Tone VIII

Sunday

Saturday Evening at Little Vespers

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

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

We offer to Thee, O Christ, evening hymnody and rational sacrifice; for it was Thy good pleasure to have mercy upon us by Thy resurrection.

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.

O Lord, O Lord, turn us not away from Thy face, but be Thou well-pleased to have mercy upon us by Thy resurrection.

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

Rejoice, O holy Sion, Mother of Churches, thou dwelling-place of God! For thou wast first to receive remission of sins, through the resurrection.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion—

How shall we call thee blessed, O Theotokos? How shall we hymn the unapproachable mystery of thy birthgiving, O all-blessed one? For the Creator of the ages and Fashioner of our nature, taking pity on His image, lowered Himself in an inscrutable self-abasement; and while He remained in the immaterial bosom of the Father, He made His abode in thy womb, O pure one, and immutably became flesh through thee, O thou who knewest not wedlock, remaining God by nature, as He was. Wherefore, we worship Him as perfect God and perfect man, One in dual form; for in Him there is truly a dual nature, and we all proclaim His essential characteristics to be of two kinds, according to His twofold essence, worshipping His two energies and wills. For, being one in essence with God the Father, of His own accord He willeth and acteth as God; and being of one essence with us, of His own accord He willeth and acteth as man. Him do thou entreat, O pure and most blessed one, that our souls be saved.

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 VIII—

Having descended from heaven, O Jesus, Thou didst mount the Cross; and Thou didst come to death, O immortal Life, true Light for those in darkness, resurrection for the fallen. O our Savior, enlightenment of all, glory be to Thee!

And these other stichera, of the Theotokos in the same tone: Special Melody: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

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

Rejoice, O most lauded Theotokos! Rejoice, well-spring of Life which gusheth forth for the faithful! Rejoice, O blessed Mistress of all and Lady of creation! Rejoice, all-glorious and most immaculate one! Rejoice, all-pure one! Rejoice, O palace! Rejoice, thou habitation of God!

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

Rejoice, all-pure Mother of God! Rejoice, O hope of the faithful! Rejoice, cleansing of the world! Rejoice, thou who deliverest thy servants from all sorrow! Rejoice, Life-bearing consolation of men! Rejoice, O our help! Rejoice, bulwark of those who call upon thee! Rejoice, divine dwelling-place and holy mountain of God!

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

Rejoice, O Theotokos, Mother of Christ! Rejoice, thou only hope and help of men! Rejoice, O refuge! Rejoice, luminous candlestand of the Light! Rejoice, sanctified lamp! Rejoice, O palace! Rejoice, O paradise! Rejoice, habitation of God! Rejoice, well-spring which poureth forth water for those who have recourse unto thee!

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

He Whom heaven could not contain found room within thy womb without being circumscribed, and thou didst remain pure through the ineffable word, thy virginity having in nowise been defiled. For thou, alone among women, wast both mother and virgin; and thou alone, O all-pure one, didst give the Son, the Bestower of life, thy milk to drink, and didst hold the never-slumbering Eye in thine embrace. Yet as He was before time began, He did not leave the bosom of the Father, but being fully God with the angels above, below He was through thee wholly with men, yet everywhere present, in an ineffable manner. Him do thou entreat, O most holy Mistress, that those who in Orthodox manner confess thee to be the pure Theotokos may be saved.

Then, “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…”: Trisagion through 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 VIII—

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

We offer to Thee, O Christ, evening hymnody and rational sacrifice; for it was Thy good pleasure to have mercy upon us by Thy resurrection.

Stichos: The righteous shall wait patiently for me until Thou shalt reward me.

O Lord, O Lord, turn us not away from Thy face, but be Thou well-pleased to have mercy upon us by Thy resurrection.

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

Rejoice, O holy Sion, Mother of Churches, thou dwelling-place of God! For thou wast first to receive remission of sins, through the resurrection.

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

The Word, Who was begotten of God the Father before the ages, and Who in latter times of His own will became incarnate of her who knew not wedlock, endured death by crucifixion; and by His resurrection He hath saved man who was slain of old.

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

We glorify Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, whereby Thou hast freed the race of Adam from the tyranny of hades, and hast, as God, granted the world life everlasting and great mercy.

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.

Glory to Thee, O Christ our Savior, Thou only-begotten Son of God, Who wast nailed to the Cross and didst rise from the grave on the third day!

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

We glorify Thee, O Lord, Who of Thine own will didst endure the Cross for our sake, and we worship Thee, O almighty Savior. Turn us not away from Thy face, but hearken and save us by Thy resurrection, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

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 IV: Special Melody: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

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 ranks of the angels glorify Thee, O Mother of God; for thou, O all-pure one, gavest birth unto God, Who, with the Father and the Spirit, is eternal, and by His will brought the angelic hosts into being out of nonexistence. Him do thou entreat, that He save and enlighten the souls of those who in Orthodox manner hymn thee as the Theotokos.

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

In that thou art the source of sanctification and the golden ark illumined by the divine Spirit, I fall down before thee and pray: Enlighten my wretched soul, which hath been given over to the passions, O Mistress, delivering me from the bitter tyranny of the demons, and giving me a clear path to salvation.

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

When the thrones are set up, and the books are opened, and the works of men are laid bare, and each shall stand forth, weighed down and stripped naked, trembling at the displeasure of God and His righteous verdict, then do thou take pity on me, O Mistress, and from all condemnation rescue me who am deserving of all manner of retribution.

