Lord, according to their works; for in vain they strove against thee.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
From thee, O God-bearing Virgin, we have been made to know the God incarnate, thou only pure and only blessed one. Therefore unceasingly we sing and magnify thee.
Antiphon XII. Tone 8.
T
HUS saith the Lord to the Jews, My people, what have I done unto thee, or
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 3O7
in what have I hindered thee? I gave sight to thy blind, I cleansed thy lepers, I restored the paralytic. My people, what have I done unto thee, and what hast thou done in return for me? For manna, thou hast returned hyssop; for water, vinegar; for my love thou hast nailed me to the Cross. But no longer will I withhold myself from others: I will call the Gentiles mine, and these shall glorify me, with the Father and the Spirit, and I will give to them eternal life.
To-day the veil of the temple is rent in twain to the exposure of the wicked, and the sun hideth his rays, beholding the Lord crucified.
Ye lawgivers of Israel, ye Jews and Pharisees, the company of the Apostles crieth unto you, Behold the Temple that ye have destroyed, behold the Lamb that ye have crucified and committed to the tomb; but he shall arise of his own will. Be not misled, ye Jews; for this is he that saved you in the sea and fed you in the wilderness: he is the Life and the Light, and the Peace of all the world.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
Hail! O thou gate of the King of glory, through which the Most High alone hath passed, and afterwards left sealed to the salvation of our souls.
308 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Kathisma. Tone 8.
O
GOD, when thou didst stand before
Caiaphas, and thou, the Judge, didst submit thyself to Pilate, then did the heavenly Powers quake with fear, yea, when moreover thou didst ascend the tree between two thieves, and thou, the Sinless One, wast counted among transgressors in order to save man. O most meek Lord, glory to thee.
GOSPEL V. FROM S. MATTHEW.
T that time, Judas, seeing that Jesus was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter'Äôs field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the Prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 3O9
of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; and gave them for the potter'Äôs field, as the Lord appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They
3IO EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 3II
by name: him they compelled to bear his Cross.
Antiphon XIII. Tone 6.
T
HE Jewish assembly desired Pilate to crucify thee, O Lord, and though they found no accusation against thee, they freed the criminal Barabbas and condemned thee, the Just One, thereby inheriting the charge of bloodguiltiness. But give them, O Lord, their reward; for in vain they strove against thee.
Him before whom all things fear and tremble, and whom all tongues sing, even Christ, the Power of God and the Wisdom of God, him do the priests smite upon the cheek and offer vinegar to drink. Yet all these things thou didst vouchsafe to suffer, desiring to save us from our transgressions by thine own Blood, O Lover of mankind.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
O God-bearing one, who by word didst above word bring forth thine own Creator, beseech the same to save our souls.
Antiphon XIV. Tone 8.
O
LORD, who didst accept as thy companion the thief that had defiled his hands in blood, do thou likewise number us
3I2 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
with him, for thou art good and lovest mankind.
Few were the words spoken by the thief upon the cross, yet great was found his faith, and in an instant was he saved, entering first the opened gates of Paradise. Thou that didst accept his repentance, O Lord, glory to thee.
Glory. Both now. To the Virgin.
Hail! thou that through the Angel didst receive the world'Äôs joy. Hail! thou that didst bring forth thy Creator and Lord. Hail! thou that wast counted worthy to become the Mother of Christ our God.
T
Antiphon XV. Tone 6.
O-DAY is suspended on the tree he that suspendeth the earth upon the waters, thrice. He that is the King of Angels is crowned with thorns. He that covereth the heavens with clouds is covered with derisive purple. He that freed Adam in the Jordan is buffeted. The Bridegroom of the Church is pierced with nails. The Son of the Virgin is wounded with a spear. We bow down, O Christ, to thy Passion, thrice. Let us also see thy glorious Resurrection.
Not like the Jews do we keep festival, for our Pascha is Christ God sacrificed for us. Still, let us cleanse ourselves from every de-
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 3I3
filement, and in sincerity pray to him, Arise, O Lord, save us as the Lover of mankind. Thy Cross, O Lord, is life and resurrection to thy people, and, trusting in the same, we sing thee, O our crucified God. Have mercy upon us. Glory. Both now.
To the Virgin.
Beholding thee hanging on the Cross, O Christ, she that brought thee forth exclaimed, What is the strange mystery I behold, my Son? How dost thou die upon the tree, with thy flesh fixed thereupon, O thou Bestower of life?
Kathisma. Tone 4.
T
HOU hast redeemed us from the curse of the law by thy precious Blood: being nailed to the Cross and wounded with the lance, thou hast shed immortality upon men. O our Saviour, glory to thee.
GOSPEL VI. FROM S. MARK.
T that time, the soldiers led Jesus away into the hall, called Pr?¶torium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, and began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on
3I4 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And they compel one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his Cross. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh; but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King of the Jews. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the Cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 315
descend now from the Cross, that we may see and believe in him.
Then we sing the Beatitudes in Tone 4.
I
N thy kingdom remember us, O Lord, when
thou comest in thy kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Through the tree Adam became an exile from Paradise. Through the tree of the Cross the thief became an inhabitant thereof. For the one, having tasted, transgressed the commandment of his Maker; but the other, being crucified, confessed his hidden God. Remember us also, O Saviour, in thy kingdom.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
The wicked have bought the Maker of the law of his disciple, and placed him as a malefactor at the judgment - seat of Pilate, crying, Crucify him, even him that gave them manna in the wilderness. But we, imitating the righteous thief, cry out in faith, Remember us also, O Saviour, in thy kingdom.
3I6 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
The assembly of God-slayers, even the wicked nation of the Jews, cried madly unto Pilate, saying, Crucify him, even the innocent Christ, and give us rather Barabbas. But we lift up unto him the voice of the right-judging thief. Remember us also, O Saviour, in thy kingdom.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Thy life-giving side, as a fountain springing out of Eden, watereth that reasonable Paradise, which is thy Church, O Christ, and branching off in her into four rivers, the four Gospels, nourisheth the world, maketh all creation joyful, and teacheth the nations faithfully to worship thy kingdom.
Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Thou wast crucified for me that thou mightest send forth forgiveness unto me. Thou wast pierced in the side that thou mightest spring forth unto me streams of life. Thou wast affixed with nails that I, by the depth of thy Passion being convinced of the height of thy power, might cry unto thee, O life-giving Christ, Glory to thy Cross, O Saviour, and to thy Passion.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 317
righteousness'Äô sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
When thou wast crucified, O Christ, all creation beholding trembled, the foundations of the earth shook with fear of thy power, the luminaries became darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent, the mountains groaned, and the rocks were rent, while the believing thief crieth unto thee with us, O Saviour, Remember me.
Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Upon the Cross, O Lord, thou didst tear up the bond of our sins, and, numbered among the dead, thou didst bind the tyrant of them there, delivering all by thy Resurrection from the bonds of death, through which we are enlightened, O man-loving Lord, and cry unto thee, Remember us also, O Saviour, in thy kingdom.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
Thou that wast lifted on the Cross, and didst annul the might of death, and didst, O Lord, as God, blot out the handwriting against us; vouchsafe, O Christ our God, thou only Lover of mankind, the repentance of the thief to us who worship thee in faith,
318 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
and cry to thee, Remember us also in thy kingdom. Glory.
Ye faithful, let us with one accord pray worthily to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the divine Unity existing in three Persons, abiding unconfounded, Oneness undivided and unapproachable, by whom we are delivered from the fiery punishment.
