Tone V

Sunday

Saturday Evening at Little Vespers

On “Lord, I have cried…”: 4 stichera, the composition of our venerable father John of Damascus, in Tone V—

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

By Thy precious Cross didst Thou put the devil to shame, O Christ, and by Thy resurrection didst Thou blunt the sting of sin, and hast saved us from the gates of death. We glorify Thee, O Only-begotten One!

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

The foregoing sticheron is repeated. 

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

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, bestowing resurrection upon the human race; and the princes of hades were afraid of Him, and the gates of weeping were seized, for Christ, the King of glory, entered in, saying to those in bonds: “Come forth!”, and to those in darkness: “Show yourselves!”

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

Great is the wonder! The immortal Creator of the invisible hosts, suffering in the flesh in His love for mankind, hath risen! Come, ye kindreds of the nations, let us worship Him! For, having been delivered from deception by His compassions, we have learned to hymn the one God in three Hypostases!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion—

Let us honor the godly and precious Maiden who is honored by the cherubim; for the Creator of all, desiring to become man, ineffably made His abode within her. O strange things and mysteries most glorious! Who doth not marvel on hearing that God became man, yet underwent no change within Himself?He passed through the gate of the Virgin, yet no diminution accrued unto Him therein. As the prophet said: Then shall no man pass through it, save the Lord God of Israel, Who hath great mercy.

Then, ‘‘O gladsome Light…”. the Prokimenon, “The Lord is king…”: with its stichoi. And after “Vouchsafe, O Lord…”: the priest doth not intone the litanies, but we chant the first sticheron of the resurrectional aposticha, in Tone V—

With sounds of hymnody do we magnify Thee, Christ the Savior, Who hath not been separated from the heavens; for Thou didst accept the Cross and death for our race, as the Lord Who loveth mankind, Who hath overthrown the gates of hades, and hath risen on the third day, saving our souls.

And these other stichera, of the Theotokos in the same tone: Special Melody: “Rejoice, O boast of fasters…”—

Stichos: I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation.

I stretch forth my hands to thee, O pure one; I open my polluted lips to make entreaty; I bend the knees of my heart and noetically touch now thine all-pure feet, and fall down before thee. Cure thou my many and long-standing ailments, and by thy grace heal mine incurable sores. Deliver me from enemies visible and invisible. Lighten the burden of my slothfulness, O Maiden, that I may hymn and glorify thee through whom the world hath found great mercy.

Stichos: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.

Rejoice, O most immaculate one who ineffably conceived the Son of God, who gavest birth to Him Who truly received flesh like ours from thy blood, and dost possess a rational and independent soul; for in His ineffable mercy and goodness He clothed Himself completely in Adam. Wherefore, Christ is declared to us to be dual in nature, showing forth the activity of both within Himself. Him do thou entreat, that He grant our souls great mercy.

Stichos: The rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance.

Rejoice, beauty of Jacob, whom God hath chosen and whom He loved, portal of the saved, flame-bearing key, O most blessed one, thou annulment of the curse, womb which contained God, restoration of the fallen, thou who art more holy than the cherubim and dost surpass all other creatures, incomprehensible sight, most recent report, ineffable saying, chariot of the Word! For from thee the Sun shone forth, illumining me, and granting great mercy to those in darkness.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—

The prophecies concerning thee were fulfilled, O pure Virgin; for one of the prophets foretold thee as the portal in Eden facing the East, through which no one would pass save the Creator of thee and the whole world; and another foretold thee as the bush burning with fire which remained unconsumed, in that within thee dwelt the Fire of the Godhead; and yet another called thee the holy mountain whence the Cornerstone was cut without the aid of men’s hands and which broke asunder the image of the noetic Nebuchadnezzar. Truly great and all-glorious is the mystery manifest in thee, O Mother of God! Wherefore, we glorify thee, for through thee hath salvation come to our souls.

Then, “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…”: Trisagion, and after Our Father…, the resurrectional troparion, Glory…, Now & ever…, its theotokion. Little litany, and Dismissal. 

Saturday Evening at Great Vespers

After the Introductory Psalm, the usual chanting from the Psalter.

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 10 stichera. If the Menaion hath a doxasticon, it is chanted on Glory…. If there is no doxasticon, we chant Glory…, Now & ever…, the dogmaticon of the tone.

The Resurrectional Stichera, in Tone V—

Stichos: Bring my soul out of prison, that I may confess Thy name.

By Thy precious Cross didst Thou put the devil to shame, O Christ, and by Thy resurrection didst Thou break the sting of sin, and hast saved us from the gates of death. We glorify Thee, O Only-begotten One!

Stichos: The righteous shall wait patiently

for me until Thou shalt reward me.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, bestowing resurrection upon the human race; and the princes of hades were afraid of Him, and the gates of weeping were seized, for Christ, the King of glory, entered in, saying to those in bonds: “Come forth!”, and to those in darkness: “Show yourselves!”

Stichos: Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.

Great is the wonder! The immortal Creator of the invisible hosts, suffering in the flesh in His love for mankind, hath risen! Come, ye kindreds of the nations, let us worship Him! For, having been delivered from deception by His compassions, we have learned to hymn the one God in three Hypostases!

Stichos: Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

We offer evening worship at the culmination of the ages unto Thee, the never-waning Light, Who in the flesh shone forth upon the world as in a mirror, Who descended even unto hades and destroyed the darkness there, and showed the nations the light of the resurrection. O Lord, Bestower of light, glory be to Thee!

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

Let us glorify Christ, the Author of our salvation; for when He rose from the dead, the world was saved from deception, the choir of the angels rejoiced, the beguilement of the demons was banished, fallen Adam arose, and the devil was set at naught.

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.

The guardsmen were instructed by the iniquitous: “Keep secret the rising of Christ; take the pieces of silver, and say that while we slept the dead man was stolen from the tomb.” Who hath ever seen or heard of a corpse, and moreover one embalmed and naked, stolen, and the grave clothes left behind in the tomb? Be ye not deceived, O Jews! Learn the sayings of the prophets, and know that He is truly almighty, the Deliverer of the world!

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

O Lord our Savior, Who madest hades captive, trampled down death, and hast enlightened the world by Thy Cross: Have mercy upon us!

And these stichera of the all-holy Theotokos, the composition of Paul of Amorium, which are chanted when there is no Menaion, or at Litia, in Tone V.· Special Melody: “Rejoice…”—

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

Thou art truly the throne of the cherubim, for thou hast surpassed all other creatures; for in thee the Word of God, desiring to restore our human form, made His abode, issuing forth from thee in the flesh, O most pure one; and having accepted suffering on the Cross for our sake, as God He bestowed resurrection upon our condemned nature which he hath ransomed. Wherefore, we entreat thy Son as Creator, O Mother of God, that we may obtain forgiveness and mercy at the hour of judgment.

