Wednesday in the First Week
MATTINS
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns of the Cross in the Tone of the week.
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE TWO
Through Thy Passion, loving Lord, Thou hast given to all men freedom from the passions, putting to death the passions of my flesh by Thy Cross. Count me worthy, then, to see Thy divine Passion: that, having been well-pleasing to Thy glory through the Fast, I may receive Thy great and abundant mercy.
Glory be to the Father…
Repeat.
Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Beholding Thee, O Christ, stretched dead upon the Tree, Thy Virgin Mother cried aloud with bitter tears: ‘O my Son, what is this fearful mystery? How dost Thou who givest life eternal unto all, suffer willingly a shameful death upon the Cross?’
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE TWO
O Lord, Thou hast consecrated and granted unto us this light-giving season of abstinence. Enable all of us to pass through it in compunction and sincerity, living in peace by the power of Thy Cross, O Thou who alone lovest mankind.
Glory be to the Father…
Repeat.
Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
Guarded by the precious Cross of thy Son, O pure Lady and Theotokos, easily we turn aside all the assaults of the adversary. Therefore, as is right, we call thee blessed, for thou art the Mother of the Light and the only hope of our souls.
The Canon
We use the Canon to the saint of the day from the Menaion, and the two three-canticled Canons from the Triodion; we sing the third Biblical Canticle (1 Kings 2:1–10).
Canticle Three
First Canon
TONE TWO
Irmos: The desert flowered as a lily…
Let us crucify our members through abstinence; let us be vigilant in prayer, as it is written, and let us live after the example of Him who suffered, and by His Passion put to death the passions.
Rejecting the bitter food of sin, let us seek to please Christ, who of His own will tasted gall and by the Cross cast down the author of evil.
Sin has become a habit for me, and it drags me to complete perdition. But do Thou by Thy Cross deliver me from my sinfulness, O compassionate Lord of many mercies.
Theotokion
Queen of all creation, O Lady who hast borne the Master, set me free from bondage to the deceitful enemy.
Another Canon
SAME TONE
Irmos: O Lord, who hast put sin to death…
From the tree of the Cross there grows for all the world the flower of abstinence. Let us then accept the Fast with love and take pleasure in the fruit of Christ’s divine commandments.
Abstaining from the passions, let us for the Lord’s sake crucify our flesh; by our life in Christ let us all show that the pride of the flesh is dead.
Glory be to the Father…
I glorify three Persons in one Nature, Father, Son and Spirit, the one Power of the Godhead, one Kingdom over all and one Brightness.
Both now…
Theotokion
Thy childbearing, O pure Lady, fills our hearts with fear. For it is God who has become man, begotten outside time from the Father and in the last days brought forth by thee through a virgin birth.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
I praise Thy Crucifixion, O Christ, and the piercing of Thy divine side, from which I draw each day an immortal drink and I am sanctified.
Irmos: O Lord, who hast put sin to death by the wood of the Cross, be Thou our strength and our support, and graft Thy fear in our hearts as we sing in praise of Thee.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: In Babylon of old by the command of God…
The furnace of the passions bums up my soul; but with the dew of Thy mercy do Thou quench its flames. For in Thy loving self-abasement, O Benefactor, at Thy Crucifixion Thou hast made a fountain of dispassion to flow from Thy pure side.
Lifted upon Thy Cross, O Christ, Thou hast raised us up who were fallen into evil. I have slipped into the pit of sin: bring me out and set me firmly on the rock of salvation, that I may glorify Thy power.
Through the lance that pierced Thy side, O Christ, Thou hast cleansed my heart from the corruption of the passions. I have been wounded by the poisonous bite of the serpent: heal me in every part, and make me walk unwavering upon the paths of God.
Theotokion
All of us honour thee, O Virgin undefiled, as the shining lamp and candlestick in which the fire of the Godhead came to dwell, bringing light to those held fast in the dark night of corruption; and we bless thy childbearing, O blessed among women.
Second Canon
Irmos: The Lord of old foreshadowed…
Let us praise Him that was crucified upon the Tree between the thieves, and whose life-giving side was pierced by the lance: and let us bless and exalt Him above all for ever.
