Friday in the Second 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 FOUR

Through fasting raised above the passions that creep upon the earth, let us exalt the Lord who was exalted on the Cross and has raised up the world. With full awareness let us drink the cup of contrition; and let us call to mind the day and hour when we shall stand before the eternal Judge.

Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…

Stavrotheotokion

When she beheld Thee hanging on the Cross, Thy Virgin Mother lamented bitterly and cried to Thee: ‘What is this new and strange wonder, O my Son? How has the lawless people nailed Thee to the Cross, O Life of all, my sweetest Light?’

After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:

TONE FIVE

The grace of Thy Cross shines, O Lord, as lightning upon all the inhabited earth; it utterly destroys the power of devils, and in its strength we shall complete the Fast with ease.

Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…

Stavrotheotokion

When the Mother who bore Thee without the pain of travail beheld Thee lifted on the Cross, she wept lamenting and she cried: ‘Woe is me, my sweetest Son! Now am I wounded to the heart, seeing Thee nailed upon the Cross as an evildoer between two malefactors.’

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 fifth Biblical Canticle (Isaiah 26:9–20).

Canticle Five

First Canon

TONE FOUR

by Joseph

Irmos: The godless shall not see Thy glory, O Christ…

Of Thine own will, O Master, Thou wast exalted on the Cross and hast cast down the enemy. Of Thine own will, then, raise me up in Thy compassion, for I am cast down into the pit of sensual pleasure.

When Thou wast stretched upon the Cross, O Jesus, Thou hast darkened the sun and given light to the whole fullness of the inhabited earth. My soul is darkened by corrupt passions: do Thou guide me to the light.

Still the troubled waters of my mind, O Christ, granting me a peaceful voyage across the sea of the Fast, and make me come to anchor in the haven of the Resurrection.

Theotokion

With pure minds let us honour the pure Lady, the beauty and the excellency of Jacob; and, gaining spiritual beauty by our obedience to the divine will, let us praise her with reverence as the Mother of our God.

Another Canon

TONE FIVE

by Theodore

Irmos: Have mercy, O Christ, upon those that worship Thee…

Crucified, Thou dost release me from corruption; pierced by a lance, Thou makest me immortal. I glorify Thine ineffable mercy, O Christ, for Thou hast come to save me.

Stretching out Thine hands upon the Cross, O Lord, Thou hast killed the invisible Amalek and rescued Thy people: therefore we sing the praises of Thy power.

Glory be to the Father…

Let us praise the Godhead in three Persons, one Sovereignty above all essence: Father without beginning, Son and Holy Spirit.

Both now…

Theotokion

Him whom heaven could not contain, thou hast conceived within thy womb and borne as child. O fearful wonder beyond speech! Therefore we all sing in praise of thee, O Virgin undefiled.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

For my sake Thou hast endured crucifixion, drunk vinegar, and cried ‘It is finished’: help me to finish the course of the Fast and grant that I may see Thy Rising.

Irmos: Have mercy, O Christ, upon those that worship Thee by night, and give them peace; for Thy commandments are light and healing to Thy servants, O Lord who lovest mankind.

Canticle Eight

Irmos: The Offspring of the Theotokos saved the Holy Children…

Nailed to the Cross in Thy compassion, Thou hast opened Paradise to the Thief. I have fallen among thieves through the cunning of the devil; my soul and my whole body have been wounded. Heal me and in Thy love for mankind open unto me the gates of repentance.

Through fasting let us glorify our flesh and enrich our souls with virtues. Let us feed the poor and so acquire unfailing wealth in heaven, and let us cry: O all ye works of the Lord, praise ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.

O Saviour, supreme in love, at Thy Passion the creation shook with fear, seeing Thee nailed upon the Cross. My mind is always shaken by the assaults of the serpent: I pray Thee, merciful Lord, establish it firmly on the unbroken rock of Thine own will.

Theotokion

Thou art the Gate of God that is closed, through which the Lord alone has passed: direct me on the paths of God and open unto me the gates of salvation, O Virgin full of grace. Thou art the only Protection of mankind, and to thee I flee for refuge.

Second Canon

Irmos: Sing, O ye peoples, sing in praise of the Maker of creation…

I sing the praises of the holy Wood on which Thou, my Christ, wast crucified, and I bless Thee above all for ever.

The transgressors crucified and killed Thee on Golgotha, O Christ: but Thou dost live and save us for ever.

We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

In a strange manner the Trinity is divided, while yet remaining undivided as God. Him do we exalt above all for ever.

Both now…

Theotokion

Intercede for those who sing thy praises, O All-Undefiled, that they may be delivered from every danger and temptation.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Strengthening me by the power of the Cross, O Lord, grant me with good courage to complete the course of the Fast.

We praise, bless and worship the Lord…

Irmos: Sing, O ye peoples, sing in praise of the Maker of creation, before whom angels tremble, and exalt Him above all for ever.

Canticle Nine

Irmos: Christ, the corner-stone not cut by hand of man…

The prophet saw Thee, Saviour, as a stone cut from the mountain of the Virgin; and at Thy Crucifixion Thou hast rent the rocks. I am weighed down by the stone of insensitivity: O Lord all-merciful, do Thou set me free.

