Thursday in the Second Week
MATTINS
After the first reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE THREE
Christ the Vine bore you as clusters of grapes, and ye give to the earth the new wine of salvation, O God-bearing apostles. I entreat you, therefore, to deliver me from the drunkenness of sensual pleasures; grant to my soul tears of compunction on this holy day of the Fast, that I may gain salvation and life.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
I call to mind the measureless riches of thy compassion and the unconquerable strength of thy power, and I run to thee for protection. Oppressed by troubles and utterly perplexed, with tears I cry from the depths of my heart: O Virgin Theotokos, help me, for thou art the only Guardian of the world.
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE EIGHT
Be merciful to us, O Lord, in this holy season, give us grace always to weep before Thee from our hearts, washing away the defilement of our souls, and growing ever more obedient to Thy holy commandments, that in our fasting we may truly please Thee: and grant us all to see Thy Holy Passion, at the prayers of Thine apostles who brought salvation to the world. Glory to Thee.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
O pure and holy Theotokos, Virgin and Mother, cause the fountain of thy compassion to flow plenteously upon us, and grant us the remission of our faults: for thou art our Guardian and divine Protection.
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 fourth Biblical Canticle (Habakkuk 3:1–19).
Canticle Four
First Canon
TONE THREE
by Joseph
Irmos: Wast Thou angry with the rivers…
Let us cease from the drunkenness of soul-destroying pleasures, and by fasting let us drink deeply from the cup of compunction.
O my soul, fast from all excess of food, and take thy delight in the contemplation of what is good; and thou shalt eat at the heavenly table.
O divine apostles of the Saviour, blazing coals of spiritual fire, burn up the grossness of my passions.
Theotokion
O pure Virgin Mother of God, from thine own flesh hast thou given flesh to Christ: put to death the passions of my flesh.
Another Canon
TONE SIX
by Theodore
Irmos: The prophet heard of Thy coming, O Lord…
O twelve apostles, Peter, Paul, James and John, Andrew, Bartholomew, Philip, Thomas and Matthew, James with Simon and Jude, pray to Christ for our salvation.
O holy apostles, once ye let down your net and caught a hundred and fifty and three fishes; and now ye have let down the net of your teachings into the sea of life, and mystically ye have caught the nations of the earth, bringing them as an offering to the Lord.
Glory be to the Father…
I glorify the Son and the Spirit who come from the Father as light and ray from the sun; the One begotten as Offspring, the Other proceeding and sent forth; divine and coeternal Trinity, adored by all creation.
Both now…
Theotokion
O honoured Virgin, who hast given birth yet kept thy purity, thou hast borne both God and man, a single Person with a twofold Nature. This thy miracle, O Virgin Mother, fills every ear and mind with wonder.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Through the radiance of your preaching ye have become the light of the world, as Christ said to you. O apostles, pray for us that with good courage we may complete the time of abstinence and venerate the Lord’s Resurrection.
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.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: In His divine power, the Lord descended…
Slain by many sins, I bear in life a soul that is dead. Take pity on me and help me with your lifegiving intercessions, O disciples of the Saviour and eyewitnesses of God.
Encompassed by a mist of sin, I have in very truth drawn near to the hell of despair. Therefore give me light, O mystic rays of the Sun of glory and eyewitnesses of God.
O miserable soul, abstain from the passions and be saved. For abstinence from food is not acceptable as a fast, unless we also correct our faults.
Theotokion
Moses in prophecy foresaw thee, Virgin Mother of God, as the burning bush: quench the furnace of my passions, snatch me from the fire of Gehenna, and save me.
Second Canon
Irmos: The hosts of heaven give Him glory…
As the twelve tribes came from Jacob, so has the company of the twelve apostles gone forth from Thee, O Christ, into the world. Through their preaching all the faithful have been born again, and they sing Thy praises for ever.
Ye have overthrown the chariots of the invisible Pharaoh as in the Red Sea, O apostles, and ye have led the Lord’s people into the land of the knowledge of God; and they sing His praises 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 forth, O pure Virgin, and given light to the world.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Ye were initiated by Christ into the mysteries, and now ye are enthroned with Him on high, at all times making fervent intercession on behalf of us sinners. Pray for us, that we may complete the Fast with sincerity of heart.
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: In the bush upon Mount Sinai…
O apostles, ye are rivers flowing from the spiritual Fountain and supplying living water to the pure in heart: through your prayers dry up the streams of my sin and lead me to the paths of salvation.
My miserable soul is tossed in the tempest of sin. O good Pilot, stretch out Thy right hand to me as once Thou hast to Peter; let not the deep waters of despondency cover me, and let me not become food for the monster that devours our souls, O most merciful Christ.
The choir of the apostles prays to Thee, O Jesus King of all, and the ranks of angels entreat Thee: in the abundance of Thy mercies grant to Thy people deliverance from evil, amendment of life and a place in Thy Kingdom.