Thou, who judgest all the earth, hast stood before Pilate’s judgement-seat; Thou wast struck on the cheek, mocked, and hung upon the Cross, delivering me for ever from the corruption of the ancient sin.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
O Godhead, One in Trinity, undivided in Nature yet divided in Persons, Power that shall never be destroyed, Father, Son and Spirit, we sing Thy praises for ever.
Both now…
Theotokion
O pure Mother of God, Gate of heaven, Door of salvation, accept the prayer of all Christians who call thee blessed for ever.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Cross of Christ, thou hast brought the thief to faith, and me to the season of the Fast: count me worthy to venerate thee at the coming Festival, and to be filled with life.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: The Lord of old foreshadowed the miracle of the Virgin to Moses in the bush upon Mount Sinai: let us praise, bless and exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: The Son of the Father without beginning…
The Fast shines upon all of us more brightly than the sun, bringing us the light of grace and proclaiming the good news of the Cross, of the precious Passion and the saving day of Resurrection.
Let us love chastity, let us flee from fornication, let us gird our loins with temperance, that we may appear in purity before the Saviour of our souls, who alone is pure and desires the purification of us all.
O Christ, nail my flesh with the fear of Thee. O Thou who hast nailed the sin of Adam to the Cross, loose me from the bonds of wickedness, shatter the arrows of the evil one with Thy lance, O Master, and deliver me from all his mischief.
Theotokion
O Virgin Maiden who hast borne Christ the Lord, the just Judge that alone is always ready to forgive, deliver me from the condemnation, from the fire and torment, that I deserve to suffer because of my delight in sin.
Second Canon
Irmos: Virgin Mother pure and undefiled…
How great is Thy compassion! For Thou hast endured the Cross, the nails and lance, O Lord, for my sake who am condemned to corruption. Therefore I sing Thy praises, O Christ.
With all Thy people we worship Thy life-giving Passion, the Cross, the reed, the nails, the lance; and we praise Thee in our songs, O Christ.
Glory be to the Father…
O Unity in three coequal Persons, undivided Trinity, sovereign Nature, Father, Son and divine Spirit, save us all.
Both now…
Theotokion
Rejoice, Theotokos, Mercy-Seat of the world: always fleeing to thee for refuge, we sinners gain reconciliation with God.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Through Thy Cross, O loving Lord, Thou hast given me strength: grant me with good courage to complete the period of the Fast.
Irmos: Virgin Mother pure and undefiled, with our songs in faith and true devotion we magnify thee as Theotokos.
Aposticha:
TONE EIGHT
By fasting let us bring into bondage the passions of the mind, and let us gain for ourselves spiritual wings. Passing lightly through the storm raised against us by the enemy, may we be counted worthy to venerate the Cross of the Son of God, slain of His own will for the sake of the world; may we spiritually keep the feast of the Saviour’s Resurrection from the dead; going up into the mountain, with the disciples may we glorify the Son who loves mankind, for He has received all power and dominion from the Father (twice).
To the Martyrs
Invincible martyrs of Christ, ye triumphed over falsehood by the power of the Cross, and gained as your reward the grace of life eternal. Ye felt no terror at the threats of tyrants, and when ye suffered torment ye rejoiced; and now your blood has become the healing of our souls. Intercede for our salvation.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
‘What is this dread sight before mine eyes, O Master? How art Thou nailed upon the Wood, who upholdest all creation? How art Thou killed, who givest life to all?’ cried the most pure Theotokos weeping, when she beheld upon the Cross the Child that she had borne in ways surpassing speech, who is both God and man.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE FOUR
O Lord who lovest mankind, Thou knowest our created nature, Thou knowest our infirmity: though we have sinned, yet have we not forsaken Thee, O God, nor stretched out our hands to a strange god. O merciful Saviour, spare us in Thy love. Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 9):
TONE FOUR
I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart.
℣. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee.
Lesson: Isaiah 2:3–11.
Prokimenon (Psalm 10):
TONE SIX
The Lord is righteous and loves righteousness: His countenance looks upon justice.
℣. In the Lord have I put my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to the mountains?
VESPERS
After the Psalm of Introduction (Psalm 103) and the Great Litany, we read the eighteenth kathisma of the Psalter, with the Small Litany after each of the three sections.
To Lord, I have cried, ten stichera are sung, the first six being from the Triodion:
TONE EIGHT
While fasting with the body, brethren, let us also fast in spirit. Let us loose every bond of iniquity; let us undo the knots of every contract made by violence; let us tear up all unjust agreements; let us give bread to the hungry and welcome to our house the poor who have no roof to cover them, that we may receive great mercy from Christ our God (twice).
