Tone VI

Wednesday

Tuesday Evening at Vespers

On “Lord, I have cried…”: 3 stichera of the Cross, in Tone VI: Special Melody: “On the third day…”—

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

When Thou wast crucified, O long-suffering Lord, Thou didst shake the whole earth, making steadfast the hearts of the faithful; wherefore, we hymn Thee and with love worship Thine unapproachable power.

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.

Spat upon and smitten on the cheek, O Savior, Thou didst smite the evil of the venomous foe, taking away the fall which Adam endured, who was abducted because of his transgression.

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

The sun was darkened, the whole earth quaked, and the stones split asunder, when they beheld Thee suspended unjustly upon the Tree, setting aside Thine own will, O Savior.

Then the stichera for the saint, from the Menaion; or if there is no Menaion, these stichera of the Theotokos, in Tone VI, 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.

Standing once with the virginal disciple at the foot of the Cross during the crucifixion, the Virgin cried, weeping: “Woe is me! How is it that Thou sufferest, O Christ, Thou dispassion of all?”

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

“Mindful of Thy seedless conception and all-pure birthgiving, I marvel greatly. How hast Thou been thus well-pleased to die like a malefactor, O Savior?”, the all-pure one cried out.

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

“I am crucified, nailed to the Tree like a man, and am placed in a tomb as one dead, O pure Virgin Mother. But as God I will rise again in glory on the third day!”

Glory…, Now & ever…: Stavrotheotokion—

The Virgin, Thy pure Mother, beholding the most iniquitous men who unjustly nailed Thee to the Tree, was wounded in her womb, O Savior, as Symeon foretold.

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

Aposticha stichera of the Cross, in Tone VI—

Thy Cross is life and help for Thy people, O Lord; and trusting therein, we hymn Thee, our God Who wast crucified in the flesh. Have mercy on us!

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.

Thy Cross, O Lord, hath opened paradise to the human race; and delivered from corruption, we hymn Thee, our God Who wast crucified in the flesh. Have mercy on us!

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: They who suffered for Thy sake, O Christ, endured many torments and have received perfect crowns in the heavens. Let them pray in behalf of our souls.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Stavrotheotokion—

Beholding our Life hanging upon the Tree, the most immaculate one cried out, lamenting maternally: “O my Son and my God, save those who hymn Thee with love!”

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

Tuesday Night at Compline

Canon of Supplication to the All-Holy Theotokos 

Ode I

Irmos: Traversing the deep on foot, as though it were dry land, and seeing the tyrant Pharaoh drowned, Israel cried aloud: Let us chant unto God a hymn of victory!

In every way I lament my vile life and the multitude of mine abominable sins. How shall I confess to thee, O pure one? I am at a loss and filled with fear. Yet help me, O Mistress.

How shall I begin to speak of my wicked and grievous falls, plagued as I am by the passions? Woe is me! What shall I do? Yet before the end take pity on me, O Mistress.

Glory…: I ever contemplate the hour of death and the dread tribunal, O all-pure one, yet am I grievously led astray by my most wicked habits. But do thou help me.

Now & ever…: The corrupter of the good, seeing me now stripped naked of godly virtues, fallen far away from God and become a stranger to Him, striveth to devour me. But do thou prevent him, O Mistress.

Ode III

Irmos: There is none as holy as Thee, O Lord my God, Who hast uplifted the horn of Thy faithful and established us on the rock of the confession of Thee, O Good One.

I have vilely besmirched my soul with mine evil and abominable deeds, plagued as I am by the passions, O Mistress Theotokos. Where then shall I go, who am wholly stuck fast in despondency?

Though created in the image of God, I have bemired my prodigal self by mine overweening will, O pure one, and through my likeness, in works, in word and thought, I have committed unseemly deeds.

Glory…: There is no other man who hath committed such unseemly acts, nor any other born into the world as benighted in mind as I, O good one; for I have defiled my divine baptism.

Now & ever…: I have reached the end of mine evils, O all-holy Virgin. Quickly help me, for heaven and earth cry out bitterly because of my vile and wicked deeds.

