The Orthodox Pages THE PEOPLE'S HANDBOOK THE ROYAL HOURS OF
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THE ROYAL HOURS OF HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY COMPOSITION OF CYRIL ARCHBISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA
FIRST HOUR PRIEST Blessed is our God always, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. PRIEST: Glory be to Thee, O our God, glory be to Thee. O heavenly King and Comforter, Spirit of truth, which art in all places and fillest all things; Treasure of goodness and Giver of life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from all that defileth. And save our souls, O Thou who art good. READER O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. (3) Glory... now and for ever... Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master, pardon our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [3] Glory... now and for ever... Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. PRIESTFor Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [12] Glory... now and for ever... O come, let us worship and bow down before our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before the very Christ our King and our God. PSALM 5 Give ear to my words, O Lord; understand my cry. Hearken to the voice of my supplication, my King and my God, for unto Thee will I pray, O Lord. My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning; in the morning will I stand before Thee, and will look up. For Thou art not a God that willeth wickedness; neither shall the evil doer dwell with Thee, nor shall transgressors stand in Thy sight. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity; Thou shalt destroy all them that speak leasing. The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy; in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple. Guide me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make my way straight before Thee. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their heart is vain. Their throat is an open sepulchre; they have deceived with their tongues. Judge Thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out according to the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have embittered Thee, O Lord. But let all those that put their hope in Thee be glad: they shall rejoice for ever, and Thou shalt dwell among them; and all they that love Thy name shall glory in Thee. For Thou wilt bless the righteous: Lord, Thou hast crowned us as with a shield of Thy good pleasure.
PSALM 2 Why did the nations rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth rose up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ. Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yoke from us. He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn, and the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His anger. But I was established as king by Him upon His holy mount of Zion, declaring the decree of the Lord. The Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt shepherd them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessels. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, all ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto Him with trembling. Receive instruction, lest the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the righteous way. When His wrath is speedily kindled, blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.
PSALM 21 O God, my God, look to me, why hast Thou forsaken me? far from my salvation are the words of my transgressions. O my God, I will cry in the daytime, and Thou wilt not hear; and in the night season, and it shall not be unto foolishness for me. But Thou dwellest in the sanctuary, O Thou praise of Israel. Our fathers hoped in Thee; they hoped, and Thou didst deliver them. They cried unto Thee, and were saved; they hoped in Thee, and they were not ashamed. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and the outcast of the people. All they that did see me laughed me to scorn: they spake with their lips, they shook their heads, saying, He hoped in the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him save him, for He desireth him. For Thou art He that drew me out of the womb; my hope from my mother’s breasts. I was cast upon Thee from the womb; Thou art my God from my mother’s belly. Go not from me, for trouble is near: for there is none to help. Many bullocks have compassed me; fat bulls have beset me round. They opened wide their mouth against me, as a lion ravening and roaring. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are scattered; my heart is like wax melting in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath cleaved to my throat; and Thou hast brought me down into the dust of death. For many dogs have compassed me; the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet. They have numbered all my bones, and they have looked and stared upon me. They parted my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But put not Thou Thy help far from me, O Lord: look to my support. Deliver my soul from the sword, mine only one from the hand of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth, and my lowliness from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare Thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee. Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; let all the seed of Israel fear Him. For He hath not despised nor abhorred the supplication of the poor; neither hath He turned away His face from me; and when I cried unto Him, He heard me. Of Thee is my praise in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before them that fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; and they shall praise the Lord that seek Him; their hearts shall live for ever and ever. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Him. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He himself is the sovereign of the nations. All they that be fat upon the earth have eaten and worshipped; all they that go down to the dust shall fall down before Him. And my soul liveth unto Him, and my seed shall serve Him. The generation that cometh shall be told unto the Lord; and they shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, whom the Lord hath made. Glory... now and for ever... Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory be to Thee, O God. [3] Kyrie eleison [3] Glory... Troparion Tone 1 When Thou wast crucified, O Christ, the tyranny of the enemy was destroyed, and his power was trampled underfoot. For it was not an angel nor a man that saved us, but Thou Thyself, O Lord: glory to Thee. Now and for ever... Theotokion What shall we call thee, O Full of grace? Heaven? For thou hast made the Sun of Righteousness to rise. Paradise? For thou hast blossomed the flower of incorruption Virgin? For thou hast remained inviolate. Pure Mother? For thou hast held in thy holy embrace a Son who is God of all. Beseech Him for the salvation of our souls.
