Tone II

Tuesday

Monday Evening at Vespers

On “Lord, I have cried…”: 3 stichera of repentance, in Tone II: Special Melody: “When from the Tree…”—

Stichos: If Thou shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee is forgiveness.

O Christ, Who alone art without sin, Who alone art without guile, Who alone art the Wellspring of goodness: Behold mine oppression, behold my tribulation. Wash all the wounds of my stripes, and in Thy mercy save Thy servant, that, having driven far away the clouds of slothfulness, I may glorify Thee, mine all-good Savior.

Stichos: For Thy name’s sake have I patiently waited for Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited patiently for Thy word, my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

Look, O my lowly soul! Behold thy works, which are all-defiled! Behold thy nakedness and, alas, thine isolation! For thou shalt be separated from God and the angels, and wilt be cast into endless torment. Come to thy senses, arise, make haste and cry out: I have sinned, O Savior! Grant me forgiveness, and save me!

Stichos: From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel hope in the Lord.

Grievously have I defiled my body and brought corruption upon my soul and heart by my vile thoughts; I have wounded all my senses, have blinded mine eyes, have stopped up mine ears with filth, and have defiled my tongue; and all that I have is shameful. Wherefore, falling down before Thee, I cry out: O Master Christ, I have sinned against Thee! I have sinned: forgive and save me!

Then the stichera of the saint, from the Menaion; or if there is no Menaion, these stichera of the Forerunner, in the same melody—

Stichos: For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plenteous redemption; and He shall redeem Israel out of all his iniquities.

Haste thou, I pray thee, and rescue me from temptations, O glorious Forerunner of the Lord; for the bitter demons who wage war on me have hurled themselves in vain against me, seeking to capture the soul of thy servant like a helpless bird. Leave me not utterly alone, O most blessed one, but let them understand that thou art my refuge.

Stichos: O praise the Lord, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples.

O most holy offspring of a barren woman, wondrous scion of the desert, beauteous swallow, right melodious nightingale, golden dove: Ever show forth my wretched soul to be fruitful in good works, that, bearing grain an hundredfold, O blessed one, it may bring divine praise unto thee.

Stichos: For He hath made His mercy to prevail over us, and the truth of the Lord abideth forever.

Deliver me from everlasting fire, from the darkness which is utterly devoid of light, from necessity and tribulation, from all affliction, from all oppression, I pray thee, O Forerunner; and by thy supplications show unto me, who am condemned by my transgressions, the portion of the saved, where the dancing and joy of the saints is ineffable, O good one.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Tribulation, cruel assaults, and divers passions bestorm my lowly soul, O Maiden who knewest not wedlock, Mother of Christ God. Show thyself to be my pilot on the sea of life, and still the tempest that assaileth me, to the calm harbors of repentance and coolness steering me, who have recourse to thy divine protection.

Then, O gladsome Light…; the Prokimenon of the day; and Vouchsafe, O Lord…

Aposticha stichera of compunction, in Tone II—

Like the prodigal son I have sinned against Thee, O Savior. Accept me who am penitent, O Father. Have mercy upon me, O God!

Stichos: Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes, unto Thee that dwellest in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the handmaid look unto the hands of her mistress, so do our eyes look unto the Lord our God, until He take pity on us.

With the cry of the publican I call out to Thee, O Christ my Savior: Cleanse me as Thou didst him, and have mercy on me, O God!

Stichos: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for greatly are we filled with abasement. Greatly hath our soul been filled therewith; let reproach come upon them that prosper, and abasement on the proud.

Martyricon: When the holy martyrs pray for us and hymn Christ, all deception ceaseth, and the human race is saved by faith.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

All of my hope do I set on thee, O Mother of God; keep me under thy protection.

Then, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…; Trisagion through Our Father…; Troparia. Litany, and Dismissal. 

Monday Night at Compline

Canon of Supplication to the All-Holy Theotokos

Ode I

Irmos: Once, almighty power overwhelmed the whole army of Pharaoh in the deep, and the incarnate Word destroyed pernicious sin. All-glorious is the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified.