Ode IV

Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the honored Church doth sing, crying out in godly manner with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.

The ranks of angels and the armies of the hosts of heaven are in awe of the might of thy Son, O pure one. But I am in despair, stuck fast in my lack of fear.

All the earth hath been amazed and astonished, beholding me committing evil, wicked and vile acts, and it marvelleth at the great lovingkindness of thy Son.

Glory…: I have wickedly defiled the temple of my body, and the temple of the Lord which men enter with trembling; for although I am a prodigal, I enter it without shame. Woe is me!

Now & ever…: O Mistress, show me not, O show me not to have wandered away from the tabernacle of thy Son, though I am in every way unworthy, but wash me clean of the defilement of my transgressions.

Ode V

Irmos: With Thy divine light illumine the souls of those who with love rise at dawn unto Thee, I pray Thee, O Good One, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth all forth from the darkness of sin.

With thy divine effulgence, O good one, cure my soul of the passions which the corrupter hath sown therein, and deliver me from his bitter captivity, for he laugheth, beholding me helpless.

Adam broke the only commandment of thy Son, O Virgin, and was driven into exile. How shall I lament the infinitude of my transgressions, who am a criminal and have fallen away from Him?

Glory…: Shown of old to be a murderer and fratricide, Cain was cursed by God. What shall I do, who am most arrogant? I have now brought death upon my soul, and am not ashamed.

Now & ever…: I have wholly emulated the cruel Esau in gluttony and eating to satiety, and have defiled my soul by drunkenness and my life with intemperance. Who will not weep for me, who am plagued by the passions? Woe is me!

Ode VI

Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!

My life is prodigal, my soul defiled, my way of living wholly accursed. I have grievously besmirched my whole body with evils. Wherefore, haste thou to help me, O Virgin.

Mine end lieth before me, and I cannot bear it, O good one. My conscience denounceth me, for all my wicked deeds and my prodigal life confront me, and I fear the judgement of thy Son, O pure one.

Glory…: Burning of my flesh, the dreadful river of fire which cannot be quenched, and the insatiable worm await me; but dispel them by thy supplications, O all-pure one.

Now & ever…: I am held fast now by trembling, O good one, and I fear the pursuit of the evil one; for before the end the corrupter desireth to slay me, holding me wholly captive, stripped naked of the virtues.

Then, Lord, have mercy! Thrice. Glory…, Now & ever…:

Sessional hymn, in Tone VI—

The hope, bulwark and refuge of thy people art thou, O Virgin, from whom the Savior of all was born without pain, and thou hast saved those who set their hope on thee; for thou didst weep for thy Son at the foot of the Cross. Him do thou now beseech, that He deliver from corruption all who hymn thee.

Ode VII

Irmos: The Angel caused the furnace to pour forth dew upon the pious youths, and the command of God, which consumed the Chaldæans, prevailed upon the tyrant to cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Seven times seven hath the evil one fanned a flame for me with the passions, and he ever striveth to slay my heart with thoughts of fornication; wherefore, with the streams of my tears extinguish it, O Mother of God, and save me.

Despise me not who am besmirched with the mire of my transgressions, O good Mistress, for, seeing me in despair, the most evil enemy mocketh me; but do thou thyself raise me up with thy mighty hand.

Glory…: Awesome is the tribunal, O mine insensate soul who art rife with the passions, and endless and terrible are the torments; yet fall down now before the Mother of thy Judge and God, and be not downcast.

Now & ever…: A slave of the passions, I have been bemired in a multitude of boundless evils and have defiled my soul, body and mind; wherefore, O all-pure one, with the light of thy radiance quickly lead me to the sweetness of dispassion.

Ode VIII

Irmos: From the flame didst Thou pour forth dew upon the venerable ones, and didst consume the sacrifice of the righteous one with water; for Thou, O Christ, dost do all things soever Thou desirest. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages!

O Virgin Mother, who gavest birth to God Who is One of the Trinity and didst bear Him in thine arms, quench thou the fiery furnace of the passions, and bathe my soul in streams of tears.