And we sing the following hymns; the first without a verse. Tone 8 Today the veil of the Temple is rent in twain, as a reproof against the transgressors; and the sun hides its own rays, seeing the Master crucified. Verse: Why did the nations rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? Thou wast led as a sheep to the slaughter, O Christ King, and as an innocent lamb thou wast nailed to the Cross by lawless men for our sins, O Lover of mankind. Verse: The kings of the earth rose up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ. Thou wast led as a sheep to the slaughter, O Christ King, and as an innocent lamb thou wast nailed to the Cross by lawless men for our sins, O Lover of mankind. Glory... Suffering the transgressors to lay hold on thee, O Lord, thou didst cry aloud: Although ye smite the shepherd and scatter the twelve sheep, my disciples, I could call to my aid twelve legions of angels, but I forbear, that the hidden and secret things I made known to you through my Prophets mat be fulfilled. O Lord, glory to thee. Now and for ever... Suffering the transgressors to lay hold on thee, O Lord, thou didst cry aloud: Although ye smite the shepherd and scatter the twelve sheep, my disciples, I could call to my aid twelve legions of angels, but I forbear, that the hidden and secret things I made known to you through my Prophets mat be fulfilled. O Lord, glory to thee. Prokheimenon Tone 4. Psalm 40. He went abroad, and spake in like manner. All they that hate me whispered together against me; against me did they devise evils for me. Verse: Blessed is the man that considereth the poor and needy; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Reading is from the Prophecy of Zechariah (Chap. 11:10-13) Thus saith the Lord: I will take my beautiful staff, and cast it away, that I may break my covenant which I have made with all the people. And it shall be broken in that day; and the Canaanites, even the sheep that are kept for me, shall know that it is the word of the Lord. And I will say unto them, If it be good in your eyes, give me my price, or refuse it. And they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Drop them into the furnace, and I will see if it be good metal, as I was proved for their sakes. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them into the furnace in the house of the Lord, as the Lord commanded me.
The reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. DEACON: Let us attend, Wisdom. Let us attend. READER Galatians 6:14-18 Brethren, God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. PRIEST: Peace unto thee. DEACON: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. PRIEST: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew DEACON: Let us give heed. PRIEST Matthew 27:1-56 At that time, When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children. READER Order my steps in thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the false accusation of men, and I will keep thy commandments. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise, O Lord, that I may sing thy glory and majesty all the day long. O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. (3) Glory...now and for ever... Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master, pardon our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [3] Glory... now and for ever... Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. PRIEST For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. Kontakion. Tone 8 Come, let us all sing the praises of him who was crucified for us; for Mary said when she beheld him on the Tree: Though thou dost endure the Cross, yet thou art my Son and my God. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [40] O Thou, who at all times and every hour, art worshipped and glorified, Christ our God, who art long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and ever-compassionate, who lovest the righteous and hast mercy upon sinners, who callest all to salvation through the promise of the blessings to come: Do Thou, O Lord, at this very hour accept our supplications, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our reasoning, cleanse our thoughts: and deliver us from all affliction, evil and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy angels, that being guarded and guided by their interposition, we mat attain unto the unity of the faith, and to the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory: For blessed art Thou, unto the ages of ages. Amen. Kyrie eleison (3) Glory… Now… More honourable than the cherubim and past compare more glorious than the seraphim, who inviolate didst bear God the Word, very Mother of God, thee we magnify. In the name of the Lord, Father, give the blessing. PRIEST God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us and have mercy upon us. Prayer O Christ, the true light who enlightens and sanctifies every man that comes into the world, let the light of thy countenance be signed upon us, that in it we may behold the unapproachable light, and direct our steps to doing thy commandments, at the prayers of thy most pure Mother and of all the saints. READER: Amen. THIRD HOUR O come, let us worship and bow down before our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God.
O come, let us worship and bow down before the very Christ our King and our God. Psalm 34 Judge Thou, O Lord, them that do me injustice; fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of weapon and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out the sword, and stop the way against them that persecute me; say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul; let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the face of the wind, and let the angel of the Lord afflict them. Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord persecute them. For without cause have they hid for me destruction in their snare; without cause have they reproached my soul. Let a snare come upon him unawares, and let the trap that he hath hid catch himself; and into that very snare let him fall. But my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall delight in His salvation. All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto Thee, who deliverest the poor from the hand of them that are too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from them that spoil him? Unjust witnesses did rise up against me; they asked me things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good, and bereavement to my soul. But as for me, when they troubled me, I put on sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall return into mine own bosom. I sought to please, as if it had been my neighbour or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one mourning and sad of face. But they rejoiced against me, and gathered themselves together; plagues were gathered together upon me, and I knew it not. They were scattered, yet they repented not; they tempted me, they sneered at me with scorn, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. Lord, when wilt Thou look upon me? Rescue my soul from their malice, mine only one from the lions. I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a mighty people. Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me, that hate me without a cause, and wink with the eye. For they spake unto me peaceably indeed, but in their anger they devised deceits. Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me; they said, It is well, it is well, our eyes have seen it. This Thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me. Rise up, Lord, and look to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge me, O Lord, according to Thy righteousness; let them not rejoice over me, O Lord my God. Let them not say in their hearts, It is well, it is well to our soul! Neither let them say, We have swallowed him up. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my woes. Let them be clothed with shame and confusion that magnify their words against me. Let them rejoice and be glad, that favour the righteousness of my cause; and let them that desire the peace of Thy servant say continually, Let the Lord be magnified. And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day long.