Glory…, from the Menaion.; Now & ever…: The dogmatic theotokion—

In His love for mankind, the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt among men; for He Who received flesh from the pure Virgin and came forth from her having received human nature, is the only Son of God, two in nature but not hypostasis. Therefore, proclaiming Him to be truly perfect God and perfect man, we confess Christ our God. Him do thou beseech, O Mother unwedded, that our souls find mercy!

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 VIII—

Having descended from heaven, O Jesus, Thou didst mount the Cross; Thou didst come to death, O immortal Life, true Light for those in darkness, resurrection for the fallen. O our Savior, enlightenment of all, glory be to Thee!

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

We glorify Christ Who rose from the dead; for, having assumed a soul and body, He cut the passions off from both. Therefore, when His all-pure soul descended into hades, He took it captive. And in the tomb the body of the Deliverer of our souls did not see corruption.

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

With psalms and hymns we glorify Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, whereby Thou didst free us from the tyranny of hades and, as God, didst grant us everlasting life and great mercy.

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

O Master of all, unapproachable Creator of heaven and earth, Who suffered on the Cross, Thou didst pour forth dispassion upon me. Having accepted burial and risen in glory, Thou didst raise up Adam with Thyself by Thine almighty hand. Glory to Thy rising on the third day, whereby Thou didst bestow upon us everlasting life and cleansing of sins, in that Thou alone art compassionate!

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

O unwedded Virgin who didst ineffably conceive God in the flesh, Mother of God Most High: Accept the entreaties of thy servants, O most immaculate one, granting unto all cleansing of transgressions; and, accepting now our supplications, pray thou that we all be saved.

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

Resurrectional troparion, in Tone VIII—

Thou didst descend from on high, O Compassionate One, and didst accept a three-day burial, that Thou mightest free us from the passions. O Lord, our life and resurrection, glory be to Thee!

Theotokion: O Good One, Who for our sake wast born of the Virgin and, having endured crucifixion, cast down death by death, and as God revealed the resurrection: Disdain not that which Thou hast fashioned with Thine own hand. Show forth Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One; accept the Theotokos who gave Thee birth and prayeth for us; and save Thy despairing people, O our Savior!

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 VIII—

Ode I

Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously been glorified.

Come, O ye faithful brethren, and let us mystically offer a new hymn to the holy Theotokos, praising her mighty works today as from the beginning.

Illumined in mind by divine vision of old, Moses manifestly learned of thy divine conceiving which transcendeth nature, O Virgin, and which was made manifest unto him in the bush.

Glory…: Unto thee do I offer up the works of my heart, and to thee in acceptable manner do I offer these writings, setting thee before Christ the Master as intercessor, in that thou art close to the divine shelter of aid.

Now & ever…: O pure one, incline thine ear unto me who with Orthodox Faith and love do devoutly hasten to thee in the tabernacle of thy countenance and worship thee with fear. Hearken thou to my cry of supplication.

Ode III

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

The patriarch’s ladder of old prefigured thee, O all-immaculate one; for the angels’ descent revealed to us the descent of God, the divine descent into thy womb.

The tribe of Judah rejoiced, as Jacob foretold, for from his tribe sprang the one who would cause Jesus Christ, our Deliverance, to spring forth. Having given birth to Him, O all-pure one, thou hast been glorified.

Glory…: In despair over my sins, I have found thee to be a refuge of salvation, O all-pure Theotokos, our hope and aid; wherefore, guide me to repentance.

Now & ever…: I have thee near the Master, O all-glorious Mistress, and with faith have entrusted to thee the book of my deeds. Cease thou never to take pity on me.

Ode IV

Irmos: O Word, with divine vision the prophet perceived Thee Who wast to become incarnate of the Theotokos alone, the mountain overshadowed; and with fear he glorified Thy power.

Having received grace and been adorned with the beauty of virginity, thou wast like unto the Bride of the Father, bedecked with golden coins, and wast shown to be the Mother of the Son of God.

Christ the Word was pleased to make thee, the true Sion, a divine habitation for Himself, O Theotokos, choosing thee as His elect, for the restoration of the whole world.

Glory…: Rejoice, O beauteous palace of the Word, virginal bridal-chamber of the King! Rejoice, O boast of all the incorporeal! Rejoice, O help of men!

Now & ever…: They who reject the icons of thy Son, O Virgin Theotokos, Mother of God, withdraw from God, and therefore perish; but those who honor thee are saved by the same images.

Ode V

Irmos: O Christ God, Bestower of light, Who didst dispel the primeval darkness of the abyss: disperse the gloom of my soul, and grant me the light of Thy commandments, O Word, that, rising early, I may glorify Thee.

Joining the divine Gabriel, let us cry aloud to the Theotokos with faith: Rejoice, O holy Virgin who art full of grace! The Lord is with thee Who, having put an end to grief on thine account, hath given us joy.

Gideon beheld thine all-pure womb, O pure Virgin, wherein the Word, Who is inseparable from the divinity of the Father, became incarnate through the divine Spirit, descending like rain.

Glory…: Thou art the helper of the world and aid of sinful men, O Virgin Theotokos; and for those who with faith and love have recourse unto thee thou art saving deliverance and the absolution of many transgressions.

Now & ever…: By the divine Spirit thou gavest rise without seed to the Son, the Offspring of the Father, Who was before all creation, timeless and unoriginate, O pure Theotokos, and we all honor the likeness of His visage.

Ode VI

Irmos: O Thou Who lovest mankind, accept me, who am held fast by many sins, and who fall down before Thy compassion; and save me, as Thou didst the prophet, O Lord.

