Monday in the Fourth Week
MATTINS
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns of repentance in the Tone of the week.
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE EIGHT
O ye faithful, let us venerate the holy Wood on which the Maker of all was raised. It lies before us, sanctifying in soul and body those who draw near, cleansing the defilement of sin from all who fast with faith and ever sing in praise of Christ, the only Benefactor.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
The Word of the Father came down to earth, and an angel of light cried to the Theotokos: ‘Hail, blessed Maiden, who alone hast guarded safely the bridal chamber: thou shalt conceive the eternal God and Lord, that in His divine power He may save mankind from error.’
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE THREE
Now that we have come, my Christ, to the middle of the time of abstinence, and have reached the veneration of Thy lifegiving Cross, falling down before it we call upon Thee: Mighty art Thou, who lovest mankind, and mighty are Thy works, for Thou hast made manifest Thy precious Cross. In fear we venerate it as we cry: Glory to Thy boundless compassion.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
Vine that has never known the husbandman, O Virgin, thou hast borne the ripe Cluster of grapes. From Him we receive the wine of salvation, making glad the souls and bodies of us all. Therefore do we call thee blessed, for thou art the cause of all good things, and for ever with the Angel we cry out to thee: Hail, O full of grace.
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.
Canticle One
First Canon
TONE EIGHT
by Joseph
Irmos: The rod of Moses working wonders…
The feast of the veneration of the Cross has come, shining as the sun with the light of salvation, and shedding its radiance upon all held fast by the darkness of the passions. Let us then make haste with pure hearts to adore the Cross.
Cleansed by the grace of the Fast, let us in thanksgiving cry aloud with a pure mind unto Him who alone is pure: Thou hast given Thy blood for all of us, O Word, and Thou dost sanctify us by Thy Cross.
Bound hand and foot at all times by the attacks of the serpent, I lie gravely wounded. O Saviour, by Thy Passion on the Cross Thou hast raised up our first parents from their fall: raise me up and guide me to the fulfillment of Thy will.
Stavrotheotokion
Standing by Thy Cross, O Lord and Master, the Virgin looked upon Thy wounds: and, pierced to the heart, she cried aloud: ‘Woe is me, my Son! I felt no pains of childbirth when I bore Thee, but now I am broken by anguish.’
Another Canon
TONE THREE
by Theodore
Irmos: Let us sing to the Lord, who has worked marvellous wonders…
This is a holy week of light, in which the precious Cross is exalted in the sight of all the world. With souls enlightened let us come, kissing it with fear and love, and let us glorify in songs Christ who was crucified upon it.
In solemn procession we all venerate Thy Cross, O Christ, and with expectant hope we glorify Thy Resurrection; we sing the praises of the nails that pierced Thee, and we honour Thy spear, for through them the eyes and lips of our soul and body are made pure.
Glory be to the Father…
O Trinity praised in Unity of Essence, Father and Son with the All-Holy Spirit, Godhead without beginning, eternal and uncreated, Life and fountain of Light: with all mortal men we worship Thee who hast brought all things into being.
Both now…
Theotokion
We sing thy praises, O pure Virgin Theotokos, chariot of the cherubim, from whom God was born. For thou alone wast made a fountain of incorruption, bringing life to all, and from thy waters we draw healing.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Reaching the middle of the forty days’ Fast, with eager hearts let us go forward with Christ to the divine Passion; that, crucified with Him, we may be sharers in His Resurrection.
Irmos: Let us sing to the Lord, who has worked marvellous wonders in the Red Sea: for in the deep waters He has drowned our enemies and has saved Israel. To Him alone let us sing, for He is glorified.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: The Chaldaean tyrant in his madness…
O Lord, have mercy and take pity on my soul and mind that lie wounded by poisonous passions; protect me with the breastplate of Thy Cross and with the Blood that flows from Thy side, that I may sing with all my heart: O ye priests bless and ye people exalt Him above all for ever.
Moses of old prefigured thee, O precious Cross, when he lifted up his arms upon the mountain and put Amalek to flight; and today, as we venerate thee, we overthrow the alien hosts of demons and we sing with faith: O ye priests bless and ye people exalt Him above all for ever.