To the Martyrs
If there be any virtue and if there be any praise, rightly are these things ascribed to the saints. They bowed their necks beneath the sword, for Thy sake who hast bowed the heavens and come down. They shed their blood for Thee, who hast emptied Thyself and taken the form of a servant; they humbled themselves even unto death, following the example of Thy poverty. At their prayers have mercy upon us, O God, according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies.
TONE TWO
by Joseph
To the Apostles
Jesus, the true spiritual Sun, sent you out as lightning into all the world, and by the brightness of your divine preaching, O ye apostles and eyewitnesses of God, He has dispersed the darkness of error and given light to those held fast in the evil gloom of ignorance. Entreat Him to send down upon us also His illumination and great mercy.
Elijah, glorified by fasting, rode in the divine chariot of the virtues and was carried up to the height of heaven. Eagerly follow his example, O my humble soul, and fast from every evil, from envy, strife and passing pleasure. So shalt thou escape the harsh and everlasting agony of Gehenna, crying out to Christ: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
TONE FIVE
by Theodore
To the Apostles
Apostles of God, fervent intercessors for the world, defenders of the Orthodox, ye who have the power to draw near with boldness unto Christ our God: we beseech you, intercede on our behalf, that unhindered we may keep the holy season of the Fast and receive the grace of the consubstantial Trinity. O great and glorious preachers, worthy of all reverence, pray for our souls.
Then four stichera to the saint of the day from the Menaion (of the three stichera provided in the books, we repeat the first).
Glory be to the Father… Both now…; and the Theotokion from the Menaion.
Entrance with the censer, O joyful Light, and the prokimenon (Psalm 11):
TONE FIVE
Thou shalt keep us, O Lord, Thou shalt preserve us from this generation for ever.
℣. Save me, O Lord, for there is no godly man left upon earth.
Lesson: Genesis 1:24–2:3.
Prokimenon (Psalm 12):
TONE SIX
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God.
℣. How long wilt Thou forget me utterly, O Lord? How long wilt Thou turn Thy face away from me?
Lesson: Proverbs 2:1–22.
And the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified.
GREAT COMPLINE
We start as on Monday. After Psalm 69 we begin the third section of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete:
TONE SIX
Canticle One
Irmos: He is for me unto salvation Helper and Protector. He is my God and I glorify Him, God of my fathers is He and I exalt Him, for He is greatly glorified.
From my youth, O Saviour, I have rejected Thy commandments. Ruled by the passions, I have passed my whole life in heedlessness and sloth. Therefore I cry to Thee, O Saviour, even now at the end: Save me.
I lie as an outcast before Thy gate, O Saviour. In my old age cast me not down empty into hell; but, before the end comes, in Thy love grant me remission of sins.
As the Prodigal, O Saviour, I have wasted all my substance in riotous living, and I am barren of the virtues of holiness. In my hunger I cry: O compassionate Father, come quickly out to meet me and take pity on me.
I am the man who fell among thieves, even my own thoughts; they have covered all my body with wounds, and I lie beaten and bruised. But come to me, O Christ my Saviour, and heal me.
The Priest saw me first, but passed by on the other side; the Levite looked on me in my distress but despised my nakedness. O Jesus, sprung from Mary, do Thou come to me and take pity on me.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Grant me the light of grace, from God’s providence on high, that I may flee from the darkness of the passions and sing fervently the joyful tale of thy life, O Mary.
Glory be to the Father…
Trinity beyond all being, worshipped in Unity, take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Theotokos, the hope and protection of those who sing thy praises, take from me the heavy yoke of sin and, pure Lady, accept me in repentance.
Canticle Two
Irmos: Attend, O heaven, and I shall speak and sing in praise of Christ, who took flesh from a Virgin and came to dwell among us.
Like David, I have fallen into lust and I am covered with filth; but wash me clean, O Saviour, by my tears.
I have no tears, no repentance, no compunction; but as God do Thou Thyself, O Saviour, bestow them on me.
I have lost the beauty and glory with which I was first created; and now I lie naked and ashamed.
Lord, Lord, at the Last Day shut not Thy door against me; but open it to me, for I repent before Thee.