O my soul, fast from wickedness and take thy delight in divine love. Open wide the door to every thought of good, and by abstinence and prayer guard the entrance against evil.

O my Master and Saviour, through Thy Cross Thou hast condemned the separation that made man an enemy of God. Save me, who am condemned, and though I am defiled by passions and darkened by sins, send me not to the punishment of Gehenna.

Theotokion

When Thou shalt come in glory to judge the world, spare me, O Christ. At the prayers of Thy Mother, destroy the dark mist of my wickedness and make me an inheritor of Thy heavenly Kingdom.

Second Canon

Irmos: Rejoice, Isaiah…

Through Thy Crucifixion Thou dost open Paradise again and deliver me from the eternal death of disobedience. With rejoicing I partake of life, and I magnify Thee as my God, O Thou who lovest mankind.

O Lord, Thy lifecreating Cross has turned the instrument of the curse into a seal of blessing. Beholding Thee upon it, we who before were dead are brought to life, and singing Thy praises we magnify Thee as our Master.

Glory be to the Father…

O honoured Trinity, consubstantial, without beginning, source of life, O undivided Unity, I sing Thy praises: Father unbegotten, Word and Son begotten, and Holy Spirit, save us all who glorify Thee.

Both now…

Theotokion

Beyond our understanding is thy childbearing, O Mother of God. For without man thou hast conceived, and in virginity thou hast given birth; and the Child that thou hast borne is God. We magnify Him, O Virgin, and we call thee blessed.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O precious Cross, my strength and refuge, bestow upon me light and joy; purify me through abstinence and deliver me from temptation, that I may give thee glory and magnify Christ the Master.

Irmos: Rejoice, Isaiah: the Virgin has conceived and borne a Son, Emmanuel, who is both God and man; and Orient is His Name. We magnify Him, O Virgin, and we call thee blessed.

Aposticha:

TONE EIGHT

Killing the passions, the present Fast brings promise of healing to those wounded by sin. God has given us this Fast to help us: let us honour and accept it as the divinely-written tables of the Law, given through Moses. Let us not choose wanton self-indulgence, because of which the tables once were broken; let us not perish with those whose carcasses fell in the wilderness. Let us not be like the Jews, of a sad countenance, but let us rejoice with the Church. Let us not be hypocrites like the Pharisees, but in the spirit of the Gospels let us put on the beauty of holiness, glorying in the Cross of Christ the Deliverer of our souls (twice).

To the Martyrs

What shall we call you, O saints? Cherubim, for Christ rested upon you? Seraphim, for ye glorified Him without ceasing? Angels, for ye have renounced the body? Powers, for ye perform miracles? Manifold are your names, but greater are your gifts of grace: pray for the salvation of our souls.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Stavrotheotokion

‘What is this strange wonder?’ cried the Virgin to the Lord, as a mother to her child. ‘The bitter pangs I knew not when I bore Thee, O my Son, now have pierced my heart. O Light of mine eyes, I cannot bear to see Thee nailed upon the Cross. But do Thou hasten to arise, as Thou hast promised, that with all the world I may glorify Thy dread and saving work.’

SIXTH HOUR

Troparion of the Prophecy:

TONE ONE

Night and day we fall down before Thee, O Lord, beseeching Thee to grant unto our souls remission of sins, that we may worship Thee in peace and glorify Thee, for Thou lovest mankind.

Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.

Prokimenon (Psalm 37):

TONE FOUR

O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy displeasure.

℣. For Thine arrows stick fast in me, and Thy hand presses me sore.

Lesson: Isaiah 7:1–14.

Prokimenon (Psalm 38):

TONE SIX

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear unto my tears.

℣. I said, I will take heed to my ways: that I offend not in my tongue.

VESPERS

To Lord, I have cried, ten stichera are sung, beginning with the following:

TONE FOUR

Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. In the multitude of Thy mercy visit my soul, and release me from the burden of my transgressions, for Thou alone lovest mankind (twice).

Then four stichera to the Martyrs in the Tone of the week, and four stichera to the saint of the day from the Menaion.

Glory be to the Father…

Verse for the Dead in the Tone of the week.

Both now…

Theotokion in the Tone of the week.

Prokimenon (Psalm 39):

TONE FOUR

O Lord, let Thy mercy and Thy truth continually help me.

℣. I waited patiently for the Lord: and He hearkened unto me, and heard my prayer.

Lesson: Genesis 5:32–6:8.

Prokimenon (Psalm 40):

TONE SIX

I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.

℣. Blessed is he who considers the poor and needy.

Lesson: Proverbs 6:20–7:1.

And the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified.

COMPLINE

In the modern Greek use, the Akathist Hymn is sung at Small Compline, exactly as on the previous Friday (see p. 192) except that we sing the second section of the Hymn, beginning at the fourth ikos The shepherds heard the angels…, and ending with the seventh kontakion As Simeon drew near… (see pp. 400 ff). We say the kontakion to the Martyrs As the firstfruits of creation… There is no reading from the Gospel at the end.