O Virgin who knewest not wedlock, with hymns we praise thee as the mirror of virginity and the pure receptacle of the Godhead.

In awesome and dispassionate manner God became incarnate in thy womb, O Bride of God, written, as it were, by the finger of the Father on a new scroll.

Glory…: Thy protection do we have as cleansing, excellent hope and aid, O pure Virgin. O Mistress, put not thy servants to shame!

Now & ever…: By thine advocacy, O Bride of God, reduce the incessant pandemonium of the passions to stillness, and guide us to the haven of tranquility.

Then, Lord, have mercy! thrice. Glory…, Now & ever…: Kontakion, in Tone VIII—

To thee, the champion leader, we thy servants dedicate hymns of victory and thanksgiving, as ones delivered from evils, O Theotokos; but in that thou hast invincible might, free us from all misfortunes, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded!

Ode VII

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fire stood in awe of the condescension of God; wherefore, the youths, dancing with joyous step in the furnace, as in a meadow, chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Thou hast been shown to be the mediatress of our joy, O Virgin, and offering thee a crown of grace with love, we cry unto thee: “Rejoice, O pure and blessed one!”, praising thee.

Thou art the holy mountain of God overshadowed, the rich mountain, O all-immaculate one, the mountain rendered fertile by divine effulgence, the mountain wherein God was pleased to dwell.

Glory…: No sin is too great for thy grace; for thou hast a mother’s boldness and will, and by thy supplications thou loosest transgressions and leadest us safely through all assaults.

Now & ever…: O Theotokos, thou gavest birth to One of the Trinity Who, though uniting Himself to the flesh, remained immutable, being of two natures. The image of His countenance do we venerate.

Ode VIII

Irmos: The Lord Who was glorified on the holy mountain, and by the fire in the bush revealed to Moses the mystery of the Ever-virgin, hymn ye and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Thou wast revealed to the prophet as the censer bearing the divine Coal Who taketh away sins, O Virgin Theotokos, Mother of our God.

Daniel foresaw thee as a great mountain, O Virgin Theotokos, from whence Christ, the precious Stone, arrayed Himself in the flesh and brought down the temples of the falsehood of idolatry.

Glory…: The great sea-monster of grievous sin and the despair of my passions seek to slay me; but do thou anticipate my need, and save thy servant, O Mistress.

Now & ever…: The God of all, Who through thee came to have conversation with men, assumed the guise of a man. His countenance do we venerate in icons, O Virgin.

Ode IX

Irmos: Saved by thee, O pure Virgin, we confess thee to be in truth the Theotokos magnifying thee with the incorporeal choirs.

With songs the all-wise one hymneth thee as the enclosed garden and the fountain sealed by the divine Spirit, O Virgin Theotokos; wherefore, Christ becometh incarnate in thee as the Tree of life.

Describing thine ineffable birthgiving beforehand, the prophet foresaw thee as a sealed book, and the mystery of the incarnation of thine offspring none hath understood.

Glory…: In compunction of soul we all beseech thee: O Mistress, disdain not our entreaties, but be thou for us a kindly protectress, and hearken unto our supplication.

Now & ever…: I fall down before the images of thee and thy Son, O Virgin Theotokos, but those who refuse to venerate them I reject, like the deception of Manes; wherefore, in Orthodox manner do I complete my hymnody.

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
“O Trinity and Unity, save me, Thy servant”: the composition of Metrophanes, in Tone VIII—

Ode I

Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.

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

Chanting the thrice-holy hymn, let us fall down before the three-Sunned King, the Arranger and Architect of all things, the Good One Who is essentially One, the sole reigning God Who possesseth the single glory of the Godhead.

Clearly remembering the divine and heavenly sayings of the prophets, we glorify the single divine Essence, eternal, equally without beginning, in three Persons—the Father, the Son and the Spirit—creative and omnipotent. As an initiate of the sacred mysteries, in sacred manner Abraham of old, rejoicing, received God the Lord, the Creator of all, in three Hypostases, and recognized the one Dominion of the three Hypostases.

Theotokion: For us thou gavest birth without wedlock unto Christ Who for our sake assumed our nature, O all-pure one, and remained immutable in both. Him do thou unceasingly entreat, that He grant me deliverance from sins and temptations.

Ode III

Irmos: O Christ, Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth upon the waters, make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments; for none is as holy as Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Isaiah beheld Thee, the unapproachable God and King of glory, seated on a lofty throne, and the cherubim and seraphim glorifying Thee, the one Godhead in three Hypostases, with unceasing hymns.

Having through reasoning proper to each and scriptural doctrines attained unto the one Word, Who was begotten of the Father as from a mind, and the Spirit Who ineffably proceedeth, we honor the one three-Sunned God.

The Father, Who is unbegotten, and Who incorruptibly begat the Son, the Effulgence of His essence, as Light from His own Light, putteth forth through procession the conjoined light of the Spirit, Who is all-accomplishing and equal in honor.

Theotokion: O Mary, Virgin and Mother, thou hast been shown to be a pure temple for Christ Who omnipotently and all-wisely created all things, placed them in order, and sustaineth them. By thy maternal supplications render Him merciful unto me.

Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Special Melody: “That which was mystically commanded…”—

O ye faithful, let us now praise the power of the three-Sunned and worshipful Godhead, for by His hand alone He created all the choirs of the angels above and the sacred ranks of the Church below, that they might cry aloud: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O all-good God! Glory and hymnody be to Thy Dominion!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O good one, who gavest birth to the immutable God, by thy maternal supplications make steadfast my heart, which is ever made unstable through sin and slothfulness and the assaults of the deceiver, that I also may glorify thee with thanksgiving. O Mary, most immaculate Theotokos, have mercy upon the flock which thou hast acquired!