With the Archangel Gabriel the Church offereth in hymnody an ever-flowering wreath of laudation, which sprang forth through the Spirit unto thee, the Bride of God, O pure one, chanting “Rejoice!” and crowning thee with honor.

Having cultivated Christ God, the life-bearing vine, O all-hymned Mother of God, thou wast shown to be the holy ground of the Father in manner past understanding, and hast watered the whole world with life-bearing drink, O pure one, full of the grace of God.

Glory…: O all-pure one, thou gavest birth to the God of the whole world which is cruelly battered and engulfed by the waves of transgressions, the Lord of us all, Christ the Helmsman, Who doth faithfully pilot us to the haven of salvation.

Now & ever…: We all faithfully entreat thee, O Mary, Mother of God, thou refuge and city of salvation, and we make supplication unto thee fervently: Accept the entreaties of us, thy servants, and release us all from the condemnation of transgressions.

Ode III

Irmos: Establish us in thee, O Lord Who hast slain sin by the Tree, and plant Thou the fear of Thee in the hearts of us who hymn Thee.

The beguilement of Eve was the beginning of the estrangement between God and men; but the holy Theotokos hath led us back to God.

The glorious Joachim begat thee, the treasury of Life, for the world, O all-hymned one, and he rejoiceth in thee, his goodly offspring, for thou didst come as the expectation of thy barren parents.

Glory…: From Anna hath joy blossomed forth for our race. Thou givest birth to the King as a Virgin. And women, released from the curse by thee, rejoice in thy birthgiving.

Now & ever…: The bush on Sinai prefigured thine all-glorious birthgiving, O Virgin; for, receiving the fire of the Godhead within thy womb, O pure one, thou wast not consumed.

Ode IV

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, of Thy glorious dispensation, and I have glorified Thine unapproachable power, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

In godly manner Jacob foresaw thee as a ladder, O Virgin, upon whose summit God established Himself.

Through thee, O all-pure one, was the descent of the angels revealed beforehand to signify the advent of the Word to us.

Glory…: Blessed is thy womb and thy breasts, O all-hymned Virgin; for for their sake have we all found Life.

Now & ever…: With Orthodox voices we mystically hymn thee, O Mother of God, for by thy supplications is the Church preserved.

Ode V

Irmos: O Christ my Savior, Thou enlightenment of those who lie in darkness and salvation of the despairing, I rise early unto Thee: Illumine me with Thine effulgence, for I know none other God than Thee.

We hymn thee, O Mary Theotokos, as one more honorable than the ark of the law, for thou, O all-hymned one, didst bear the Creator and God of all like the tablets of the law.

We glorify thee as the throne of God the Word, sitting whereon God revealed Himself as man; and thou hast become more exalted than the cherubim.

Glory…: Thou hast released the whole human race from bitter bondage, O Virgin, and hast honored the nature of women with the freedom of Christ in thy divine birthgiving.

Now & ever…: Thou gavest birth to the Son, O Virgin, and women manifestly vanquish the enemy; wherefore, holding fast to virginity, they hasten to thee, O Maiden.

Ode VI

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy lovingkindness: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

With the angel we faithfully cry out to thee: Rejoice, O pure virgin, thou joy of the world! Vouchsafe us thy joy, and do away with our grief!

Unto us who with faith praise thee, the dwelling-place of joy which cannot be taken away, O Ever-virgin Mother, vouchsafe thy joy and do away with our grief.

Glory…: In thy divine glory thou hast been shown to be a heaven more exalted than the heavens, O Bride of God; for making His abode within thee, our God hath appeared unto me.

Now & ever…: Now hath the nature of women rejoiced! Now hath grief ceased and joy blossomed forth! For Mary hath given birth to joy: Christ, our God and Savior.

Then, “Lord, have mercy!”: thrice. Glory…, Now & ever…

Sessional hymn, in Tone II—

Looking upon the grievous slothfulness of my soul and the utter weakness of my heart, O Mother of God, heal me by thy supplications and vouchsafe unto me the portion of the saved, delivering me from darkness and torment, in that thou alone art my hope and consolation.

Ode VII

Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, Thy three youths spurned the ungodly command, and, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed, they  sang: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

The fleece of Gideon prefigured the descent of the Word of God upon thee, O pure one, for thou didst accept conception like dew, O incorrupt Virgin. Wherefore, we all cry out to thee: Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O pure one.

