Thursday in the Fourth Week
MATTINS
After the first reading from the Psalter, the sessional hymns of the Apostles in the Tone of the week.
After the second reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE ONE
O glorious apostles, intercessors for our souls, strong in the power of the Cross ye have destroyed all the deceit of the enemy. Therefore today ye rejoice in its veneration, praying on our behalf to Him who alone loves mankind.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
O Mary, precious vessel that received the Master, we have fallen into an abyss of dark despair, of sin and tribulation. Raise us up once more: for thou art the salvation of sinners, their help and powerful protection, and thou dost save thy servants.
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE SEVEN
Looking, O Lord, at Thy Cross that lies before us today, we approach in faith with hymns and songs, venerating it in fear and joy. Through the revelation of Thy Cross, sanctify Thy servants and give peace to Thy world, for Thou alone art rich in mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
O Lord, we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture. Bring us back, for we have strayed into corruption; and as Shepherd gather us together, for we have been scattered. In Thy love have mercy and take pity on Thy flock, at the intercessions of the Theotokos, for Thou alone art free from sin.
The Canon
We use the Canon to the saint of the day from the Menaion, and the two three-canticled Canons by Joseph from the Triodion; we sing the fourth Biblical Canticle.
Canticle Four
First Canon
TONE ONE
Irmos: May Habakkuk inspired by God…
O Holy Cross, strength and glory of the apostles, today thou art exalted for the veneration of the whole inhabited earth; and thou givest to us the grace of sanctification, making the season of the Fast easy for us.
Moses foreshadowed the Cross when he stretched out his arms and defeated Amalek. Like him let us form a figure of the Cross, stretching out our arms in fasting and prayer, that so we may defeat the host of demons that in malicious envy continually make war against us.
O disciples of God, with the holy plough of the Cross ye have renewed the earth, making it fruitful with the harvest of true faith. Therefore year by year we sing your praises, and we glorify Christ for ever.
Theotokion
O Mother of the good and loving God, fill my soul with goodness, for the evil one has corrupted it with sinful habits, and he has miserably deceived me. Then, O greatly glorified, will I sing thy praises for ever as the cause of my salvation.
Another Canon
TONE SEVEN
Irmos: Assured of Thy coming in the flesh, O Christ…
The all-holy Cross lies before us: let us approach and venerate it, for it is the horn of our salvation.
When the sign of the Cross is made, its grace drives away the dark multitude of demons. O Cross of Christ, thou art an invincible weapon.
Glory be to the Father…
Unity in Essence, Trinity of Persons, I praise and honour Thee, Father, Son and All-Holy Spirit.
Both now…
Theotokion
O Virgin undefiled, without knowing a man thou hast conceived God, more ancient than all things, who holds the ends of the earth in the hollow of His hand.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O apostles, intercessors for the world, pray that we also may be saved: for as our weapon we hold the Cross of Christ.
Irmos: Assured of Thy coming in the flesh, O Christ, the Prophet Habakkuk cried: Glory to Thy power.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: This is the chosen and holy day…
Rejoice, divine Cross, formed from three different kinds of wood: on thee One of the Trinity was nailed in the flesh. He has delivered us who were prisoners in the abyss of godlessness, and we exalt Him above all for ever.
Receiving power and strength through the Cross, the disciples of the Word set free those held fast in bitter bondage by the evil one, and they sing in praise: We exalt Thee above all for ever.
Woe is me! How fearful shall be that judgement seat on which Thou shalt sit, O Word, and shalt reveal to me my hidden deeds, exposing before all my want of feeling! But since, O Christ, Thou art by nature full of love, spare me then.
Theotokion
Without departing from the bosom of the Father, O Jesus, Thou hast rested on the bosom of a Virgin; and Thou hast restored mankind, whose nature in Thy tender love Thou hast taken on Thyself. Therefore we mortal men sing Thy praises for ever.
Second Canon
Irmos: Before the King of glory, who is alone without beginning…
O week of the veneration of the Cross, we honour thee; for in these days we adore the holy Wood and cry aloud: O ye priests praise and ye people exalt Him above all for ever.
How strange is this wonder, King of the ages! For Thou hast granted us Thy servants to see and venerate the Wood on which Thou wast crucified. Therefore with fear we sing Thy praises for ever.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Holy and consubstantial Trinity, Father, Son and All-Holy Spirit, I glorify Thine undivided dominion, and sing the praises of Thy one Kingdom for ever.
Both now…
Theotokion
He created Adam in His image, and assuming Adam’s nature He came forth to loose the ancient curse. O ye priests praise and ye people exalt Him above all for ever.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
As the twelve-stringed harp of the Church, O apostles, ye sing the praises of the Word of wisdom. Pray that we who honour you may see the Passion of the Lord and glorify Him for ever.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: Before the King of glory, who is alone without beginning, all the powers of heaven stand in awe and the hosts of angels tremble: O ye priests praise and ye people exalt Him above all for ever.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem…
Shine with joy, Church of God, illumined by the rays of the Cross which thou dost exalt for the veneration of all the faithful. Depart, demonic hosts full of darkness.
The divine Cross is strength to those who fast, champion of those who fight. Gathering with all the faithful, joyfully let us venerate it with love.