Psalm 108 O God, pass not over my praise in silence, for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me. They have spoken against me with a lying tongue, they have compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause. For my love they falsely accused me; but I gave myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Set thou a wicked man over him, and let the devil stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him go forth condemned, and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be vagabonds without a dwelling place, and beg, and let them be cast out of their ruined habitations. Let his creditor search out all his substance, and let the strangers spoil all his labours. Let there be none to help him, neither let there be any to have pity upon his fatherless children. Let his children be given over to destruction; in one generation let his name be blotted out. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. Let them be before the Lord continually, and let the memory of them perish from the earth. Because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy, and one broken in heart, that he might slay him. And he loved cursing, and it shall come upon him, and he delighted not in blessing, and it shall be far from him. And he put on cursing like a garment, and it came into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. Let it be unto him as a garment wherewith he is clothed, and like a girdle wherewith he is girded continually. This is the dealing of the Lord with them that slander me, and with them that speak evil against my soul. But do Thou for me, O Lord, Lord, for Thy name's sake, for Thy mercy is good. Deliver Thou me, for I am poor and needy, and my heart is troubled within me. I am taken away like a shadow when it declineth; I am shaken off as the locusts. My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh is changed for want of oil. I am become a reproach also unto them; they looked upon me, and they shook their heads. Help me, O Lord my God, and save me according to Thy mercy. And let them know that this is Thy hand, and that Thou, O Lord, hast done it. They shall curse, but Thou shalt bless; let them be put to shame that rise up against me; but Thy servant shall be glad. Let them that slander me be clothed with confusion, and let them be covered with shame, as with a double cloak. I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, in the midst of many will I praise Him. For He hath stood at the right hand of the poor, to save my soul from them that persecute me.
Psalm 50 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight; that Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and mightest overcome when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou revealed to me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that are humbled shall rejoice. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and stablish me with Thy sovereign spirit. I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn again to Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. For hadst Thou desired sacrifice, I would have given it; Thou wilt not delight in whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, oblation and whole burnt offerings: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar. Glory... now and for ever... Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory be to Thee, O God. [3] Kyrie eleison [3] Glory... Troparion Tone 6 O Lord, the Jews condemned thee to death, who art the life of all, those who by a staff crossed the Red Sea on foot, nailed thee to the Cross, and those who suckled honey from a rock, offered thee gall. But thou hast willingly endured these things, that thou might set us free from the bondage of the enemy. O Christ our God, glory to thee. Now and for ever... Theotokion.
O Mother of God, thou art the true vine, that has brought forth the fruit of life. Thee we beseech, O Lady, intercede together with the Apostles and all the Saints, that God have mercy upon our souls. And we sing the following hymns; the first without a verse. Tone 8 Through fear of the Jews, thy friend and companion Peter, denied thee, O Lord, and in bitter grief he cried aloud: Pass not by my tears in silence, for, O Compassionate, I said I would keep faith and have not kept it. Accept also our repentance and have mercy upon us. (2) Verse: Give ear to my words, O Lord; understand my cry. A little before thy death upon the precious Cross, when the soldiers mocked thee, O Lord, the heavenly hosts were struck with wonder, for thou who hast painted the earth with flowers, wast arrayed with a crown of humiliation, and thou who hast wrapped the firmament with clouds, wast clothed in a robe of mockery. Thus by this dispensation, O Christ, was made known thy compassion and great mercy, glory be to thee. Verse: Hearken unto the voice of my prayer, my King and my God. A little before thy death upon the precious Cross, when the soldiers mocked thee, O Lord, the heavenly hosts were struck with wonder, for thou who hast painted the earth with flowers, wast arrayed with a crown of humiliation, and thou who hast wrapped the firmament with clouds, wast clothed in a robe of mockery. Thus by this dispensation, O Christ, was made known thy compassion and great mercy, glory be to thee. Glory... When thou wast led to the Cross, O Lord, thou didst cry: For what deed to ye want to crucify me, O ye Jews? Is it because I straitened your paralytics, because I raised the dead as though from sleep? I healed her that had an issue of blood, I took pity on the woman of Canaan. For what deed do ye want to kill me, O ye Jews? But transgressor, ye shall look on Christ whom now ye pierce. Now and for ever... When thou wast led to the Cross, O Lord, thou didst cry: For what deed to ye want to crucify me, O ye Jews? Is it because I straitened your paralytics, because I raised the dead as though from sleep? I healed her that had an issue of blood, I took pity on the woman of Canaan. For what deed do ye want to kill me, O ye Jews? But transgressor, ye shall look on Christ whom now ye pierce.