Both now. To the Virgin.
Thy Mother, O Christ, who without seed brought thee forth in flesh, and after bringing forth truly remained an undefiled Virgin, the same we bring unto thee as mediatress, O most merciful Master, that we at all times may gain forgiveness of our iniquities, even us who cry, Remember us also, O Saviour, in thy kingdom.
Prokimenon. Tone 4.
T
HEY parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Verse. O God, my God, attend unto me: why hast thou forsaken me?
GOSPEL VII. FROM S. MATTHEW.
T that time, when the soldiers were
come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, A place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall; and when he had tasted thereof,
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 319
he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; and set up over his head his accusation written, This is Jesus the King of the Jews. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the Cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God: let him deliver him now, if he will have him; for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood
32O EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the eaith did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his Resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Then the Reader intoneth Psalm 50 (51). And after this the Priest readeth
GOSPEL VIII. FROM S. LUKE.
T that time were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 321
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This is the King of the Jews. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said,
322 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIOD1ON.
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his aquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
And straightway we sing the following TRIODE, of which the Acrostich is,
OEoeÅOEøoeÉOE¨OE?OE?OE±oeÑoeåOEO oeÑOEµ, or, in English,
Ere the Sabbath,
A Work of the Master Cosmas.
Ode V. Tone 6. Irmos.
E
ARLY at morn I come to thee, O Word of God, to thee that for thy pity'Äôs sake didst without change empty thyself, and, without passion, submit thyself to passion. O Lover of mankind, grant peace to me, a fallen one.
Refrain. Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.
Rewashed our feet, and cleansed ourselves again by the communion of thy divine Sacrament, O Christ, we thy servants accompany thee from Sion to the great mount of Olivet, hymning thee, O Lover of mankind.
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 323
Glory. Both now.
Exclaimedst thou, Look ye, my friends, but have no fear. For now the hour is nigh, in which I must be taken and slain by wicked hands. Disperse ye all and leave me, until I reassemble you to preach me, the Lover of mankind.
Then again the Irmos, Early at morn I come ....
Condakion. Tone 8.
COME ye all, and let us sing him that was crucified for us; for Mary beheld him on the tree, and said,
Though thou dost endure the Cross, thou
art my Son and God.
Icos. (Stanza.)
T
HE gentle Mary, beholding her own Lamb dragged to the slaughter, with other women following, lamenting cried, Whither goest thou, my Child? In whose favour makest thou such haste? There is not again a marriage in Cana, thither now to speed that thou mayest make them water into wine. Shall I go with thee, Child, or shall I wait for thee? O Word, give me one word and pass me not in silence by, thou that hast kept me pure; for thou art my Son and God.
324 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Ode VIII. Irmos.
T
HE divine Children despised the monument of an evil divinity, but the haughty lawless Sanhedrim counselleth vain things against Christ, and seeketh to slay him that holdeth their life in his hands. Him doth all Creation bless, glorifying him to ages.
Have now sleep shaken from your eyelids, saidst thou, O Christ, to the Disciples. Keep watch in prayer, lest ye perish in temptation; and thou, O Simon, above all; for to the stronger cometh the greater trial. Mark thou me, O Peter, whom doth all creation bless, glorifying me to ages.
Exclaimed Peter, Not one profane word will I let fall from my lips, O Master. With thee will I gladly die, even though all forsake thee; for neither flesh nor blood, but thine own Father hath revealed thee to me, whom doth all creation bless, glorifying thee to ages.
Spake the Lord, O man, in nowise hast thou penetrated the depth of the divine wisdom and knowledge, neither dost thou apprehend the unfathomableness of my judgment. Being flesh, boast not; for thrice thou wilt deny me, whom doth all creation bless, glorifying me to ages.
As soon as it is asked, thou wilt deny,
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 325
O Simon Peter, him in whom thou dost believe, and a certain maid coming to thee will frighten thee, said the Lord; and bitterly wilt thou weep, although thou hast me very-gracious, whom doth all creation bless, glorifying me to ages.
Let us praise, let us bless, let us worship the Lord, singing unto him and setting him up for ever.
And again the Irmos, The divine children despised ....
Ode IX. Irmos.
B
EING more honourable than the Cherubim, and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, who didst bear without corruption God the Word, thee, verily the God-bearing one, we magnify.
Bestood thee, O Christ, the pernicious band of wicked God-slayers, and thee, the Creator of all things, they wounded as unjust, even thee whom we magnify.
As a sheep they wounded thee, O Lord of all things, they, the impious, knowing not the law, and vainly studying the Prophets'Äô words, and they unjustly sacrificed thee, thee whom we magnify.
The priests and scribes bade the heathen take away the life that was betrayed, smit-
326 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
ing, of their wicked envy, him that is by nature Giver of life, him whom we magnify.
How many dogs came about thee, Lord, smiting thee on the cheek, and cursing thee, and falsely witnessing against thee. But thou enduredst all things, and savest all men.
And again the Irmos, Being more honourable ....
T
Exapostilarion. Tone 3.
O-DAY, O Lord, thou didst make the thief worthy of Paradise; and by the tree of the Cross, enlighten thou me also and save me, thrice.
GOSPEL IX. FROM S. JOHN.
T that time, there stood by the Cross of Jesus his Mother, and his Mother'Äôs sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his Mother, and the Disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his Mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the Disciple, Behold thy Mother! And from that hour that Disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. style=" 327
put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished. And he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs; but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Then the Psalms of Praise with Stichera in Tone 3.
WO wicked deeds hast thou wrought, my first-born son, Israel. Thou hast forsaken me, the Fountain of living
328 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
water, and dug unto thyself a well of destruction. Thou hast crucified me upon a tree, and hast asked for Barabbas and set him free. The heaven was awed thereat, and the sun hid his beams; yet thou, O Israel, wast not ashamed, but gave me over to death. Forgive them, holy Father, for they know not what they do.
E
VERY member of thy holy flesh suffered dishonour for us: thy head, the thorns; thy face, the spittings; thy cheeks, the buffets; thy lips, the vinegar mixed with gall; thine ears, the scoffing blasphemies; thy shoulders, blows; thy hand, the reed; thy whole body, distension on the Cross; thy limbs, the nails; thy side, the spear. O thou almighty Saviour, who didst both suffer for us and deliver us from passions, descend to us in loving-kindness, and, raising us up, have mercy upon us.
W
HEN thou wast crucified, O Christ, all creation, beholding, feared, and the ends of the earth were moved with awe at thy might; for by thy lifting up to-day the Hebrew race was cast down. The veil of the temple was rent in twain; the tombs were opened; the centurion, seeing the marvel, trembled; while thy Mother, standing by maternally lamenting, cried, How should
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 329
I not grieve and my heart not melt when I behold thee naked, and hanging condemned upon a tree. O thou that wast crucified and wast buried, and didst rise from the dead, Lord, glory to thee.
T
Glory. Tone 6.
HEY stripped me of my garments, and put upon me a purple robe; they put upon my head a crown of thorns, and in my right hand they placed a reed, that I might dash them in pieces like a potter'Äôs vessel. Both now.
T
HEY gave my back to the scourges, and my face lacked not the spittings. I stood at Pilate'Äôs judgment-seat and endured the Cross, for the salvation of the world.
GOSPEL X. FROM S. MARK.
T that time, there came Joseph of Arimath?¶a, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the Body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead; and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the Body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen and took him down, and wrapped
330 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
Then,
To thee is due glory, O Lord our God, and to thee we ascribe glory ....