Ode IV

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Revealed to those in darkness as the Day-spring of the Godhead, Thou didst dispel the dark night of the passions. The Sun of righteousness hath shone forth, simply as to essence, but thrice-radiantly as to Persons. Him do we ever hymn and glorify.

The one Lord of Glory, Who is hymned by the mouths of the seraphim, do we with our mouths of clay glorify in Trinity, in His Essence and Hypostases, crying: O King of all, grant forgiveness of divers transgressions unto Thy servants!

O worshipful and divine Trinity Who lovest mankind, Who sustaineth all things that exist, invisible, most compassionate and full of lovingkindness: Forget not utterly me, Thy servant, neither annul the covenant Thou didst make with Thy servants, in Thine ineffable mercy.

Theotokion: Finding thee alone to possess the beauty of Jacob from ages past, O most pure one, the Word Who is wholly without beginning dwelt within thee in His lovingkindness, and restored human nature. Him do thou unceasingly entreat, that I be delivered from all tribulation.

Ode V

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

We glorify Thee, the three equally eternal Persons, the one Lord, the divine Essence, distinguishing between and joining them simply; and we cry out with faith: O divine and holy Trinity, deliver Thy servants from tribulation!

I bitterly lament the weakness of my mind, how, without desiring it, I truly suffer involuntary instability; wherefore, I cry aloud: O Life-creating and Holy Trinity, cause me to stand among the good!

As Thou art all-good, most merciful and lovest mankind, O divine and Holy Trinity, take pity on Thy servant, who am weighed down by the slumber of sin and plunged into a dream of death, and raise me up.

Theotokion: O all-pure, most immaculate Virgin, Mother and Maiden, who art full of the grace of God: By thy supplications render thy Son, Lord and God merciful unto me, and quickly deliver thy servant from transgressions and the passions.

Ode VI

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

Emulating the ranks of the heavenly intelligences, O transcendent Trinity Who reignest over all, with our mouths of clay we glorify Thee with thrice-holy hymns.

I worship, honor, hymn and magnify Thee, God in three Hypostases, Who created man according to Thine image and all-wisely formed everything out of nothingness.

O God almighty, Who alone art uncircumscribable, Thou three-Sunned Master: Dwell Thou within me in Thine ineffable mercy, and illumine me and bring me to understanding, in that Thou art compassionate.

Theotokion: Thou wast shown to be a temple of God Whom no place can contain, O all-pure one. By thine entreaties show me forth also as a temple of His divine grace, O all-holy Mistress, and preserve me unharmed.

Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Special Melody: “That which was mystically commanded…”—

O ye faithful, let us truly hymn the unoriginate Father, the Son Who is equally without beginning, and the divine Spirit — the Trinity simple, holy and conjoined without confusion, unchangeable and immutable; and let us cry aloud with the angels: Holy art Thou, O Father, Son and all-holy and honorable Spirit! Have mercy upon those whom Thou hast created in Thine image, O Master!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

We ever thank thee, O Theotokos; and we magnify and bow down before thee, O pure one, hymning thy birthgiving and crying out unceasingly, O thou who art full of grace: Save us, in that thou art good, at the hour of trial, O all-merciful Virgin, that we, thy servants, may not be put to shame!

Ode VII

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fire stood in awe of the condescension of God; wherefore, the youths, dancing with joyous step in the furnace, as in a meadow, chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

In Thine ineffable wisdom and the abyss of Thy goodness, show me forth, Thy servant, as freely receiving mercy; and now, as of old, deliver me from affliction, sins and the passions, O God, Trinity and Unity. Twice

O God Who alone reignest, Thou threefold Sun—the Father, the unbegotten Mind; and the Word, Who was begotten of Him; and the divine Spirit, Who proceeded from Him unapproachably—unto Thee do I sing: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Theotokion: Poisoned by the venom of sin, O all-pure one, I have been slain; and I hasten with faith unto thee who gavest birth to the Author of life. By thy supplications give life to thy servant, and deliver me from temptations and the passions, O thou who alone art pure.

Ode VIII

Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O Thou who art Light never-waning, thrice-radiant, three-Sunned, Who alone ruleth and reigneth, unapproachable God and ruling Lord: Enlighten my dark and benighted heart, and show it forth as luminous and full of light, that I may hymn and glorify Thee for all ages.

The most divine seraphim reverently cover their faces and hands with their sacred wings, unable to bear the glory of Thine unapproachable beauty, O all-holy, divine, ruling Trinity, Source of good; yet do we also dare to hymn and glorify Thee with faith forever.

O my God, with faith I glorify Thee forever: the unoriginate Dominion, the omnipotent, all-good perfect Origin, the beneficent, boundless uncaused Cause, creative, eternal, providential and salvific for all, the Unity in essence and Trinity of Persons.

Theotokion: The never-setting Sun shone forth on earth through thy virginal birthgiving, O all-pure Mistress, and delivered men from the gloomy darkness of idolatry. Wherefore, enlighten me all the more with the rays of His Godhead, and preserve thy servant.

Ode IX

Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Glorifying Thee now, the all-accomplishing Essence Who art beyond all beginning, reigning over all, the life-creating, compassionate, loving and good Trinity Who art above time and rulest alone, we ask forgiveness of sins, peace for the world, and oneness of mind for Thy Churches. Twice

O single Dominion in three Lights, Thou only three-Sunned Godhead, accept those who offer Thee divine hymns, and deliver them from transgressions, temptations and evils; and in Thy love for mankind, quickly grant peace and unity to Thy Churches.