Prokheimenon Tone 4. Psalm 37 I am ready for scourges; and my pain is ever with me. Verse: O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy wrath. The Reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah. DEACON: Wisdom. Let us attend. READER [50:4-11] The Lord giveth me the tongue of instruction, to know when it is fitting to speak a word: He hath appointed it for me early in the morning, He hath given me an ear to hear: and the instruction of the Lord, even the Lord, openeth mine ears, and I do not disobey nor dispute. I gave my back to scourges, and my cheeks to blows; and I turned not my face away from the shame of spitting: but the Lord God was mine helper; therefore I was not ashamed, for He that hath justified me draweth near; who is he that pleadeth with me? Let him draw nigh unto me. Behold, the Lord, even the Lord, will help me; who will hurt me? Behold, all ye shall wax old as a garment, and a moth shall devour you. Who is among you that feareth the Lord? let him hearken to the voice of His servant: ye that walk in darkness, and have no light, trust in the Lord, and stay upon God. Behold, all ye kindle a fire, and feed a flame: walk in the light of your fire, and in the flame which ye have kindled. This came upon you for my sake; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
The reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. DEACON: Let us attend, Wisdom. Let us attend. READER Romans 5:6-11 Brethren, when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. PRIEST: Peace unto thee. DEACON: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. PRIEST: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. DEACON: Let us give heed. PRIEST Mark 15:16-41 At that time, the soldiers led Jesus away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. READER Blessed be the Lord, blessed be the Lord from day by day; may the God of our salvation prosper us, the God of salvation. O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. (3) Glory...now and for ever... Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master, pardon our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [3] Glory... now and for ever... Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. PRIEST For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. Kontakion. Tone 8 Come, let us all sing the praises of him who was crucified for us; for Mary said when she beheld him on the Tree: Though thou dost endure the Cross, yet thou art my Son and my God. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [40] O Thou, who at all times and every hour, art worshipped and glorified, Christ our God, who art long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and ever-compassionate, who lovest the righteous and hast mercy upon sinners, who callest all to salvation through the promise of the blessings to come: Do Thou, O Lord, at this very hour accept our supplications, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our reasoning, cleanse our thoughts: and deliver us from all affliction, evil and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy angels, that being guarded and guided by their interposition, we mat attain unto the unity of the faith, and to the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory: For blessed art Thou, unto the ages of ages. Amen. Kyrie eleison (3) Glory… Now… More honourable than the cherubim and past compare more glorious than the seraphim, who inviolate didst bear God the Word, very Mother of God, thee we magnify. In the name of the Lord, Father, give the blessing. PRIEST God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us and have mercy upon us. And the Prayer O God the Master, Father Almighty, O only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ and thou, O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power, have mercy upon me a sinner, and by the judgements known to thee, save me thine unworthy servant; for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages. READER: Amen. SIXTH HOUR O come, let us worship and bow down before our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before the very Christ our King and our God. Psalm 53 Save me, O God, by Thy name, and judge me by Thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me, and the mighty have sought after my soul, and they have not set God before them. For behold, God helpeth me, and the Lord is the protector of my soul. He shall bring evils upon mine enemies; cut them off in Thy truth. I will freely sacrifice unto Thee; I will praise Thy name, O Lord, for it is good. For Thou hast delivered me out of all affliction, and mine eye hath looked down upon mine enemies.
Psalm 139 Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil man; deliver me from the unrighteous man, who have imagined injustice in their heart; all the day long have they prepared for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; rescue me from the unjust men, who have purposed to overthrow my goings. The proud have hid a snare for me and spread a net with cords for my feet; they have set stumblingblocks for me beside the way. I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God; hear the voice of my supplication, O Lord. O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Deliver me not, O Lord, to the sinner, according to my desire. They have consulted against me; forsake me not, lest they be exalted. As for the head of those that compass me about, the mischief of their lips shall cover them. Coals will fall upon them; Thou shalt cast them down into the fire, and they shall not stand in their afflictions. A babbling man shall not prosper upon the earth; evils shall hunt an unrighteous man unto destruction. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the needy, and the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name, and the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.