Give ear to the groaning of my soul, and accept the tears that fall from mine eyes; O Lord, save me.
O Lover of mankind, who desirest that all men shall be saved, in Thy goodness call me back and accept me in repentance. Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Theotokion
O Theotokos undefiled, Virgin alone worthy of all praise, intercede fervently for our salvation.
Another Irmos: See now, see that I am God, who rained down manna in the days of old, and made springs of water flow from the rock, for My people in the wilderness, by My right hand and by My power alone.
‘See now, see that I am God’: give ear, my soul, to the Lord as He cries to thee; forsake thy former sin, and fear Him as thy Judge and God.
To whom shall I liken thee, O soul of many sins? Alas! to Cain and to Lamech. For thou hast stoned thy body to death with thine evil deeds, and killed thy mind with thy disordered longings.
Call to mind, my soul, all who lived before the Law. Thou hast not been like Seth, or followed Enos or Enoch, who was translated to heaven, or Noah; but thou art found destitute, without a share in the life of the righteous.
Thou alone, O my soul, hast opened the windows of the wrath of thy God, and thou hast flooded, as the earth, all thy flesh and deeds and life; and thou hast remained outside the Ark of salvation.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
With all eagerness and love hast thou run to Christ, turning from thy former path of sin, finding thy food in the trackless wilderness, and fulfilling in purity the commandments of God.
Glory be to the Father…
O Trinity uncreated and without beginning, O undivided Unity: accept me in repentance and save me, a sinner. I am Thy creation, reject me not; but spare me and deliver me from the fire of condemnation.
Both now…
Theotokion
Most pure Lady, Mother of God, the hope of those who run to thee and the haven of the storm-tossed: pray to the merciful God, thy Creator and thy Son, that He may grant His mercy even to me.
Canticle Three
Irmos: O Lord, upon the rock of Thy commandments make firm my wavering heart, for Thou alone art Holy and Lord.
O wretched soul, thou hast not inherited the blessing of Shem, nor hast thou received, like Japhet, a spacious domain in the land of forgiveness.
O my soul, depart from sin, from the land of Haran, and come to the land that Abraham inherited, which flows with incorruption and eternal life.
Thou hast heard, my soul, how Abraham in days of old left the land of his fathers and became a wanderer: follow him in his choice.
At the oak of Mamre the Patriarch gave hospitality to the angels, and in his old age he inherited the reward of the promise.
Thou knowest, O my miserable soul, how Isaac was offered mystically as a new and unwonted sacrifice to the Lord: follow him in his choice.
Thou hast heard—O my soul be watchful!—how Ishmael was driven out as the child of a bondwoman. Take heed, lest the same thing happen to thee because of thy lust. Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
I am held fast, O Mother, by the tempest and billows of sin: but do thou keep me safe and lead me to the haven of divine repentance.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
O holy Mary, offer thy prayer of supplication to the compassionate Theotokos, and through thine intercessions open unto me the door that leads to God.
Glory be to the Father…
O simple Unity praised in Trinity of Persons, uncreated Nature without beginning, save us who in faith worship Thy power.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Mother of God, without knowing man thou hast given birth within time to the Son, who was begotten outside time from the Father; and, strange wonder! thou givest suck while still remaining Virgin.
Canticle Four
Irmos: The prophet heard of Thy coming, O Lord, and he was afraid: how Thou wast to be born of a Virgin and revealed to men, and he said: ‘I have heard the report of Thee and I was afraid.’ Glory to Thy power, O Lord.
I have defiled my body, I have stained my spirit, and I am all covered with wounds: but as physician, Christ, heal both body and spirit for me through repentance. Wash, purify and cleanse me, O my Saviour, and make me whiter than snow.
Thy Body and Thy Blood, O Word, Thou hast offered at Thy Crucifixion for the sake of all: Thy Body to refashion me, Thy Blood to wash me clean; and Thou hast given up Thy spirit, O Christ, to bring me to Thy Father.
O compassionate Lord, Thou hast worked salvation in the midst of the earth, that we might be saved. Thou wast crucified of Thine own will upon the Tree; and Eden, closed till then, was opened. Things above and things below, the creation and all the peoples have been saved and worship Thee.
May the Blood from Thy side be to me a cleansing fount, and may the Water that flows with it be a drink of forgiveness. May I be purified by both, O Word, anointed and refreshed, having as chrism and drink Thy words of life.