I fear the arrival of death, O all-pure one, and am now wholly afraid of the judgment thereof, for I have committed evils and am in nowise ashamed. In thy supplications take pity on me before the end, O Virgin.

Glory…: O Mistress, grant me unceasing groans and give me showers of tears to wash away my many transgressions and cleanse mine incurable sores, that I may receive life everlasting.

Now & ever…: I confess to thee the multitude of mine evils, O Mistress, for no one else in the world hath so angered thy God, Son and Lord; wherefore, quickly move Him to mercy toward me, O Virgin.

Ode IX

Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.

Knowing the might of thy great supplication, O all-pure one, lo! I approach thee with great fear and love; for thy maternal pleas to thy Son are truly able to accomplish much, for by lovingkindness is He inclined to mercy.

Take the choirs of the archangels and the multitude of the heavenly armies of my Creator, the assemblies of apostles and prophets, the martyrs, the venerable and the hieromartyrs, O pure one, and make supplication for us to God.

Glory…: Let me obtain thine aid now and at that hour when my spirit shall depart, O pure one, and, rescuing me quickly, deliver me from the tyranny of the demons, and leave me not in their clutches, O good and all-immaculate one.

Now & ever…: I await the compassionate Judge, thy Son Who loveth mankind, O pure one. Disdain me not, but render Him well-inclined toward me, that at His all-pure tribunal He may set me at His right hand, O most immaculate one, for I have set my hope on thee.

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

Wednesday Morning at Matins

After the first chanting of the Psalter, these Sessional hymns of the Cross, in Tone VI—

Thy Cross, O Lord, hath been sanctified; for thereby are healings wrought for those who are made sick by sins. Wherefore, we fall down before Thee, crying: Have mercy on us!

Stichos: Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship the footstool of His feet, for it is holy.

No sooner was the tree of Thy Cross planted in the ground, O Christ our Lord, than the foundations of death were shaken; and Thou Who slewest hades with love dismissed its trembling minions. Thou hast shown us Thy salvation, O Holy One; and we glorify Thee, O Son of God. Have mercy on us!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Stavrotheotokion—

Thou art the hope, help and haven of thy people, O Virgin, for from thee was truly born

the salvation of the world. As thou didst weep at the Cross of thy Son and God, thou savest those who place their trust in thee. Him do thou now beseech, that He deliver from corruption all who hymn thee.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, these Sessional hymns of the Cross, in Tone VI—

Today the words of the prophets are fulfilled; for, lo! we worship at the place where Thy foot stood, O Lord; and tasting of the Tree of salvation, we have received freedom from sinful passions through the supplications of the Theotokos, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

Stichos: God is our King before the ages; He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

O Lord, the Jews condemned to death Thee, the Life of all; they who crossed the Red Sea by the staff of Moses nailed Thee to the Cross; they who sucked honey from the rock offered Thee gall. Yet Thou didst endure, that Thou mightest free us from slavery to the enemy. O Christ our God, glory to Thee!

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

Martyricon: While the choirs of the incorporeal ones stood by, holding trophies of victory, and tyrants and kings were amazed, the all-wise ones showed forth athletes’ opposition at the tribunal and the wounds of torture in their martyrdom, and they cast down the apostate by their confession of Christ. O Lord Who strengthened them, glory to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Stavrotheotokion—

Standing before the Cross, the Mother who knew not wedlock cried out unto Him to Whom she had given birth without seed: “A sword hath pierced my heart, O my Son, for I cannot bear to see hanging upon the Tree Thee before Whom all things tremble, as Thou art Creator and God. O long-suffering Lord, glory to Thee!”

After the third chanting of the Psalter, these Sessional hymns, in Tone VI: Special Melody: “Having set aside…”—

When creation beheld Thee nailed of Thine own will to the Cross for our sake, O Christ, it quaked with fear; the sun wholly darkened its light; the stones split asunder; and the divine veil of the temple was rent in twain as a rebuke to the cruel and iniquitous Jews.

In Eden the tree brought corruption upon the first of our race, but the tree of the Cross blossomed forth life at the place of the skull; for the malice of the enemy was trampled underfoot. And Adam received mercy when Christ was nailed to the Cross, crying out: “I have found paradise, O blessed Tree!”