Theotokion: O Christ my Savior, Who dwelt within the Virgin’s womb, Thou didst appear to Thy world as God and man, truly unchangeable and unconfused; and Thou didst manifestly promise to abide with Thy servants forever. Wherefore, through the supplications of her who gave Thee birth, arrange peace for Thy whole flock.

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 VIII—

Standing before the tomb of the Bestower of life, the myrrh-bearing women sought the immortal Master among the dead; and receiving the joyous announcement from the angel, they exclaimed to the apostles that Christ God is risen, granting the world 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 VIII, 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 VIII—

Thou didst arise from the dead, O Life of all, and the radiant angel cried to the women: “Cease your weeping! Declare unto the apostles, and cry aloud, singing: Christ the Lord hath risen, Whose good pleasure, as God, it hath been to save the human race!”

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

O Thou Who didst truly rise from the dead, Thou didst command the venerable women to proclaim Thine arising to the apostles, as it is written; and speedy Peter ran quickly to Thy tomb and, beholding a light within the sepulchre, was filled with awe. Wherefore, seeing the grave-clothes lying without the divine body in them, he cried out with faith: “Glory to Thee, O Christ God our Savior, for Thou savest all, in that Thou art the Effulgence of the Father!”

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

We hymn the portal of heaven, the ark, the most holy mountain, the luminous cloud, the heavenly ladder, the reason-endowed paradise, the deliverance of Eve, the great treasure of the whole world, for within her salvation was wrought for the world, and remission of the ancient offenses. Wherefore, we cry out to thee: Entreat thy Son and God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who piously worship thine all-holy birthgiving.

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

Men sealed Thy tomb, O Savior, but an angel rolled the stone away from its entry. The women beheld Thee risen from the dead, and in Sion they proclaimed to Thy disciples the glad tidings that Thou hadst arisen, O Life of all, and that the bonds of death are broken. O Lord, glory be to Thee!

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

The women who bore the burial spices heard from the tomb the voice of the angel, saying: “Cease your weeping, and receive joy instead of grief! Cry aloud, singing that Christ the Lord hath risen, Whose good pleasure it hath been, as God, to save the human race!”

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion, which we chant not sitting, but standing, with fear and reverence—

All creation—the assembly of angels and the human race—rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace, O sacred temple and reason-endowed paradise, thou boast of virgins, from whom God, Who existeth from before time, was incarnate and became a child; for He made thy loins a throne, and thy womb He made more spacious than the heavens. All creation rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace. Glory to thee!

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

Standing before the tomb of the Bestower of life, the myrrh-bearing women sought the immortal Master among the dead; and receiving the joyous announcement from the angel, they exclaimed to the apostles that Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.

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

Antiphon I

From my youth hath the enemy tempted me, causing me to burn with pleasures; but, trusting in Thee, O Lord, I vanquish him.

Let those who hate Sion be as grass before it is mowed down; for Christ will cut through their necks with the scythe of torments.

Glory…: By the Holy Spirit are all things given life. Him do we praise with the Father and the Word, as Light from light, the great God.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon II

Let my heart, humble of mind, be covered with the fear of Thee, O most Compassionate One, and let it not, exalting itself, fall away from Thee.

May he who setteth his hope on the Lord not be terrified when all things will be tried by fire and torment.

Glory…:: Through the Holy Spirit doth every godly man see and prophesy, working exalted miracles, and hymning the one God in Three Persons; for though Three shine together, the Godhead ruleth as One.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon III

I have cried unto Thee: Hearken, O Lord, and incline Thine ear to me who cry out; and before Thou takest me away from hence make me pure.

Everyone who returneth to his mother, the earth, is released to receive torments or honors for those things he did during life.

Glory…:: Through the Holy Spirit proceedeth the theology of the thrice-holy Unity: for the Father is unoriginate, and from Him hath the Son been begotten timelessly, and the Spirit is equally enthroned and hath the same image, shining forth from the Father.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon IV

Behold now, what is so good or so beautiful as for brethren to dwell together? For therein hath the Lord promised life eternal.

He Who adorneth the lilies of the field doth warn that it is not fitting for man to give thought to his raiment.

Glory…: By the Holy Spirit, the single Cause, are all things sustained through the bestowal of peace; for He is God, Who in dominion is consubstantial with the Father and the Son.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Prokimenon, in Tone VIII—

The Lord shall be king unto eternity; thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation.

Stichos: Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord in my life.

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 VIII

Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.

Stichos: Glory to Thy holy resurrection, O Lord!

How can we not marvel at the almighty divinity of Christ, Who through His sufferings sheddeth dispassion and incorruption upon all the faithful, and poureth forth a well-spring of immortality from His holy side and life everlasting from His tomb?

The magnificent angel hath now appeared to the women, bearing splendid tokens of natural and immaterial purity, by his appearance proclaiming the light of the resurrection, crying: The Lord is risen!

Theotokion: All-glorious things have been said of thee among generations of generations, O thou who contained God the Word in thy womb, remaining pure, O Mary Theotokos; wherefore, we all honor thee, our help after God.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: Having traversed the water…

The portals of pain have been removed, and the gate-keepers of hades were filled with fear, beholding Him descending into the nethermost parts Who in the highest transcendeth the nature of all things.

The ranks of the angels were amazed, beholding, seated upon the throne of the Father, human nature which had fallen and been imprisoned in the nethermost parts.