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

What shall I call thy divinely glorious church, O pure Theotokos? I call it the garden of Eden, and proclaim it the ark of Noah, which saved God’s royal priesthood, the most holy nation, the assembly of Christ our God, O pure one; and thee do I liken to the tabernacle of Moses, wherein was the mercy seat and the staff which put forth branches, the candlestand, the jar, and the golden censer, to which each of the faithful hath recourse, entreating great mercy.

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

O thou who alone art the hope of the hopeless, the ready help of the helpless, who gavest birth unto Jesus Who delighteth in mercy: Have mercy now on mine infirmity, and grant me compunction of thought, O pure one; and with streams of tears do thou drown the invincible abyss of mine offenses; drive off the tempest of my boundless passions, and fill my troubled heart with divine serenity, entreating Christ to grant me complete remission of mine offenses.

Glory…, from the Menaion.

Now & ever…: The dogmatic theotokion—

Once the image of the Bride who knoweth not wedlock was inscribed in the Red Sea. There Moses was the parter of the waters; and here Gabriel is the minister of a miracle. There Israel traversed the deep dryshod; and now the Virgin giveth birth unto Christ without seed. The sea remained impassable after Israel had crossed; and the immaculate one remaineth incorrupt after the birth of Emmanuel. O God Who hast appeared as a man, Who existest and hast existed from the beginning: Have mercy upon us!

Entrance. “O gladsome Light…” And after the Entrance, the appointed server, having made the usual bow to the superior, chanteth the daily Prokimenon, in Tone VI—

The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty.

Stichos: The Lord is clothed with strength and He hath girt Himself.

Stichos: For He established the world which shall not be shaken.

Stichos: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.

Then the usual litany. “Vouchsafe, O Lord…” The litany: “Let us complete our evening prayer…”, and the rest. And after the exclamation, we chant the sticheron idiomelon of the feast of the church, and performing Litia in the narthex, we chant the stichera of Paul of Amorium, or whatever the superior desireth. And after the usual prayers, we enter the church proper, chanting the Aposticha stichera, in Tone V—

With sounds of hymnody do we magnify Thee, Christ the Savior, Who hast not been separated from the heavens; for Thou didst accept the Cross and death for our race, as the Lord Who loveth mankind, Who hath overthrown the gates of hades, and hath risen on the third day, saving our souls.

Stichos: The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty.

When Thy side was pierced, O Bestower of life, Thou didst pour forth torrents of remission, life and salvation upon all; and Thou didst accept death, granting us immortality. Making Thine abode in the tomb, Thou didst free us, gloriously raising us with Thyself, in that Thou art God. Wherefore, we cry out: O Lord Who lovest mankind, glory be to Thee!

Stichos: For He established the world which shall not be shaken.

Strange is Thy crucifixion and Thy descent into hades, O Thou Who lovest mankind; for, having made it captive and gloriously raised the ancient captives with Thyself, as God Thou didst open paradise and didst count them worthy to receive it. Wherefore, grant Thou remission of sins unto us who glorify Thine arising on the third day, vouchsafing us to become dwellers in paradise, in that Thou alone art compassionate.

Stichos: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.

O Thou Who lovest mankind, Who accepted suffering in the flesh for our sake, and rose from the dead on the third day: Heal Thou the sufferings of our flesh, lift us up out of grievous transgressions, and save us!

Glory…, from the Menaion, if there is a doxasticon provided. If not, Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou art the temple and portal, the palace and throne of the King, O most honored Virgin, through whom Christ the Lord, my Deliverer, Who is the Sun of righteousness, hath revealed Himself unto those who sleep in darkness, desiring to enlighten that which He fashioned by His own hand in His image. Wherefore, O most hymned one, as thou hast acquired maternal boldness before Him, entreat Him without ceasing, that our souls be saved.

Then, “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…” Trisagion through Our Father.

Resurrectional troparion, in Tone V—

O ye faithful, let us hymn and worship the Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning, and Who was born of the Virgin for our salvation; for He was well pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise up the dead by His glorious resurrection.

Theotokion: Rejoice, impassable gate of the Lord! Rejoice, rampart and protection of those who have recourse unto thee! Rejoice, haven untouched by storms, thou that knowest not wedlock, who gavest birth in the flesh to thy Creator and God! Fail not in thy supplications for those who hymn and worship thy birthgiving!

And the rest of the service followeth in order.

Saturday Night at Compline

The priest saith: Blessed is our God…, and we respond: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. O heavenly King…, Trisagion through Our Father. Lord, have mercy (12 times). Glory…, Now & ever…O come, let us worship…(thrice). Psalm 50 (Have mercy on me, O God…); Psalm 69 (O God, be attentive unto helping me…); and Psalm 142 (O Lord, hear my prayer). Then, Glory to God in the highest…, and the Symbol of Faith (I believe in one God…).

Canon of Supplication to the All-holy Theotokos, in Tone V—

Ode I

Irmos: Bringing battles to nought with His upraised arm, Christ hath overthrown horse and rider in the Red Sea, and hath saved Israel, who chanteth a hymn of victory.

We are all at a loss how to offer thee fitting hymnody, O Mistress; for thy glory surpasseth all. Yet, O Bride of God, disdain not the entreaty offered to thee with fear and love.

We all have recourse to the water of thine inexhaustible well-spring, O Virgin Theotokos, crying out: O all-pure one, thou sole joy of our race, ask peace for thy Churches.

Glory…: God Who was well-pleased to receive flesh from thee hath appointed thee as a haven for all amid misfortunes, O pure one; wherefore, falling down before thee, we cry aloud: Grant thine aid unto thy servants!

Now & ever…: Let thy supplication, O all-pure Virgin, be for thy servants alleviation, the dispelling of the passions, the eradication of sins and the washing away of all manner of pain, O Theotokos.

Ode III

Irmos: O Christ Who by Thy command fixed the earth upon naught and suspended its weight unsupported: establish Thou Thy Church upon the immovable rock of Thy commandments, O Thou Who alone art good and lovest mankind.

Thou art the hope of mortals, their help and joy, protection and refuge, O Mistress, Mother of Life; wherefore, we pray thee: Send down thy help upon all who hymn thee, O all-pure one.

O compassionate Author, God and Savior of all, we who are infirm and are beset by grievous perils set Thy Mother before Thee as an all-pure tabernacle, to supplicate Thee. Loose Thou the bonds of our transgressions.

Glory…: O Bride of God, who alone gavest birth to the Creator, Fashioner and Lord of all while remaining a virgin, grant salvation from on high to thy servants who truly glorify thee as the Mother of God.

Now & ever…: Fill me with life-creating waters, O Mistress who hast poured forth the divine Water upon the world; and with thy divine tranquility still thou the cruel torrents of mine iniquities and the waves of my heart.