Glory…, Now & ever…: Stavrotheotokion—

O Christ, the Ever-virgin Maiden who gave Thee birth, beholding Thee uplifted upon the Cross for our sake, was wounded in heart and soul by the sword of grief, and wept, lamenting maternally. By her supplications, have mercy on us.

Ode I

Canon of the precious & life-creating Cross, the acrostic whereof is 
“Nailed to the Tree, Thou savest me, O Savior”: the composition of Joseph, in Tone VI—

Irmos: Traversing the deep on foot, as though it were dry land, and seeing the tyrant Pharaoh drowned, Israel cried aloud: Let us chant unto God a hymn of victory!

Extending Thy hands upon the Cross, O Master, Thou didst embrace rejected men and lead them to Thy Father, in that Thou art His beloved and consubstantial Son.

Thou wast raised up upon the Cross like a lamb, O Word, seeking Thy lost sheep; and having found it, Thou didst number it among those who had not strayed. O Jesus, glory to Thy might!

Martyricon: O right glorious passion-bearing martyrs, desiring the life of heaven ye died on earth, enduring many tortures and divers perils, O right blessed ones.

Martyricon: Standing up for Christ, Who is more just than all, at the unjust tribunals, O athletes, in God ye endured every unjust trial, which justified you.

Theotokion: “O Master, enduring suffering upon the Cross, Thou dost mediate dispassion for all descended from Adam; and beholding Thee, the earth quaked, ” thou didst cry out, O Mistress, lamenting maternally.

Another canon, of the Theotokos, in Tone VI—

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

The Lord, Who stretched out the sky and founded the earth, having issued forth in the flesh from thee, O most holy Virgin, showed us an earthly heaven.

O pure one, who didst conceive God Who became a man for our sake, entreat Him, that on the day of judgment He have pity on us who have sinned greatly against Him.

The Sun Who shone forth with most brilliant rays from thy holy womb, O Mistress, illumineth the whole earth; wherefore, enlightened, we honor thee, the Mother of God.

With the light of the holy commandments of Him Who became incarnate of thee, O Mistress Theotokos, dispel the darkness of my soul and the gloom of unseemly thoughts.

Ode III

Canon of the Cross

Irmos: There is none as holy as Thee, O Lord my God, Who hast uplifted the horn of Thy faithful and established us on the rock of the confession of Thee, O Good One.

The Cross was planted in the earth, deception fell, and creation quaked; and hearts shaken by the assaults of the enemy were made steadfast by faith.

Possessed by the devil, unrighteous men condemned to death Thee, the only Righteous One, Who dost justify mortals and rescue them from the unrighteous hand of the deceiver.

Martyricon: The deceiver, bringing all his malice to bear, contended against the saints; but he was vanquished, seeing the warriors of divine radiance refuse to submit.

Martyricon: The comeliness of the bodies of the passion-bearers of Christ was altered by wicked wounds, yet the splendor of their effulgence shone forth all the more through the activity of the Holy Spirit.

Theotokion: “O my Son, I understood that I was to give Thee birth Who art comely in beauty more than all men. How now art Thou crucified, O Christ, bereft of all beauty?”, the Virgin said, weeping.

Canon of the Theotokos 

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

Holding in thine hands Christ Who upholdeth all things, O pure Theotokos, from the hands of the wicked devil and all harm deliver us who hymn thee.

By thy supplications deliver us from demonic turmoil, from unjust men, from all temptations and corrupting infirmities, O most immaculate Virgin Mistress.

Behold, all generations call thee blessed, O Maiden who under time supernaturally gavest birth in the flesh to the timeless Word, yet remained virgin.

O Virgin who gavest birth to God Who loveth mankind, at the hour of His dread coming deliver from all condemnation me, thine unprofitable servant.

Ode IV

Canon of the Cross

Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the honored Church doth sing, crying out in godly manner with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.

Beholding Thee, the never-setting Sun, crucified upon the Tree, the sun grew dark with fear, and all creation, hymning Thee, was released from dark deception.