Theotokion: O unwedded Mother, the ranks of angels and men unceasingly praise thee; for in thine arms thou didst bear their Creator as a babe.

Canon of the All-holy Theotokos

Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people….

O all-pure Theotokos, who in manner transcending nature gavest birth to the eternal and all-divine Word incarnate: we hymn thee.

O Christ, the Virgin gave birth unto Thee, the Life-bearing Cluster of grapes which exudeth the sweetness of universal salvation.

Through thee, O Theotokos, hath the generation of Adam been exalted to blessedness, in manner past understanding, and it glorifieth thee as is meet.

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

Ode III

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: O Christ, Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth upon the waters, make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments; for none is holy as Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Adam, who was condemned by his sinful tasting, didst Thou justify by the saving suffering of Thy flesh, O Christ; for Thou Thyself wast not subject to the trial of death, O Sinless One.

Jesus my God, the Light of the resurrection, shone forth upon those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and binding the mighty one with His divinity, He despoiled his vessels.

Theotokion: O Theotokos, thou hast been shown to be more exalted than the cherubim and seraphim; for thou alone didst receive the uncontainable God in thy womb, O undefiled one. Wherefore, all of us, the faithful, bless thee with hymns, O pure one.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven…

O Lord, from Thyself Thou didst banish me who before had rejected Thy commandments; but having assumed my form and taught me obedience, Thou didst cause me to dwell with Thee through Thy crucifixion.

O Lord Who in Thy wisdom hast foreknown all things, and Who planted the nethermost parts by Thine understanding, in Thy condescension, O Word of God, Thou didst deign to resurrect that which is in Thine image.

Theotokion: Having dwelt bodily in the Virgin, O Lord, Thou didst appear unto men, as it was fitting that they behold Thee, and Thou didst show her forth as the true Theotokos, the helper of the faithful, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation….

Grant us help through thy supplications, O most pure one, repelling the attacks of grievous circumstances.

Thou wast the correction of our first mother Eve, having given birth to Christ, the Author of the life of the world, O Theotokos.

Gird me about with power, O most pure one, who hast truly given birth unto God in the flesh, the hypostatic Power of the Father.

Ode IV

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Thou didst love me, Thine enemy, exceedingly, for in a strange abasement Thou didst descend to earth, O Savior of lovingkindness, refusing to reject mine utter reproach; and abiding in the heights of Thine all-pure glory, Thou hast glorified that which before was dishonored.

Who is not filled with awe, beholding death destroyed by Thy Passion, O Master? For by the divine power of Thee Who wast crucified was corruption put to flight by the Cross and hades emptied of its riches by Thy death. Wondrous are Thy works, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Theotokion: Thou art the boast of the faithful, O thou who knewest not wedlock, and thou art also the refuge, bulwark and haven of Christians; for thou hearest entreaties to thy Son, O most immaculate one, and savest from misfortunes those who with faith and love know thee to be the pure Theotokos.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: I heard report of Thee, O Lord…

The children of the violators of the law nailed thee to the Cross, O Christ God; but thereby Thou didst save those who glorify Thy sufferings, in that Thou art full of lovingkindness.

Rising from the grave, Thou didst raise up with Thyself all the dead in hades; and as Thou art full of lovingkindness Thou hast enlightened all who glorify Thy resurrection.

Theotokion: O all-pure Mary, entreat God Who was born of thee, that He grant thy servants forgiveness of offenses.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: I heard report of Thee, O Lord….

O Theotokos, thou unploughed field which gave rise to the life-creating Grain Who giveth life to the world: Save those who hymn thee.

All of us who are enlightened proclaim thee to be the Theotokos, O most pure one; for thou gavest birth to the Sun of righteousness, O Ever-virgin.

Grant that our ignorance may be washed away, in that Thou art sinless, and bring peace to Thy world, O God, through the prayers of her who gave Thee birth.

Ode V

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Mocked, Thou didst deign to be clad in a purple robe before Thy sufferings, O Savior, thus covering the ugly nakedness of the first-created man; and, naked, Thou wast nailed to the Cross in the flesh, O Christ, stripping off our robe of mortality.

Arising, Thou didst fashion anew from the dust of death my fallen essence, O Christ, and didst render it never-aging, showing it again to be a royal image, resplendent in the life of incorruption.

Theotokion: Possessed of maternal boldness before thy Son, O most pure one, dismiss not the thought of us as thy kin, we pray thee; for thee alone do we Christians set before the Master, to obtain merciful purification.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: Enlighten us with Thy commandments…

Guide us by the power of Thy Cross, O Christ, for through it do we fall down before Thee. Grant us peace, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Pilot the life of us who hymn Thine arising, O our God, and grant us peace, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Theotokion: O pure one who knewest not wedlock, beseech Thy Son and our God, that He send down upon us, the faithful, great mercy, O all-pure Mary.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Waking at dawn, we cry to Thee: Save us….

Still thou the unbearable tempest of my passions, O thou who gavest birth to God, the Helmsman and Lord.

The ranks of the angels and the assembly of men minister to thine Offspring, O all-pure Theotokos.

O Mary Theotokos, who knewest not wedlock, show forth the hopes of the enemy as vain, and fill with gladness those who hymn thee.

Ode VI

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

By a tree the author of evil mightily cast me down; but, having been uplifted upon the Cross, Thou, O Christ, didst with greater might cast him down, putting him to shame; and thou didst raise up him who was fallen.

Rising from the grave, Thou didst take pity on Sion, by Thy divine blood making it new instead of old, in that Thou art compassionate; and Thou now reignest therein forever, O Christ.