New and awesome, full of faith and wondrous are thy mysteries, O Mary, Mother of Christ our God; for through thee have we all been reconciled with God the Master; and we chant now with the angels: Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O pure one.

Glory…: Of old Gideon manifestly foretold thy divine birthgiving, O pure one, setting forth a bowl full of water from the wringing out of the fleece; for God dwelt wholly within thee, O all-pure one. Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O pure one.

Now & ever…: In giving birth to the God and Savior of all, O Mary, thou becamest the correction of the despairing, the restoration of sinners, the hope of the hopeless and the help of those who chant: Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O pure one.

Ode VIII

Irmos: God, Who descended into the fiery furnace for the Hebrew children and transformed the flame into dew, hymn ye as Lord, O ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Thou hast been shown to be a new garden of paradise, containing the tree of Life, not that of death, O all-holy Theotokos; for like a garden thou didst without seed produce the Lord, through Whom we all partake of immortal life.

The whole Church of Christ doth hymn thy birthgiving, O Theotokos, for all sinners and poor folk are saved, who flee to thee with love; for Christ hath come to earth to save men.

Glory…: Through thee, O Virgin Theotokos, hath thy first mother been freed from condemnation. And, lo! women now suffer for Christ, and female nature rejoiceth, as Thecla, the first martyred woman, doth exclaim.

Now & ever…: No one hath perished who in Orthodox manner hath acquired the hope of faith in thee, O pure Virgin Mother of God; but he is cast aside who with jealousy refuseth to venerate thy depicted image.

Ode IX

Irmos: Thee do we magnify, O blessed and most pure Theotokos, who through thy virginal womb didst ineffably make God incarnate, the Luminary Who shone forth before the sun and hath come to us in the flesh.

Incline thine ear, O all-holy Virgin, unto me who with faith hymn thy birthgiving with words of praise; and, accepting the hymnody of my lips like the widow’s gift, beg thou the forgiveness of my sins.

Thy beauty shineth forth and emitteth the radiance of purity, O pure one; and thy birthgiving shineth even more than these, for God, the Creator of the sun and all creation, hath been born of thee. Wherefore, we all magnify thee.

Glory…: Divinely chanting in hymns with a voice of praise, O Theotokos, we beseech thee, the light of purity, the staff of virginity and Mother of God: establish us in virginity and preserve us in purity.

Now & ever…: In that thou hadst preserved thy body and soul undefiled for God, O pure one, Christ the King desired thy beauty and showed thee to be the Mother of His incarnation, accomplishing my salvation, O all-glorious Mary.

Then, “It is truly meet…”, and a prostration. Trisagion through Our Father. And the rest as usual. Dismissal.

Tuesday Morning at Matins

After the first chanting of the Psalter, these Sessional hymns of compunction, in Tone II—

Mindful of the dread day of trial, O my soul, tremble at the sentence to everlasting torment, and in repentance cry out, weeping: I have sinned, O God! Have mercy on me!

Stichos: O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, nor chasten me in Thy wrath.

Testing my condemned conscience, I am in fear of Thy dread tribunal, O Lord; for in me there are no works of salvation. Yet as Thou art possessed of a wealth of lovingkindness, O Christ God, have pity on me, and save me.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thee do we magnify, O Theotokos, crying aloud: Rejoice, O staff from whence God sprang forth without seed and destroyed death on the Cross.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, these Sessional hymns of compunction, in Tone II—

“Have mercy on me, ” said David; and I cry unto Thee: “I have sinned, O Savior! Cleanse me of my sins through repentance, and have mercy on me!”

Stichos: O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, nor chasten me in Thy wrath.

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!”, David wept over his two sins; and I cry out to Thee over my tens of thousands of transgressions; he made his bed moist with tears, but I shed nary a one. Wherefore, I am in despair, and pray: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy!”

Stichos: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.

Martyricon: O Christ God Who, in that Thou art good, hast made Thy saints to shine with greater luster than gold, and hast glorified Thy holy ones, entreated by them grant peace to our lives, in that Thou lovest mankind, and set their prayer before Thee like incense, O Thou Who alone restest in the saints.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O Theotokos, spurn me not who am in need of help from thee; for on thee doth my soul set its hope. Have mercy on me!