The violators of the law bound thy hands, O Savior, and all who were bound with unbreakable bonds were released; the enemy was bound, and falsehood was put to shame.

Martyricon: With the outpouring of your blood, O martyrs, ye drowned the tyrannical Pharaoh who wickedly boasted beyond measure, and ye have passed over, rejoicing, to the good land.

Martyricon: Soaring over the snares of the enemy on the wings of the Spirit, O athletes, rejoicing, ye hastened to where are the primal goodness, life and never-waning light.

Theotokion: When thou didst behold Him crucified and pierced in His all-pure side with the spear for our sake, O Mistress, thou wast wounded with the sword of the sufferings of Him Who was incarnate of thee.

Canon of the Theotokos 

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

Let us all hymn the holy Virgin, the temple of God, radiantly blessing her, deified because of her, and delivered from evils.

We bless the Virgin as the door leading to divine entry, the divine paradise, the noetic place of sanctification, and the beauty of Jacob. Christ hath shown thee to be a right calm harbor for those who in purity of mind invoke thee, the true Theotokos, with faith and love, O most immaculate Mistress.

O all-pure Mary, thou wast the most pure and spacious receptacle of the indwelling of God, and hast washed the defilement and mire from my soul.

Ode V

Canon of the Cross

Irmos: With Thy divine light illumine the souls of those who with love rise at dawn unto Thee, I pray Thee, O Good One, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth all forth from the darkness of sin.

O Christ Who dost clothe the sky in clouds, of Thine own will Thou wast nailed, naked, to the Cross, covering the nakedness of mine evil and enlightening my form, adorning it with the robe of incorruption, O Master.

As the true sweetness of our souls, Christ, the true Vine, was crucified on the Cross, exuding the wine which doth abolish all the drunkenness of the deception of the adversary.

Martyricon: Replete with sacred wounds, adorned with crowns, and standing before God Who suffered in the flesh, O athletes of Christ, ye ask remission for our transgressions.

Martyricon: Looking toward the glory, life and true joy of heaven, O passion-bearers, ye endured every threefold wave of torment, strengthened by the suffering of the Master.

Theotokion: “O Christ, I who in my womb contained Thee, Whom naught can contain, gave birth unto Thee without pain; but now I experience pain, seeing Thee crucified, O Christ!”, the all-pure Virgin said, weeping.

Canon of the Theotokos 

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

The Lord, Who by His word created all things and Who alone feedeth them in His wise providence: As He desireth, in His compassion He took form of thee, O all-pure one, and became ineffably flesh.

Behold, O Virgin, the God, Master and Lord of all was conceived in thy womb, as the prophets said; and thou gavest birth to Him ineffably, remaining an incorrupt virgin after giving birth, O pure one.

O Mary, Mistress of all, in that thou art merciful deliver me from dreadful captivity, I pray, and rend asunder the record of my sin with the spear of Him Who became incarnate of thee.

By thy mediation and intercession loose the bonds of my sin, O Virgin, for thou art the hope of the desperate, who hasten to thy divine protection.

Ode VI

Canon of the Cross

Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!

Thou wast crowned with thorns, O Long-suffering One, cutting down the thorns of the passions; and when Thy side was pierced by the spear, Thou didst slay the most wily serpent, who made us mortal.

Thou wast lifted up upon the Cross, laying low the power of the enemy; and Thou didst accept buffeting, freeing me from bitter slavery. I worship Thy long-suffering, O Compassionate One!

Martyricon: Protected by the Cross, the athletes toppled the evil walls of deception and, adorned with crowns of victory, pass over to make their abode in the heavenly city. Wherefore, they are called blessed.

Martyricon: All-gloriously scaling the heights of torments, O saints, ye brought low the wicked uprisings of the enemy on earth, and received crowns from on high.

Theotokion: “O Effulgence of the Father, how hast Thou been lifted up upon the Cross, illumining all things and laying low the author of darkness?”, the all-pure Mistress exclaimed, weeping maternally.

Canon of the Theotokos 

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

Christ, Who is fire, did not consume thy womb when He issued forth from thee in the flesh. Him do thou beseech, O pure one, that those who hymn thee with faith may be delivered from fire and every torment.