Ode IV

Irmos: Perceiving Thy divine condescension prophetically, O Christ, Habbakuk cried out to Thee with trembling: Thou art come for the salvation of Thy people, to save Thine anointed ones!

In that thou art more exalted than all creation, O all-hymned Theotokos, God hath given thee to those on earth as a source of mediation before Him.

Knowing thee to be the temple of God, O Virgin Mother, we who honor thee do earnestly pray: Shut not the portals of thy mercy against thy servants, O Theotokos!

Glory…: Knowing thee to be the true raiment of God all-adorned, O Mother who knewest not wedlock, we who honor thee all pray: Array us in the vesture of remission!

Now & ever…: The whole world was filled with joy at thy nativity, O all-pure one; wherefore, the great Gabriel announced to thee: Rejoice, O Virgin Mother Mary!

Ode V

Irmos: O Thou Who art clothed in light as with a garment: I rise at dawn unto Thee, and to Thee do I cry: enlighten Thou my gloom-enshrouded soul, O Christ, in that Thou alone art compassionate!

Truly we are not chastised according to the measure of our offenses! O all-pure Virgin Mother, avert from us all the wrath of thy Son!

O pure one who gavest birth, without knowing wedlock, to God Who alone brought forth light out of darkness, earnestly beseech Him, that He send down divine light upon thy servants.

Glory…: With the incense of thy supplication, O pure Mother of the Creator, whom Solomon foretold as the divine bride out of Lebanon, spread fragrance upon thy servants.

Now & ever…: Having given birth without seed to Christ, our justification and deliverance, O Theotokos, thou hast rendered the nature of our first parents free of the curse.

Ode VI

Irmos: O Christ Master, still Thou the sea of the passions which rageth with a soul-destroying tempest, and lead me up from corruption, in that Thou art compassionate.

O Mistress Theotokos who gavest birth to the Creator, ask remission for thy servants, and raise us up in might, that we may hymn thee.

Be thou a help to us thy servants who entreat thee with faith, O pure Mistress, in that thou art merciful, and raise us up in might, that we may hymn thee.

Glory…: As thou hast the power to do what thou desirest, as is meet, O pure Mistress, look upon thy servants with a merciful eye, and raise us up out of corruption.

Now & ever…: Unceasingly pouring forth streams of compassion upon those who ask, O all-immaculate and good one, rain down upon me also the light of thy Son’s commandments.

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

Sessional Hymn, in Tone V—

O most holy Virgin, have mercy upon us who have recourse to thy lovingkindness with faith, and who ask thy fervent aid; for thou art able to save us all, in that thou art the good Mother of God Most High, ever embracing Him with thy maternal entreaties, O divinely joyous Virgin.

Ode VII

Irmos: The supremely exalted Lord of our fathers quenched the flame and bedewed the children, who sang together: Blessed art Thou, O God!

O Christ, Thou unfathomable Wisdom of God, have pity upon Thy servants, for the sake of her who gave Thee birth, for we unceasingly chant: Blessed art Thou, O God!

O Lord, we entreat Thy goodness: heal Thou our wounds, for the sake of her who gave Thee birth, for we chant with fear: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Glory…: With thy merciful eye, O Mother of God, look down and deliver thy servants from every evil circumstance, for we chant with faith: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Now & ever…: Committing evil deeds, we have fallen away from thee, O Mistress; yet have we straightway found thy help, O all-pure one, when we have cried: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Ode VIII

Irmos: The Son and God, Who was begotten of the Father before the ages, and in latter times became incarnate of the Virgin Mother, hymn, ye priests. Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O our Mistress, bestower of good things: grant the healing of the passions unto thy servants, O Virgin, that we may unceasingly hymn and exalt thee supremely forever.

O pure one who gavest birth indescribably to the Deliverer, thou didst ineffably give suck to Him while remaining a virgin. Him do thou entreat in behalf of those who hymn and glorify thee for all ages.

Glory…: Forming ourselves into a most beautiful choir, we sing to thee, the radiant lamp of the Deliverer: O all ye works of the Lord, unceasingly hymn the Virgin Mary, and exalt her supremely forever!

Now & ever…: O pure ewe-lamb, Virgin Maiden and Mother, cleanse me of the carnal passions, that I may be delivered from the snares of the deceiver, chanting hymns to thee, O divinely joyous one.

Ode IX

Irmos: Rejoice, O Isaiah! The Virgin hath conceived in her womb and borne a Son, Immanuel, both God and man. Orient is His name; and, magnifying Him, we call the Virgin blessed.

Our hymnody is completed, O Christ Master, but our hope in Thee, our Creator, like Thy grace, knoweth no limitation. Wherefore, grant mighty power to Thy servants on either side, through the supplications of her who gave Thee birth.

As thou art the true Mother of Life, O pure one, thou art the strength of the sick and infirm; wherefore, fleeing unto thee, O Mistress, we have found the surcease of all sorrows and have been saved by thy protection.

Glory…: Beholding thy divine countenance in thine images, O Mistress, we perceive thee therein as it were clearly, in all ways hating the mindlessness of heretics on earth. And falling down before the icons, we receive healing.

Now & ever…: O pure one, we sinners know thee to be an abyss of healings and a sea of grace; wherefore, we beseech thee: O all-pure one, from all want rescue us who have recourse to thy protection.

Then, “It is truly meet…”: and the rest as usual. Dismissal. 

Sunday Morning at Nocturns

The priest saith: “Blessed is our God…”: and we say: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. O heavenly King…Trisagion through Our Father…Priest: For Thine is the kingdom…And we say: Amen. Lord, have mercy (12 times), Glory…, Now & ever…, O come, let us worship (thrice). Psalm 50 (Have mercy on me, O God…)

And then, the Canon to the Holy & Life-creating Trinity, the acrostic whereof is
“The fifth rule to the three-Sunned light”, the composition of Metrophanes, in Tone V—

Ode I

Irmos: Bringing battles to nought with His upraised arm, Christ hath overthrown horse and rider in the Red Sea, and hath saved Israel, who chanteth a hymn of victory.

Refrain: O all-holy Trinity, our God, glory be to Thee!

Hymning the might of the single countenance of the triple Sun, we cry out: Illumine our mind, O almighty God, and raise it up to Thine ineffable glory, O Master!

On high the noetic rings of the angels with thrice-holy voices continually hymn the three-fold Unity, the Trinity sharing the same form, transcendent and omnipotent.

Glory…: Give unto my soul the divine, most sweet and light-giving food of Thy love and divine and cleansing compunction, O Trinity, Unity, Origin of light, greatly merciful Master of all creation.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Without thunder, like the dew upon the fleece, did the divine Rain descend from heaven into thy womb, O Virgin; and He hath saved all human nature, which had dried up, O all-pure one.

Ode III

Irmos: O Christ Who by Thy command fixed the earth upon naught and suspended its weight unsupported: establish Thou Thy Church upon the immovable rock of Thy commandments, O Thou Who alone art good and lovest mankind.

