Appendix 1: Stichera of Repentance at Vespers on Sunday

IN THE EIGHT TONES FROM THE OCTOECHOS

At Vespers on Sunday evening throughout Lent, to Lord, I have cried, we sing the following penitential stichera in the Tone of the week, together with the other stichera appointed for the day in the Triodion and the Menaion:

TONE ONE

The multitude of my transgressions is like the deep waters of the sea, and I drown in my iniquities. Give me Thy hand, O God my Saviour: save me as Thou hast saved Peter, and have mercy on me.

Because of all my wicked thoughts and deeds I stand condemned: put into my heart, O God my Saviour, the thought of turning back to Thee, that I may cry: Save me, loving Benefactor, and have mercy on me.

Another world awaits thee, O my soul, and the Judge will there reveal all thy secret sins. Tarry not among the things of this life, but run quickly to the Judge and cry before it is too late: God be merciful to me and save me.

Reject me not, my Saviour, though I am held fast by the slothfulness of sin. But rouse my thoughts to repentance, and make me a tried labourer in Thy vineyard; grant me the reward of the eleventh hour, and show me Thy great mercy.

TONE TWO

Like the Prodigal Son, I have sinned against Thee, O Saviour. Receive me as I repent, O Father, and have mercy upon me, O God.

With the voice of the Publican I cry unto Thee, O Christ my Saviour. Take pity on me as Thou hast on him, and have mercy upon me, O God.

When I think upon the wicked things that I have done, I flee for refuge to Thy tender mercy, like the Publican, and the Harlot with her tears, and the Prodigal Son. Therefore I fall down before Thee, merciful Lord. Condemn me not, O God, but spare me and have mercy upon me.

Turn Thine eyes from my transgressions, O Lord born of the Virgin, and cleanse my heart, making it a temple of Thy Holy Spirit. Cast me not away from before Thy face, for measureless is Thy great mercy.

TONE THREE

With incense and with spiritual songs, we offer unto Thee, O Christ, our evening hymn. Have mercy upon our souls, O Saviour.

Save me, O Lord my God, for Thou art the salvation of all. The billows of my passions sorely trouble me, and the burden of my transgressions drags me down. Stretch out Thine hand in help and lead me up to the light of compunction, for Thou only art compassionate and lovest mankind.

Gather together my scattered mind, O Lord, and purify my dry and barren heart, giving me like Peter repentance, like the Publican sighs of sorrow, and like the Harlot tears, that I may cry with a loud voice unto Thee: Save me, O God, for Thou only art compassionate and lovest mankind.

Often when I offer praise to God, I am found to be committing sin; for while I sing the hymns with my tongue, in my soul I ponder evil thoughts. But through repentance, Christ my God, set right my tongue and soul, and have mercy upon me.

TONE FOUR

I want to wash away with tears the record of my sins, O Lord, and through the rest of my life to please Thee by repentance; but the enemy deceives me and fights against my soul. Before I perish utterly, save me, O Lord.

If a man takes refuge from the tempest in this harbour, will he not be saved? If in his agony he kneels before this house of healing, will he not be cured? O Maker of all and Physician of the sick, before I perish utterly, save me, O Lord.

Wash me with my tears, O Saviour, for I am defiled by many sins. Therefore I fall down before Thee: I have sinned, have mercy upon me, O God.

I am a sheep of Thy spiritual flock, and to Thee I flee for refuge, O Good Shepherd. I have gone astray, O God: seek me and have mercy upon me.

TONE FIVE

I cease not from sin, O Lord, nor do I perceive the love Thou showest me. Vanquish my blindness, for Thou alone art good, and have mercy upon me.

O Lord, from fear of Thee I tremble, yet I cease not from doing evil. When called to trial, who does not fear the judge? What man, desiring to be healed, angers the physician, as I do? Take pity on my weakness, O forbearing Lord, and have mercy upon me.

Woe is me, for I am like the barren fig tree, and I fear that I also shall be cursed and cut down. But, heavenly Husbandman, Christ my God, make my dry and barren soul bear fruit. Receive me as the Prodigal Son, and have mercy upon me.

O Lord born of the Virgin, pass over my manifold transgressions and wipe out all my sins. Grant me the firm intent to turn back unto Thee, for Thou alone lovest mankind, and have mercy upon me.

TONE SIX

I have no repentance and no tears. Therefore I entreat Thee, Saviour: before the end comes cause me to turn back and grant me compunction, that I may be delivered from torment.

At Thy fearful Coming, O Christ, may we not hear the words: ‘I know you not.’ For we have put our trust in Thee, O Saviour, though in our negligence we keep not Thy commandments; yet we entreat Thee, spare our souls.

Heal the wounds of my heart, inflicted on me through my many sins, O Saviour and Physician of our souls and bodies; for Thou dost always grant forgiveness of transgressions unto those that ask. Give me tears of repentance and remission of my debts, O Lord, and have mercy on me.

Finding me naked, stripped of virtues, the enemy wounded me with the arrow of sin; but, O God, Physician of our souls and bodies, heal the wounds of my soul and have mercy on me.

TONE SEVEN

As the Prodigal Son, I also come to Thee, O compassionate Lord, and I fall down before Thee. Accept me as one of Thy hired servants, and have mercy on me.

As the man who fell among thieves and was wounded, I too have fallen through my sins and my soul is wounded. To whom shall I flee for refuge, guilty that I am, if not to Thee, the merciful Physician of our souls? Pour on me, O God, the oil of Thy great mercy.

Sinner though I be, O Saviour, cut me not down as the barren fig tree. Grant me forgiveness for my many years of sin, and water my soul with tears of repentance, that as fruit I may offer Thee acts of mercy and compassion.

Thou art the Sun of righteousness; illumine the hearts of those who praise Thee, singing: Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

TONE EIGHT

The angels praise Thee without ceasing, O King and Master, and I fall before Thee crying like the Publican: God be merciful to me and save me.

Since thou art immortal, O my soul, be not overwhelmed by the waves of this life; but return to soberness and cry to Thy Benefactor: God be merciful to me and save me.

Give me tears, O God, as once Thou gavest them to the woman that had sinned, and count me worthy to wash Thy feet that have delivered me from the way of error. As sweet-smelling ointment let me offer Thee a pure life, created in me by repentance; and may I also hear those words for which I long: ‘Thy faith has saved thee, go in peace.’

When I call to mind the many evils I have done, and I think upon the fearful day of judgement, seized with trembling I flee to Thee for refuge, O God who lovest mankind. Turn not away from me, I beseech Thee, who alone art free from sin; but before the end comes grant compunction to my humbled soul and save me.