After the third chanting of the Psalter, these Sessional hymns, in Tone II: Special Melody: “As the well-spring of lovingkindness…”—

In the streams of the Jordan thou didst immerse the abundant Wellspring of lovingkindness, O John; wherefore, I earnestly beseech thee: Guide me by thy right acceptable prayers to the haven of life, for every day I am cruelly engulfed by many passions and the abyss of life.

In the lovingkindness of Thy mercy, O Good Christ, Thou didst come to save Thy creature, bowing down the heavens in Thy condescension; wherefore, hymning Thine awesome dispensation, we cry unto Thee: Through the entreaties of Thy forerunner, grant us cleansing of sins, in that Thou alone art full of lovingkindness.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Who hath seen, who hath heard of a mother giving birth to her own Creator, without knowing man, and giving suck unto Him Who giveth nourishment to all flesh? O the wonder! Thy womb hath been shown to be the throne of the cherubim, O gracious Theotokos. Pray for our souls.

Ode I

Canon of repentance, to our Lord Jesus Christ and the holy martyrs, the acrostic whereof is: 
“Thou accedest to my lamentations, O Savior”: the composition of Joseph, in Tone II—

Irmos: Taking up the hymn of Moses, cry aloud, O my soul: My Helper and Protector hath He been for my salvation! He is my God, and I shall glorify Him!

Before our departure let us weep bitterly over ourselves, O brethren, that by goodly tears we, who are devoid of ought that is profitable, may avoid torment at that time.

Ten thousands of times I vowed to repent, O Christ, but my soul is numb, and I fall into transgressions. Have pity on my weakness, O Savior.

Martyricon: O passion-bearers of Christ, who endured the fire of torment, with divine dew deliver from the fire of Gehenna me who wallow in grievous passions.

Martyricon: Shown to be mighty in divine power over the enemy, O right laudable martyrs of Christ, ye cast down their feeble force.

Theotokion: O fire-bearing tongs, which Isaiah once beheld, burn up the base passions of my heart, and destroy them utterly, O Theotokos.

Another canon, of the holy and most honorable prophet, John the Forerunner, the acrostic whereof is “O Baptist, accept this entreaty”: the composition of Joseph, in Tone II—

Irmos: Overwhelming power once laid low the whole army of Pharaoh in the deep, and the incarnate Word hath destroyed pernicious sin. All-glorious is the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified.

O Baptist and Forerunner of Christ, pilot my mind, which is ever overwhelmed by bodily pleasures, and still the waves of the passions, that I may hymn thee in divine serenity.

Illumined with inconceivable enlightenment, like a star of great radiance thou didst advance before the noetic Dawn. Thereby, O Baptist, I pray: Let my heart be enlightened which hath been benighted by all the assaults of the demons.

In the river, O most wise one, thou didst once immerse the Abyss Who by grace doth accomplish the drowning of all transgression. And I pray, O blessed one: By thy divine mediationdry up the torrents of my transgressions.

Theotokion: Thou wast the kinsman of the pure Virgin who gave flesh unto God; and we who now dwell in thy divine temple honor thee with her, and we pray: Make us also temples of the Holy Spirit.

Ode III

Canon of Repentance

Irmos: By Thy compassion show forth my barren mind to be fruitful, O God, Thou Husbandman of good things and Planter of blessings.

I have weighed my soul down with the slumber of slothfulness. But rouse me, O Christ unto the wakefulness of repentance, that I may do Thy commandments.

Let me not be seen as desperate on the dread day, O Jesus, but, converting me before the end, deliver me from cruel torments.

Martyricon: O passion-bearers of Christ, who emulated well His sufferings, heal the grievous passions of my soul.

Martyricon: That ye might be vouchsafed eternal good things in the heavens, O passion-bearers, on earth ye steadfastly endured every trial of the cruel.

Theotokion: As a mother thou givest suck to the Nourisher of all, and in thine arms thou hearest Him Who ever holdeth all things in His hand.