Having conceived in thought the noetic beings, Thou didst make them constant singers of Thy divinity, O thrice-radiant and almighty God. Yet, as Thou art compassionate, accept also the entreaty and supplication of mortals made of clay.

As Thou art compassionate, O Thou Who by essence art immune to any change, grant forgiveness of offenses and salvation unto us who are changeable, and hymn the unfathomable well-spring of Thy goodness.

Glory…: As the prophets and the apostles manifestly learned from Thee, we glorify Thee—the Father, the Son and the Spirit—in the immutable aspect of the one and thrice-radiant Godhead of the Lord of all.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Thou didst appear unto Moses in the bush as the Angel of the great Counsel of the Almighty, revealing Thine incarnation from the Virgin, O Word of God, whereby Thou hast transformed us and brought us up to the heavens.

Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Sessional hymn, in Tone V.· Special Melody: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning…

Merciful art Thou, O indivisible Trinity, for Thou hast mercy on all, in that Thou art almighty and most compassionate, full of pity and greatly merciful. Wherefore, we who are weighed down with many sins flee unto Thee, crying: Cleanse Thou Thy servants, and deliver all from every torment!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O most holy Virgin, have mercy on us who with faith have recourse unto thee, the compassionate one, and now ask thy fervent aid; for as thou art good, thou art able to save us, in that thou art the Mother of God Most High, ever employing thy maternal supplications, O thou who art full of the grace of God.

Ode IV

Irmos: Perceiving Thy divine condescension prophetically, O Christ, Habbakuk cried out to Thee with trembling: Thou art come for the salvation of Thy people, to save Thine anointed ones!

Beholding Christ the Judge going to the Father and revealing a vision of the Spirit, Daniel mystically learned of the threefold radiance of the one Dominion.

Vouchsafe the glory of the angels unto those who with lips of clay hymn Thee, the transcendent God, the Trinity of Hypostases, One in Essence.

Glory…: Let us glorify the one Authority, the one Dominion indivisible in three characters. O Father, Son and Spirit, enlighten us, Thy servants!

Now & ever…: Theotokion: The mountain densely wooded and overshadowed, which Habbakuk beheld of old, and from whence the Holy One came forth, revealed the invisible Offspring Whom thou didst conceive, O Virgin.

Ode V

Irmos: O Thou Who art clothed in light as with a garment: I rise at dawn unto Thee, and to Thee do I cry: enlighten Thou my gloom-enshrouded soul, O Christ, in that Thou alone art compassionate!

O my God, Thou threefold Light, Who in Thy goodness fashioned man and made him according to Thine image, abide in me, in that Thou art good and compassionate.

O three-Sunned Unity, guide me to the divine paths of salvation, and fill me with Thine effulgence, in that Thou art in essence God infinite in power.

Glory…: O indivisible Light of the one Essence, thrice-radiant, never-waning, distinguished as to characteristics: with Thy rays illumine my heart.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: When the prophet of old beheld thee, O all-immaculate and pure one, as the gate facing the never-waning Light, he straightway recognized thee as the dwelling-place of God.

Ode VI

Irmos: O Christ Master, still Thou the sea of the passions which rageth with a soul-destroying tempest, and lead me up from corruption, in that Thou art compassionate.

As the thrice-radiant Godhead of Hypostases, Thou art One, sharing the same form and equal as to operation in essence and will.

The prophet made it exceedingly manifest when he chanted to the Father, Thy Light: In the Spirit shall we behold the light of the Son, the one three-Sunned God.

Glory…: The immaterial Being in three Hypostases hath sole authority and might; for through It doth every creature receive its existence and is renewed.

Now & ever…: Through the supplications of the Mother of God, O God, our sole, thrice-radiant Master, send down deliverance from transgressions and misfortunes upon those who hymn Thee.

Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Sessional hymn, in Tone V.· Special Melody: “The Word Who with the Father and the Son is equally without beginning…”—

Let us now glorify the three-Sunned Light, and let us worship the simple Trinity, for It hath enlightened and had mercy upon us, and hath freed from corruption the whole human race, delivering the whole world from the deceit of idolatry, and hath given us the kingdom.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Perplexed by all things, I have fled to thee, the help of all and refuge of the sinful and lowly, crying: I have sinned and I insensibly abide in evils, wretch that I am! Have mercy on me and, before the end, turn me and deliver me from all torment, though I am unworthy.

Ode VII

Irmos: The supremely exalted Lord of our fathers quenched the flame and bedewed the children, who sang together: Blessed art Thou, O God!

As Thou dost possess an abyss of mercy and an unfathomable depth of compassions, O Lord, have mercy upon those who hymn Thee, the one, thrice-radiant God of all.

Hymning Thee, the incomprehensible, single and thrice-radiant God and Lord, we cry out to Thee: Grant cleansing of sins unto Thy servants.

Glory…: Equally honoring the Hypostases in the single Dominion, we distinguish the indivisible Essence of God the Father, and the Son, and the all-holy Spirit.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Thou didst put forth the Flower of the Godhead, the Offshoot of the unoriginate Father, O Virgin, the coeternal Scion which imparteth life to all men.

Ode VIII

Irmos: The children, forming a universal chorus in the furnace, chanted to Thee, the Creator of all: Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

That Thou mightest reveal One of the three Hypostases of the Dominion, of old Thou didst manifestly appear unto Abraham in the guise of men; and he hymned Thy sole might.

O unapproachable Light—compassionate Father, Word and Spirit—vouchsafe that I may behold Thy beneficent rays, that I may ever be well-pleasing unto Thee, O Lord of all.

Glory…: Holy is God the preëternal Father; holy is the Son Who is begotten of the Father; and holy is the life-creating Spirit, Who proceedeth from the Father and is revealed by the Son.

Now & ever…: Theotokion: O most hymned one, from the glory of the threefold Sun thou hast shone forth for us the one Christ and Lord, Who mystically teacheth all to chant forever unto the one Godhead in three Persons.

Ode IX

Irmos: Rejoice, O Isaiah! The Virgin hath conceived in her womb and borne a Son, Immanuel, both God and man. Orient is His name; and, magnifying Him, we call the Virgin blessed.

Human words are unable to hymn Thee as is meet, O unoriginate Unity; yet deriving boldness from our faith, as far as possible we offer glory and praise to Thy might, O divine Trinity equally enthroned.

With all-pure mouths the cherubim and seraphim glorify Thee, the one thrice-radiant God Who dost reign in equal glory; and with them accept also us sinners, who magnify Thy might.

Glory…: Isaiah beheld Thee on the throne of the cherubim, with the seraphim standing round about Thee, covering their faces with their wings, and crying aloud: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O thrice-holyGod, Who art glorified in three Persons!

Now & ever…: Theotokion: In that thou art the pure and immaculate Virgin, thou gavest birth to the Son, the immutable God Who delivereth us from temptations. Him do thou now entreat, that He grant us remission of transgressions.

