Monday in the Sixth 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 ONE
Rolling away the stone of hardness from my heart, raise up my soul that is slain by the passions, O loving Lord, and count me worthy in compunction to bring palms of virtue to Thee the Victor over hell. So may I obtain eternal life, singing the praises of Thy power and Thy compassion, for Thou alone lovest mankind.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
O full of grace, beholding in thee the wonder of all wonders, the creation rejoices. For without seed thou hast conceived, and ineffably hast borne as child Him upon whom the leaders of the angelic hosts dare not gaze. O Theotokos, pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
After the third reading from the Psalter, the following sessional hymns:
TONE ONE
As we set out upon the sixth week of the Fast, let us sing to Christ a hymn in preparation for the Feast of Palms. He comes for our sake seated on the foal of an ass, that as King he may subdue the wild and unruly nations to His Father. Let us all make ready for Him branches of virtues, that with rejoicing we may see His Resurrection.
Glory be to the Father… Repeat. Both now…
Theotokion
O most holy Virgin, thou hast carried in thine arms the Creator, who in His lovingkindness was made flesh. Stretch out those arms towards Him, and entreat Him to deliver us from every passion, danger and temptation, for with love we praise thee and we cry aloud: Glory be to Him who dwelt in thee; glory be to Him who from thee came forth; glory be to Him who through thy childbearing has set us free.
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 ONE
by Joseph
Irmos: Let us all sing a triumphant song unto God…
Through abstinence let us put to death the passions and through godlike actions let us bring to life the spirit, that with pure minds we may see the holy Passion of Christ.
O Christ of many mercies, I have followed the ways of the rich man who showed no compassion; but I pray Thee, make me to dwell with the poor man Lazarus, and deliver me from the flame and the fire that never shall be quenched.
O Lord, I have fasted from every act of virtue, and taken my fill of sin. Now I am hungry: O feed me with the holy food of salvation.
Theotokion
O undefiled Lady, I am condemned as an outcast because of my actions: save me and take pity on me, for thou hast borne God the all-compassionate.
Another Canon
SAME TONE
by Theodore
Irmos: Let us sing a song of triumph unto God…
O ye faithful, let us prepare to celebrate Palm Sunday, joyfully observing the forefeast from this present day onwards, that we may be counted worthy to see the lifegiving Passion.
Christ draws near and comes to Jerusalem, seated as King on the foal of an ass, that He may subdue the disobedient nations beneath the Father’s yoke.
Glory be to the Father…
One in Godhead, Unity in three Persons, God and Father unbegotten, only-begotten Son, one and only Holy Spirit, single sovereignty and power, save us all.
Both now…
Theotokion
Glorious things are spoken of thee throughout all the world, for thou hast borne in the flesh the Maker of all, O Theotokos Mary who hast known no marriage and no bridal bed.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Behold, Christ has come to the city of Bethphage. Rejoice, Bethany, home of Lazarus, for a great miracle shall He show to thee, raising Lazarus from the dead.
Irmos: Let us sing a song of triumph unto God, who came to Moses’ aid in Egypt, and drowned Pharaoh with all his host: for He has been glorified.
Canticle Eight
Irmos: Him before whom the angels and all the hosts of heaven…
In my wretchedness I have grown rich in unprofitable thoughts, I have defiled my soul with lawless pleasures, and the darkness of despair surrounds me. O my God, shine upon me with the light of repentance.
As once Thou hast given light to the man blind from birth, shine upon my soul that does not see Thy Light, O merciful Lord, but lies buried in the darkness of sinful forgetfulness and in the cares of this life.
Through fasting Elijah opened the heavens and watered the thirsty earth with showers of rain. Let us fast, pouring out streams of tears from our soul, that we may be granted mercy.
Theotokion
As a living vine, pure Virgin, hast thou borne for us the ripe Cluster of grapes, from which there flows the wine of forgiveness, drying up the drunkenness of sin.
Second Canon
Irmos: As the Children in the furnace…
The door of the forecourt is opened, that leads us to the raising of Lazarus: for Christ is come, to awaken the dead man as from sleep and to overthrow death by life.
Great is thy glory, O Bethany! For thou art counted worthy to receive the Creator as thy guest, and thou dost cry aloud: O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Let us glorify Thee, O Trinity in Unity, supreme in Being, one in Essence yet distinct in Persons, Father, Son and Spirit of God.
Both now…
Theotokion
With the angel we say to thee ‘Rejoice!’, for thou hast brought into the world the Joy and Saviour of the world. O Virgin worthy of all praise, entreat Him for us all.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
We offer unto Thee a hymn; for Thou who ridest on high upon the cherubim ridest now upon a foal, bringing all men into subjection beneath Thy power, O Christ.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord…
Irmos: As the Children in the furnace, we offer unto Thee the hymn of the angels, and we sing Thy praises, saying: O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
Canticle Nine
Irmos: Let us honour in hymns the Theotokos…
Slain by my many sins, I am imprisoned in the tomb of negligence, and upon me lies the stone of despair. Remove it in Thy mercy, O Christ, and raise me up as once Thou hast raised Lazarus.