Canon of the Forerunner

Irmos: Establishing me upon the rock of faith, Thou hast enlarged my mouth against mine enemies, for my spirit doth exult when I chant: There is none holy as our God, and none righteous save Thee, O Lord!

Heal the stripes of my soul, O Forerunner of the Lord, and with thy divine mediation illumine my mind, which hath been obscured by indifference; and deliver me from every machination of the adversary, I pray.

Born in accordance with the providence of God, O all-wise prophet, thou didst free thy mother from barrenness; wherefore, by thy mediation make my barren heart now fruitful, O Forerunner of the Lord, that it may put forth the virtues as shoots.

In thy love pray that those who with faith serve thy temple may receive the heavenly life of Him Who createth the divine abode; and by thy mediation, O Baptist and Forerunner, make them temples of the divine Spirit.

Theotokion: Carried in the womb of thy mother, O Forerunner, thou didst rejoice and pay homage to the Lord, Who was borne in the womb of her who is full of grace. Him do thou entreat, that He deliver me from all tribulation.

Ode IV

Canon of Repentance

Irmos: Foreseeing thy nativity from the Virgin, the prophet lifted his voice in proclamation, crying: I heard report of Thee, and I was afraid, O Christ, for Thou hast come from Thæman, from the holy mountain which is overshadowed!

Seeing me everywhere robbed and reduced to penury, the enemy, the crafty deceiver, rejoiceth, O Word. But deliver me from his malefactions, O Lord of glory, O Enricher of the poor.

I have defiled my hands and eyes, having done those things which I ought not to have done, O Lord; and I have turned Thy compassions to wrath, squandering Thy long-suffering. But look down, O Good One, and have pity on me.

Martyricon: How wondrous is our God in the saints who heeded Him, who overturned the graven images down to their destruction, and have inherited the broad expanse of paradise, from whence Adam was expelled of old.

Martyricon: With the streams of your blood, O blessed ones, ye put an end to the blood once offered to the demons, which was destructive ruination for all men who offered it up in sacrifice; wherefore, ye are ever called blessed.

Theotokion: Taught by the Spirit, in sacred images and divers ways the all-glorious choir of the prophets depicted beforehand the mystery of thee, which passeth understanding, O Theotokos, the end whereof we splendidly behold.

Canon of the Forerunner

Irmos: Thou didst come forth from the Virgin, neither a mediator nor an angel, but Thyself incarnate, O Lord, and hast saved me, the whole man; wherefore, I cry to thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

With thy right hand, thou didst bow the head of Him Who bowed down the heavens and conversed with men, O thou who art most rich. Preserve me also thereby, maintaining my heart in humility.

The trackless desert had thee dwelling within it, O blessed Forerunner; wherefore, I cry unto thee: Keep safe my soul, which is devoid of any divine activity.

Observing the law of God, thou was iniquitously slain; wherefore, I pray to thee: Set me aright, who ever commit iniquity and am led astray by the deceptions of the demons.

Having made thyself a temple for the King and Master, O Forerunner, thou hast now passed over to the divine habitations. Pray thou that those who have raised up a divine house unto thee may receive it.

Theotokion: Look down upon me who am ailing, O most immaculate one, and free me from my grievous and nigh incurable passions, that I may magnify thee who hast magnified all humanity.

Ode V

Canon of Repentance

Irmos: Dispelling the darkness of my soul, O my Savior, with the light of the commandments illumine me, in that Thou alone art the King of peace.

Mindlessly do I heap sins upon sins, and there is no uplifting in my death. Woe is me! How shall I appear before Christ?

Misfortune hath smitten me like a ship, and I have cast overboard the freight Thou gavest me, O Compassionate One; and, now impoverished, I cry: Disdain me not, O Christ!

Martyricon: Having disdained base glory as worthy to be trampled underfoot, O passion-bearers, abiding with Christ ye have been vouchsafed the glory of heaven.

Martyricon: Having cut your mind off from the love of the flesh, O passion-bearers, with faith ye lovingly embraced tortures, becoming Christ’s.

Theotokion: In the Spirit, O Theotokos, Daniel beheld thee as the great mountain from whence the Stone was quarried Who crusheth the graven images of the demons.