Then, the hymn of Gregory the Sinaite, which is chanted every Sunday after the canon—

It is truly meet to glorify Thee, the Word of God, before Whom the cherubim tremble and quake, and Whom the hosts of heaven glorify. And with fear we glorify Christ, the Bestower of life, Who rose from the tomb on the third day.

With divine songs let us all in godly manner hymn the Father, the Son and the Spirit divine, the Might in three Hypostases, the one Kingship and Dominion,

Whom all mortals hymn and the hosts of heaven glorify, the essential Unity in three Hypostases, Who is worshipped with faith by all.

We magnify Thee, the Godhead, the Lord of the cherubim, the incomparable divine Origin of the seraphim, the indivisible Trinity in Unity.

I worship the unoriginate God the Father, the Son Who is equally without beginning, and the Spirit. With hymns let us honor the one indivisible and unified Essence, the threefold Unity.

Shine forth Thy dazzling lightning flashes upon me, O my God in three Hypostases, Thou Creator of all, and show me to be a splendid, luminous and immutable habitation of Thine unapproachable glory.

With fear let us glorify Christ the Bestower of life, Who became ineffably incarnate of the Virgin, for the cherubim tremble and quake before Him, and the angelic armies glorify Him.

Hypacoï, in Tone V—

Troubled in mind by the appearance of the angel, yet enlightened in soul by the divine resurrection, the myrrh-bearing women announced to the apostles: “Tell among the nations the resurrection of the Lord Who worketh miracles and granteth us great mercy!”

The rest of Nocturns, and the Dismissal.

Sunday Morning at Matins

After the Six Psalms, we chant “God is the Lord…”, in Tone V, and sing the resurrectional troparion, twice, and the theotokion, once (see Great Vespers). Then the usual chanting of the Psalter.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, these resurrectional Sessional hymns, in Tone V—

We praise the Cross of the Lord, we honor His holy burial with hymns, and we greatly glorify His resurrection, for as God with Himself He raised the dead up from the graves, having captured the dominion of death and the might of the devil; and He shone light upon those in hades.

Stichos: Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end. Declared to be dead, O Lord Who didst slay death, Thou wast laid in a tomb, O Thou Who emptied the graves. Above, soldiers kept guard over Thy sepulchre, while below Thou didst raise up the dead from ages past. O almighty and unapproachable Lord, glory be to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Rejoice, O holy mountain trodden by God! Rejoice, animate bush which was not consumed! Rejoice, bridge to God for the world, who alone hearest mortals to everlasting life! Rejoice, incorrupt Maiden who without knowing man gavest birth unto the Salvation of our souls.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, these resurrectional Sessional hymns, in Tone V—

O Lord, after Thy resurrection on the third day and the worship of the apostles, Peter cried out to Thee: “The women showed courage, but I was afraid. The thief uttered theology, but I denied Thee. And dost Thou now call upon me to be Thine apostle still? Or wilt Thou show me again to be a fisher of the deep? Yet do Thou accept me, who repent, O God, and save me!”

Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.

O Lord, the iniquitous nailed Thee in the midst of condemned criminals, and pierced Thy side with a spear, O Merciful One! Thou didst accept burial, Who broke down the gates of hades, and didst rise again on the third day. The women hastened to behold Thee, and announced Thine arising to the apostles. O supremely exalted Savior, Whom the angels hymn, O blessed Lord, glory be to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O Theotokos, unwedded Bride, who hast transformed the grief of Eve into joy, we, the faithful, hymn and bow down before thee, for thou hast led us out of the ancient curse. And now, pray thou unceasingly, O most hymned and all-holy one, that we be saved.

Then, “Blessed are the blameless in the way…”: followed by the troparia “The assembly of the angels…”. Little litany, and this hypacoï, in Tone V—

Troubled in mind by the appearance of the angel, yet enlightened in soul by the divine resurrection, the myrrh-bearing women announced to the apostles: “Tell among the nations the resurrection of the Lord Who worketh miracles and granteth us great mercy!”

Songs of Ascent, in Tone V, the verses being repeated—

Antiphon I

When I am filled with sorrow, I sing unto Thee like David, O my Savior: Deliver my soul from a lying tongue.

Blessed is the life of those in the wilderness, who soar aloft on wings of love divine.

Glory…: By the Holy Spirit are sustained all things, visible and invisible; for, Himself possessed of dominion, He is truly One of the Trinity.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon II

Let us ascend to the mountains, O my soul, and go thither, from whence cometh our help. Let Thy right hand, which toucheth me, O Christ, preserve me from all deception.

Glory…: Theologizing concerning the Holy Spirit, let us say: Thou art God, life, love, light and understanding! Thou art goodness, and Thou reignest forever!

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon III

Full of great joy, I send up supplications for those who have said to me: Let us enter into the courts of the Lord.

Awesome things are wrought in the house of David; for there is found the fire which burneth up every shameful thought.

Glory…: To the Holy Spirit, by Whom every living thing is made animate, is due the dignity of the Bestower of life, as to the Father and the Word.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Prokimenon, in Tone V—

Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; for Thou shalt be King forever.

Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

The appointed Resurrectional Gospel. Then, this resurrectional hymn, in Tone VI—

Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and Thy holy resurrection we hymn and glorify. For Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee, we call upon Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ’s holy resurrection, for behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we hymn His resurrection; for, having endured crucifixion, He hath destroyed death by death.

Psalm 50: “Have mercy on me, O God…”

Glory…: Through the prayers of the apostles, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.

Now & ever…: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.

Then, in Tone VI:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression.

Then, this sticheron:

Jesus having risen from the grave, as He foretold, hath given us life eternal, * and great mercy.

Then, the Prayer: “Save, O God, Thy people…”: followed by the exclamation: “Through the mercy and compassions and love for mankind…”

The Canons: of the Resurrection, with 4 troparia; that of the Cross & the Resurrection, with 3 troparia; that of the Theotokos, with 3 troparia; and that from the Menaion, with 4 troparia. If a saint with 6 troparia is being celebrated, then the Canon of the Cross & Resurrection hath 2 troparia, as doth that of the Theotokos.

Ode I

Canon of the Resurrection, in Tone V

Irmos: Bringing battles to nought with His upraised arm, Christ hath overthrown horse and rider in the Red Sea, and hath saved Israel, who chanteth a hymn of victory.

Stichos: Glory to Thy holy resurrection, O Lord!

The thorny assembly of the Jews, devoid of maternal love for Thee, their Benefactor, O Christ, crowned Thee with thorns, Who lifted the thorny sentence of our first father.

Bending down, O Bestower of life, Thou raised me up who had fallen into the pit; and having endured my fœtid corruption without partaking thereof, O Christ, Thou hast made me fragrant with the myrrh of the divine Essence.