O glorious apostles, divine foundations of the Church of Christ, keep us all upon the firm basis of the true faith, and establish us upon the unbreakable rock of Him who chose you.
Theotokion
O pure Virgin, at the voice of the Archangel thou hast conceived Joy: make all soul-destroying sadness to vanish from my heart, and give me joy-creating sorrow, that I may know the working of God’s grace.
Second Canon
Irmos: Mother and Virgin undefiled…
Prefiguring the truth that was to come, O precious Wood, of old thou hast made sweet the waters of Marah. Make sweet my abstinence, O Cross of Christ, which I venerate today.
Thou art the unconquerable weapon of the King, the strength of his array, the strong support of his council. O Cross of Christ, in our hymns we magnify thee.
Glory be to the Father…
Father and Master without beginning, coeternal Word and Holy Spirit, with all the faithful in true reverence we magnify Thee.
Both now…
Theotokion
Glorious and only Theotokos, thou hast contained within thy womb the Word whom nothing can contain, and thou hast borne Him in the flesh. In our hymns we magnify thee.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
With your tongues of fire, O apostles, ye have burnt up all error and planted the true faith in the world. In our hymns we magnify you.
Irmos: Mother and Virgin undefiled, thou hast contained within thy womb the Word whom nothing can contain, and thou hast borne Him in the flesh. In our hymns we magnify thee.
Aposticha:
TONE SEVEN
Let us the faithful emulate the repentance of the Publican and not boast like the Pharisee. Let us offer cries of sorrow from the depth of our heart to the loving God of all. For He Himself has given this commandment, saying: Every man that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. Therefore with one accord let us cry unto Him: God be merciful to us sinners and save us (twice).
To the Martyrs
Breathing one purpose and looking to a single hope, vying with each other in their end, the victorious martyrs looked upon death for Christ as the only entry into life. O strange wonder! Though the torture might have been postponed, they seized hold of it as men seize hold of treasure, and they said to one another: ‘Even if we do not die today, yet some day we shall surely die, obeying as we must the laws of human birth. Let us turn necessity into an act of generous love; willingly let us make our own what is the common fate of all, and let us purchase life with death.’ At their intercessions, O God, have mercy on us.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
At the intercessions of the Theotokos, give peace to our life, for to Thee we cry: O merciful Lord, glory to Thee.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE SIX
We venerate Thy Cross, O Master, and we glorify Thy holy Resurrection.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 73):
TONE FOUR
God is our King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
℣. O God, why hast Thou cast us off for ever? Why is Thy wrath so hot against the sheep of Thy pasture?
Lesson: Isaiah 28:14–22.
Prokimenon (Psalm 74):
TONE FOUR
I will rejoice for ever: I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
℣. Unto Thee, O God, will we give thanks: unto Thee will we give thanks, and call upon Thy Name.
VESPERS
To Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung, the first three being from the Triodion:
TONE FOUR
by Joseph
Counted worthy to venerate the ever-blessed Cross, whereby Thou hast saved us, O Lord, in faith we praise Thy lovingkindness and fervently we pray: Bestow upon us all, O Saviour, the joy of Thy salvation, granting us to look in penitence upon Thy Resurrection and Thy holy sufferings.
Outstretched upon the Cross, Thou hast endured death, slaying death and raising up the dead by Thy lifegiving word. Therefore I entreat Thee: Bring back to life, O Lord, my soul that is dead through sin; grant me compunction and deliverance from evil during these Thy holy days of abstinence, for Thou lovest mankind.
SAME TONE
by Theodore
Counted worthy to look with joy upon Thy Holy Cross and to venerate it, we entreat Thee, God our Saviour: Strengthened by the Fast may we come also to Thy most pure Passion. May we adore and praise Thy Crucifixion, the spear, the sponge and reed, whereby Thou hast made us immortal, in Thy love leading us back to the life of Paradise which once was ours. Therefore with thanksgiving now we glorify Thee.
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 75):
TONE FOUR
Make a vow unto the Lord our God and keep it.
℣. In Judah is God known: His Name is great in Israel.
Lesson: Genesis 10:32–11:9.
Prokimenon (Psalm 76):
TONE SEVEN
I cried aloud unto the Lord with my voice, and He gave ear to me.
℣. In the day of trouble I sought the Lord.
Lesson: Proverbs 13:19–14:6.
Aposticha:
TONE SIX
Learn from the Lord who humbled Himself for thy sake, even to death upon the Cross; learn from Him, O my soul, the abasement that comes from being lifted up and the exaltation that comes from humility. Do not be exalted by thy virtues; do not judge thyself righteous and condemn thy neighbour, like the boastful Pharisee. But with thy mind downcast, thinking only of thy sins, cry like the Publican: God, be merciful to me a sinner and save me (twice).
To the Martyrs
Thy martyrs, O Lord, denied Thee not and forsook not Thy commandments: at their intercessions have mercy upon us.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Stavrotheotokion
When the all-pure Virgin saw Thee hanging on the Cross, she cried aloud: ‘What is this strange mystery that I see, my Son? Crucified in the flesh, O Giver of life, how dost Thou die upon the Tree?’