And the Doxology.
Glory to God in the highest ....Vide page 105.
Then the Ectenia,
Let us accomplish our morning prayer.... And the rest. Vide page 12.
GOSPEL XI. FROM S. JOHN.
T that time, Joseph of Arimathsea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the Body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the Body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the Body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. style=" 331
bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus.
And we sing the Stichera with Verses,
Tone I.
LL creation was changed with fear, seeing thee, O Christ, hanging on the Cross. The sun was darkened, and the foundations of the earth were shaken. All things suffered with their Creator. O thou that willingly endured for us, Lord, glory to thee.
Verse. They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
Tone 2.
O
IMPIOUS and lawless people, why have ye imagined vain things ? Why have ye condemned the Life of all things unto death ? O great wonder! The world'Äôs Creator is delivered into the hands of sinners, and the Lover of mankind is lifted up upon a tree, that he may deliver them that are bound in hades, and these exclaim, O long-patient Lord, glory to thee.
Verse. They gave me bitter things to eat,
and in my thirst they brought me vinegar.
T
O-DAY the blameless Virgin, beholding thee, O steadfast Word, upon the Cross,
332 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
with motherly lamenting pity moaned bitterly in heart, and, groaning grievously in depth of soul, stood with dishevelled hair, and beat her breast, and wailing cried, Alas! my Son divine. Alas! Light of the world. Why fadeth from mine eyes the Lamb of God? Wherefore the bodiless Hosts, constrained with fear, exclaimed, O Lord incomprehensible, glory to thee.
Verse. God is our King of old, who hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.
S
EEING thee hanging on the tree, O Christ, thee, the Creator and God of all things, she that without seed bore thee cried bitterly, My Son, where is the beauty of thy form? I cannot bear to look on thee unjustly crucified. Then hasten to arise, that I may see thy third day Resurrection from the dead. Glory.
Tone 8.
O
LORD, when thou wast raised on the
Cross, trembling and fear fell on creation. Yet thou forbadest earth to swallow them that crucified thee, but gavest thyself to hades to send up its prisoners, and to give new birth to mortals. O Judge of quick and dead, thou earnest to bestow not death but life. Glory to thee, O Lover of mankind. Both now.
THE PASSION OF THE LORD. 333
A
LREADY the pen of the sentence is being wetted by the unjust judges, and Jesus is sentenced and condemned to death on the Cross. And creation suffereth, beholding the Lord on the tree. O thou good Lord, who sufferest for me in thy flesh, glory to thee.
GOSPEL XII. FROM S. MATTHEW.
N the morrow that followeth the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Then,
I
T is a good thing to give thanks unto the
Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.
Trisagion. O most holy Trinity ....
334 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Our Father... And the Troparion. Tone 4.
HOU hast redeemed us from the curse of the law by thy precious Blood. Having been nailed to the Cross and pierced by the spear, thou hast shed immortality on men. O our Saviour, glory to thee.
Then, the Great Ectenia.
Have mercy upon us, O God . . . . And the rest. Vide page IO.
And the Dismissal.
H
E that spittings, and blows, and revilings,
the Cross and death endured for the salvation of the world, Christ our true God ....
And the Choir singeth the Many years.
THE HOURS ON HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY.
About the Second Hour of the Day, the Priest having vested and given the blessing, we say the usual Prayers, O heavenly King . . . . Trisagion. O most holy Trinity . . . . Our Father . . . . For thine is . . . . Lord, have mercy, twelve times. Glory. Both now..
THE FIRST HOUR.
O come, let us worship . . . . thrice.
Psalms 5, 2, and 21 (22).
THE HOURS ON HOLY FRIDAY. style=" 335
Glory. Both now. Alleluia, thrice. Lord, have mercy, thrice.
Glory. Troparion. Tone I.
W
HEN thou wast crucified, O Christ, then didst thou overcome the tyrant and destroy the power of the enemy. For it was not an Angel nor a man, but the Lord himself that saved us. Glory to thee, O Lord. Both now. To the Virgin.
What shall we call thee . . . . Vide page 108.
Then we sing the following Stichera in Tone 8.
First Choir. To-day the veil of the temple . . . . Vide page 307.
The Second Choir repeateth the same.
First Choir. Verse. Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things.
O Christ the King, thou didst come as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a blameless lamb thou wast nailed on the Cross by wicked men for our sins, O Lover of mankind.
Second Choir. Verse. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the princes were gathered together against him.
O Christ the King, thou didst come . . . .
First Choir. Glory. When thou didst endure . . . . Vide page 300.
Second Choir. Both now. When thou didst endure . . . .
336 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
H
Prokimenon. Tone 4.
E was brought out, and they spake against
him. Verse. Blessed is he that consi-dereth the poor and needy.
The Lection from the Prophecy of Zacharias.
Thus saith the Lord, I took . . . . ending, into the treasury, as the Lord commanded me. Chap. XI. 10'Äî13.
The Lection from the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians.
Brethren! God forbid that I should glory. . . . ending, be with your spirit. Amen. Chap. VI. 14'Äî18.
The Lection from the holy Evangelist Matthew.
At that time, when morning was come . . . . ending, the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Chap. XXVII. 1'Äî56.
And straightway,
Order my steps . . . . Vide page 109.
After the Our Father, Condakion.
O come ye all, and let us sing . . . . Vide page 323. Lord, have mercy, forty times.
The Prayer.
Thou that in all times . . . . Vide page 76. Lord, have mercy, thrice.
The more honourable than the Cherubim . . . .
THE HOURS ON HOLY FRIDAY. style=" 337
In the name of the Lord, father, give the blessing.
Priest. God be merciful unto us . . . .
And the concluding Prayer of the First Hour.
Christ the true Light . . . . Vide page 111.
THE THIRD HOUR.
O come, let us worship . . . . thrice.
Psalms 34 (35), 108 (109), and 50 (51).
Glory. Both now. Alleluia, thrice. Lord, have mercy, thrice.
Glory. Troparion. Tone 6.
O
LORD, the Jews have condemned thee,
the Life of all things, unto death. They that by a rod passed through the Red Sea have nailed thee to the Cross. They that drew honey out of the rock have offered gall unto thee. But thou didst willingly endure all things to deliver us from the thrall of the enemy. O Christ our God, glory to thee.
Both now. To the Virgin.
O Mother of God, thou art the true vine. . . . Vide page 113.
Then we sing the Stichera in Tone 8.
First Choir. Through fear of the Jews thy friend and comrade Peter denied thee, O Lord; but, repenting, he lamenting said,
338 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Despise not my tears, O Pitiful One, though I said I would keep the faith and have not kept it. Accept our penitence also, and have mercy upon us.
The Second Choir repeateth the same.
First Choir. Verse. Consider my words, O Lord, give ear unto my crying.
O Lord, when the soldiers mocked before thine honourable Cross, then were the hosts of Spirits awed; for a crown of outrage was on thine head who dost vivify the earth, and a vesture of scorn covered thee who coverest the heavens with clouds. But such was thy dispensation to reveal thy love. O Christ most merciful, glory to thee.
Second Choir. Verse. Hearken unto the voice of my prayer, my King and my God.
O Lord, when the soldiers . . . .
