SUNG ON TUESDAY EVENING BY ANTICIPATION
Preparation
The priest vests in exorasson and epitrachelion
Standing before the holy table facing east, the priest makes three metanias, saying each time:
Priest: O God, be gracious unto me, a sinner, and have mercy on me.
The Blessing
The priest opens the curtains and holy doors, then blessing himself, he says in a loud voice:
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
Priest: Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.
O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.
The reader or the deacon, standing at the reader's stand, says:
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (12 times)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King. (metania)
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. (metania)
O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (metania)
The Royal Psalms
The priest then takes up the small hand censer and does the great censing. The reader intones the following two psalms.
Psalm 19
MAY the Lord hear thee in the day of tribulation: may the name of the God of Jacob protect thee. May he send thee help from the sanctuary: and defend thee out of Zion. May he be mindful of all thy sacrifices: and may thy whole burnt offering be made fat. May he give thee according to thine own heart; and confirm all thy counsels. We will rejoice in thy salvation; and in the name of our God we shall be exalted. The Lord fulfill all thy petitions: now have I known that the Lord hath saved his anointed. He will hear him from his holy heaven: the salvation of his right hand is in powers. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will call upon the name of the Lord our God. They are bound, and have fallen, but we are risen, and are set upright. O Lord, save the king: and hear us in the day that we shall call upon thee.
Psalm 20
IN thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly. Thou hast given him his heart's desire: and hast not withholden from him the will of his lips. For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones. He asked life of thee: and thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt thou lay upon him. For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever: thou shalt make him joyful in gladness with thy countenance. For the king hopeth in the Lord: and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. Let thy right hand be found by all thy enemies: let thy right hand find out all them that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as an oven of fire, in the time of thy anger: the Lord shall trouble them in his wrath, and fire shall devour them. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth: and their seed from among the children of men. For they have intended evils against thee: they have devised counsels which they have not been able to establish. For thou shalt make them turn their back: in thy remnants thou shalt prepare their face. Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy own strength: we will sing and praise thy power.
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen
Priest: All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name's sake.
Reader: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
The reader or deacon continues by saying the following troparion, kontakion and theotokion.
Reader: O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance, granting to thy people victory over all adversaries, and by thy Cross, preserving thine estate.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Do thou, who of thine own good will wast lifted up upon the Cross, O Christ our God, bestow thy bounties upon the new Nation which is called by thy Name; make glad in thy might those who lawfully govern, that with them we may be led to victory over our adversaries, having in thine aid a weapon of peace and a trophy invincible.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Champion dread, who canst not be put to confusion, despise not our petitions, O good and all-praised Theotokos; establish the way of the Orthodox; save those who have been called upon to govern us, leading us all to that victory which is from heaven, for thou art she who gavest birth to God and alone art blessed.
The Ektenia
The priest, standing before the holy table facing east, censes and intones the petitions of the following ektenia.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great goodness, we pray thee: hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Standing at the south side of the holy table and censing, the priest says:
Priest: Again we pray for all pious and Orthodox Christians.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Standing at the east side of the holy table and censing, the priest says:
Priest: Again we pray for our father and Metropolitan, N., (our Bishop, N.,) and all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Standing at the north side of the holy table, the priest censes the holy table and then the prothesis while he says:
Priest: For thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory: to Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen. Bless, Father, in the Name of the Lord.
Standing before the holy table facing east, the priest makes the sign of the cross over the gospel book with the censer, saying:
Priest: Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving and undivided Trinity, always; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
The priest gives away the censer.
Reader: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. (thrice)
O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise. (twice)
The Six Psalms
The reader continues by reading the Six Psalms, while the priest says the twelve Orthros prayers .
Psalm 3
LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
Psalm 37
O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it is also gone from me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. They also that seek after my life lay snares for me, and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. But I, as a deaf man, heard not, and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
Psalm 62
O GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. But those that seek after my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. I meditate on thee in the night watches: Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (thrice)
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Psalm 87
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; for my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me: thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise thee? Shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave? Or thy faithfulness in destruction? Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer come before thee. Lord, why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest thou thy face from me? I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me: thy terrors have cut me off. They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry.
Psalm 102
BLESS the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: Bless the Lord, O my soul. In all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.
Psalm 142
HEAR my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Hear me speedily, O Lord, my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk: for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will: for thou art my God: thy spirit is good: lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake. For thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
O Lord, give ear to my supplications: and enter not into judgment with thy servant.
O Lord, give ear to my suppulations: and enter not into judgment with thy servant.
Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (thrice)
O Lord our hope, glory to thee.
The Litany Of Peace
When the reader has completed the Six Psalms, the deacon intones the petitions of the litany of peace.
The Litany of Peace
Deacon: In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. ( after every petition ) Deacon: For the peace from above and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy churches of God, and the union of all, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For this holy house and those who with faith, reverence and fear of God enter therein, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our father and metropolitan, N., (our bishop, N.), the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our country, its president (or appropriate head of state), civil authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For this city and every city and countryside and the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For healthful seasons, abundance of the fruits of the earth and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For travelers by sea, by land and by air, the sick, the suffering, the captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: For unto thee are due all glory, honor and worship to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Alleluia Verses
(Tone 8)
Chanter: My spirit seeks thee early in the nightwatches, for thy commandments are a light on the earth.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Learn righteousness, ye that dwell upon the earth.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Zeal shall seize upon an untaught people, and now, fire shall devour the adversaries.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Bring more evils upon them, O Lord, bring more evils upon those who are glorious upon earth.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Troparion
(Tone 8)
Priest: Behold, the Bridegroom cometh at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom he shall find awake. But he whom he shall find neglectful is verily unworthy. Behold, therefore, my soul, beware, lest thou fallest into deep slumber, and the door of the kingdom be closed against thee, and thou be delivered to death. But be thou wakeful, crying, Holy! Holy! Holy! art thou, O God. Through the intercessions of the incorporeals, have mercy on us. ( thrice with different endings )
Second Ending:
Chanter: As above with this ending: + Through the intercessions of ( the Patron Saint of the Parish ), have mercy on us.
Third Ending:
Chanter: As above with this ending: + Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
The Little Litany
The deacon then intones the little litany.
Deacon: Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: For thine is the might, and thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
The priest puts on the phelonion.
Kathismata
(Tone 3)
Chanters: The harlot came to Thee, O only Friend of man, * and on Thy feet poured out myrrh mingled with her tears * and was set free at Thy command from all the stench of her sinning. * But, though breathing of Thy grace, * Thy disciple and thankless foe, * casting it away from him, * was instead mingled with the mire * and sold Thee in his blind love of money. * O Christ, glory be to Thy compassion.
(Tone 4) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
The treacherous Judas, stirred with love of money within, * most craftily mediated the betrayal of Thee, the Treasure of Life, O Lord. * Wherefore, drunk with madness, to the Jews he now runneth; * and to those transgressors, he saith: What will ye give me, * and I will hand him over to you, that he be crucified?
(Tone 1) both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
While sighing from the depths with unquenchable fervor, * the harlot warmly wept, O Compassionate Savior, * and wiping Thy spotless feet with the hairs of her head, she cried: * Drive me not away, my God, nor hate and abhor me, * but receive me now in my repentance, and save me, * O Lord, only Friend of man.
The Orthros Gospel
The deacon faces the people, lifts his orarion, and says:
Deacon: And that we may be accounted worthy to hear the holy gospel, let us pray to the Lord our God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Deacon: Wisdom. Attend. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
The priest turns to face the people and blesses them, saying:
Priest: Peace be to all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John.
Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord. Glory to thee.
Deacon: Let us attend.
The priest reads the gospel from the holy doors.
(St. John12:17-50) At that time, the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing; look, the world has gone after him.”
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify thy name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show by what death he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said this, he departed and hid himself from them.
Though he had done so many signs before them, yet they did not believe in him; it was that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore, they could not believe. For Isaiah again said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.” Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke of him.
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me.”
Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord. Glory to thee.
Psalm 50
Reader: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged. For behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sins did my mother conceive me. For behold, thou hast loved truth: the unclear and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made clear to me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness: the bones which thou hast broken shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation: and steady me with a guiding spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways: and the impious shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For hadst thou desired sacrifice, I would have given it thee: thou delightest not in burnt offerings. Sacrifices to God are a contrite spirit: a contrite and humble heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good, O Lord, in thy good will unto Zion: that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offerings: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Canon With Three Odes For Holy Wednesday In Tone Two
Upon the rock of faith hast Thou now confirmed me; * Thou hast enlarged my mouth o’er mine adversaries; * my spirit hath rejoiced mightily in chanting: * There is none holy as our most holy God, * and there is none righteous but Thee, O Lord Most High.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Without a cause, in malice the whole Sanhedrin * of lawless men, O Christ, hath gathered together * to brand Thee, the Redeemer, as a condemned man: * To Whom we chant aloud: Thou art our God, O Christ, * and there is none holy but Thee, O Lord Most High.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
With crafty soul that fighteth with God, the council * of lawless men considereth how to slay Christ * as troublesome, though He is the Just and Righteous, * to Whom we chant aloud: Thou art our God, O Christ, * and there is none holy but Thee, O Lord Most High.
