Tuesday in Cheese Week
MATTINS
After The Lord is God, the troparion of the saint of the day (twice); Glory be to the Father… Both now…; and the Theotokion in the same Tone.
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns of repentance in the Tone of the week, from the Octoechos.
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE EIGHT
O Word supreme in love, who with the Father and the Spirit hast created all things visible and invisible in Thy wisdom past speech, grant in Thy compassion that we may spend the season of the joyful Fast in profound peace. Destroy the beguilement of bitter sin, granting us contrition, tears of healing, and forgiveness of our trespasses, that, fasting with a fervent spirit and undoubting soul, we may join the angels to sing the praises of Thy power.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
O Mother of God, in thy womb thou hast ineffably conceived the Wisdom and Word, and thou hast brought forth into the world Him that rules the world. In thine arms thou hast held Him that holds all things in unity, providing food for all, the Maker and the Lord. Therefore I entreat thee, O most holy Virgin, and with faith I glorify thee: may I be delivered from my trespasses when I stand before the face of my Creator. O Queen and Virgin pure and undefiled, grant me then thine aid: for all that thou desirest, thou hast power to do.
The Canon
The same order is followed as on Monday (see pp. 87 ff).
Canticle Two
First Canon
TONE THREE
by Joseph
Irmos: As rain upon the meadow and snow upon the grass, let my words fall upon the earth.
The preparation for the Fast shines upon us as the dawn with the light of repentance.
O Christ, in the abundance of Thy compassion deliver me from the outer darkness, for Thou alone art merciful.
Cleanse me by the grace of repentance, O Saviour, and snatch me from the fire and the worm that never sleeps.
Theotokion
O Virgin worthy of all praise, be to us a path of repentance, leading us to the gates of salvation.
Another Canon
TONE TWO
Irmos: Attend, O my people, unto my law…
The season of repentance is at hand; in our love for Christ let us hasten to be cleansed of all transgressions, that when we appear before the Master we may be numbered with the blessed.
Let us hasten now and keep a fast that is constant, pure and sinless, that so we may receive remission of our trespasses.
O Christ, Thou art loving and abundant in mercy, always accepting everyone in repentance; therefore we all glorify Thee for ever.
Glory be to the Father…
Let us glorify the Trinity in Unity, inseparable, unconfused, God undivided in Substance yet distinct in Persons.
Both now…
Theotokion
O pure Virgin Mother, from whom the Word took human flesh, entreat Him to save thy servants from peril.
Irmos: Attend, O my people, unto my law; incline your ear unto the words of my mouth, for I have called upon Thy Name, O Lord.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: Begotten as God before all ages…
Now is the time for turning back: O my soul, hasten to show unto God worthy fruits of repentance. Keeping fast and praying, rise up and cry urgently: Praise, bless and exalt Christ above all for ever.
O brethren, let us cleanse the senses of our soul, and cleave to the Lord with contrition; and let us cry aloud sincerely, in purity and repentance: Praise, bless and exalt Christ above all for ever.
With persistent prayer let us make haste to slay the enemy who lies in wait for us with thoughts of gluttony, and beguiles our senses with uncontrolled desire for swiftly-passing pleasure: and let us praise, bless and exalt Christ above all for ever.
Theotokion
O Virgin, thou hast made our earthly nature heavenly: with the rain of thy merciful compassion make the barren furrow of my earthbound soul fruitful in virtues, and I will praise and exalt Christ above all for ever.
Second Canon
Irmos: The Lord of old foreshadowed…
O ye faithful, let us now in preparation cleanse ourselves not only in our eating but in our actions, and let us begin the Fast with fervent minds, that so we may appear before the Creator in glory for ever.
This should be the manner of our fasting: not in hatred and contention, not in envy and strife, not in self-glory and with hidden deceit, but like Christ in humblemindedness.
Those who show mercy to the poor, so it is said, lend their money wisely to the Saviour. O joy beyond compare! For in return He grants rich blessings unto all eternity.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God one in three. We mortals praise Thee with the angels, O Most Holy Trinity, unceasingly for ever.
Both now…
Theotokion
Hail, pure Virgin, Theotokos Mary, mercy-seat of the world, strength of Orthodox Christians: pray that we may be delivered from the fire that never shall be quenched, as we glorify thee for ever.
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: O Holy Virgin, Bush that burned and yet was not consumed…
Show unto us Thy pure and loving compassion, for Thou dost grant repentance to mortal men for their salvation, O Saviour who alone art rich in mercy.
Woe is me! How fearful is that judgement seat where there is no respect of persons; and we shall stand before it stripped, rendering an account of all the evil actions in our life.