First Choir. Glory. O Lord, when thou wast extended on the Cross, thou spakest thus, What have I done that ye desire to crucify me, ye Jews? I made your paralytic whole, I raised your dead to life, I stayed the issue of blood, I had mercy on the Canaanite. What have I done that ye desire to slay me, O ye Jews? But ye shall look upon him whom now ye pierce, O ye transgressors.
Second Choir. Both now. O Lord, when thou wast extended . . . .
THE HOURS ON HOLY FRIDAY. 339
F
Prokimenon. Tone 4.
OR I am ready for scourges, and my grief is continually before me. Verse. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
The Lection from the Prophecy of Esaias.
The Lord hath given me . . . . ending, He down in sorrow. Chap. L. 4'Äî11.
The Lection from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans.
Brethren! When we were yet without strength . . . . ending, we shall be saved by his life. Chap. V. 6'Äî10.
The Lection from the holy Evangelist Mark.
At that time the soldiers . . . . ending, which came up with him unto Jerusalem. Chap. XV. 16'Äî41.
And straightway,
Blessed be the Lord God . . . . Vide page 113.
After the Our Father, Condakion.
O come ye all . . . . Vide page 323.
And the rest, concluding with the Prayer,
Master, God, Father almighty . . . . Vide page 115.
THE SIXTH HOUR.
O come, let us worship . . . . thrice. Psalms 53 (54), 139 (140), and 90 (91).
22*
340 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Glory. Both now. Alleluia, thrice. Lord, have mercy, thrice.
T
Glory. Troparion. Tone 2.
HOU hast perfected salvation in the midst of the earth, O Christ our God, thou hast stretched out thy most pure hands upon the Cross, gathering together all nations, who cry unto thee, Glory to thee, O Lord.
Both now. To the Virgin.
As we have not daring. Vide page 67.
Then we sing the Stichera in Tone 8.
First Choir Thus saith the Lord to the Jews .... Vide page 306.
The Second Choir repeateth the same.
First Choir. Verse. They gave me bitter things to eat, and in my thirst they brought me vinegar.
Ye lawgivers of Israel . . . . Vide page 307.
Second Choir. Verse. Save me, O God, for the waters are come in, even unto my soul.
Ye lawgivers of Israel . . . .
First Choir. Glory. Come, ye Christ-bearing people, and let us note what Judas the betrayer and the wicked priests have plotted together against our Saviour. To-day they have wrought that death should hold the immortal Word, whom they betrayed to Pilate, and have crucified. But suffering thus, our Saviour spake and said, Forgive them
THE HOURS ON HOLY FRIDAY. style=" 34I
this sin, O Father, so may the gentiles know my Resurrection from the dead.
Second Choir. Both now. Come, ye Christ-bearing people ....
Prokimenon. Tone 4.
O
LORD, our Lord, how wonderful is thy name in all the earth. Verse. For thy greatness is exalted above the heavens.
The Lection from the Prophecy of Esaias.
Thus saith the Lord, Behold my servant. . . . ending, hath an husband. Chap. LII. 13'ÄîLIII. 1.
The Lection from the Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews.
Brethren! He that sanctifieth . . . . ending, succour them that are tempted. Chap. II. 11'Äî18.
The Lection from the holy Evangelist Luke.
At that time, there were also two other . . . .
ending, seeing these things. Chap. XXIII.
32'Äî49.
And straightway,
Let thy compassions soon overtake us . . . . Vide page 116.
After the Our Father, Condakion.
O come ye all ....Vide page 323. And the rest, concluding with the Prayer, O God and Lord of hosts . . . . Vide page 118.
342 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
THE NINTH HOUR.
O come, let us worship . . . . thrice.
Psalms 68 (69), 69 (70), and 85 (86).
Glory. Both now. Alleluia, thrice. Lord, have mercy, thrice.
Glory. Troparion. Tone 8.
The thief, seeing the Prince . . . . Vide page 122.
To the Virgin.
Thou that for our sakes . . . . Vide page 120. Then we sing the Stichera in Tone 7.
First Choir. There was wonder to behold the Maker of heaven hanging on the Cross. The sun was darkened and the day turned back to night, and earth sent up the dead bodies from the graves. With these we worship thee. Save us, O Lord.
The Second Choir repeateth the same.
First Choir. Verse. They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. Tone 2.
When the transgressors nailed thee, the Lord of glory, to the Cross, then saidest thou to them, Wherein have I grieved you? and how have I angered you ? Before me, who delivered you from affliction? And now, how have ye rewarded me ? For good, ye have rendered evil; for the pillar of fire, ye
THE HOURS ON HOLY FRIDAY. 343
have nailed me to a cross; for the cloud, ye have digged a grave for me; for manna, ye have offered me gall; for water, given me vinegar to drink. Henceforth I call the gentiles, and these shall glorify me, with the Father and the Holy Ghost.
Second Choir. Verse. They gave me bitter things to eat, and in my thirst they brought me vinegar. When the transgressors ....
Glory. Both now.
The following is read in a loud voice and with all reverence by the Reader in the middle of the Church, and then sung in verses by both Choirs.
To-day is suspended . . . . Vide page 312.
T
Prokimenon. Tone 6.
HE fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Verse. There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
The Lection from the Prophecy of Jeremias.
O Lord, thou hast given . . . . ending, every man to his land. Chap. XI. 18'ÄîXII. 15.
The Lection from the Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews.
Brethren! Having boldness . . . . ending, into the hands of the living God. Chap. x. 19'Äî31.
344 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
The Lection from the holy Evangelist John.
At that time they lead Jesus . . . . ending, him whom they pierced. Chap. XVIII. 28'Äî XIX. 37.
And straightway,
O cast us not away at the last . . . . Vide page 121.
After the Our Father, Condakion.
O come ye all . . . . Vide page 323.
And the rest, concluding with the Prayer,
Master, Lord Jesus Christ . . . . Vide page 122.
Then we begin to sing the Beatitudes, loudly and in sweet melody.
In thy kingdom remember us, O Lord . . . .
And the rest, as written in the Typica, singing the Condakion,
O come, ye all . . . . in the proper place thereof.
And, in conclusion, the Dismissal of the Hours.
AT VESPERS ON HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY.
About the Tenth Hour of the Day the bells are rung for Vespers, which, after the Priest'Äôs blessing, we begin to sing as customarily. And with the Lord, I have cried we sing the following Stichera in Tone 1.
AT VESPERS ON HOLY FRIDAY. style=" 345
All creation was changed ....
O impious and lawless people ....
To-day the blameless Virgin .... Seeing thee hanging on the . . . . Vide page 331, et seq.
Tone 6.
T
O-DAY the Lord of creation standeth before Pilate, and the Creater of all things is betrayed to the Cross, as a lamb going thereunto of his own will. He that showered manna is affixed with nails, his side is pierced, and with a sponge his lips are touched. The Redeemer of the world is smitten on the cheek, and the Maker of all things by his own servants is chastised. O the loving-kindness of the Lord! For for them that crucified him he invoked his Father, saying, Forgive them this sin, for the transgressors know not what they do. Glory.
H
OW hath the lawless Synagogue adjudged creation'Äôs King to death, respecting not the benefits he before bestowed on them, of which reminding them, he said, My people, what have I done to you ? Have I not filled with wonders Juda'Äôs land ? Have I not raised the dead by word alone? Have I not healed weakness and disease ? What then have ye given in return to me? And why are ye unmindful of me ? Instead of healings ye
346 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
have given me stripes; instead of life, to die; upon a tree have hanged me, Well-doer, as evil-doer; as lawless, me Lawgiver; as condemned, me, King of all. O long-patient Lord, glory to thee. Both now.