Psalm 90 He that dwelleth in the help of the Most High shall abide in the shelter of the God of heaven. He will say to the Lord, Thou art my helper and my refuge; my God, and in Him will I hope. For He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunters, and from every sharp word. He shall overshadow thee with His shoulders, and under His wings shalt thou hope; His truth shall compass thee with a shield. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day: nor for the thing that walketh in darkness, nor for the mishap and the devil at noon. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the wicked. Because Thou, Lord, art my hope: Thou hast made the Most High Thy refuge. There shall no evils come upon thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge concerning thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the asp and basilisk, and the lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his hope in Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will shelter him, because he hath known My name. He shall cry unto Me, and I will hear him; I am with him in trouble, and I will deliver him, and glorify him. With length of days will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation. Glory... now and for ever... Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory be to Thee, O God. [3] Kyrie eleison [3] Glory... Tone 2 Thou hast wrought salvation in the midst of the earth, O Christ our God. Thou hast stretched out thine hands upon the Cross, gathering together all the nations as they cry: O Lord, glory to thee. Now and for ever... Theotokion In that we have no boldness because of our many sins, do thou, O Virgin Mother of God, intercede with the One born of thee, for a Mother's prayer has great strength to win the favour of the Master. Despise not the prayers of sinners, O most honourable, for he, who for our sake, willingly accepted to suffer, is merciful and able to save.
And we sing the following hymns; the first without a verse. Tone 8 Thus saith the Lord to the Jews: My people, what have I done to thee, or wherein have I offended thee? I gave light to thy blind and healed thy lepers, I raised up the man lying on a bed. O my people, what have I done to thee and how hast thou repaid me? Instead of manna, gall, Instead of water, vinegar, instead of loving me, thou hast nailed me to the Cross, I can endure no more; I will call my Gentiles and they will glorify me together with the Father and the Spirit, and I shall grant them eternal life. (2) Verse: They gave me gall for my meat, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
O Lawgivers of Israel, ye Jews and Pharisees, the company of the Apostles cries out to you: Behold the temple that ye have destroyed. Behold the Lamb that ye have crucified. Ye gave him over to the tomb, but by his own power he has risen. Be not deceived, O ye Jews, for it is he who saved you in the sea, and fed you in the wilderness: he is the life and light and peace of the world. Verse: Save me, O God; for the waters have come in, even unto my soul O Lawgivers of Israel, ye Jews and Pharisees, the company of the Apostles cries out to you: Behold the temple that ye have destroyed. Behold the Lamb that ye have crucified. Ye gave him over to the tomb, but by his own power he has risen. Be not deceived, O ye Jews, for it is he who saved you in the sea, and fed you in the wilderness: he is the life and light and peace of the world. Glory... Tone 5 Come, O Christ-bearing people, let us see what Judas the traitor has conspired with the lawless priests against our Saviour. Today they have judged the immortal Word guilty of death, and delivered him to Pilate and crucified him in the place of a Skull; And as he suffered these things, our Saviour cried out and said: Father forgive them this sin, that the Gentiles may know my Resurrection from the dead. Now and for ever... Come, O Christ-bearing people, let us see what Judas the traitor has conspired with the lawless priests against our Saviour. Today they have judged the immortal Word guilty of death, and delivered him to Pilate and crucified him in the place of a Skull; And as he suffered these things, our Saviour cried out and said: Father forgive them this sin, that the Gentiles may know my Resurrection from the dead.
Prokheimenon. Tone 4. Psalm 8 O Lord our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name in all the earth! Verse: For Thy magnificence is exalted above the heavens. The Reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah. DEACON: Wisdom. Let us attend. READER (Chap. 52:13-53:12) Thus saith the Lord: Behold, My servant shall understand, and be exalted, and exceeding glorified. As many shall be astonished at thee, so shall thy face be without glory from men, and thy glory absent from the sons of men. Thus shall many nations wonder at him; and kings shall shut their mouths: for they to whom he was not spoken of shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up as a child before Him; as a root in a thirsty land: he hath no form nor glory; and we saw him, but he had no form nor comeliness. But his form was without honour, failing beyond the children of men; a man in calamity, and acquainted with the bearing of sickness; for his face is turned away: he was dishonoured, and not esteemed. He beareth our sins, and is pained for us: yet we accounted him to be in trouble, and in suffering, and in affliction. But he was wounded for our transgressions, and weakened because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his bruise we were healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; every one is gone astray in his own way; and the Lord hath given him over to our sins. And he openeth not his mouth, because of his affliction: he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before the shearer is dumb, so openeth he not his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth: for the iniquities of My people was he led to death. And I will give the wicked for his burial, and the rich for his death; for he did no iniquity, neither was guile found in his mouth. The Lord also is pleased to purge him from his stroke. If ye can give an offering for sin, your soul shall see a long lived seed: the Lord also is pleased to take away from the travail of his soul, to shew him light, and to fill him with understanding; to justify a righteous one that serveth many well; and he shall bear their sins. Therefore shall he inherit many, and divide the spoils of the mighty; because his soul was delivered unto death: and he was reckoned among the transgressors; and he bare the sins of many, and was delivered because of their iniquities. Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath an husband.
The reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. DEACON: Let us attend, Wisdom. Let us attend. READER Hebrews 2:11-18 Brethren, both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. PRIEST: Peace unto thee. DEACON: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. PRIEST: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. DEACON: Let us give heed. PRIEST Luke 23:32-49 At that time, there were also two other, malefactors, led with Jesus to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. READER Let thy compassion speedily come to us, O Lord, for we are greatly impoverished; help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us and have mercy upon our sins for thy name's sake. O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. (3) Glory...now and for ever... Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master, pardon our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [3] Glory... now and for ever... Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. PRIEST For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. Kontakion. Tone 8 Come, let us all sing the praises of him who was crucified for us; for Mary said when she beheld him on the Tree: Though thou dost endure the Cross, yet thou art my Son and my God. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [40] O Thou, who at all times and every hour, art worshipped and glorified, Christ our God, who art long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and ever-compassionate, who lovest the righteous and hast mercy upon sinners, who callest all to salvation through the promise of the blessings to come: Do Thou, O Lord, at this very hour accept our supplications, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our reasoning, cleanse our thoughts: and deliver us from all affliction, evil and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy angels, that being guarded and guided by their interposition, we mat attain unto the unity of the faith, and to the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory: For blessed art Thou, unto the ages of ages. Amen. Kyrie eleison (3) Glory… Now… More honourable than the cherubim and past compare more glorious than the seraphim, who inviolate didst bear God the Word, very Mother of God, thee we magnify. In the name of the Lord, Father, give the blessing. PRIEST God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us and have mercy upon us. And the Prayer O God and Lord of hosts, and author of all creation, who in thine incomparable tender mercy didst send thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of our race, and through his precious Cross didst tear up the record of our sins, and thereby triumphed over the principalities and powers of darkness; Do thou, O Master who lovest mankind, also accept from us sinners these prayers of thanksgiving and supplication, and deliver us from every dark and deadly transgression, and from every visible and invisible enemies that seek to do us harm. Nail our flesh with fear of thee, and incline not our hearts to evil words or thoughts, but would our souls with desire for thee, that ever gazing upon thee and guided by thy light and beholding thee, the everlasting light that no man can approach, we may ascribe unceasing praise and thanksgiving to thee, the Father without beginning, together with thine only-begotten Son and thy most holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen NINTH HOUR O come, let us worship and bow down before our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before the very Christ our King and our God. Psalm 68 Save me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my soul. I am stuck fast in deep mire, and there is no standing. I am come into the depths of the sea, and a tempest hath overwhelmed me. I am weary with my crying, my throat is become hoarse; mine eyes have failed from hoping in my God. They that hate me without a cause are multiplied more than the hairs of my head; mine enemies are grown strong that persecute me wrongfully; then I restored that which I took not away. O God, Thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins are not hid from Thee. Let not them that wait on Thee, O Lord, Thou Lord of hosts, be ashamed for my sake; nor let those that seek Thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. Because for Thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on me. And I covered my soul with fasting, and that was made a reproach unto me. I made sackcloth also my garment, and I became a proverb unto them. They that sit in the gate spake against me, and they that drank wine made me their song. But as for me, with my prayer will I cry unto Thee, O Lord, for the time of Thy good pleasure. O God, in the multitude of Thy mercy hear me, in the truth of Thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, that I may not stick fast; let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O Lord, for Thy mercy is good; look upon me according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies. Turn not away Thy face from Thy servant, for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of mine enemies. For Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my humiliation. All they that afflict me are before Thee. My soul hath looked for reproach and misery; and I looked for one that would grieve with me, but there was none; and for one that would comfort me, but found I none. They gave me also gall for my meat, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table be made a snare, a recompense, and a stumblingblock before them. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always. Pour out Thine indignation upon them, and let Thy wrathful anger take hold upon them. Let their habitation be desolate, and let none dwell in their tents. For they persecuted him whom Thou hast smitten, and have added to the pain of my wounds. Add iniquity unto their iniquity, and let them not come into Thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. I am poor and sorrowful; let Thy salvation, O God, be quick to help me. I will praise the name of my God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please God better than a young calf that hath horns and hoofs. Let the needy see this, and be glad; seek ye God, and your soul shall live. For the Lord hath heard the poor, and hath not despised His prisoners. Let the heaven and earth praise Him; the sea and every thing that creepeth therein. For God will save Zion, and the cities of Judah shall be built up; and they shall dwell there, and inherit it. The seed also of Thy servants shall have it in possession, and they that love Thy name shall dwell therein. Psalm 69 O God, look to help me; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul; let them be turned backward and put to shame that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back at once ashamed that say to me, Well, well! Let all those that seek Thee, O God, be glad and rejoice in Thee; and let such as love Thy salvation say continually, Let the Lord be magnified. But I am poor and needy; help me, O God. Thou art my help and my deliverer: O Lord, make no tarrying.