Theotokion: The curse hath been annulled; grief hath ceased! For she who is blessed and full of grace hath shone joy forth upon the faithful, causing Christ to blossom forth as a blessing upon all the ends of the earth.

Canon of the Cross & the Resurrection

Irmos: To God the Savior, Who led His people…

To Him alone Who of His own will was nailed to the Cross in the flesh and freed him who through the tree fell under the ancient condemnation, let us chant, for He hath been glorified.

To Christ alone, Who raised up the dead man from the tomb, Who resurrected the fallen one with Himself, and adorned him by sitting with the Father, let us chant, for He hath been glorified.

Theotokion: O all-pure Mother of God, unceasingly pray to Him Who became incarnate of thee, God Who was not separated from the bosom of the Father, that He save from every evil circumstance those He fashioned.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Bringing battles to nought…

O all-pure one, entreat Christ, the Light Who abode within thee and illumineth the world with the rays of His divinity, that He enlighten all who hymn thee, O Virgin Mother.

As one adorned with the beauty of the virtues, O most pure one who art full of grace, through the effulgence of the Spirit thou didst receive the majesty of Him Who adorneth all things, and which createth beauty.

Prefiguring thee on Sinai of old, the bush which was united with fire was not consumed; for as a virgin thou gavest birth and remained a virgin still, in manner past understanding, O Virgin Mother.

Then, the canon from the Menaion, and the katavasia as prescribed by the Typicon.

Ode III

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: O Christ Who by Thy command fixed the earth upon naught and suspended its weight unsupported: establish Thou Thy Church upon the immovable rock of Thy commandments, O Thou Who alone art good and lovest mankind.

They who sucked forth honey from a rock when Thou didst work a miracle in the desert, O Christ, gave Thee gall to eat; the ungrateful children of Israel gave Thee vinegar in return for manna, repaying thus Thy benefactions.

They who of old were covered by the cloud of light placed Christ, our Life, in the tomb; yet He hath arisen through His own power and from on high hath given to all the faithful the effulgence of the Spirit, which mystically overshadoweth them.

Theotokion: Thou, O Mother of God, gavest birth without knowing union, and without the pangs of motherhood, unto Him Who shone forth from the incorrupt Father; wherefore, in Orthodox manner we proclaim thee the Theotokos, for thou gavest birth unto the incarnate Word.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: By the power of Thy Cross, O Christ…

Thou didst arise from the tomb, O Christ, delivering from the corruption of death those who hymn Thy voluntary crucifixion, O Bestower of life.

The myrrh-bearing women strove to anoint Thy body with myrrh, O Christ; but not finding it, they turned back, hymning Thine arising.

Theotokion: Unceasingly entreat Him Who was born of thy womb, O pure one, that He deliver from the deception of the devil those who hymn thee as the pure Virgin.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: O Christ Who by Thy command…

O pure one, thou art now manifestly seen by all to be the ladder whereby the Most High hath descended unto us to set aright our nature, which had become corrupt; for through thee was the All-good One well pleased to enter into fellowship with the world.

The mystery which was ordained of old and foreseen before time began by God Who knoweth all things, hath now, in the latter days been made manifest, fulfilled in thy womb, O most immaculate one.

The condemnation incurred by the ancient curse was annulled at thy mediation, O all-pure Virgin; for having manifested Himself through thee, the Lord hath poured forth blessing upon all, in that He is all-good, O only adornment of men.

Ode IV

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: Perceiving Thy divine condescension prophetically, O Christ, Habbakuk cried out to Thee with trembling: Thou art come for the salvation of Thy people, to save Thine anointed ones!

O Good One, with a tree Thou didst sweeten the bitter waters of Marah, prefiguring Thine all-precious Cross, which doeth away with the taste of sin.

O my Savior, Thou didst receive a Cross in exchange for the tree of knowledge and gall for sweet food, and Thou didst pour forth Thy divine blood for the corruption of death.

Theotokion: Without physical joining thou didst incorruptibly conceive within thy womb, and gavest birth without pain; and having given birth unto God in the flesh, thou wast preserved a virgin even after birthgiving.

Canon of the Cross & the Resurrection

Irmos: I heard report of the power of the Cross…

When the Cross was planted in the ground on Golgotha, the everlasting bars were shattered; and the gatekeepers cried out: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

When as One dead the Savior descended unto those bound, he raised up with Himself those who had died in times past; and they cried aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Theotokion: The Virgin gave birth without knowing the pangs of motherhood; and though she is a mother, she hath remained a virgin. Hymning her, we cry out: Rejoice, O Theotokos!

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Perceiving Thy divine condescension…(See above, first canon)

With heart and mind, with soul and mouth I most piously confess thee to be the true Theotokos, O pure one; and laying hold of the fruit of salvation, I am saved by thy supplications, O Virgin.

He Who created all things out of nothingness was well-pleased, as our Benefactor, to be formed of thee, O pure one, for the salvation of those who with faith and love hymn thee, O most immaculate one.

The choirs above hymn thy birthgiving, O most immaculate one, rejoicing at the salvation of those who acknowledge thee to be the true Theotokos, O undefiled Virgin.

Isaiah called thee the staff from whence Christ God, the beautiful Flower, budded forth for us, unto the salvation of those who with faith and love have recourse to thy protection.

Ode V

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: O Thou Who art clothed in light as with a garment: I rise at dawn unto Thee, and to Thee do I cry: enlighten Thou my gloom-enshrouded soul, O Christ, in that Thou alone art compassionate!

Of His own will the Lord of glory hangeth ignominiously upon the Tree in inglorious form, ineffably taking thought of divine glory for me.

Having tasted of the corruption of death in the flesh without suffering corruption, O Christ, Thou didst clothe me in incorruption, having shone forth from the tomb on the third day.

Theotokion: Having seedlessly given birth for us to Christ, our righteousness and deliverance, O Theotokos, thou didst rid the nature of our first father of the curse.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: Rising at dawn, we cry to Thee…

Thou didst stretch forth Thine arms upon the Tree, O our Savior, calling all to Thyself, in that Thou lovest mankind.

By Thy burial Thou didst capture hades, O my Savior, and by Thy resurrection Thou hast filled all with joy.

Rising from the tomb on the third day, O Bestower of life, Thou didst pour forth imperishable immortality upon all.

Theotokion: We hymn thee as the Virgin who remained so even after giving birth, O Theotokos, in that for the world thou gavest birth in the flesh unto God the Word.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: O Thou Who art clothed in light…(See above, first canon)

All the prophets manifestly proclaimed thee beforehand as the one to become the Mother of God, O pure Theotokos; for thou alone, O pure and immaculate one, wast found to be perfect.

O pure one, we recognize thee as the radiant cloud of the Water of life, which raineth Christ, the Torrent of incorruption, upon us, the despairing.