A
FEARFUL and strange mystery hath appeared wrought to-day. The Invisible is held. Adam'Äôs Deliverer from the curse is bound. He that trieth the hearts and reins is tried. He that shutteth the depths is shut in prison. He standeth before Pilate before whom stand with fear the Hosts of heaven. The Creator is smitten by hands he made. The Judge of quick and dead is sentenced to a tree. He that destroyeth hades is closed in a grave. Thou that endurest all things lovingly, and savest all men from the curse, glory to the, forbearing Lord.
Then the Tranquil Light . . . . Vide page 8.
And Straightway the Lections.
Prokimenon. Tone 4.
T
HEY parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. Verse. O God, my God, make hast unto me, why hast thou forsaken me?
The Lection from Exodus
And the Lord spake unto Moses . . . . ending, but my face I will not shew unto thee. Chap. XXXIII. 11'Äî23.
AT VESPERS ON HOLY FRIDAY. '> 347
Prokimenon. Tone 4.
P
LEAD thou my cause, O Lord, against them that strive against me. Verse. They rendered unto me evil for good.
The Lection from Job.
The Lord blessed . . . . Chap. XLII. 12, ad fin.
The Lection from the Prophecy of Esaias, with its Prokimenon. As in the Sixth Hour. Vide page 341.
Prokimenon. Tone 6.
T
HEY laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places, and in the shadow of death. Verse. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee.
The Lection from the First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians.
Brethren! The preaching of the Cross . . . . ending, and him crucified. Chap. 1. 18'ÄîII. 2.
S
Alleluia. Tone 5.
AVE me, O God, for the waters are come in, even unto my soul. Verse. They gave me bitter things to eat, and in my thirst they brought me vinegar. Verse. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see.
The Lection from the holy Evangelists, Matthew, Luke, and John.
348 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
At that time all the chief priests . . . . to, and another on the left. Matt. XXVII. 1'Äî38. And one of the malefactors . . . . to, To-day shall thou be with me in paradise. Luke XXIII. 39'Äî43. And they that passed by . . . . to, Truly this was the Son of God. Matt, XXVII. 39'Äî54. The Jews therefore . . . . to, They shall look on him whom they pierced. John XIX. 31'Äî37. And many women were there . . . . to, sitting over against the sepulchre. Matt, XXVII. 55'Äî61.
Then the Great Ectenia. Vide page 10.
The Prayer, Vouchsafe, O Lord .... Vide page 11.
And the Ectenia of Supplication. Vide page 12. And, after this,
The Stichera with Verses. Tone 2.
CHRIST, the Life of all things, when the Arimath?¶an took thee dead from off the tree, he laid thee out in myrrh, and with loving heart and hands made haste to wrap thy precious Body in fine linen, and, though cast down with fear, rejoicing cried, Glory to thy condescension, O Lover of mankind.
Verse. The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty.
W
HEN thou, Redeemer of all, wast, for the sake of all, laid in a new sepulchre,
AT VESPERS ON HOLY FRIDAY. 349
hades, that scorneth all things, saw and feared. Its bars were shattered and its gates were crushed. The tombs were opened and the dead arose. Then Adam, giving thanks, rejoicing cried, Glory to thy condescension, O Lover of mankind.
Verse. For he hath made the whole world so sure that it cannot be moved.
W
HEN thou, O Christ, who art in essence God, didst in thy Body will to be closed in a grave, being thyself uncircumscribed and limitless, then didst thou close the abodes of hades and of death, and empty all their kingdom, and then didst also grant this thy bright, glorious, and divinely blessed Sabbath Day.
Verse. Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, unto length of days.
W
HEN the heavenly Hosts saw thee, O Christ, falsely accused hy roaming sinners, and the stone sealed hy hands that pierced thy precious side, they trembled at thine unspeakable long-patience; yet, for our salvation, they rejoiced and cried, Glory to thy condescension, O Lover of mankind.
T
Glory. Both now. Tone 5.
HEE that coverest thyself with light as with a garment, thee, Joseph and Nico-demus take down from the tree, and, seeing
350 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
thee dead, naked and unburied, receive thee with loving tears, and, deeply sighing, say, Alas, alas, sweet Jesus! Yet but a little while ago the sun, seeing thee hanging on the Cross was cast about with darkness, the earth with fear was moved, and the temple'Äôs veil was rent. And, lo! now I see thee of thine own will subject to death for me. How shall I bury thee, my God? In what linen fold thee? With what hands touch thy precious Body? What hymn sing at thy burial, O divine Love? I magnify thy Passion, I hymn thy Grave and Resurrection, and I cry, Glory to thee, O Lord.
After the Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart .... Trisagion, and the rest, the following Troparia in Tone 2.
HE honourable Joseph, taking down thy most pure Body from the tree, wrapped it in pure fine linen with
sweet spices, and placed it and closed it in a
new sepulchre.
T
HE Angel, appearing before the myrrh-bearing women at the sepulchre, cried, Myrrh is fitting for the dead, but Christ hath appeared free from corruption.
And the Dismissal.
AT MATINS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 351
AT MATINS ON HOLY AND GREAT SATURDAY.
About the Seventh Hour the bells are rung for Matins. And after the Six Psalms we sing the The Lord is God to Tone 2.
Then the following Troparia to the same Tone.
The honourable Joseph . . . . Vide page 350.
Glory.
W
HEN thou, the Living, the Immortal, didst condescend unto death, then didst thou slay hades by the light of thy Godhead. And when thou didst raise the dead from the lowermost parts of the earth, all the heavenly Hosts cried, O Christ, Giver of life, our God, glory to thee. Both now.
The Angel, appearing . . . . Vide page 350.
Then they sing the Seventeenth Kathism of the Psalter, on this wise:
Stasis I.
LESSED art thou, O Lord, O teach me thy statutes.
Blessed are they that are undefiled in the way, that walk in the law of the Lord.
Thou, O Christ, that art the life, art placed in a grave, and angel Hosts, awe-stricken, glorify thy condescension.
352 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
O Life, how dost thou die and dwell in a grave, whilst thou destroyest the kingdom of death and raisest the dead from hades?
They that do no wickedness walk in his ways.
We magnify thee, O Jesus the King, and reverence thy Burial and thy Passion, by which thou hast saved us from corruption.
Thou hast charged that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.
Within a narrow sepulchre art thou to-day laid, O Jesus, the King of all, who hast the limits of the earth itself appointed, and dost raise up the dead. Glory.
We hymn thee, O Word and God of all things, with the Father and thy Holy Spirit, and glorify thy divine sepulture. Both now.
We bless thee, pure Mother of God, and faithfully reverence the three days'Äô burial of thy Son and our God.
Then the Little Ectenia, with the Exclamation, For blessed is thy name, and glorified is thy kingdom, of the Father ....
Stasis 2.
I
T is meet to magnify thee, O Giver of life,
who, with hands extended on the Cross,
deliverest us from the power of the adversary.
AT MATINS OF HOLY SATURDAY. 353
Thy hands have made me and fashioned me. O give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
It is meet to magnify thee, O Creator of all things; for, by thy Passion, we are delivered from passions, and are saved from corruption.
They that fear thee will be glad when they see me, because I have put my trust in thy word.
The earth trembled, and the sun, O Saviour, hid himself, whilst thou, O Christ, ever-shining Light, disappeared, according to the body, in the grave.
I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled.
