Friday in Cheese Week
The order of service is the same as on Wednesday in the week before Lent.
MATTINS
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE SEVEN
O Holy Cross, raise up the horn of the Churches; by thy power cast down the arrogance of heretics and make glad the congregations of the Orthodox. Count us all worthy to be present when thou art carried in procession, and to venerate thee as the footstool of Christ. For in thee, O blessed Wood, we glory.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
O blessed Theotokos, thou seest those on earth, and thou dost feel and suffer with us in our lowliness: take pity on thy people in distress. Pray for us constantly, lest we perish in our sins. O Virgin undefiled and all-holy, intercede for the salvation of our souls before the God who is always ready to forgive.
The Canon
We use the Canons from the Octoechos, the Menaion and the Triodion, as on Wednesday, except that the three-canticled Canons are used at Canticle Five, not Canticle Three.
Canon of the Triodion
TONE EIGHT
by Joseph
Canticle One
Irmos: Having crossed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped from the wickedness of Egypt, the children of Israel shouted aloud: ‘Let us sing to our Deliverer and our God.’
The holy season of abstinence shines upon us all with the light of repentance, driving away the darkness of sin. Let us welcome the Fast with willing hearts.
See how the beauty of repentance forms the soul anew at the approach of Lent! With faith and vigilance let us enter on the Fast, and receive remission of our sins.
Principalities and dominions, cherubim and all the powers of heaven, pray that we may spend the season of the Fast in repentance and a spirit of prayer.
Theotokion
O holy Virgin, the only succour of the faithful, to all who acknowledge thee as pure Theotokos, grant the assistance of thy prayers during the season of the Fast.
Canticle Three
Irmos: O Lord, Thou Builder of the vault of heaven…
Through fasting let us flee from the passions that destroy the soul. In the past we grieved the merciful God with our sins: let us now show fruits of compunction.
With zeal and foresight let us all kindle our lamps with the oil of good works, that rejoicing we may enter with the wise virgins into the bridal chamber of light.
O prophets divinely inspired, O godlike martyrs and holy disciples of the Saviour, we entreat you, pray to Him that all of us may rightly begin and acceptably complete the course of the Fast.
Theotokion
Thou art the cause of all good things, O Lady. We entreat thee urgently: enter with us, by thy mediation, into the struggle of the Fast, and grant us to complete it for our souls’ salvation.
Irmos: O Lord, Thou Builder of the vault of heaven and Founder of the Church, do Thou confirm me in Thy love: for Thou art our supreme desire and the support of the faithful, O Thou who alone lovest mankind.
Sessional hymn for the saint of the day from the Menaion; Glory be to the Father… Both now…; Stavrotheotokion from the Menaion.
Canticle Four
Irmos: O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation: I have considered Thy works, and I have glorified Thy Godhead.
Shining upon us as the dawn, the grace-giving Fast provides us now with a time for repentance, dispersing the darkness of our sins.
God has shown mercy to us. Let us in our turn show mercy: let us feed the poor, and with the divine water of fasting let us wash the defilement from our souls.
O heavenly angels, entreat the Giver of good to accept in His infinite mercy our poor and mean repentance.
Theotokion
O pure mercy-seat of sinners, Holy Lady, through thy mediation tear up the record of my sins.
Canticle Five
Irmos: O Light that never sets, why hast Thou cast me from Thy face? And why has the alien darkness covered me in my wretchedness? But I entreat Thee, cause me to return, and direct my paths to the light of Thy commandments.
Let us make this present day the first beginning of a life of holiness; with faith and eagerness let us prepare ourselves for ascetic struggles, offering to the Master of all both the labours of our flesh and the good fruits of our soul.
The Fast enabled Moses to share in the vision of God. Follow his example, O my soul; establish within thyself by fasting a path of ascent to God, and thou wilt behold His glory.
At the prayers of the holy apostles and martyrs of blessed memory, we entreat Thee, merciful Jesus, count us worthy to complete the time of the Fast in repentance, rejecting every kind of sin.
Theotokion
As we prepare, O Lady, to enter through the gateway of the Fast, we entreat thee, gateway of God, to enter in together with thy servants; enlarge our thoughts and understanding, that we may perform God’s saving will.
The Three-Canticled Canons
Canticle Five
First Canon
TONE SIX
by the same Joseph
Irmos: I entreat Thee, gracious Lord…
Thine hands nailed to the Cross, Thy side pierced by the lance, out of love for mankind Thou hast torn in pieces the record of the sins of fallen Adam. Therefore we glorify Thee in hymns, O Giver of life.