Psalm 85 Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, and hear me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am holy; O Thou my God, save Thy servant that hopeth in Thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I will cry unto Thee all the day. Rejoice the soul of Thy servant, for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good and gentle; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplication. In the day of my trouble have I cried unto Thee; for Thou hast heard me. Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord, neither are there any works like unto Thy works. All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord, and shall glorify Thy name. For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things; Thou art God alone. Lead me in Thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in Thy truth; let my heart rejoice that I may fear Thy name. I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Thy name for evermore. For great is Thy mercy toward me, and Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Hades. O God, transgressors are risen against me, and the assembly of the mighty hath sought after my soul; and have not set Thee before them. But Thou, O Lord my God, art full of compassion, and merciful; longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy, and true. Look Thou upon me, and have mercy upon me; give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and save the son of Thine handmaid. Work in me a token for good, and let them which hate me see, and be ashamed; because Thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me. Glory... now and for ever... Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory be to Thee, O God. [3] Kyrie eleison [3] Glory... Troparion Tone 8 The Thief, beholding the author of life hanging upon the Cross, said: if it were not God incarnate that is crucified with us, the sun would not have hid its rays, nor would the earth have quaked with trembling. But thou who endurest all things, Remember me, O Lord in thy Kingdom. Now and for ever... Theotokion. O Thou, O Good One, who for us was born of a Virgin and didst suffer crucifixion, and by death didst destroy death, and as God didst reveal resurrection: Despise not those whom Thou hast created with Thine own hand. Show forth Thy love for mankind, O Merciful. Accept the intercessions of the Mother of God who gave Thee birth, and save, O Saviour, a people in despair. And we sing the following hymns; the first without a verse. Tone 7 A strange wonder it was to behold the Creator of heaven and earth hanging on the Cross; the sun was darkened, the day changed again into night, and the earth gave back the bodies of the dead from their tombs; with them we worship you. Save us. (2) Verse: They parted my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. Tone 2 When the transgressors nailed thee, the Lord of glory, to the Cross, thou didst cry our to them: How have I grieved you or in what have I angered you? Before me, who delivered you from affliction? And now how do ye repay me? Evil instead of good, in return for the pillar of fire, ye have nailed me to the Cross, instead of a cloud, ye have dug me a tomb, instead of manna, ye have offered me gall, instead of water, ye have given me vinegar to drink. Henceforth I shall call the Gentiles, and they shall glorify me with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Verse: They gave me gall for my meat, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. When the transgressors nailed thee, the Lord of glory, to the Cross, thou didst cry our to them: How have I grieved you or in what have I angered you? Before me, who delivered you from affliction? And now how do ye repay me? Evil instead of good, in return for the pillar of fire, ye have nailed me to the Cross, instead of a cloud, ye have dug me a tomb, instead of manna, ye have offered me gall, instead of water, ye have given me vinegar to drink. Henceforth I shall call the Gentiles, and they shall glorify me with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Glory... now and for ever... Tone 6 Today is hung upon the Cross he who hung the earth upon the waters (3). He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns. He who wraps the heaven in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery. He who in Jordan set Adam free receives blows upon His face. The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails. The Son of the Virgin is pierced with a spear. We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ (3). Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection.