Theotokion: Let us be delivered from grievous transgressions through thine entreaties, O pure Theotokos, and let us receive the divine effulgence of the Son of God, Who ineffably became incarnate of thee, O all-pure one.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: I pour forth my prayer unto the Lord…

Thou didst stretch forth Thy hands upon the Cross, healing the hand of the first-created man, which in Eden was stretched forth without restraint; and having of Thine own will tasted gall, O Christ, Thou hast saved those who glorify Thy sufferings, in that Thou art powerful.

The Deliverer tasted of death, the ancient condemnation, that He might destroy the kingdom of corruption; and having descended into hades, Christ arose and hath saved those who hymn His resurrection, in that He is powerful.

Theotokion: Cease not to make supplications for us, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos, for thou art the confirmation of the faithful. With trust in thee are we made mighty, and we glorify thee and Him Who ineffably became incarnate of thee.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Grant me a robe of light….

O Theotokos, we, the faithful, declare thee the temple and ark of God, the animate bridal-chamber and the gate of heaven.

Thine Offspring, the Destroyer of the temples of the idols, is worshipped as God with the Father and the Spirit, O Mary Bride of God. O Theotokos, the Word of God hath shown thee to mortals as a heavenly ladder; for through thee hath He descended unto us.

Kontakion, in Tone VIII—

Arising from the grave, Thou didst raise up the dead and resurrect Adam. Eve danceth at Thy resurrection, and the ends of the world celebrate Thine ar1smg from the dead, O greatly Merciful One.

Ikos: O my long-suffering Savior, Bestower of life Who lovest mankind, Who captured the kingdoms of hades and raised up the dead, Thou didst greet the myrrh-bearing women, offering them joy instead of grief, didst proclaim signs of victory to Thine apostles, and dost enlighten creation. Wherefore, the world rejoiceth at Thine arising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One.

Ode VII

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fire stood in awe of the condescension of God; wherefore, the youths, dancing with joyous step in the furnace, as in a meadow, chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Thy glorious abasement, the divine riches of Thy poverty, O Christ, amaze the angels who behold Thee nailed to the Cross to save those who cry out with faith: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

By Thy divine descent Thou didst fill the nether regions with light, and darkness which before reigned as tyrant was driven away. Wherefore, those held prisoner from ages past arose, crying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

Triadicon: Theologizing in Orthodox manner concerning Thee, we declare Thee unto all as the Lord, the only Father of the only-begotten Son, acknowledging that from Thee proceedeth the one upright Spirit, Who is of the same nature and is equally eternal.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the youths…

Fulfilling the prophecies, O God, Thou hast wrought salvation in the midst of the world; for having been lifted up upon the Tree, Thou didst summon all who cry out with faith: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Rising from the tomb as from sleep, O Compassionate One, Thou didst deliver all from corruption; and creation is assured by the apostles who preach Thine arising, saying: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Theotokion: At the good pleasure of the Father and the Spirit, the Word Who is equal in activity and power to the Father taketh form in the Virgin’s womb. O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the youths who had come forth from Judæa….

Thou didst appear incarnate of the Virgin’s womb for our salvation; wherefore, acknowledging Thy Mother as the Theotokos in Orthodox manner, we cry out: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

O Virgin, from the root of Jesse thou didst cause the Rod to spring forth, bearing the Fruit of salvation for those who chant with faith unto thy Son: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Through the Theotokos, O hypostatic Wisdom of the Most High, with wisdom and divine power fill all who chant to thee with faith: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Ode VIII

Canon of the Resurrection

Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

The all-divine power of the divinity of Jesus shone forth divinely within us; for, having in the flesh tasted death on the Cross for all, He destroyed the might of hades. Him do ye unceasingly bless, O children! Ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

The Crucified hath arisen! The braggart hath fallen! He who fell and was broken hath been set aright! Corruption hath been cast away, and incorruption hath blossomed forth! For death is swallowed up by Life. Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Triadicon: The thrice-radiant Godhead which shineth forth the one Ray from Its one nature in three Hypostases—the unoriginate Father, the Word, Who shareth the Father’s essence, and the equally reigning Spirit Who is one in essence with Them—ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: Becoming vanquishers of the tyrant…

Him Who stretched forth His hands unto me who am naked, and Who calleth me to warm myself through His noble nakedness, do ye bless, all ye works of the Lord! Exalt Him supremely forever!

All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord Who hath raised me up, the fallen one, from the uttermost depths of hades and honored me with the glory of the Father’s high throne; and exalt Him supremely forever!

Theotokion: Thou wast shown to be the daughter of fallen Adam, O Virgin, and the Mother of God Who hath restored my essence. Him do all of us, His works, hymn as Lord and exalt for all ages.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: The King of heaven, Whom the hosts of angels hymn….

Quench the burning and fiery arrows of the adversary, which are aimed at us, that we may hymn thee for all ages.

Thou didst supernaturally give birth to God the Word, the Creator and Savior, O Virgin; wherefore, we hymn and exalt thee supremely for all ages.

The unapproachable Light which dwelt within thee, O Virgin, hath shown thee forth as a luminous golden lamp 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: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Being simple in Thy divine and beginningless nature, Thou didst render Thyself compound by taking on flesh, subsuming it within Thyself, O Word of God; and having suffered as a man, as God Thou didst remain beyond suffering. Wherefore, we magnify Thee in two natures, indivisible and unconfused.

O Most High, Who becamest man by nature while of the divine nature of God the Father, coming down to Thy servants Thou didst tell them of God; and having risen from the tomb, Thou didst endow mortals with the grace of the Father Who is by nature God and Master, and with Whom we all magnify Thee.