Theotokion
O pure Virgin Mother, Ark of holiness, in thee virginity and childbearing are combined in ways surpassing nature. Therefore I cry to thee in faith: Sanctify me wholly and deliver me from every operation of the passions that afflict me.
Second Canon
Irmos: Conception without seed…
Living in the world as though ye had no body, ye were like angels in the flesh, O all-blessed apostles. Ye carried in your hearts the Word alone, and drew the nations to the one faith in Christ; and by your knowledge ye have proved the wise and eloquent to be fools.
O Peter, rock and foundation stone of the faith; O Paul, herald and teacher to the Gentiles; O sons of Zebedee, with the other eight apostles: pray fervently to Christ on our behalf, that we may complete the remainder of the Fast with all our strength.
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 manner 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.
In the power of the Spirit ye went out to kings and rulers, fearing neither fire nor sword; as the Lord’s chief captains, ye have put to flight all error and brought salvation to mankind, O all-blessed apostles.
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 EIGHT
In this season of repentance, let us stretch out our hands in works of mercy; and then the ascetic struggles of the Fast will bring us to eternal life. For nothing saves the soul so much as generosity to those in need, and almsgiving combined with fasting will deliver a man from death. Let us do all this with gladness, for there is no better way, and it will bring salvation to our souls (twice).
To the Martyrs
Putting on the breastplate of the Faith and armed with the sign of the Cross, ye showed yourselves courageous fighters. Bravely ye resisted tyrants and cast down the delusions of the devil; and ye were rewarded with a victor’s crown. Intercede with Christ on our behalf, for the salvation of our souls.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
I run to thy protection, O holy Virgin Theotokos, and I know that I shall find salvation: for thou, pure Lady, hast the power to help me.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE ONE
Raise us up, for we are fallen; turn us back, for we have turned away from Thee, O God who lovest mankind and who holdest in unity the ends of the earth.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 33):
TONE SIX
I sought the Lord and He heard me: and delivered me from all my tribulations.
℣. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be in my mouth.
Lesson: Isaiah 6:1–12.
Prokimenon (Psalm 34):
TONE SIX
Awake, O Lord, and attend to my judgement: avenge Thou my cause, my God and my Lord.
℣. Judge them, O Lord, that wrong me: fight against them that fight against me.
VESPERS
to Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung, the first three being from the Triodion:
TONE FOUR
by Joseph
to the special melody Thou hast given an ensign…
Pierced in Thy side and hung upon the Tree, Thou hast poured out life upon me, who was slain by the malice of the serpent through eating from the Tree. Therefore I glorify Thee, O Christ, and entreat Thy lovingkindness: grant me with compunction to complete the Fast, and to venerate Thy Passion and Thy Rising.
The fruit of the Tree brought sorrow to the first-formed man, for Thou hast banished him from Paradise. But, nailed upon the Tree as man, O Saviour, Thou hast called him back to Paradise again. Therefore I cry out to Thee, Deliverer: Set me free from all my sorrow, cleansing me by fasting, tears and penitence, O most loving Jesus, the Saviour of our souls.
TONE FIVE
by Theodore
We sing the praises of Thy lifegiving Cross, O Lord, for it has slain death and caused life to blossom in the world. And now we offer this Thy Cross to Thee in intercession: in these holy days fortify us as we fast, and in the multitude of Thy mercies grant us strength against the passions and the victory of peace, for Thou lovest mankind.
Then three stichera to the saint of the day from the Menaion. Glory be to the Father… Both now…; and the Stavrotheotokion from the Menaion.
Prokimenon (Psalm 35):
TONE FOUR
Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens: and Thy truth reaches unto the clouds.
℣. Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God.
Lesson: Genesis 5:1–24.
Prokimenon (Psalm 36):
TONE SIX
Wait on the Lord, and keep His way: and He shall exalt thee to inherit the earth.
℣. Fret not thyself because of evildoers.
Lesson: Proverbs 6:3–20.
Aposticha:
TONE FIVE
Our first parents did not fast from the Tree of Knowledge, as the Creator had commanded them; and because of their disobedience they harvested the fruit of death, being banished from the Tree of Life and the delight of Paradise. Therefore, O ye faithful, let us fast from the food that perishes and from the passions that destroy us, that we may reap life from the divine Cross, returning with the Good Thief to our ancient fatherland and receiving great mercy from Christ our God (twice).
To the Martyrs
Despising every earthly thing, bravely withstanding torture, ye attained the blessedness for which ye hoped, and were made heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, O martyrs worthy of all praise. Since ye have boldness before God who loves mankind, pray that peace be given to the world, and to our souls great mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
When the Ewe saw her own Lamb hastening to the slaughter, eagerly she followed Him and cried aloud: ‘Where art Thou going, O my sweetest Child? O most beloved Jesus, sinless Lord, rich in mercy, O longsuffering Christ, why dost Thou go so swiftly and so fearlessly? Speak to Thy handmaiden, my well-beloved Son: do not pass Thy Mother by without a word, O all-compassionate God, who grantest to the world great mercy.’