Canon of the Forerunner

Irmos: O Christ my Savior, enlightenment of those who lie in darkness and salvation of the despairing: rising early unto Thee, O King of the world, may I be enlightened by Thy radiance, for I know none other God than Thee.

O Forerunner, who baptized Christ, the Stream of incorruption, in the torrents of the Jordan: Beseech Him to dry up the effluvia of my passions, that I may inherit torrents of sweetness and the beautiful joy of the righteous.

Already I lament, and am constrained by fear, and am ever stuck fast in perplexity, thinking upon the things I have done and the terrible judgment which is to come. O compassionate Lord, have pity on me, through the entreaties of Thy Forerunner.

O Forerunner, who didst tell the people that the law of salvation lieth in repentance for their transgressions, thou didst stand before the law and grace; wherefore, we entreat thee: Enlighten us with examples of repentance.

Time to repent do Thou grant unto me who have wasted all the time I have despondently passed through, O Benefactor and Word, for Thou hast John, the great Forerunner and universal preacher of repentance, entreating Thee for this.

Theotokion: I have been done to death by the assaults and pursuit of the deceiver, O most immaculate Mistress. Enliven me, O Theotokos who gavest birth to the hypostatic Life of all, that with piety I may hymn thee, the most immaculate one.

Ode VI

Canon of Repentance

Irmos: Stuck fast am I in the abyss of sin, O Savior, and tempest-tossed on the deep of life; yet lead me up from the passions and save me, as Thou didst Jonah from the sea monster.

Like the Canaanite woman of old do I cry unto Thee: O Son of God, have mercy and pity on me! For my soul suffereth in its grievous deeds, and doth not itself desire to come to its senses.

The tempest of countless passions vexeth me. As once Thou didst rebuke the sea and save Thy holy disciples, O Jesus Christ, so raise me up and save me.

Martyricon: The incorporeal angelic choirs marveled at your bodily endurance, O honored athletes, and they praised Him Who granteth you power and the reward for your toils.

Martyricon: Soaked by the streams of your own blood, your eyes plucked out, chilled by the perishing cold, O martyrs, ye passed over to the warmth of life, hymning Christ.

Theotokion: Like a table, O most hymned one, thou didst hold the mystical Bread, of Whom those who eat will no longer hunger, knowing thee to be truly the Mother and Nourisher of Christ, the God of all.

Canon of the Forerunner

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy lovingkindness: Lead me up from corruption, O God! O voice who proclaimed the Word, accepting the cries of us all, ask that He grant forgiveness of sins unto those who hymn Him with faith.

Heal the broken state of my soul, loose the burden of my sins, and by thy supplications save me who am beyond hope, O blessed Forerunner.

Entreat Jesus, Whom thou didst baptize with thy hand, O most glorious Forerunner, that from the hand of sin He deliver me who ever lift up my hands unto Him.

Theotokion: I am stuck fast in the slumber of slothfulness, and the sleep of sin weigheth heavily upon my heart. But by thy vigilant mediation raise me up, O all-pure one, and save me.

Ode VII

Canon of Repentance

Irmos: Emulating the cherubim, the youths danced in the midst of the furnace, crying: Blessed art Thou, O God, for in truth and judgment Thou hast brought all these things up us because of our sins! All-hymned and all-glorious art Thou for all ages!

I have rejected Thy laws and made myself subject to irrational lusts, doing unseemly things, O Christ, for I have become vain in my mindlessness more than any other men on earth. But in Thy lovingkindness leave me not to perish, O Savior.

Behold, I have been conceived in iniquities, O Lord: like David I cry out, like the harlot I weep, and like an offensive servant I have offended Thee, the only good God. But in Thy lovingkindness leave me not to perish, O Savior.

Martyricon: The martyric assembly of the passion-bearers struggled and were crowned as martyrs by the life-bearing right hand of God; for they truly loved God, Who created all things by His word. And rejoicing now in the heavens, they enjoy a divine inheritance.

Martyricon: Their eyes plucked out, their hands and feet severed, the right glorious ones ran right speedily to the heavenly course, treading on the feet of the one enemy. By their supplications, O Word, save all who glorify Thee.