I am shaken by passions, ensnared by enemies, and led away prisoner by evil habits. Take pity on me, O compassionate Lord, and arm me with the breastplate of Thy Cross, that with heart unshaken I may sing: O ye Children bless, O ye priests praise, O ye people exalt Him above all for ever.
Stavrotheotokion
Groaning in anguish, lamenting with a mother’s grief, unable to bear the agony in thy heart, thou hast gazed upon the Cross and cried to Him that was born from thy womb: ‘O Child, what is this that I see? How dost Thou suffer who by nature canst not suffer? It is because Thou seekest to deliver from corruption all mankind.’
Second Canon
Irmos: God is glorified on high…
Beholding the Cross of Christ exalted in the Church, let us draw near in fear and faith, O brethren, and let us venerate it crying: Thou hast brought life to mortal men, O Giver of Light.
Heaven revealed thee, O lifegiving Cross, as the ensign of victory in battle, the unconquerable weapon of kings, the destroyer of enemies, the horn of the Churches, and the salvation of the faithful.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I glorify the Holy Father, I honour the Holy Son, and I sing in praise of the Holy Spirit, simple Trinity, one in Essence. Each Person is God, three Lights yet one Light coming from a single Sun.
Both now…
Theotokion
Hail, Gate through which none may pass; hail, Bush unconsumed; hail, golden Vessel of manna; hail, Mountain not cut by hand of man; hail, Theotokos, the unbroken hope and rampart of those that put their trust in thee.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O brethren, having come to the middle of the Fast, in good courage and with willing hearts let us complete with God’s help the part which still remains, that in great joy we may behold the Passover of the risen Christ.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: God is glorified on high by the angels with never-silent voices; let the heaven of heavens, the earth and the mountains, the hills and the deep and all mankind sing to Him, their Maker and Creator, bless, praise and exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Every ear trembled with fear…
When Jacob blessed his grandchildren of old, he openly prefigured the precious Cross. Through the Cross, O compassionate Lord, give us Thy blessing; and to those that venerate it and glorify Thee as the Deliverer of all, grant grace and sanctification.
Cleansed in soul and mind by the water of fasting, O ye faithful, let us embrace the lifegiving and divine Wood that is exalted before us all: for it is a fountain of forgiveness and heavenly light, a source of life and true rejoicing.
I know, O Lord, that Thou wilt come as dread Judge in the glory of the Godhead, to lay bare the hidden sins of all. Therefore I call upon Thee in Thy love: I have sinned, forgive me; put me not to shame, but pass over my many and grievous trespasses.
Stavrotheotokion
When the Ewe beheld the Lamb led to the slaughter and saw the light of the sun darkened, she said weeping: ‘O Jesus, sun of glory, Thou hast set in death. But shine forth with the light of Thy Resurrection upon those that love Thee.’
Second Canon
Irmos: In the bush upon Mount Sinai…
Today, recalling David’s words, let us all worship at the place where the feet of our God and Master stood, and let us venerate the precious Cross. For He who encloses all things in the hollow of His hand, mounted upon it.
O ye that dwell on earth, draw near cleansed by fasting, and behold today the honoured Cross that lies before you. Venerate it in fear and be glad in faith, and rejoice as ye draw from it sanctification for your souls.
Glory be to the Father…
The Trinity supreme in Godhead is by Essence an undivided Unity. Though single in Nature, it is distinguished in Persons; though indivisible, it is divided; though one, it is three: Father, Son and Spirit of Life, together guarding all things.
Both now…
Theotokion
Who has ever heard of a virgin that bore child and a mother that knew not man? O Mary, this miracle hast thou accomplished, but tell me how? ‘Do not enquire into the mystery of my childbearing: it is altogether true, yet beyond man’s understanding.’
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
With all mankind let us offer thankful praise to God, as we now behold and kiss the holy Cross. Understand, ye demons, and submit to the Cross; understand, ye barbarian peoples, and submit to it: for God is with us.