God Who dwelt within thee, in that He alone is compassionate, loved thee with a pure love, as the one who, good, immaculate and sealed with virginity, was close to Him.

Ode VI

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: O Christ Master, still Thou the sea of the passions which rageth with a soul-destroying tempest, and lead me up from corruption, in that Thou art compassionate.

The progenitor of our race stumbled headlong into corruption, having tasted of the forbidden food, O Christ our Master; but he hath been led up to life through Thy suffering.

Thou, O our Life, didst go down into hades, and having become corruption for the corrupter, O Christ our Master, Thou didst pour forth resurrection through corruption.

Theotokion: The Virgin gave birth, and having given birth hath remained pure. The Virgin Mother hath truly borne in her arms Him Who holdeth all things.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: The abyss engulfed me…

Thou didst stretch forth Thine arms, gathering together through Thy Life-bearing Cross the assemblies of Thy nations scattered afar, O Christ our God, in that Thou lovest mankind.

Thou madest death captive and didst break down the gates of hades; and bound Adam, released from his bonds, cried out to Thee: Thy right hand hath saved me, O Lord!

Theotokion: As is meet, we glorify thee, O glorious Mary, boast of the Orthodox, as the bush unconsumed, the mountain and the animate ladder.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: O Christ Master, still Thou the sea…

When He Who is the cause of all, and Who hath brought all into being, became incarnate, He had thee as His human cause, O most immaculate Mother of God.

O most immaculate Mistress, we know thee to be a soul-nurturing wellspring pouring forth healings upon those who with faith have recourse unto thy right glorious protection.

For us didst thou give birth unto the Bestower of life, the Author of salvation, Who giveth everlasting deliverance unto us who confess thee to be the true Theotokos.

Kontakion, in Tone V.· Special Melody: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning…”—

Thou didst descend unto hades, O my Savior, and, breaking down its gates as One almighty, as the Creator Thou didst raise the dead up with Thyself and didst break the sting of death. And Adam was delivered from the curse, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Wherefore, we all cry out: Save us, O Lord!

Ikos: When the women heard the words of the angel, they put aside their lamentation, and full of joy and trembling they gazed in awe. And, lo! Christ drew nigh to them, saying: “Rejoice! Be of good cheer! I have vanquished the world and freed the captives! Make haste, therefore, to My disciples, telling them that I go before you to preach in the city of Galilee.” Wherefore, we all cry out to Thee: Save us, O Lord!

Ode VII

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: The supremely exalted Lord of our fathers quenched the flame and bedewed the children, who sang together: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Clad in flesh like bait on a hook, by Thy divine power thou didst draw the serpent down, leading up those who cry: Blessed art Thou, O God!

The Infinite One, Who brought the immense structure of the earth into being, in the flesh is covered in the tomb. Unto Him do we all sing: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Theotokion: O most immaculate one, thou gavest birth to the incarnate God, one Hypostasis in two natures. Unto Him do we all sing: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: Blessed is the God of our fathers, Who saved the children…

Blessed is the God of our fathers, Who by the Tree of the Cross abolished the deception of the idols.

Blessed is the God of our fathers, Who rose from the dead and with Himself raised up those in hades.

O Christ, Thou blessed God of our fathers, by Thy death Thou didst destroy the dominion of death.

Theotokion: Blessed is the God of our fathers, Who was born of the Virgin and showed her forth as the Theotokos.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: The supremely exalted Lord of our fathers…

The Uncircumscribable One, Who alone is the blessed God of our fathers, remaining immutable, O all-holy one, within thee united flesh to His Hypostasis, in that He is full of lovingkindness.

Together we glorify thee, the most immaculate Bride and throne of thy Creator, O Mistress Theotokos. And unto Him do we all chant: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Having been purified by the Spirit, O Virgin, thou becamest the Mother of the King of all, Who had created thee. Unto Him do we all sing: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Having clothed Himself in flesh through thee, O all-pure Mother of God, the Lord saved me. Unto Him do we all sing: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Ode VIII

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: The children, forming a universal chorus in the furnace, chanted to Thee, the Creator of all: Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Thou didst pray concerning Thy voluntary and saving passion as though it were a cup which Thou didst not desire; for Thou hearest two wills, according to each of Thy two natures, O Christ, forever.

At Thine all-accomplishing descent, O Christ, hades, mocked, spewed forth all whom it had lured by deceit into death from of old, and they exalt Thee supremely for all ages.

Theotokion: All of us, the works of the Lord,

bless and supremely exalt thee for all ages, as her who, in manner past understanding, gave birth to the Lord as God and man at the word of the archangel, and doth remain a virgin.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: The Son and God, Who was begotten of the Father…

Christ God, Who of His own will stretched forth His hands upon the Cross and destroyed the bonds of death, do ye hymn, O ye priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Christ God, Who shone forth from the tomb like a bridegroom, and appeared to the myrrh-bearing women, and proclaimed joy unto them, do ye hymn, O ye priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: Thou hast been shown to be higher than the cherubim, O pure one, having borne within thy womb Him Who is upborne upon them. And with the incorporeal ones, we men glorify Him for all ages.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: The children, forming a universal chorus…

The grief of our forefather ceased when thou didst receive joy, O Mother of God; wherefore, we unceasingly hymn thee, O Virgin, and exalt thee supremely for all ages.

With us the assembly of the incorporeal beings, forming a single choir with love, hymneth thine unapproachable Offspring, exalting Him supremely for all ages.

The Lord of all, the limpid Stream of immortality, hath issued forth from thee, O Maiden, washing away the defilement of those who with faith hymn and exalt thee supremely for all ages.

O Virgin, we confess thee to be the truly divine and Light-bearing throne, and the tablets of grace, in that thou didst receive within thee the Word of the Father; and we exalt Him supremely for all ages.

Then we chant the Hymn of the Theotokos: “My soul doth magnify the Lord…”: with the refrain “More honorable than the cherubim…”

Ode IX

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: Rejoice, O Isaiah! The Virgin hath conceived in her womb and borne a Son, Immanuel, both God and man. Orient is His name; and, magnifying Him, we call the Virgin blessed.

Thou didst take up fallen man, O Christ, through the Virgin’s womb uniting Thyself wholly unto him without partaking of the least sin; and by Thine all-pure sufferings Thou didst free him wholly from corruption.

By the divinely flowing blood poured forth from Thine all-pure and life-creating side, O Christ our Master, the sacrifices of the idols were brought to an end, and the whole earth offereth Thee the sacrifice of praise.

Theotokion: It is not the incorporeal God nor a simple man whom the pure and undefiled Maiden brought forth, but a perfect Man and the truly perfect God. Him do we magnify with the Father and the Spirit.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: With oneness of mind, we, the faithful, magnify thee…

In Orthodox manner we, the faithful, magnify Thee, Who didst undertake to suffer upon the Cross and broke the power of hades by Thy death.