Theotokion: The cherubim, the seraphim, the thrones, authorities and dominions ever glorify and hymn thy birthgiving, which is past understanding, O most hymned Mary, for thou alone gavest birth to God in the flesh. Him do thou entreat, O pure one, that we who honor thee with love may be saved.

Canon of the Forerunner

Irmos: The command of the iniquitous tyrant, opposed to God, raised up a lofty flame; but Christ, Who is blessed and all-glorious, spread a spiritual dew upon the pious youths.

Having hewn down the wounds of my passion-plagued heart with thine axe of repentance, O Forerunner, plant in their stead divine dispassion and the most pure fear of God, which remove me from all evil.

As thou didst baptize in the streams of the Jordan the Lord Who covereth His chambers with the waters, beseech Him ever to give the water of divine compunction to mine eyes, O glorious Forerunner.

Having preached the Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sin of the world, O glorious Forerunner, beseech Him to deliver me from the lot of the goats, and to number me among the lambs at His right hand.

Theotokion: A barren womb bore thee, O Virgin, who didst bear in thy womb the Word incarnate, Whom the great Forerunner, rejoicing, acknowledged with godly leaps as the most holy and seedless Fruit, bowing down before Him.

Ode VIII

Canon of Repentance

Irmos: Hymn and bless Him Who, on Mount Sinai of old, prefigured the miracle of the Virgin in the bush for Moses, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

That Thou mightest deify us, in Thy mercy Thou becamest incarnate. This have I not understood, in thrall as I am to pleasures. But in Thy goodness convert me, O Christ, Thou salvation of all.

O Word, good Shepherd, turn Thou and save my wretched soul, which hath become lost in the mountains of transgression, and let not the deceiving foe slay me utterly.

Martyricon: “Let us stand manfully together!” the comely athletes cried one to another as they were cruelly wounded. “Behold, Christ extendeth crowns of victory to us for all ages!”

Martyricon: With your mighty pangs, as with strong cords, did ye choke the serpent who desired to deceive you with evil machinations; and ye have been shown to be inheritors of the food of paradise.

Theotokion: That God might deify us, He took flesh of thy pure blood and became man, O Virgin Theotokos. Him do thou ever entreat in behalf of those who honor thee.

Canon of the Forerunner

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fiery furnace divided its activity at the command of God, consuming the Chaldæans, but bedewing the faithful, who chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Extend thy right hand unto me who lie on the ground, O Forerunner who, extending thy right hand, didst wash the Undefiled One in the waters. Deliver me from bodily corruption, cleansing me wholly with repentance; and save me.

As thou hast time to repent, O my soul, shake off the heavy sleep of slothfulness, and hasten to keep watch, crying out to thy Master: Have pity on me, O Thou Who art full of lovingkindness, through the entreaties of him who baptized Thee.

The torrents of the passions and the waters of evil have entered in unto my soul, O blessed Forerunner. Haste thou quickly to rescue me, O thou who in the river’s streams did wash the most tranquil Deep of dispassion.

Alas for me who have done much evil! Woe is me, who alone have angered the all-good God! O thou who didst baptize Christ, help me, and by thy mediations grant me the remission of my transgressions and the cancellation of my debts.

Theotokion: O thou who gavest birth in the flesh unto God Most High, raise me up from the mire of the passions which vex me, O all-pure one, and with the divine virtues enrich me who am grievously and wholly impoverished, that, saved, I may hymn thee.

We then chant the Hymn of the Theotokos [the Magnificat], with the refrain: “More honorable than the cherubim…”: and make prostrations.

Ode IX

Canon of Repentance

Irmos: Who among mortals hath ever heard or seen such a thing as a virgin being found to have conceived in her womb and given birth to a babe without pain? Such a miracle was thine, O pure Theotokos, and we magnify thee.

O how awesome is the tribunal at which I shall await judgment, O Christ; yet I in nowise feel terror thereof, spending all my time in idleness. But convert me, O only Creator, Who converted the sinful Manasseh.

Stanch the torrents of my boundless evils, I cry unto Thee, O Christ, granting me outpourings of tears which wash away the defilement in which I wallowed in mine insanity; and in Thy mercy save me, O Thou Who didst save the harlot who repented with all her soul.