Deceitfully the evil serpent implanted passions in my soul and made me an exile from Paradise; but with Thine hands nailed to the Cross, O Saviour, Thou hast raised me up to incorruption.
The holy season of the Fast has come and is at hand, cleansing the passions of our soul and washing our spiritual wounds. O ye faithful, let us make haste and welcome it with gladness.
The precious season of the Fast is here, clothing all of us with inward joy. Come, let us welcome it with gladness, cleansing ourselves through abstinence and prayer.
To Him who humbled Himself for our sake, let us bring fasting, tears, prayer and humility, that in the day of abstinence He may reward us with the remission of our sins.
Theotokion
With the radiance of thy light, O gentle Queen of the world, drive out the darkness from my soul and disperse the night of my sins, that I may sing thy praises eagerly and call thee blessed.
Another Three-Canticled Canon
TONE EIGHT
Irmos: O Light that never sets…
I venerate Thy Cross, through which Thou hast saved me, O Lord who lovest mankind, and I praise Thy divine and redeeming Passion, O Word and Master, which has freed me from the passions that afflict me, and brought me to a life of joyful peace.
Trusting in the Cross, we defeat the cunning of our enemies. Nailed to the Cross in faith, we have drunk the milk of innocence.
Glory be to the Father…
We all glorify and worship the Father and the Word and the Holy Spirit; we proclaim the revelation of their unity in Nature, and we acknowledge the threeness of the Persons, distinguished without alteration or confusion.
Theotokion
All-pure and holy Virgin, thou art the hope of the ends of the earth, the joy of thy servants. Watch over those who honour thine ikon with love, and by thine intercessions deliver us all from the enemy, for thou sharest our anxiety and sorrow.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Lord, direct on Thy straight path all Thy servants who honour Thee with love. Strengthen us for the contest of the Fast, lead us onwards, and count us worthy of Thy Kingdom.
Irmos: O Light that never sets…
Canticle Six
Irmos: Be merciful to me, O Saviour…
By fasting, our Deliverer has appointed the present season for the cleansing of the stains upon our souls. With faith and fervent hearts let us draw near to receive pardon.
O Christ, Thou hast accepted the groaning of the Publican and the tears which the harlot offered Thee from her heart: accept our prayers also in Thy love for mankind and grant us forgiveness.
At the supplications of Thy preachers and prophets, martyrs and apostles, holy bishops and of all the righteous, O Christ, send down upon our souls the cleansing of our offences.
Theotokion
O pure Virgin, thou alone hast brought strength to the weakness of man’s nature by thy divine childbearing: come to my help as I enter now upon the holy contest of the Fast.
Irmos: Be merciful to me, O Saviour, for many are my transgressions, and lead me up, I beseech Thee, from the abyss of evil: for unto Thee have I cried; hearken unto me, O God of my salvation.
Kontakion for the saint of the day; if there is no appointed kontakion, the sessional hymn to the Martyrs in the Tone of the week.
Canticle Seven
Irmos: The Hebrew Children in the furnace boldly trampled upon the flames, and changed the fire to dew as they cried aloud: ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, for evermore.’
Glorified through fasting, Elijah once was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire. Follow his example, O my soul, and kill the lusts of the flesh through abstinence.
Behold, now is the season of abstinence, revealing to thee the light of salvation. Be not heedless of the longsuffering God, O my soul, but cry aloud urgently: In Thy love take pity on me.
Fasting quenched the fire and preserved the Children unburnt by the flames. At their prayers, O Jesus, in Thy great compassion, deliver me from the eternal fire.
Theotokion
O only help of men, be the succour of us thy servants in this time of abstinence; may we gain God’s mercy by repentance and receive the Kingdom of Heaven.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The Chaldaean tyrant in his madness ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more for the holy Children; but seeing them saved by a greater power, he cried aloud: ‘O ye Children, bless the Creator and Deliverer; O ye priests, sing His praises; O ye people, exalt Him above all for ever.’
With eagerness let us heat the furnace of repentance and burn up in it all the pleasures of the body; let us entreat Him who is rich in mercy that we may escape from the fire that is to come, and let us cry aloud: O ye priests, bless, O ye people, exalt Him above all for ever.
Helped by the coming season of the Fast, may we refrain from every sin. Let us not turn aside to things below, let us not run with slothfulness; but in a few short days, through contrition of heart let us wipe away the stains of many years, singing the praises of our only God.
The ranks of angels, the company of martyrs, the holy choir of the Lord’s apostles, and the congregation of saints, bishops and prophets pray to Thee, loving and all-merciful God: grant true repentance to Thy servants during the season of abstinence that is now beginning.