Theotokion: In manner transcending nature, O Virgin Mother of God, thou wast shown to be her who gave birth in the flesh unto God the Word, Whom the Father begot from His heart before time began, in that He is good, and Whom we now understand as transcending the human body, even though He clothed Himself in a body.

Canon of the Cross & Resurrection

Irmos: Every ear trembleth to hear…

We know Thee as the Son of God by nature, Who was conceived in the womb of the Mother of God and becamest man for the sake of man; and beholding Thee suffering on the Cross in Thy human nature, we magnify Thee Who as God remainest dispassionate.

Sullen darkness hath been destroyed, for Christ, the Sun of righteousness, the heavenly Man and earthly God, hath shone forth from hades, enlightening all the ends of the earth, illumining all with the light of His divinity. Him do we magnify in two natures.

Theotokion: Draw Thy bow, and proceed prosperously, and be King, O Son of the Mother of God, subduing the Moslems who war against us, and granting the Cross as a spear, an invincible weapon, unto those who have recourse unto Thee.

Canon of the Theotokos

Irmos: Saved by thee, O pure Virgin….

Thy memorial is full of joy and gladness, pouring forth healings upon those who approach and piously declare thee to be the Theotokos.

We hymn thee with psalms, O thou who art full of grace, and we continually offer thee “Rejoice!”; for thou hast poured forth joy upon all.

Thy beautiful Fruit hath sprung forth, O Theotokos, resulting not in corruption for those who taste thereof, but in life for those who magnify thee with faith.

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 VIII—

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

O Lord, though Thou didst stand forth before the tribunal, to be judged of Pilate, yet didst Thou not cease to sit on the throne with the Father. And having risen from the dead, Thou didst free the world from slavery to the alien, in that Thou art compassionate and lovest mankind.

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

O Lord, Thou hast given us Thy Cross as a weapon against the devil; for he trembleth and quaketh, unable to bear the sight of its power; for it raiseth the dead and hath abolished death. Wherefore, we bow down before Thy burial and arising.

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

O Lord, though the Jews placed Thee in a tomb as one dead, yet did the soldiers watch over Thee as a sleeping king, and like a treasure of life they sealed it with a seal. But Thou didst arise and gavest incorruption to our souls.

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

Thine angel who proclaimed the resurrection, O Lord, frightened the guards and declared to the women, saying: “Why seek ye the Living among the dead? He Who is God hath risen and granted life to the whole world!”

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

O Thou Who art dispassionate in Thy divinity, Thou didst suffer on the Cross and accept burial on the third day, that Thou mightest free us from slavery to the enemy, and, having made us immortal, Thou givest us life by Thy resurrection, O Christ God Who lovest mankind.

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

I worship, glorify and hymn Thy resurrection from the grave, O Christ, whereby Thou didst free us from the indissoluble bonds of hades, and, as God, didst grant the world life everlasting and great mercy.

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

The violators of the law, guarding Thy Life-receiving tomb, then sealed it and set a watch. But as immortal and almighty God, Thou didst rise on the third day.

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

When Thou, O Lord, didst arrive at the gates of hades and break them down, the captive cried out thus: “Who is this Who is not condemned to the uttermost depths of the earth, but hath dissolved the prison of death as it were a shadow? I have seized Him as one dead, and tremble because He is God!” O Almighty, have mercy upon us!

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—

Rising from the tomb, Thou didst break the bonds of hades; and Thou didst lift the condemnation of death, O Lord, delivering all from the snares of the enemy. And having shown Thyself to Thine apostles, Thou didst send them forth to preach, and through them hast given Thy peace unto the whole world, O Thou Who alone art greatly merciful.

And the Dismissal.

Sunday at Divine Liturgy

On the Beatitudes, these troparia, in Tone VIII—

Remember us, O Christ, Thou Savior of the world, as Thou didst remember the thief upon the Cross; and account us all worthy of Thy heavenly kingdom, O Thou Who alone art compassionate.

Hearken, O Adam, and rejoice with Eve; for he who of old stripped you both naked, and by deception hath taken all of us captive, hath been set at naught by the Cross of Christ.

Nailed of Thine own will to the Tree, O our Savior, Thou didst deliver Adam from the curse which came through the tree, and hast restored that which is according to Thine image to a habitation in paradise, in that Thou art compassionate.

Today is Christ risen from the tomb, granting incorruption unto all the faithful; and He reneweth the joy of the myrrh-bearing women after His suffering and resurrection.

Rejoice, O wise myrrh-bearing women, who were first to behold the resurrection of Christ, and who proclaimed to the apostles the glad tidings of the restoration of the whole world!

O ye apostles, who are manifestly the friends of Christ and are to be enthroned with Him in glory: Entreat Him with boldness, that He intercede for us, for ye are His disciples.

Glory…: O unoriginate Trinity, indivisible Essence, Unity equally enthroned, equal in honor and glory, transcendent Nature and Kingship: Save us who praise Thee with faith!

Now & ever…: Theotokion: Rejoice, spacious habitation of God! Rejoice, ark of the new covenant! Rejoice, jar whence the heavenly Manna is given unto all!

Prokimenon, in Tone VIII—

Make your vows and pay them to the Lord our God.

Stichos: In Judæa is God known; His name is great in Israel.

Alleluia, in Tone VIII—

Stichos: Come let us rejoice in the Lord, let us shout with jubilation unto God our Savior.

Stichos: Let us come before His countenance with thanksgiving, and with psalms let us shout in jubilation unto Him.