Let us flee from the example of the rich man, who was condemned to the fire that never shall be quenched, and let us acquire the patience of Lazarus in his troubles, that Jesus may comfort us and make us sharers in His Kingdom.
Let us observe with gladness the Fast that kills our passions; let us steadfastly devote ourselves to prayer; let us weep and mourn and lament with all our heart, that when we depart hence, we may go to dwell with Abraham.
Theotokion
Divine treasure of virginity, the only restoration of our forefathers, fountain flowing with the deep waters of compassion, excellency and beauty of Jacob: let us sing the praises of the Theotokos, for through her we have been saved.
Second Canon
Irmos: Thou art the Gate that Ezekiel…
While He is staying beyond Jordan, Christ is told today that Lazarus is ill; and, knowing all things in advance, He says: ‘This sickness is not unto death.’
Make ready, O Bethany, adorn thy gates for God, open wide thy courts; for behold, the Master shall enter with the apostles, bringing life to him whom thou hast nurtured.
Glory be to the Father…
The host of six-winged seraphim glorifies Thee, O Unity in three Persons, undivided Essence; and in our hymns with all mankind we magnify Thee.
Both now…
Theotokion
In ways past all interpretation Thou wast begotten outside time from the Father, and born within time from Thy Mother for the salvation of all; and in our hymns, as Creator and Master, we magnify Thee.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Bearing the branches of our generosity and the palms of our purity, let us all make ready to meet Christ who comes to Jerusalem as our God.
Irmos: Thou art the Gate that Ezekiel the Prophet saw of old, through which none has ever passed save God alone; and in our hymns, O Theotokos Virgin, we magnify thee.
Aposticha:
TONE FIVE
Condemn me not, O Christ, to the flames of Gehenna, as the rich man was condemned because he had neglected Lazarus; but grant even to me, who ask with tears, a drop of Thy lovingkindness, O God, and have mercy upon me (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, send down upon us Thy great mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
O full of grace, be thou our mediatrix through thine intercessions. Pray for a multitude of mercies on our souls and for the forgiveness of our many sins.
SIXTH HOUR
Troparion of the Prophecy:
TONE SIX
This is the fearful day, O God, the evening of which we did not expect to reach; but in Thy love for mankind Thou hast counted us worthy to behold it. O Thrice-Holy, glory to Thee.
Glory be to the Father… Both now… Repeat.
Prokimenon (Psalm 104):
TONE SIX
Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
℣. O give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon His Name.
Lesson: Isaiah 48:17–49:4.
Prokimenon (Psalm 105):
TONE SIX
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting.
℣. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
VESPERS
To Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung, the first three being from the Triodion:
TONE SIX
by Joseph
My strength is weakened by my many sins and by the pleasures of this life, and in my misery, O Master, I lie always on the bed of slothfulness; but I cry to Thee: With loving compassion come and visit me, granting me health and mercy. Forsake me not, lest I sleep in death and the enemy rejoices over my destruction: for he seeks to drag me down, O Saviour, into the fearful depths of hell.
I have rivalled in foolishness the rich man who showed no love for others; overwhelmed by sensual pleasures and the passions, I live in luxury and self-indulgence. I see my mind, O Lord, lying always like Lazarus before the gates of repentance, but with indifference I pass it by, and leave it hungry, sick and wounded by the passions. Therefore I deserve to be condemned to the flames of Gehenna: but deliver me from them, O Master, for Thou alone art rich in mercy.
TONE FIVE
by Theodore
O Lord, while dwelling in the flesh on the other side of Jordan, Thou hast foretold that the sickness of Lazarus would not end in death, but that it had come to pass for Thy glory, O our God. Glory to Thy mighty acts and Thine all-sovereign power, for Thou hast destroyed death in Thy great mercy and Thy love for mankind.
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 106):
TONE FOUR
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.
℣. Let those whom the Lord has redeemed confess that He is good.
Lesson: Genesis 27:1–41.
Prokimenon (Psalm 107):
TONE SEVEN
Be Thou exalted above the heavens, O God: and Thy glory above all the earth.
℣. O God, my heart is ready, my heart is ready.
Lesson: Proverbs 19:16–25.
Aposticha:
TONE FOUR
Deliver us, O Saviour, from soul-destroying greed, and give us a place with Lazarus the poor man in the bosom of Abraham. For Thou who art rich in mercy hast for our sakes willingly become poor, and Thou hast led us from corruption into incorruption, because Thou art a God of tender compassion and love for mankind (twice).
To the Martyrs
Thou hast accepted the patient sufferings of the holy martyrs: in Thy love accept our hymns of praise, and at their intercessions grant us Thy great mercy.
Glory be to the Father… Both now…
Theotokion
Deliver us from our distress, O Mother of Christ our God, who gavest birth to the Creator of all, that we may ever cry to thee: Hail, protection of our souls!