O most immaculate one, I hymn thee, the majesty of the holy angels, and I pray: Drive far from me the repulsiveness of the phantasms of the demons, preserving my heart in tranquillity.

He Who is the Only-begotten of the Father, and is the one Person in two natures, Who alone united Himself to fleshly form in thy womb, issued forth from thee without seed, and preserved unharmed thy precious virginity, O most immaculate one.

Wash away the multitude of my sins with the magnitude of thy mercy, O good one, and save me, thy servant, who flee unto thee and with faith entreat thy mercy.

Ode VII

Canon of the Cross

Irmos: The Angel caused the furnace to pour forth dew upon the pious youths, and the command of God, which consumed the Chaldæans, prevailed upon the tyrant to cry out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

When Thou wast buffeted, Thou didst smite the venomous malice of the serpent; and when Thou wast suspended upon the Tree, O only Mighty One, Thou didst enlighten all to cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Having tasted of the Tree, Adam, the first man, found death; but when Christ, the new Adam, died on the Tree, He granted us immortal life, slaying the greatly crafty servant.

Martyricon: Enduring suffering, O martyrs, ye were borne up to the Lord by your torment, and ye stood on the firm rock of faith, casting down all the wicked malice of the enemy at the behest of God.

Martyricon: Illumined by your sufferings, O athletes, ye shine forth more brightly than the sun; and ye destroyed all the powers of darkness, chanting to Christ: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Theotokion: “When Thou wast suspended upon the Cross, Thou didst alter all creation, O Thou who art immutable in Thy divinity, ” the Virgin said to her Son. And seeing these things, she wept, marveling at Thy great long-suffering.

Canon of the Theotokos 

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

The Uncircumscribable One, Who sitteth in the bosom of the Father, now sitteth, circumscribed, in thy bosom, O all-pure one, clad in thy form, that as the new Adam He might save Adam.

Cease not to entreat our God Who loveth mankind, O most immaculate one, that we may receive the ultimate forgiveness of evils, and may obtain the good things prepared in the heavens for those who love Him.

We bless thee, O all-immaculate one, who gavest birth to the blessed Lord, Who with divine blessings crowneth human nature, and maketh new what before had grown old.

Enriched at the havens of thy salvation, O pure one, we are saved from the storm; and holding our faith in thee to be the strength of our soul. we cry: Blessed art thou who gavest birth to God in the flesh!

Ode VIII

Canon of the Cross

Irmos: From the flame didst Thou pour forth dew upon the venerable ones, and didst consume the sacrifice of the righteous one with water; for Thou, O Christ, dost do all things soever Thou desirest. Thee do we exalt supremely for all ages!

Uplifted upon the Tree in humility of heart, O God Most High, Thou didst humble the most prideful serpent, and didst raise up Adam, who had been brought low by the passions, O Compassionate One.

Given gall to eat when Thou wast uplifted upon the Tree, Thou didst transform the ancient bitterness, O compassionate Master, sweetness of all, Who art hypostatic Life.

Martyricon: Ye did not bend your knee before graven images, O most praised ones, but were sacrificed like unblemished lambs; and ye brought low the might of the evil one, hymning Christ forever.

Martyricon: Ye were shown to be temples of the living Spirit, O martyrs, and ye cast down the temples of the idols and were caught up to the heavenly temple, hymning Christ forever.

Theotokion: Jacob beheld thee beforehand, O Virgin, as the ladder leading up to the heights of heaven us who have plunged headlong into the abyss of evils; wherefore, we bless thee, the pure one, forever.

Canon of the Theotokos 

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

We confess thee to be the true Theotokos, and with the angel with faith we cry out to thee “Rejoice!”; for for those on earth thou alone gavest birth to Joy, O joyous, pure and blessed one.

The divinely sounding harp of thine ancestor prefigured thee, who bore God in the flesh, as the all-holy ark, O most immaculate one. Him do we exalt supremely forever.

O divinely joyous Maiden who knewest not wedlock, haven and hope of Christians amid the storm, deliver thy servants from perils, sufferings and afflictions, and from everlasting fire.