Theotokion
O all-pure Mother of God, to thee we flee for refuge: take pity on us and, through thy holy intercessions, win the mercy of thy Son and Lord upon us all during the season of the Fast that is now beginning. May it be a time of salvation for the faithful who sing in praise of thee for ever.
First Three-Canticled Canon
Irmos: Accepting danger for the sake of their fathers’ laws…
We have not guarded the inheritance which the Father gave us, but have become enslaved to the law of sin. Yet Thou hast stretched out Thine hands upon the divine Cross, and thereby Thou hast given freedom to us all. With faith we offer to Thee this Thy Cross in these holy days: have mercy upon us, merciful Lord, as we exalt Thee above all for ever.
By Thy Cross, O Christ, Thou hast broken down the middle wall of partition, and restored the fullness of peace to the ends of the earth: grant us, O Lord, to spend the coming Fast in peace of soul, as we praise Thee without ceasing and exalt Thee above all for ever.
Today the grace of the Fast shines upon all of us with the light of the sun, cleansing us from the gloom of sin. Though held fast by many passions, let us now approach in joy and thankfully accept this gift, crying aloud: Praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Tasting with bitterness the forbidden fruit in Paradise, the first man was condemned and cast out from blessedness. But, fixed with nails upon the Cross, Thou hast nailed to it the evil record of his sin. Therefore we sing for ever the praises of Thy great compassion.
Rejecting the law of fasting, we have slipped into the pit of sin. Greatly do we need the help of the Fast that is now beginning. As we pass through it, O merciful Lord, send down upon us from heaven grace and the fullness of Thy peace, for we cry aloud: Praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Theotokion
Restoration of the fallen, mediator of sinners, refreshment of strangers, consolation of the sorrowful, O pure and holy Virgin, drive away the grief from my soul, and pray that God may send me consolation from on high, for eagerly I sing thy praises and exalt thee above all for ever.
Second Three-Canticled Canon
Irmos: O ye angels and ye powers of heaven…
When the creation saw Thee crucified in the flesh upon the Cross, O merciful Lord, the light of day was turned to darkness, the earth quaked and all things were shaken.
Raised up on the Cross, O Saviour, Thou hast raised up with Thyself the nature of man, and from Thy divine side Thou hast poured out the riches of salvation upon all who venerate with faith Thy most pure Passion.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Trinity is one God: the Father is not begotten like the Son, nor does the Son proceed like the Spirit, but each keeps His distinctive properties; and I glorify the Three as Light and God for ever.
Theotokion
Tell us, how hast thou given birth to the Son who shone forth timelessly from the Father, and who is glorified with the Holy Spirit? He alone can understand, who was pleased to be born from thee.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Accept our penitence, O Lord, for Thou art by nature full of lovingkindness, and deliver us from the snares of the enemy, that with faith and love we may sing the praises of Thy holy Kingship.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: O ye angels and ye powers of heaven, sing to Him who sits upon the throne of majesty, and is glorified unceasingly as God: bless, praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Heaven was amazed at this, the ends of the earth were struck with wonder, that God should be revealed incarnate unto men. Thy womb became more spacious that the heavens: therefore, O Theotokos, the chief leaders of the angels and mankind magnify thee.
Behold, the time of light has come, the holy day shines upon us. Flee from thy dark passions, O my soul, and welcome the dawn that leads thee to the light; make glad by drinking the wine of compunction, and hate the drunkenness of pleasure.
How excellent is this time of fasting, which Thou hast ordained for all the faithful, O Christ. It turns us from our sins, and bestows upon us saving forgiveness and the gifts of grace. We entreat Thee, O Saviour, grant us in the coming Fast a share in Thy blessings.
O compassionate Lord, who dost ever rain upon us Thy rich mercies, give us tears to wash away our defilement; fill our thoughts with the desire for Thee; grant us faith and unfeigned love, complete repentance, and perfect conformity to Thee who alone art plenteous in mercy.
O godlike assembly of all the angels, O wondrous choir of saints, pray fervently to the loving Saviour: may He give us strength to finish without stumbling the divine course of this present fast, and may He make us victorious.
Theotokion
O Virgin who lovest the righteous, Mother of the righteous Saviour, direct us all aright, for we are defiled by countless passions and by unclean thoughts, and weighed down by an intolerable burden of sin: and enable us, O Lady, to magnify thee with due praise as Theotokos.
First Three-Canticled Canon
Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss…
Mortal men and angels are alike too weak to give Thee thanks for Thy compassion, O Benefactor: for of Thine own will Thou hast taken flesh, becoming poor for our sakes; Thou wast stretched upon the Tree for us and hast become accursed, to release mankind from the curse of old.
