Monday in the Second Week
MATTINS
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns of repentance in the Tone of the week (see pp. 575 ff).
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE FOUR
I entreat Thee in Thy compassion, O Christ, through true fasting and repentance restore to life my soul, slain by the fruit of disobedience. Grant me ever to walk in the straight path of Thy holy commandments; that so, in the company of all that love Thee, I may share in Thy divine glory, and praise Thy goodness toward all men, O Jesus.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
Tossed in the tempest of the passions, deaf to the voice of my conscience, I call fervently upon thee, O pure Virgin. Suffer me not to perish in my wretchedness, for thou hast borne the Lord whose mercy has no limit. I have no other hope but thee; in thee I put my trust. Let not my enemies triumph over me and mock me. All that thou willest thou hast power to do, for thou art the Mother of the God of all.
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE SIX
As we set out upon the second week of the Fast, direct our steps, O Lord: shine upon us with the sanctifying light of Thy commandments, and make us worthy to offer on bended knees a prayer acceptable to Thee; for Thou art our Father and we are Thy sons. With fear we sing Thy praise and call upon Thy Name.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
Gabriel’s message to the Virgin was the beginning of salvation; for she heard his greeting ‘Hail!’ and did not reject his salutation. She did not doubt like Sarah in the tent, but she replied: ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.’
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 first Biblical Canticle (Exodus 15:1–19).
Canticle One
First Canon
TONE FOUR
by Joseph
Irmos: Drown the three chief commanders…
O Thou who alone art full of love, fountain of mercy, Lamb of God, who in Thy divine power takest away the transgressions of the world, save me, for I am sinking in the waves of sin, and guide me to the haven of repentance.
As Christ has taught us in the Scriptures, a pure fast means the putting away of sin, the rejection of the passions, love for God, attentiveness in prayer, tears of compunction, and acts of mercy to the poor.
My soul has been wounded by the sword of sin and disfigured by the stain of many evils. O Physician of our souls, heal it in Thy mercy and apply the remedy of Thy wise commandments, for Thou lovest mankind.
Theotokion
O most holy Virgin, Tabernacle undefiled, with the fountain of thy mercy wash me clean from the defilement of evil passions: destroy the sin that lies deep within me, O Lady, and grant me many tears of compunction.
Another Canon
TONE SIX
by Theodore
Irmos: He is for me unto salvation Helper and Protector…
Brethren, let us enter with eagerness upon the second week of the light-giving Fast; and rejoicing in the feast which we kept yesterday, with holy gladness let us sing in praise of Christ.
Having come to the season of fasting and compunction, let us weep bitterly and groan aloud. Let us stretch out our hands to the only Redeemer, that He may save our souls.
Glory be to the Father…
Unity in three Persons, sovereign Lord of all, Source of perfection, God without beginning, Father, Son and All-Holy Spirit, do Thou Thyself save us.
Both now…
Theotokion
Who has ever begotten a son not sown by a father according to the law of nature? Yet such a Son the Father begets without a mother. Most strange and marvellous wonder! For thou, pure Virgin, hast at the same time borne both God and man.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O my Christ, how shall I bear Thine anger when Thou comest as Judge? And what shall I say then, for I have not obeyed Thy will, O Christ? But before the end forgive me.
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.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: O all-powerful Deliverer of all…
Journeying upon the uncertain path of life, I have fallen among thieves, and am despoiled by my own thoughts; my wounds stink and are corrupt. O Physician of the sick, at the prayers of all Thy saints give me Thine hand.
The waves of grievous sin confuse my understanding; save me, O Jesus, as once Thou hast saved Peter, for I sing to Thee: O all ye works, bless ye and praise ye the Lord.
Let us kill the passions by abstinence, and through fasting let us make our spirit mount on wings to heaven; and let us cry with contrite hearts: We have sinned against Thee, O God; in Thy compassion forgive us.
Theotokion
Coming to dwell within thy womb, the Most High made thee more spacious than the heavens. He has appointed thee, O Virgin, as an invincible protection unto those that cry: O all ye works, bless ye and praise ye the Lord.
Second Canon
Irmos: The hosts of heaven give Him glory…
Deliver my soul from enslavement to the tyranny of the passions, O Lord, that I may freely do Thy will and with rejoicing glorify Thy power for ever.
O my soul, hate the incontinence of Esau and emulate the virtues of Jacob; catch Beelzebub by the heel and throw him down; through abstinence grow rich in things divine and sing praises unto God for ever.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I honour God one in Essence; I sing the praises of the three Persons, distinct from one another yet not differing in Nature, for there is one Godhead and one Power in the three, Father, Son and Spirit.
Both now…
Theotokion
From thy womb filled with radiance, Christ has come forth as a bridegroom from his chamber, and as a great light He has illumined those in darkness. As lightning has the Sun of righteousness shone out, O pure Virgin, and given light to the world.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
No man became foolish through drinking water, but thou, O Noah, hast exposed thy nakedness after tasting wine; and because of drunkenness Lot sowed seeds of evil. Flee, O my soul, from their example and sing in praise of Christ.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
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.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Eve through the sickness of disobedience…
Let us fast from the rage of the passions, let us delight in unfeigned love, let us feed the poor with bread; and, nourished by the grace of God, with weeping let us quench the tears of future punishment.