When Thou shalt come in glory to judge all men, O Master, number me, a sinner, with the lambs on Thy right side, through the entreaties of Thy Mother, that I may glorify Thee for all ages.

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 the Cross

Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.

O Lord of times and seasons, at noon Thou wast uplifted, crucified, upon the Tree in the midst of the earth, O only Long-suffering One, setting aright him who in the midst of paradise suffered the fall through the corrupting fruit.

The Cross was lifted up, and the tyrant was dealt a mortal wound to his soul; those bound were released from corruption, and understanding was planted in all men; the enemy stood by, paralyzed, and all men were filled with joy.

Martyricon: The earth was conjoined with the heavens, for Christ was sacrificed on the Cross, O martyrs of the Lord; and He drew unto Him the multitude of you who endured a multitude of extreme torments, and caused you to shine forth with the multitude of His divine ministers.

Martyricon: Shining with immaterial light, ye became gods by adoption, O martyrs of the Lord, making your abode in the mansions of the firstborn, full of eternal glory; wherefore, we, the faithful, honor you as is meet.

Theotokion: “An awesome birthgiving did I endure, O long-suffering Master, when in strange manner I gave birth to Thee. For when creation beheld Thee crucified of Thine own will upon the Tree, it was filled with fear, ” of old the immaculate one wept, crying out maternally. Her do we magnify.

Canon of the Theotokos 

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

When He became incarnate, the Son and Word of God Who is without beginning became the Son of the Virgin; and at the good pleasure of the Father and by the activity of the divine Spirit, He hath wholly restored my corrupted form.

Arise, O my soul, and be vigilant in prayer and in all good things; cast off the idleness of sleep with fervor, ever having as a watchful protector the pure Mother of God, whom we glorify.

O most immaculate Theotokos, thou art the hope, protection and joy of the faithful; wherefore, I beseech thy compassions: Enlighten my soul, which the gloom of many sins and evil thoughts have darkened.

O holy and divinely joyous Virgin: Open unto me the gates of light, lest the night of sin cover me; and guide my life to the right calm harbor of the divine precepts of Him Who became man through thee.

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

Aposticha stichera of the Cross, in Tone VI—

I trust in the Cross, O Christ, and, boasting therein, I cry out: O Lord Who lovest mankind, cast down the pride of those who do not confess Thee to be both God and man!

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.

Protected by the Cross, we set ourselves against the enemy, undaunted by his wiles and treachery; for the prideful one hath been set at naught and trampled underfoot by the power of Christ Who was nailed to the Tree.

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.

Martyricon: The memory of the martyrs is a joy to those who fear the Lord; for, having suffered for the sake of Christ, they have received crowns from Him; and they now pray with boldness in behalf of our souls.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Stavrotheotokion: Special Melody: “Having set aside…”—

When of old ·the undefiled ewe-lamb, the unblemished Mistress, beheld her Lamb upon the tree of the Cross, she exclaimed maternally, and marveling cried out: “O my Child most sweet, what is this new and all-glorious thing that I see? How hath the ungrateful assembly given Thee over to the tribunal of Pilate and condemned to death the Life of all? I hymn Thine ineffable condescension, O Word!”

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

Wednesday at Divine Liturgy

On the Beatitudes, these troparia, in Tone VI—

Remember me, O God my Savior, when Thou shalt come in Thy kingdom, and save me, in that Thou alone lovest mankind.

Thou wast willingly lifted up upon the Tree, O only greatly Merciful One, and didst call forth those who had stumbled into the abyss of evils. The earth quaked and the sun hid its light, beholding Thee, the Sun of righteousness, upon the Tree, suffering of Thine own will.

Martyricon: Sharing in the sufferings of the Savior, O passion-bearers, together ye partake of divine effulgence, deified in partaking thereof.

Glory…: Lift me up from the depths of sin, O my Christ, Who, though One of the Trinity, didst endure crucifixion of Thine own will.

Now & ever…: Standing before the Cross, O Virgin Mother, and beholding thy Son suffering of His own will, thou didst magnify Him.