Prokheimenon. Tone6. Psalm 13 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Verse: There is none who doeth good; no, not one. The Reading is from the Prophecy of Jeremiah. DEACON: Wisdom. Let us attend. READER (Chap. 11:18-23, 12:1-5, 9-11, 14-15) O Lord, make it known unto me, and I shall know: then saw I their doings. But I, as an innocent lamb that is led to the slaughter, knew not: they devised an evil device against me, saying, Come, let us put wood into his bread, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, and his name shall no more be remembered. O Lord, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the hearts, let me see Thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I declared my cause. Therefore thus saith the Lord of the men of Anathoth, that seek my life, that say, Thou shalt not prophesy at all in the name of the Lord, but if thou dost, thou shalt die by our hands: behold, I will visit upon them: their young men shall die by the sword, and their sons and their daughters shall die by famine: and there shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring evil upon the inhabitants of Anathoth, even in the year of their visitation. Righteous art Thou, O Lord, for I will make my defence unto Thee; yea, I will talk with Thee of judgments. Wherefore is it that the way of the ungodly doth prosper? Wherefore did all they flourish that deal very treacherously? Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they have begotten children, and are become fruitful; Thou art near to their mouth, and far from their reins. 3But Thou, O Lord, knowest me; Thou hast proved my heart before Thee; purify them for the day of their slaughter. How long shall the land mourn, and the grass of the field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? The beasts are utterly destroyed, and the birds; because they said, God shall not see our ways. Thy feet run, and do make thee to faint. Go ye, assemble all the wild beasts of the field, and let them come to devour her. Many pastors have destroyed My vineyard, they have defiled My portion, they have made My desirable portion an untrodden wilderness: it is made an annihilation of destruction. For thus saith the Lord about all the evil neighbours that touch Mine inheritance, which I have divided unto My people Israel; Behold, I will draw them away from their land, and I will cast out Judah from among them. And it shall come to pass, that I will return, and have mercy upon them, and cause them to dwell every one in his heritage, and every one in his land.
The reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. DEACON: Let us attend, Wisdom. Let us attend. READER Hebrews 10:19-31 Brethren, having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. PRIEST: Peace unto thee. DEACON: Wisdom. Stand steadfast. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. PRIEST: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. DEACON: Let us give heed. PRIEST John 19:25-37 At that time, when they had crucified Jesus, the soldiers took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. READER For Thy holy Name’s sake, do not utterly forsake us, and dispel not Thy covenant, and take not Thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, beloved of Thee, and for the sake of Isaac, Thy servant, and of Israel, Thy holy one. O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. (3) Glory...now and for ever... Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master, pardon our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [3] Glory... now and for ever... Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. PRIEST For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. Kontakion. Tone 8 Come, let us all sing the praises of him who was crucified for us; for Mary said when she beheld him on the Tree: Though thou dost endure the Cross, yet thou art my Son and my God. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [40] O Thou, who at all times and every hour, art worshipped and glorified, Christ our God, who art long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and ever-compassionate, who lovest the righteous and hast mercy upon sinners, who callest all to salvation through the promise of the blessings to come: Do Thou, O Lord, at this very hour accept our supplications, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our reasoning, cleanse our thoughts: and deliver us from all affliction, evil and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy angels, that being guarded and guided by their interposition, we mat attain unto the unity of the faith, and to the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory: For blessed art Thou, unto the ages of ages. Amen. Kyrie eleison (3) Glory… Now… More honourable than the cherubim and past compare more glorious than the seraphim, who inviolate didst bear God the Word, very Mother of God, thee we magnify. In the name of the Lord, Father, give the blessing. PRIEST God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us and have mercy upon us. And the Prayer O Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, who art patient with our transgressions, and hast brought us even to this present hour, in which, as Thou didst hang upon the life-giving tree, Thou didst open the way to Paradise for the grateful thief, and by death didst destroy death: Do Thou also have mercy upon us sinners, Thine unworthy servants. For we have sinned and transgressed, and are not worthy to lift up our eyes and look upon the heights of heaven: for we have abandoned the way of Thy righteousness, and have walked after the desires of our own hearts. But we beseech Thy boundless goodness. Spare us, O Lord, according to the multitude of Thy mercy, and save us for Thy holy Name’s sake; for our days have passed away in vanity; deliver us from the hand of the adversary, and forgive us our sins, and eradicate our carnal imagination, that putting off the old man, we may put on the new man and live unto Thee, our Master and benefactor, and following in Thy commandments we may attain unto eternal rest, where is the abode of all those that rejoice. For verily Thou art the true joy and gladness of them that love Thee, O Christ our God, and to Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thine eternal Father, and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. CHOIR: Amen. PRIEST Glory be to Thee, O Christ our God and our hope, glory be to Thee. CHOIR Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Kyrie eleison [3], holy father give the blessing. PRIEST May He who endured spitting and scourging and blows, the Cross and death, for the salvation of the world, Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most holy Mother; of the holy and all-glorious Apostles; and of all the saints, have mercy upon us, and save our souls: For He is good and loving-kind. By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. CHOIR: Amen.
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