The bright and joyful day of abstinence is at hand. Come, my soul, with joyful face let us go to meet the Master, asking Him to send down grace upon us from on high, giving us the strength to correct our many faults, that so we may escape the terrors of Gehenna in the life to come.
For those encompassed by the darkness of their sins, the holy gateway to repentance now stands open, bringing light to all. Then, O my soul, make haste: turn away from the dark self-indulgence of the passions, and so thou shalt receive eternal joy in the life to come.
Of Thine own will, O Giver of Life, Thou hast stretched out Thine hands upon the Cross, and gathered into unity all that was divided. Thy side was pierced by a spear, O longsuffering Lord, and so Thou hast raised us from the fall that was brought upon us through the woman from Adam’s side. With thanksgiving, then, we sing in praise of Thy compassion.
The light-giving Fast is now at hand and welcomes us, setting before us a table of ascetic struggles. With sober vigilance, ye faithful, let us all accept the holy cup of cleansing tears, lest in the life to come we be condemned to the weeping for which there is no consolation.
Theotokion
Thou art the protection of all that put their hope in thee, O Theotokos, and their unsleeping guardian in distress. Deliver us from everlasting punishment and from the bitter torments which await us, that with due thankfulness we may sing the praises of thy majesty.
Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss to praise thee as is due: even a spirit from the world above is filled with dizziness, when it seeks to sing thy praises, O Theotokos. But since thou art good, accept our faith: thou knowest well our love inspired by God, for thou art the Protector of Christians and we magnify thee.
Second Three-Canticled Canon
Irmos: Foreign to mothers is virginity…
We bow down before Thy wounds, O Bestower of life, having thereby been delivered from the passions of sin and come to know that we have been sealed by Thy precious Cross for our salvation and as an aid against every assault of the enemy.
O most Merciful One, Who of Thine own will wast crucified for the salvation of all, with the effulgence of Thy Cross illumine the souls of those who hymn Thy sufferings, and direct and guide our life to the right path.
We have sinned, violating Thy commandments, O Savior Who lovest mankind, and through indifference we have wandered far away from the path of Thy divine precepts; yet recall our souls from falsehood, O Compassionate One.
Praise, honor and glory are due the Trinity as the sole Dominion, the sole Kingship, the worshipful Unity of the Godhead, unconfused, indivisible, inseparable in essence, continually magnified.
In that Thou art merciful, be Thou moved to mercy by the supplications of Thy most pure Mother, O most compassionate King of glory, when Thou comest to judge Thy servants; for we all believe in Thee, and we know Thee to be God.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
The splendid fast which now cometh upon us doth comprise a banquet of ascetic feats set forth before us; wherefore, O ye faithful, with sobriety let us all take up the honored cup of cleansing tears, that we may not be tormented by inconsolable weeping in hades.
Katavasia: Foreign to mothers is virginity, and strange is childbirth to virgins; yet both were accomplished in thee, O Theotokos. Wherefore, all of us, the peoples of the world, magnify thee unceasingly.
The Hymn of Light in the Tone of the week.
Aposticha:
TONE SIX
Before Christ’s death upon the saving Cross, sin ruled supreme and ungodliness prevailed. Men were counted blessed because of sensual pleasures, and only a few despised the appetites of the flesh. But once the mystery of the Cross was brought to pass, the tyranny of the demons was quenched by the knowledge of God, and heavenly virtue came to dwell upon the earth. So fasting now is held in honour, abstinence is glorified, and prayer is offered up. As a testimony to these things, the present season has been given to us by the crucified Christ our God, for the salvation of our souls (twice).
To the Martyrs
At the commemoration of Thy saints, O Lord, the whole creation keeps festival; heaven with the angels greatly rejoices, and the earth with all mankind makes glad. At their intercession have mercy upon us.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
When the all-pure Virgin saw Thee hanging on the Cross, with a mother’s grief she cried aloud: ‘O my Son and my God, O my beloved Child, how dost Thou endure this shameful suffering?’
Then It is a good thing to give thanks…, and the rest of Lenten Mattins, as on Wednesday (see p. 96). The Hours also are read as on Wednesday.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE SIX
Grant us help in our affliction and save us, O Lord, born of a Virgin, for Thou lovest mankind.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 32):
TONE ONE
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have set our hope in Thee.
℣. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
Lesson: Zechariah 8:7–17.
Prokimenon (Psalm 46):
TONE THREE
O sing praises, sing praises unto our God: sing praises, sing praises unto our King.
℣. O clap your hands, all ye people.