As a chalice, O my Saviour, the Church has been granted Thy life-giving side, from which there flows down to us a twofold stream of forgiveness and knowledge, representing the two Covenants, the Old and the New.
I am deprived of the bridal chamber, of the wedding and the supper; for want of oil my lamp has gone out; while I slept the door was closed; the supper has been eaten; I am bound hand and foot, and cast out.
Glory be to the Father…
Undivided in Essence, unconfused in Persons, I confess Thee as God: Triune Deity, one in kingship and throne; and to Thee I raise the great thrice-holy hymn that is sung on high.
Both now…
Theotokion
Thou givest birth and art a virgin, and in both thou remainest by nature inviolate. He who is born makes new the laws of nature, and the womb brings forth without travail. When God so wills, the natural order is overcome; for He does whatever He wishes.
Canticle Five
Irmos: From the night I seek Thee early, O Lover of mankind: give me light, I pray Thee, and guide me in Thy commandments, and teach me, O Saviour, to do Thy will.
In my soul and body, O Lord, I have become like Jannes and Jambres, the magicians of cruel Pharaoh; my will is heavy and my mind is drowned beneath the waters. But do Thou come to my aid.
Woe is me! I have defiled my mind with filth. But I pray to Thee, O Master: wash me clean in the waters of my tears, and make the garment of my flesh white as snow.
When I examine my actions, O Saviour, I see that I have gone beyond all men in sin; for I knew and understood what I did; I was not sinning in ignorance.
Spare, O spare the work of Thine hands, O Lord. I have sinned, forgive me: for Thou alone art pure by nature, and none save Thee is free from defilement.
Thou who art God, O Saviour, wast for my sake fashioned as I am. Thou hast performed miracles, healing lepers, giving strength to the paralysed, stopping the issue of blood when the woman touched the hem of Thy garment.
Holy Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Crossing the stream of Jordan, thou hast found peace, escaping from the deadening pleasures of the flesh. Deliver us also from them, holy Mary, by thine intercessions.
Glory be to the Father…
We glorify Thee, O Trinity, the one God. Holy, holy, holy, art Thou: Father, Son and Spirit, simple Essence and Unity, worshipped for ever.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Virgin inviolate and Mother who hast not known man, from thee has God, the Creator of the ages, taken human flesh, uniting to Himself the nature of men.
Canticle Six
Irmos: With my whole heart I cried to the all-compassionate God: and He heard me from the lowest depths of hell, and brought my life out of corruption.
Rise up and make war upon the passions of the flesh, as Joshua against Amalek, ever gaining the victory over the Gibeonites, thy deceitful thoughts.
O my soul, pass through the flowing waters of time like the Ark of old, and take possession of the land of promise: for God commands thee.
As Thou hast saved Peter when he cried out, ‘Save me’, come quickly, O Saviour, before it is too late, and save me from the beast. Stretch out Thine hand and lead me up from the deep of sin.
I know Thee as a calm haven, O Lord, Lord Christ: come quickly, before it is too late, and deliver me from the lowest depths of sin and despair.
Glory be to the Father…
‘I am the Trinity, simple and undivided, yet divided in Persons, and I am the Unity, by Nature one’, says the Father and the Son and the divine Spirit.
Both now…
Theotokion
Thy womb bore God for us, fashioned in our shape. O Theotokos, pray to Him as the Creator of all, that we may be justified through thine intercessions.
Kontakion
TONE SIX
My soul, O my soul, rise up! Why art thou sleeping? The end draws near, and soon thou shalt be troubled. Watch, then, that Christ our God may spare thee, for He is everywhere present and fills all things.
Canticle Seven
Irmos: We have sinned, we have transgressed, we have done evil in Thy sight; we have not kept or followed Thy commandments. But reject us not utterly, O God of our fathers.
By deliberate choice, my soul, thou hast incurred the guilt of Manasseh, setting up the passions as idols and multiplying abominations. But with fervent heart emulate his repentance and acquire compunction.
Alas, my soul! Thou hast rivalled Ahab in guilt. Thou hast become a dwelling-place of fleshly defilements and a shameful vessel of the passions. But groan from the depths of thy heart, and confess thy sins to God.
Heaven is closed to thee, my soul, and a famine from God has seized thee: for thou hast been disobedient, as Ahab was to the words of Elijah the Tishbite. But imitate the widow of Zarephath, and feed the Prophet’s soul.