Thou hast slept, O Christ, within the grave the sleep natural for a living being, and hast raised the race of man from the heavy sleep of sin.
Glory.
O unbeginning God, co-eternal Word, and
Holy Spirit, strengthen the sceptres of right-
believing Princes against enemies; for thou
art good. Both now.
Thou that didst bear the very Life, most spotless and pure Virgin; stay in the churches all causes of offence, and grant us peace; for thou art good.
'Äò3
354 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Then again the Little Ectenia, with the Exclamation, For holy art thou, our God, and thou restest on a throne of glory of the Cherubim, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now ....
Stasis 3.
T
O thy burial, O my Christ, all nations bring their songs.
Look upon me, and have mercy upon me, according to the judgment of them that love thy name.
The Arimath?¶an took thee from the tree, and having wrapped thee in a winding-sheet, buried thee in a grave.
Order my steps in thy word, and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me.
The myrrh-bearing women came, O my Christ, wisely bringing to thee the myrrh.
O deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men, and so shall I keep thy commandments.
O come, all creatures, and let us bring to the Creator the funeral songs.
Glory.
O Trinity, my God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, have mercy on the world.
Both now.
Vouchsafe, O Virgin, that thy servants may see the Resurrection of thy Son.
AT MATINS ON HOLY SATURDAY. style='mso-tab-count: 1'> 355
And again the Little Ectenia, with the Exclamation, For thou art the King of peace, O Christ our God, and the Redeemer of our souls, and to thee we ascribe glory, with thine unbeginning Father, and thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever . . . .
And straightway the following Troparia in Tone 5.
Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thy statutes.
The assembly of Angels were amazed . . . . And the rest. Vide page 25.
Then again the Little Ectenia, with the Exclamation, For blessed is thy name, and glorified is thy kingdom, of the Father . . . .
And we sing the following Kathismal Hymn in Tone I.
J
OSEPH wrapped in pure fine linen and annointed with divine sweet spices the sacred Body begged from Pilate, and placed it in a new sepulchre, whither coming early, cried the women bearing myrrh, Shew us, as thou before didst say, O Christ, the Resurrection. Glory.
Shew us, as thou before didst say, O Christ, the Resurrection. Both now.
The choirs of Angels were amazed, seeing the Immortal, who resteth in the Father'Äôs
23*
356 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
bosom, laid in a grave as dead. And him in hades with the dead, as Maker and as Lord, their hosts surround and glorify.
Then Psalm 50 (51). And straightway we sing the Canon in Tone 6, the Irmi of which are as followeth,
I. Thee, who of old didst hide the oppressor and persecutor under the waves of the sea, thee, the children of the saved have hidden under the earth. But we, as the maidens, sing unto the Lord; for he hath triumphed gloriously.
III. Creation, beholding thee hanging on
the Cross, thee who dost firmly hang the
earth upon the waters, was convulsed with
great fear, and cried, There is none holy
save thee, O Lord.
IV. Abbacum, forseeing thy divine ex-
haustion on the Cross, in terror cried, Thou
hast cut short the power of the strong, O
Blessed One, by entering into communion
with them that are in hades.
V. '> O Christ, Esaias beholding the evenless
light of thine Epiphany, which mercifully
shone unto us, rising early in the night, ex
claimed, The dead shall rise, and they that
are in the graves shall come to life, and all
the earth-born shall rejoice.
VI. Jonas was taken into the bowels of
AT MATINS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 357
the whale, but not retained; for, bearing thine image who sufferedst and wast buried, he came forth from the monster as from a palace. Yet they that are held down by vanities and falsehoods forget this mercy, and call the guards.
Condakion. Tone 2.
H
E that shutteth up the depths is beheld dead, and swathed with myrrh in fine linen the Immortal is placed as mortal in a tomb. And the women come to anoint him, wailing bitterly and crying, This Sabbath is most blessed, on which Christ sleepeth, and on the third day shall rise again.
VII. O wondrous miracle! He that de-
livered the pious Youths in the fiery furnace
is laid dead in a grave, and mute for the
salvation of us who sing, O God our Re-
deemer, blessed art thou.
VIII. O quake with fear, ye heavens, and
let the foundations of the earth be moved;
for, lo! he that liveth above is numbered
with the dead, and in a narrow grave is
laid by strangers, whom bless, ye youths,
extol, ye priests, ye people, set him up for
ever.
Let us praise, let us bless, let us worship
358 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
the Lord, singing unto him, and setting him up for ever.
IX. Weep not for me, O Mother, beholding in the grave the Son whom thou didst bear, as Virgin, in thy womb; for I shall arise and be glorified, and, as God, shall ever gloriously raise all them that magnify thee in faith and love.
Then the Little Ectenia, with the Exclamation, For all the Hosts of heaven praise thee, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father ....
Then the Exapostilarion. Tone 2.
Holy is the Lord our God, thrice.
And the Psalms of Praise follow, with Stichera in Tone 2.
O-DAY a grave holdeth him whose hands hold all creation, and a stone covereth him whose virtue covereth the heavens. The Life sleepeth, and hades trembleth, and Adam is freed from bonds. Glory to thy dispensation, through which, having accomplished all things, thou hast granted unto us an eternal Sabbath, even thy most holy Resurrection from the dead.
W
HAT meaneth this sight we see? What this present rest ? The King of eternity, through suffering, hath accomplished his dispensation, and keepeth sabbath in the grave,
AT MATINS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 359
granting us new sabbath rest. Let us then cry to him, Arise, O God, and judge the earth; for thou reignest for ever, and hast mercy without measure.
C
OME let us behold our Life, who lieth in a grave that he may quicken them who lie in graves. Come to-day, and, seeing him of Juda sleeping, let us cry as did the Prophet, Couching down, thou didst sleep as a lion, who shall rouse thee, O King? But arise of thine own will, thou who hast willingly given thyself for us.
Tone 6.
J
OSEPH begged the Body of Jesus, and placed it in his own new sepulchre; for he desired him to come forth from the grave as from a bridal chamber. Thou that hast crushed the power of death, and opened Paradise to men, glory to thee. Glory.
T
HE great Moses mystically foretold this day when saying, And God blessed the seventh day. For this is the blessed Sabbath, this is the day of rest, on which the only-begotten Son of God rested from all his works, according to the dispensation concerning death, and kept sabbath in his flesh, in the which to return again by the Resurrection, and to grant to us eternal life; for
36O EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
he alone is good and the Lover of mankind. Both now.
Most blessed art thou, Virgin .... Vide page 39.
And the Great Doxology.
And the Priest, having put on all his vest- ments, entereth with the holy Gospel. And after they have sung the Trisagion, he saith, Let us attend. Peace to all. Wisdom! And we sing the Troparion, The honourable Joseph .... Vide page 350.
And the Troparion of the Prophecy fol-loweth, in Tone 2.
O
CHRIST, thou that holdest the utmost borders of the earth, art seen held in a grave, that thou mightest deliver mankind from the depths of hades, and make us immortal, and quicken us, as God immortal.
Prokimenon. Tone 4.
A
RISE, O Lord, help us and deliver us, for the glory of thy name. Verse. O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have told us the noble works thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them.
The Lection from the Prophecy of Ezekiel. The hand of the Lord .... ending, per-
AT MATINS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 361
formed it, saith the Lord. Chap, XXXVII. 1'Äî14.
Prokimenon. Tone 7.