In oneness of mind we, the faithful, magnify Thee, Who arose from the tomb on the third day, made hades captive, and hast enlightened the world.

Theotokion: Rejoice, O Theotokos, Mother of Christ God! Him to Whom thou gavest birth do thou entreat, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who hymn thee with faith.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Rejoice, O Isaiah!…

By thy pure blood was flesh with mind and soul supernaturally formed for the Creator of all, the only-begotten Son of the Father, O Ever-virgin Theotokos, not by man, but seedlessly.

In giving birth in the flesh truly unto Life eternal, in manner past understanding, thou didst cause the encircling and unrestrained siege of death to cease. And hades, striking against Him with its bitter maw, was abolished, O all-holy Virgin Mother.

Seating thee upon a royal throne, who art resplendent in the golden robes of divine virtues, O pure one, thy Son hath set thee at His right hand, rendering honor unto thee as His Mother, O most immaculate one.

Past understanding is thy birthgiving, O Mother of God; for thou didst conceive within thee without knowing man, and thy birthgiving was virginal, in that it is God Who was born of thee. And magnifying Him, we bless thee, O Virgin.

After the katavasia, the little litany. Then, , “Holy is the Lord our God!”: thrice; and the matins exapostilarion.

On the Praises, 8 stichera, in Tone V—

Stichos: To do among them the judgment that is written. This glory shall be to all His saints.

O Lord, when the tomb had been sealed by the iniquitous, Thou didst issue forth from the grave, as Thou hadst been born of the Theotokos. Thine incorporeal angels did not understand how Thou hadst become incarnate, and the soldiers who guarded Thee did not sense when Thou didst arise. For both things were sealed for those who would examine them; but the wonders were revealed to those who worshipped the mystery with faith. Grant Thou joy and great mercy unto us who hymn it!

Stichos: Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament of His power.

O Lord, Who broke asunder the everlasting chains and rent apart the bonds of hades, Thou didst rise from the tomb, leaving Thy grave-clothes behind on the third day as a witness to Thy true burial; and Thou didst go before Thy disciples into Galilee, O Thou Who wast guarded in the cave. Great is Thy mercy, O unapproachable Savior! Have mercy and save us!

Stichos: Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness.

The women, O Lord, hastened to the tomb to see Thee Who suffered for our sake, O Christ; and when they were come, they found an angel seated upon the stone, which had rolled away in fear; and he cried out to them, saying: “The Lord is risen! Tell ye the disciples that He hath risen from the dead, saving our souls!”

Stichos: Praise Him with the sound of trumpet, praise Him with psaltery and harp.

O Lord, as Thou didst come forth from the sealed tomb, so didst Thou enter in unto Thy disciples while the doors were fast shut, showing them the bodily sufferings which Thou didst endure, O long-suffering Savior. Thou didst undergo wounding as One from the seed of David, and didst free the world as the Son of God. Great is Thy mercy, O unapproachable Savior! Have mercy and save us!

Stichos: Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and flute.

O Lord, King of the ages and Creator of all, Who for our sake didst accept crucifixion and burial in the flesh, that Thou mightest free us all from hades: Thou art our God, and we know none other than Thee.

Stichos: Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.

O Lord, who can describe Thine all-radiant wonders? Or who can declare Thy dread mysteries? For, having become man for our sake, as Thou Thyself desired, Thou didst reveal the might of Thy power; for by Thy Cross Thou didst open paradise to the thief, and by Thy burial Thou didst break the chains of hades, and by Thy resurrection Thou hast enriched all things. O compassionate Lord, glory be to Thee!

Stichos: Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end.

Arriving at Thy tomb very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearing women sought to anoint God the immortal Word with myrrh; but, informed by the words of the angel, they returned with joy and declared openly to the apostles that Thou hadst arisen, O Life of all, and granted the world cleansing and great mercy.

Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.

The guards of the God-receiving tomb said to the Jews: “O your vain-minded counsel! In attempting to confine Him Who is uncontainable, ye labored in vain; desiring to conceal the resurrection of the Crucified, ye showed it forth clearly! O your vain-minded assembly! Do ye again advise us to hide what cannot be hid? Hearken, rather, to us, and believe in those things which have truly happened: A lightning-bearing angel, descending from heaven, rolled away the stone, and in fear of him we became as dead; and as herald to the myrrh-bearing women of steadfast mind he said: ‘See ye not the guards lying as dead, and the seals broken, and the emptying of hades? Why seek ye Him Who hath set at naught the victory of hades and broken the sting of death, as though He were dead? Going forth quickly, proclaim the resurrection without fear to the apostles, crying out: Truly the Lord is risen, Who hath great mercy!’”

Glory…: The matins Gospel sticheron. Now & ever…: Theotokion, in Tone II—

Most blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos, for through Him Who became incarnate of Thee is hades led captive, Adam recalled, the curse annulled, Eve set free, death slain, and we are given life. Wherefore, we cry aloud in praise: Blessed art Thou, O Christ God, Who hast been thus well-pleased, glory to Thee.

Great Doxology, and the resurrectional troparion—

Today is salvation come unto the world; let us sing to Him Who arose from the tomb, and is the Author of our life. For having destroyed death by death, He hath given us the victory and great mercy.

And the Dismissal.

Sunday at Divine Liturgy

On the Beatitudes, these troparia, in Tone V—

Believing Thee to be God, O Christ, the thief on the cross confessed Thee in a pure manner, crying out from the depths of his heart: Remember me in Thy kingdom, O Lord!

Together let us hymn as Savior and Creator Him Who on the tree of the Cross budded forth life for our race and caused the curse which originated from the tree to wither up.

By Thy death hast Thou destroyed the power of death, O Christ, and Thou didst raise up with Thyself the dead of ages past, who now hymn Thee as our true God and Savior.

Arriving at Thy tomb, O Christ, the honorable women sought to anoint Thee with myrrh, O Bestower of life; but an angel appeared to them, crying out: The Lord is risen!

When Thou wast crucified between two condemned thieves, O Christ, one of them blasphemed Thee and was justly damned, while the other confessed Thee and hath now come to dwell in paradise.

When they had come to the choir of the apostles, the honorable women cried out: Christ is risen! Let us worship Him as Master and Creator!

Glory…: O indivisible Trinity, all-effecting and all-powerful Unity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit: thee do we hymn as our true God and Savior!

Now & ever…: Rejoice, O animate temple of God and impassable gate! Rejoice, O fiery throne which burneth yet is not consumed! Rejoice, O Mother of Emmanuel, Christ our God!

Prokimenon, in Tone V—

Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt preserve us from this generation and for evermore.

Stichos: Save me, O Lord, for a righteous man there is no more.

Alleluia, in Tone V—

Stichos: Of Thy mercies, O Lord, will I sing forever; unto generation and generation will I declare Thy truth with my mouth.

Stichos: For Thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever; in the heavens shall Thy truth be established.