Martyricon: Shining forth upon us like the sun, the splendid memory of the divine passion-bearers sheddeth light upon all the ends of the earth, and with the divine Spirit dispelleth the gloom of the madness of idolatry and the darkness of the soul-corrupting passions.

Martyricon: The honored regiment, the victorious army, the chosen company, the assembly of the holy martyrs, the divine choir have united themselves to the choirs of the incorporeal ones. By their supplications, O Christ, grant us all a share of Thy kingdom.

Theotokion: With the radiant effulgence of Him Who shone forth upon us from thy womb and destroyed the night of ungodliness, O Mary, Virgin Mother, enlighten all who honor thee with faith; and at the hour of condemnation, deliver them from the darkness which is devoid of light.

Canon of the Forerunner

Irmos: God the Lord, the Son of the unoriginate Father, hath revealed Himself to us incarnate of the Virgin, to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the dispersed. Wherefore, we magnify the all-hymned Theotokos.

Deliver me from the mire of sin, O only sinless and greatly merciful Lord, through the entreaties of the Baptist who to the whole world proclaimed Thee the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of men.

Having thee as a fragrant rose, as a right redolent cypress-tree, as a never-fading lily, as precious myrrh, O Forerunner of the Lord, running to thy protection I am delivered from the stench of my deeds by thy supplications.

O most blessed one, make me ever fruitful in the virtues who am become barren through my fruitless deeds, making me a child of the Lord, a sharer in the divine kingdom and a dweller with the council of the saints.

From heaven grant remission of evils, correction of life and deliverance from transgressions unto us who love thee, who honor thee with love and join chorus in thy divine temple, O Forerunner of the Lord.

Theotokion: Thou didst pay homage unto Him Who was borne in the womb of the Mother of God and holdeth all things in His hand, O prophet. With her pray that my lowly soul may be saved, for every day it falleth into many offenses.

Then, “It is truly meet to bless thee…”: and a prostration. Litany, exapostilarion, and the usual psalms.

Aposticha stichera of compunction, in Tone II—

I have surpassed all in sin! From whom shall I learn repentance? If I sigh like the publican, I only burden the heavens; if I weep like the harlot, I defile the earth with my tears. But grant me remission of sins, O God, and have mercy on me.

Stichos: We were filled in the morning with Thy mercy, O Lord, and we rejoiced and were glad. In all our days, let us be glad for the days wherein Thou didst humble us, for the years wherein we saw evils. And look upon Thy servants, and upon Thy works, and do Thou guide their sons.

Overlook mine iniquities, O Lord Who wast born of the Virgin; and purify my heart, making it a temple for Thy Holy Spirit. Turn not Thy face away from me, O Thou Who art possessed of great and boundless mercy.

Stichos: And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us, and the works of our hands do Thou guide aright upon us, yea, the work of our hands do Thou guide aright.

Taking up the Cross of Christ as a trophy of victory, O holy martyrs, ye set at naught all the power of the devil; and receiving heavenly crowns, ye are become bulwarks for us, praying to the Lord in our behalf.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Rejoice, O Theotokos Mary, thou temple indestructible and surpassing holy; as the prophet crieth out: Holy is thy temple, wondrous in righteousness!

Then, “It is good to give thanks…” Trisagion through Our Father…Troparion. Litany. First Hour, and Dismissal.

Tuesday at Divine Liturgy

On the Beatitudes, these troparia, in Tone II—

We offer Thee the cry of the thief, and we pray: In Thy kingdom have mercy upon us, O Savior!

I have surpassed the thief and the harlot in my passions. O Savior, have pity on me who am self-condemned!

O Forerunner who immersed the Abyss of lovingkindness in the waters, by thy supplications decrease my passions.

Martyricon: O passion-bearers of Christ, who dried up the torrents of deception with the torrents of your blood, ye are glorified as is meet.

Glory…: As it is written, even the rhetorical mind of man is unable to hymn the one Principle of the Godhead in three Hypostases.

Now & ever…: With songs of praise let us all unceasingly hymn her who, without being consumed, gave birth to the all-unoriginate God.