A
RISE, O Lord my God, let thine hand be lifted up, forget not thy poor at the last. Verse. I will praise thee, O God, with my whole heart, I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
The Lection from the First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, and from his Epistle to the Galatians.
Brethren! A little leaven leaveneth . . . . to, sincerity and truth. I. Cor. V. 6'Äî8. Christ hath redeemed us . . . . to, through faith. Gal. III. 13'Äî14.
Alleluia. Tone 5.
L
ET God arise, and let his enemies be scattered, and let them that hate him flee from before him. Verse. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away, as wax melteth at the presence of fire. Verse. So let the sinners perish at the presence of God, but let the righteous rejoice.
The Lection from the holy Evangelist Matthew.
On the morrow . . . . ending, the guard being with them. Chap. XXVII. 62'Äî66.
Then the Ectenias, Let us all . . . . And,
362 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Let us accomplish our morning prayer . . . . And the rest, as customary. And the Dismissal.
AT VESPERS ON HOLY AND GREAT SATURDAY.
About the Ninth Hour of the Day, they ring for Vespers, and the Priest vesteth as customarily. And we begin the Prefatory Psalm, and the Ectenia of Peace followeth. Then we sing the Lord, I have cried in Tone
I. And at the place of 8 verses we begin the Stichera.
Stickera of the Resurrection. Tone I. CCEPT our evening prayers, O holy Lord, and grant us forgiveness of our sins; for thou alone hast made manifest the Resurrection to the world.
G
O ye round about Sion, O ye people, and encompass her, and in her midst ascribe ye glory for the Resurrection from the dead; for this is our God, who hath delivered us from our transgressions.
O
COME, ye people, let us praise and worship Christ, and glorify his Resurrection from the dead; for he is our God, who hath redeemed the world from the adversary'Äôs wiles.
AT VESPERS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 363
B
Y thy Passion, Christ, we have been freed from passions, and by thy Resurrection delivered from corruption. Glory to thee, O Lord.
Other Stichera of the Great Sabbath, in Tone 8.
T
O-DAY doth hades groaning cry, Better for me it were might I receive not him whom Mary bore; for on me he cometh to break my power, to crush the brazen gates, and, being God, to raise the souls I erst have held. Glory to thy Cross, O Lord, and to thy Resurrection, twice.
T
O-DAY doth hades groaning cry, My power is overcome. I took one dead, as one among the dead, yet over him I had no power at all, but perished by him, and with those I ruled. I had the dead from ages, but lo! this one raiseth all. Glory to thy Cross, O Lord, and to thy Resurrection.
T
O-DAY doth hades groaning cry, My might is sacrificed. The Shepherd is crucified and Adam raised. Them that I ruled I have lost. Them I devoured in my power I have disgorged them all. The Crucified hath opened the graves, and the power of death hath no avail. Glory to thy Cross, O Lord, and to thy Resurrection. Glory.
364 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
T
HE great Moses in mystery foretold this present day and said, And God blessed the seventh day. For this is the blessed Sabbath, this is the day of rest, on which the only-begotten Son of God rested from all his works, according to the dispensation concerning death, and kept sabbath in his flesh, in the which to return again by the Resurrection, and to grant to us eternal life; for he alone is good and the Lover of mankind. Both now.
To the Virgin. Tone I.
L
ET us extol the Virgin Mary, who sprang from man and bore the Lord. She is the heavenly gate, the glory of the world, the song of bodiless Hosts, and boast of all the faithful. She hath appeared like to heaven, and as the house of God. She hath cast down the middle wall of enmity, and given us peace instead, and opened heaven'Äôs kingdom. Then having her, the stronghold of the faith, we also have the Lord she bore for our Defender. Courage then, courage, ye people of God, for he himself, the Almighty One, warreth against the enemy.
After the Stichera they sing the Tranquil Light.
No Prokimenon is said, but straightway, Wisdom! And the Reader beginneth the Lections.
AT VESPERS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 365
Lection I. Genesis I. 1'Äî13.
In the beginning . . . . ending, the third day.
Lection II. Esaias LX. 1'Äî16.
Shine, shine, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come . . . . ending, I am the Lord that saveth thee, and the God of Jacob that redeemeth thee.
Lection III. Exodus XII. 1'Äî11.
And the Lord spake . . . . ending, the Lord'Äôs passover.
Lection IV. Jonas I. I-IV. 11.
The word of the Lord . . . . ending, much cattle.
Lection V. Joshua V. 10'Äî15.
The children of Israel encamped .... ending, And Joshua did so.
Lection VI. Exodus XIII. 20'ÄîXV. 1. And the children of Israel took their journey . . . . ending, Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord and spake, saying, The Reader saith, Let us sing unto the Lord. And they answer and sing in Tone 5, For he is gloriously glorified. And the Reader of each Choir saith the verses alternately.
The horse and the rider he hath thrown into the sea. Let us sing unto the Lord.
366 style=" EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
And both Choirs sing, For he is gloriously glorified. And so after every verse.
A help and defence hath he become to me unto salvation. Let us sing unto the Lord.
He is my God and I will glorify him, my fathers'Äô God, and I will exalt him. Let us sing unto the Lord.
The Lord hath shattered the enemy, the Lord is his name: the chariots of Pharao and his host he hath thrown into the sea. Let us sing unto the Lord.
The chosen captains of horsemen are drowned in the Red Sea. Let us sing unto the Lord.
With the deep hath he covered them, they sank to the bottom like a stone. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Thy right hand, O Lord, hath shattered the enemy, and in the greatness of thy glory thou hast crushed the adversary. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Thou didst send forth thy wrath, and it devoured them as stubble, and with the breath of thy fury the water divided. Let us sing unto the Lord.
The waters were congealed together as a
AT VESPERS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 367
wall, the waves were congealed in the heart of the sea. Let us sing unto the Lord,
The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my soul shall be satisfied, I will slay with my sword, my hand shall prevail. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Thou didst send forth thy breath, the sea covered them, they sank as lead in the mighty water. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like unto thee, glorious in the saints, fearful in praises, doing wonders ? Let us sing unto the Lord.
Thou didst stretch forth thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. Thou didst lead in thy righteousness this thy people which thou hast redeemed. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Thou hast comforted them by thy strength in thy holy habitation. The nations heard and were angry, sorrow took hold on the inhabitants of Philistima. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Then were the dukes of Edom troubled, and trembling took hold upon the princes of Moab, all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Fear and trembling fell upon them, by
368 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Until thy people pass over, O Lord, until this thy people pass over, which thou hast purchased. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in thy prepared dwelling-place, which thou hast established, O Lord, thy sanctuary, which thy hands have prepared. Let us sing unto the Lord.
The Lord reigneth to ages, and to ages, and continually. When the horse of Pharao went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, the Lord brought in upon them the water of the sea. Let us sing unto the Lord.
But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Glory. Let us sing unto the Lord.
Both now. Let us sing unto the Lord.
And the last Reader singeth, For he is gloriously glorified.
Lection VII. Sophonius III. 8'Äî15.
Thus saith the Lord, Wait ye upon me until the day . . . . ending, see evil any more.
Lection VIII. Third Kings XVII. 8'Äî24.
And the word of the Lord . . . . ending, in thy mouth is truth.
AT VESPERS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 369
Lection IX. Esaias LXI. 10'ÄîLXII. 5.
My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for he hath clothed me . . . . ending, so shall the Lord rejoice over thee.
Lection X. Genesis XXII. 1'Äî18.
And it came to pass that God did tempt. . . . ending, obeyed my voice.