Irmos: In the bush upon Mount Sinai Moses saw thee, who hast conceived within thy womb the fire of the Godhead, and yet wast not consumed. Daniel saw thee as a mountain not cut by hand of man, and Isaiah proclaimed thee as the Rod that blossomed from the root of David.
Aposticha:
TONE SIX
Thou Thyself hast shown us, O Christ, that the best path to exaltation is humility; and Thou hast emptied Thyself and taken the form of a servant. Thou hast not hearkened to the arrogant prayer of the Pharisee, but in heaven Thou hast accepted the contrite sighing of the Publican as a blameless sacrifice. Therefore I also cry to Thee: Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, my Saviour, and save me (twice).
To the Martyrs
At the commemoration of Thy martyrs, O Lord, the whole creation keeps festival; heaven with the angels greatly rejoices, and the earth with all mankind makes glad. At their intercessions have mercy upon us.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
Thou hast accepted the word of the Archangel and wast revealed as throne of the cherubim, and in thine arms, O Theotokos, thou hast held the Hope of our souls.
FIRST HOUR
In place of Order my steps…, we sing three times, making three prostrations: We venerate Thy Cross, O Master, and we glorify Thy holy Resurrection.
In some churches at this point they also sing Come, ye faithful and let us venerate…, with the verses that follow, as on Sunday (see p. 297), while the faithful come up to venerate the Cross.
During the Hours after Our Father… we use the kontakion:
The fiery sword no longer guards the gate of Eden, for in a strange and glorious way the wood of the Cross has quenched its flames. The sting of death and the victory of hell are now destroyed, for Thou art come, my Saviour, crying unto those in hell: ‘Return again to Paradise.’
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE SEVEN
O Lord, rebuke not in Thine anger the people that has sinned, neither chasten us in Thy displeasure, since Thou art full of love. For all the earth glorifies Thee, and we pray: spare us, O Holy One.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 61):
TONE SIX
In God is my salvation and my glory: He is the God of my help.
℣. Shall not my soul be subject unto God? For from Him comes my salvation.
Lesson: Isaiah 14:24–32.
Prokimenon (Psalm 62):
TONE FOUR
I will bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy Name.
℣. O God, my God, early will I seek Thee: my soul has thirsted for Thee.
VESPERS
To Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung, the first three being from the Triodion:
TONE EIGHT
by Joseph
As we reach today the middle of the time of abstinence, by the power of the Cross let us praise Him who was raised upon it in the midst of the earth; and let us glorify Him as our mighty Saviour and our God, crying aloud: Grant us to behold, O Master, Thy Passion and Thy holy Resurrection, and bestow on us forgiveness and great mercy.
Let us humble the passions of the body through abstinence from food and the rejection of pleasures, and let us embrace with faith the wood of the Cross; for it is exalted before us for our veneration, and it hallows all men with the grace of God. So let us cry aloud unto the Lord: We thank Thee, O compassionate Master, who through the Cross dost save our souls.
SAME TONE
by Theodore
As now we venerate the Cross, let us all cry: Hail, Wood of life; hail, holy sceptre of Christ; hail, heavenly glory of mortal men; hail, pride of kings; hail, strength of the faith; hail, unconquerable weapon; hail, vanquisher of enemies; hail, radiant light that saves the world; hail, great glory of martyrs; hail, power of the righteous; hail, splendour of the angels; hail, precious Cross!
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 63):
TONE EIGHT
Hear my voice, O God, when I pray unto Thee.
℣. Deliver my soul from fear of the enemy.
Lesson: Genesis 8:21–9:7
Prokimenon (Psalm 64):
TONE SIX
Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of them that are far off at sea.
℣. To Thee is due praise, O God, in Zion; and unto Thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem.
Lesson: Proverbs 11:19–12:6.
Aposticha:
TONE EIGHT
The proud-speaking Pharisee was rejected for his boasting, but the humbleminded Publican was justified through his silent prayer. Learn, O my soul, the difference between the two; choose humblemindedness and accept it in thine heart: for Christ has promised to give grace unto the humble, in His love for mankind (twice).
To the Martyrs
O martyrs of the Lord, we beseech you, offer intercession to our God: pray for abundant mercy on our souls and the forgiveness of our many sins.
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.