Rain down upon us, O Benefactor, the waters of compassion, drowning all our filth, and grant us opportunity for repentance.
In joy, with eager hearts, together let us all enter the forecourt of the holy Fast and offer hymns of thanksgiving to Christ.
Theotokion
Singing thy praises with true faith, we entreat thee, our firm protection and strong hope: O Virgin, intercede with thy Son for our salvation.
Second Canon
Irmos: O Theotokos undefiled…
Let us now in preparation cleanse ourselves through tears and fasting and great acts of virtue, that we may receive great mercy.
Let us now follow the example of the wise virgins, and in our love for Christ let us hasten to meet Him with brightly burning lamps.
Let us now follow the example of Elijah who fasted and fled from wicked Jezebel, that like him we may be taken up from the earth.
Glory be to the Father…
Holy, Holy, Holy, thrice holy art Thou, Father almighty and consubstantial Son with the Spirit, one Godhead.
Both now…
Theotokion
Thou art our glory, and to thee we run for refuge, O pure and venerated Ever-Virgin: deliver us from torment.
Irmos: O Theotokos undefiled, we magnify for ever thy virginity, that was not burnt by the fire of the Godhead.
The exapostilarion as on Monday (see p. 89).
Aposticha:
TONE THREE
O peoples, let us greet the Fast with joy, for the beginning of the spiritual contest is at hand. Let us lay aside the comforts of the flesh; let us make God’s gifts of grace increase within our soul; let us suffer with Christ as His servants, that we may be also glorified with Him as children of God. And may the Holy Spirit, dwelling in us all, give light to our souls (twice).
To the Martyrs
The soldiers of Christ cast aside the fear of kings and tyrants; boldly and with courage they confessed Him as the Lord of all, their King and God: and now they intercede for our souls.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
O Theotokos, the protection of all who ask thy prayers, in thee we trust, in thee we boast, in thee is all our hope: pray to thy Son for thine unprofitable servants.
VESPERS
To Lord, I have cried, three stichera are sung in the Tone of the week from the Octoechos, and three to the saint of the day from the Menaion; Glory be to the Father…; doxastikon for the saint of the day, if such is appointed; Both now…; and the Stavrotheotokion from the Menaion.
Aposticha:
TONE ONE
With great joy let us accept, ye faithful, God’s tidings that proclaim the coming of the Fast, as did the Ninevites of old, and the harlots and the publicans who listened to John’s preaching of repentance. Through abstinence let us prepare ourselves for communion at the Master’s Liturgy in Zion; with tears let us cleanse ourselves before the Washing of the Feet; and let us pray that we may there behold the fulfillment of the Old Passover and the revealing of the New. Let us make ready to adore the Cross and the Awakening of Christ our God, and let us cry aloud to Him: O Thou who lovest mankind, put us not to shame, deprive us not of our expectation (twice).
To the Martyrs
Wise was the exchange ye made, O saints! Ye gave your blood, and received heaven as your reward; ye suffered tribulation for a time, and now make glad eternally. Wisely have ye traded; forsaking things corruptible, ye have received things incorruptible; and rejoicing with the angels ye sing continually the praises of the consubstantial Trinity.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
When the undefiled Virgin saw upon the Tree the Son who without seed had been born from her womb, unable to endure the wound in her heart, she cried aloud in grief: ‘O Thou who rulest all creation by Thy will, how art Thou lifted on the Cross as one condemned? Thou sufferest, because it is Thy will to save mankind.’
Then Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant…; Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer, after which we sing Hail, Theotokos Virgin… and the other troparia with prostrations, as on weekdays in Lent (see p. 45). Then Kyrie Eleison (forty times); Glory be to the Father… Both now…; Greater in honour than the cherubim… In the Name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father.
Priest: Blessed be He who is, Christ our God…
Reader: O heavenly King, uphold our rulers…
The Prayer of St. Ephraim
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, vain curiosity, lust for power, and idle talk (prostration).
But give to me Thy servant a spirit of soberness, humility, patience, and love (prostration).
O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother: for blessed art Thou to the ages of ages. Amen (prostration).
O God, cleanse me a sinner (twelve times, with a bow after each).
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, vain curiosity, lust for power, and idle talk. But give to me Thy servant a spirit of soberness, humility, patience, and love. O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother: for blessed art Thou to the ages of ages. Amen (prostration).
Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer.
Kyrie eleison (twelve times).
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ our God…
Choir: Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Kyrie eleison (three times).
Give the blessing, Father.
And the priest says the Dismissal.
We say Great Compline, with prostrations, as in Lent (see p. 48).
At the Midnight Office we say the Prayer of St. Ephraim with prostrations, as in Lent.