O miserable soul, groan aloud, be of sad countenance, and give proof of thy repentance, for the day is now at hand. With all severity the Judge will sit upon His throne and assign to each the due reward of all his actions, as it is written.
I have acquired no good deeds, but have stained the robe with which I was clothed in Holy Baptism. I walk in the darkness of ignorance: raise me up from my despair, O Lord, and guide me on my way by the light of Thy countenance.
Theotokion
O Virgin Mary, Queen of all, I am enslaved by every kind of sin: set me free, for in ways beyond our understanding thou hast given birth to the Lord who saves our souls, the true and living Goodness.
Second Canon
Irmos: Conception without seed…
As soldiers of Christ let us now suffer hardship: for quickly will the time pass by, and on those who have fought bravely Christ will bestow crowns of victory, when He comes in glory upon the earth to judge all the world.
I am all wounded, O my Christ, I am all covered with sores: heal the wounds inflicted on me by the passions, heal the sores and gangrene of my sins, and like the leper may I hear Thee say: ‘I will do so, be thou clean.’
Glory be to the Father…
O Father, single only-Begetter of the only-Begotten Son; O only Light and Brightness from the one and only Light; and Thou, one and only Holy Spirit from the one God, true Lord from the Lord: O holy Three in One, save me as I tell of Thy divinity.
Both now…
Theotokion
The marvel of thy childbearing fills me with wonder, O all-blameless Lady. How hast thou conceived without seed Him whom none can comprehend? How hast thou remained a Virgin and yet become a Mother? ‘Accept the miracle with faith, and worship the Child that is born: for all that He wills, He has the power to do.’
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O my soul, because of fasting Moses beheld God; because of fasting Elijah rode in the chariot of fire, and Paul was taken up to heaven. Therefore let us fast from evil and we also shall be taken up on high, gaining freedom from the passions.
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.
Aposticha:
TONE FIVE
Prayer and fasting are a marvellous weapon. Through them Moses became writer of the Law and Elijah a fiery enemy of false sacrifice. Let us persevere in them, ye faithful, and cry unto the Saviour: Against Thee only have we sinned; have mercy on us (twice).
To the Martyrs
Blessed is the army of the heavenly King: for though the victorious martyrs were born of this earth, yet despising their bodies they made haste to attain to the angelic estate; and through their sufferings they were counted worthy of the honour of the bodiless angels. At their prayers, O Lord, save our souls.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
O blessed among women, we entreat thee as the Mother of God: pray for the salvation of our souls.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE FIVE
O Thou who alone hast created our hearts, remember that we are dust. Condemn us not to the lowest depths of the earth, O sinless Lord.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Prokimenon (Psalm 21):
TONE SIX
Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him: all ye seed of Jacob, glorify Him.
℣. O God, my God, attend to me: why hast Thou forsaken me?
Lesson: Isaiah 4:2–5:7.
Prokimenon (Psalm 22):
TONE SIX
Thy rod and Thy staff have comforted me: Thou hast prepared a table before me.
℣. The Lord is my shepherd, therefore shall I lack nothing.
VESPERS
To Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung, the first three being from the Triodion:
TONE EIGHT
by Joseph
To what shalt thou be likened, wretched soul, indolent and doing nothing good, but seeking always to continue in evil? Judgement is at the door, repent: cleanse thyself by prayer and fasting, and cry to thy Master: I have sinned against Thee; pardon me in Thy compassion and grant me forgiveness.
Wider than the sea is Thy lovingkindness: dry up the evil sea of my transgression, for Thou, O Christ my God, art free from sin. Confer upon my heart compunction, to restrain the headlong torrent of my wickedness, that I may sing Thy praises and glorify Thine ineffable compassion, O longsuffering Benefactor of our souls.
SAME TONE
by Theodore
Leading us through the time of the Holy Fast, O God, Thou hast enabled us to enter on its second week. Grant, O Lord, that in the weeks to come we may run the race with all our power. Give to our souls and bodies grace and strength, that with good courage and in joy we may complete the course and come to the royal day of Thy Resurrection; and wearing crowns of victory we shall praise Thee without ceasing.
Then three stichera to the saint of the day from the Menaion. Glory be to the Father… Both now…; and the Theotokion from the Menaion.
Prokimenon (Psalm 23):
TONE ONE
The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
℣. The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.
Lesson: Genesis 3:21–4:7.
Prokimenon (Psalm 24):
TONE SIX
Look upon me, and have mercy upon me: for I am desolate and poor.
℣. Unto Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.
Lesson: Proverbs 3:34–4:22.
Aposticha:
TONE THREE
Let us keep a spiritual fast: let us loose every bond; let us avoid the stumbling blocks of sin; let us absolve our brothers from their debts, that we too may be forgiven our transgressions. Then we shall be able to cry aloud to God: Let our prayer be set forth in Thy sight as incense, O Lord (twice).
To the Martyrs
The prophets, the apostles of Christ and the martyrs have taught mankind to sing the praises of the consubstantial Trinity; they have given light to the nations that were gone astray and they have made the sons of men companions of the angels.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
Forget not utterly thy people in their poverty, O Lady, but by thine intercessions deliver us from future danger and from present harm; and save, O Theotokos, thy servants from the wrath of the Lord.