Elijah once destroyed with fire twice fifty of Jezebel’s servants, and he slew the prophets of shame, as a rebuke to Ahab. But flee from the example of both of them, my soul, and be strong. Glory be to the Father…
O simple and undivided Trinity, O holy and consubstantial Unity: Thou art praised as Light and Lights, one Holy and three Holies. Sing, O my soul, and glorify Life and Lives, the God of all.
Both now…
Theotokion
We praise thee, we bless thee, we venerate thee, O Mother of God: for thou hast given birth to One of the undivided Trinity, thy Son and God, and thou hast opened the heavenly places to us on earth.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The hosts of heaven give Him glory; before Him tremble cherubim and seraphim; let everything that has breath and all creation praise Him, bless Him, and exalt Him above all for ever.
O righteous Judge and Saviour, have mercy on me and deliver me from the fire that threatens me and from the punishment that I deserve to suffer at the Judgement. Before the end comes, grant me remission through virtue and repentance.
Like the Thief I cry to Thee, ‘Remember me’; like Peter I weep bitterly; like the Publican I call out, ‘Forgive me, Saviour’; like the Harlot I shed tears. Accept my lamentation, as once Thou hast accepted the entreaties of the woman of Canaan.
O Saviour, heal the putrefaction of my humbled soul, for Thou art the one Physician; apply plaster and pour in oil and wine—works of repentance, and compunction with tears.
Like the woman of Canaan I cry to Thee, ‘Have mercy on me, Son of David.’ Like the woman with an issue of blood, I touch the hem of Thy garment. I weep as Martha and Mary wept for Lazarus.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Father without beginning, coeternal Son, and loving Comforter, the Spirit of righteousness; Begetter of the Word of God, Word of the eternal Father, Spirit living and creative: O Trinity in Unity, have mercy on me.
Both now…
Theotokion
As from purple silk, O undefiled Virgin, the spiritual robe of Emmanuel, His flesh, was woven in thy womb. Therefore we honour thee as Theotokos in very truth.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Conception without seed; nativity past understanding, from a Mother who never knew a man; childbearing undefiled. For the birth of God makes both natures new. Therefore, as Bride and Mother of God, with true worship all generations magnify thee.
Healing sickness, Christ the Word preached the good tidings to the poor. He cured the crippled, ate with publicans, and conversed with sinners. With the touch of His hand, He brought back the departed soul of Jairus’ daughter.
The Publican was saved and the Harlot turned to chastity, but the Pharisee with his boasting was condemned. For the first cried ‘Be merciful’, and the second, ‘Have mercy on me’; but the third said, boasting, ‘I thank Thee, O God’, and other words of madness.
Zacchaeus was a publican, yet he was saved; but Simon the Pharisee went astray, while the Harlot received remission and release from Him who has the power to forgive sins. Make haste, O my soul, to follow her example.
O wretched soul, thou hast not acted like the Harlot, who took the alabaster box of precious ointment, and anointed with tears and wiped with her hair the feet of the Lord. And He tore in pieces the record of her previous sins.
Thou knowest, O my soul, how the cities were cursed to which Christ preached the Gospel. Fear their example, lest thou suffer the same punishment. For the Master likened them to Sodom and condemned them to hell.
Be not overcome by despair, my soul; for thou hast heard of the faith of the woman of Canaan, and how through it her daughter was healed by the word of God. Cry out from the depth of thy heart, ‘Save me also, Son of David’, as she once cried to Christ. Glory be to the Father…
Let us glorify the Father, let us exalt the Son, and with faith let us worship the Spirit of God, undivided Trinity and Unity in essence. Let us adore Light and Lights, Life and Lives, giving light and life to the ends of the earth.
Both now…
Theotokion
Watch over thy City, all-pure Mother of God. For by thee she reigns in faith, by thee she is made strong; by thee she is victorious, putting to flight every temptation, despoiling the enemy and ruling her subjects.
Holy Father Andrew, pray for us.
Venerable Andrew, father thrice-blessed, shepherd of Crete, cease not to offer prayer for us who sing thy praises; that we may be delivered from all danger and distress, from corruption and sin, who honour thy memory with faith.
And then again the irmos, Conception without seed…
And the rest of Great Compline.