Lection XI. Esaias LXI. I'Äî10.
The spirit of the Lord . . . . ending, the seed which the Lord hath blessed, and they shall greatly rejoice in the Lord.
Lection XII. Fourth Kings IV. 8'Äî37.
And it fell on a day . . . . ending, and took up her son and went out.
Lection XIII. Esaias LXIII. 11'ÄîLXIV. 5.
Thus saith the Lord, Where is he that brought . . . . ending, remember thee in thy ways.
Lection XIV. Jeremias XXXVIII.* 31'Äî34.
Thus saith the Lord, Behold the days come . . . . ending, remember their sin no more.
Lection XV. Daniel III. 1.
In the eighteenth year, Nabuchodonosor the king made an image . . . . to verse 23,
* In the English Authorized Version XXXI.
24
37O EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace,
And walked in the midst of the flame, singing praises unto God and blessing the Lord. And Azarias stood up with them praying, and he opened his mouth in the midst of the fire, and spake, saying, Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is thy name for ever. For righteous art thou concerning all things which thou hast done unto us, and all thy works are true, and thy ways righteous, and all thy judgments are true. And thou hast made a decree of truth concerning all things which thou hast brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers. For in truth and judgment hast thou brought all these things upon us on account of our sins. For we have sinned and transgressed through turning away from thee. And in all things we have sinned exceedingly, and thy commandments we have not kept, nor loved them, nor done that which thou hast commanded us, to the intent that it might be well with us. And all the things that thou hast done unto us, and all the things that thou hast brought upon us in true judgment have been wrought. And thou hast delivered us into the hands of sinful enemies and wicked adversaries, and into the hands of a
AT VESPERS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 371
king unrighteous and evil above all that are upon the earth. And now it is not permitted unto us to open our mouth, and shame and reproach are come upon thy servants, and upon them that honour thee. But reject us not until the end, for thy holy name'Äôs sake, neither annul thy testament, nor remove thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham thy well-beloved, and for Isaac thy servant, and Israel thy saint, to whom thou didst promise to multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is upon the sea-shore. For, O Lord, we have become little above all the nations, and we are this day humbled in all the earth on account of our sins. And at this time there is no prince, nor prophet, nor leader, neither is there holocaust, nor sacrifice, nor offering, nor incense, nor place to sacrifice before thee and to find mercy. But let us be accepted in a contrite soul and humble spirit. As a holocaust of rams and bulls, and as thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice come before thee this day, and let it be perfected by thee, for there is no shame for them that put their trust in thee. And now we follow after thee with our whole heart, and we fear thee, and we seek thy face. Put us not to shame, but deal with us according to thy loving-kindness, and according to the plenitude of thy
24*
372 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
mercy. And deliver us according to thy wonders, and give glory to thy holy name, O Lord. And let them that do evil unto thy servants be confounded, and let them be put to shame by every power, and let their might be crushed. And let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, and glorious above all the earth.
And the flame extended above the furnace about forty and nine cubits. And it passed through and consumed those of the Chaldseans that were found round about the furnace. But the Angel of the Lord came down unto them that were with Azarias in the furnace, and turned the flame of fire out of the furnace, and made the midst of the furnace as of a rushing wind of dew, and the fire in nowise touched them, nor distressed them, nor tormented them. Then the three, as with one mouth sang praises, and bfessed and glorified God in the furnace, saying, Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and to be praised and set up above all for ever. And blessed is the holy name of thy glory, and to be praised and set up above all for ever. Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory, and to be praised and set up above all for ever. Blessed art thou that lookest upon the depths, that sittest upon the Cherubim, and to be praised and set up
AT VESPERS ON HOLY SATURDAY. style=" 373
above all for ever. Blessed art thou upon the throne of glory of thy kingdom, and to be praised and set up above all for ever. Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven, and to be praised and set up above all for ever.
We stop here, and sing, Praise ye the Lord, and set him up for ever, and for evermore.
And the Reader saith the verses.
ALL ye works of the Lord, speak well of the Lord. And we,
Praise him, and set him up for ever. O ye Angels of the Lord, O ye heavens of the Lord, speak well of the Lord, Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O all ye waters that are above the heavens, O all ye powers of the Lord, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O ye sun and moon, O ye stars of heaven, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O every shower and dew, O all ye winds, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O ye fire and heat, O ye winter and summer, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
374 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
O ye dews and frosts, O ye ice and cold, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O ye hoar-frosts and snows, O ye nights and days, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O ye light and darkness, O ye lightnings and clouds, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O thou earth, ye mountains and ye hills, and all things growing thereupon, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O ye wells, O ye seas and floods, O ye whales and all that move in the waters, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O all ye fowls of the air, O all ye beasts and cattle, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O ye children of men, O let Israel speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O ye priests of the Lord, O ye servants of the Lord, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, O ye holy and humble men of heart, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
AT VESPERS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 375
O Ananias, Azarias and Misael, speak well of the Lord,
Praise him, and set him up for ever.
Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, let us praise him, and set him up for ever.
Both now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord, and set him up for ever.
Let us praise, let us bless, let us worship the Lord, singing unto him, and setting him up above all for ever, and for evermore.
Then followeth the Little Ectenia. And Instead of the Trisagion, we sing,
As many as have been baptized into Christ ....
Then the Prokimenon in Tone 5.
L
ET all the earth worship thee and praise thee, let it sing praises to thy name, O Most High.
Verse. Cry aloud unto the Lord, all the earth, O sing praises unto his name.
The Lection from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans. Chap. VI. 3'Äî11.
Brethren! As many of us as were baptized .... ending, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Alleluia is not sung, but after the
376 EXTRACTS FROM THE LENTEN TRIODION.
Priest hath said, Peace to thee, the Reader straightway saith in Tone 7.
A
RISE, O God, and judge the earth, for thou hast obtained an inheritance among all the nations. And the Singers repeat the verse.
Then the Reader.
Verse. God standeth in the congregation of the gods, and judgeth gods in the midst thereof. Singers. Arise, O God . . . .
Verse. How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the face of sinners? Singers. Arise, O God . . . .
Verse. Avenge ye the orphans and the needy, and right the humble and the poor. Singers. Arise, O God . . . .
Verse. Take ye the poor and needy, and deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. Singers. Arise, O God . . . .
Verse. For they have not known, neither have they understood, but have gone on in darkness. Singers. Arise, O God . . . .
Verse. Be ye shaken, O ye foundations of the earth. I have spoken, ye shall be gods, and all of ye the children of the Most High, but ye shall die as men, and as one of the princes ye shall fall. And again, Arise, O God, and judge the earth, for thou
AT VESPERS ON HOLY SATURDAY. 377
hast obtained an inheritance among all the nations.
The Gospel according to Matthew. Chap. XXVIII. 1'Äî20. In the end of the Sabbath . . . . ending, the end of the world. Amen.
And the Liturgy of S. Basil.
And instead of the Cherubic Hymn they sing,
ET all flesh of man be silent, and let it stand in fear and awe, and think of nothing earthly to itself. For the King of kings and the Lord of lords cometh to be slain, and to be given as food to the faithful. Him do precede the angelic Hosts with all their Principalities and Powers, the many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim, covering their faces and singing the song, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Communion Hymn.
T
HE .Lord hath awakened as one that slept, and hath arisen and saved us. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
XXI. EXTRACTS FROM THE FERIAL TRIODION, OR PENTECOSTARION.