Upon the rock of faith hast Thou now confirmed me; * Thou hast enlarged my mouth o’er mine adversaries; * my spirit hath rejoiced mightily in chanting: * There is none holy as our most holy God, * and there is none righteous but Thee, O Lord Most High.
Kontakion
Reader: Though I have transgressed more than the harlot, O Good One, I have in no wise brought forth streams of tears for Thee; but in silence, I supplicate Thee and fall down before Thee, kissing Thine immaculate feet with love, so that, as Master that Thou art, Thou mayest grant me the forgiveness of debts, as I cry to Thee, O Saviour: From the mire of my deeds do Thou deliver me.
Oikos
Reader: She that was a prodigal woman not long before, was suddenly seen to be chaste, hating the works of shameful sin and the pleasures of the body; for she reflected on the magnitude of the shame and the judgment of torment that harlots and prodigals must suffer, of whom I am chief, and I quail with fear; yet, fool that I am, I persist in my foul habits. But the harlot woman, both fearing and hastening quickly, came to the Redeemer crying out: O Friend of man and Compassionate, from the mire of my deeds do Thou deliver me.
Synaxarion
Reader: On Holy and Great Wednesday, the most divine Fathers have ordained that commemoration be made of the Lord’s anointing with myrrh by the woman who was a harlot; for this took place shortly before the saving Passion.
This woman, in pouring out myrrh upon Christ’s body, anticipateth Nicodemus’ myrrh and aloes.
The more accurate and exacting of the commentators on the four Gospels say that two women anointed the Lord, one long before His Passion, and one a few days before. One of these was a harlot, while the other was a chaste, virtuous woman. On this day, the Church commemorates this act of piety and righteousness that proceeded from the harlot, contrasting it with the treachery of Judas and his betrayal of Christ. Both of these acts fell on Wednesday, two days before the Mosaic Passover, as it appears from the course of the account of St. Matthew the Evangelist. The above-mentioned harlot anointed the head and feet of Jesus with spikenard, and wiped them with the hair of her head. The precious ointment was worth 300 denars, or about 15 pieces of Venetian gold. When the Disciples saw this, they stumbled, especially Judas the money-lover, and were angry because of the wasting of such an amount of ointment. Jesus rebuked them, lest the woman be embarrassed. Judas was wroth, and went to the high priests, where they gathered in the house of Caiaphas, taking counsel against Jesus, and agreed with them to deliver the Master for 30 pieces of silver. From that time, Judas sought an opportunity to deliver Him. Because of this the fast of Wednesday was instituted from the days of the Apostolic age itself.
Wherefore, O Christ our God, anointed with the noetic ointment, deliver us from suffering, and have mercy upon us. Amen.
Canon With Three Odes For Holy Wednesday In Tone Two
(Tone 2)
8th Ode
Chanter: When the decree of the tyrant prevailed of old, * then was the furnace fired up seven times more than was wont, * wherein the Three Children were not burnt, * as they trampled upon the king’s edict, * and they cried out: * O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord and sing His praises, * and supremely exalt Him unto all the ages.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
After the woman had poured out the precious myrrh * on Thy divine and terrible and dominical head, * O Christ, with her stained and sullied hands * Thine immaculate feet she laid hold of * and she cried out: * O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord and sing His praises, * and supremely exalt Him unto all the ages.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Guilty of sins, with her tears she doth wash the feet * of the Creator, wiping them with the hair of her head, * and so failed not of deliverance * from all things she had wrought in her lifetime, * but she cried out: * O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord and sing His praises, * and supremely exalt Him unto all the ages.
We bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The grateful woman’s full ransom was sacredly * wrought by God’s saving mercy and by her fountain of tears, * wherein she was no wise put to shame * but completely cleansed by her confession, * and she cried out: * O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord and sing His praises, * and supremely exalt Him unto all the ages.
We praise, bless, and worship the Lord.
When the decree of the tyrant prevailed of old, * then was the furnace fired up seven times more than was wont,* wherein the Three Children were not burnt, * as they trampled upon the king’s edict, * and they cried out: * O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord and sing His praises, * and supremely exalt Him unto all the ages.
The Ninth Ode
At the conclusion of the 8th ode, the deacon stands in the holy doors, faces the congregation or the icon of the Theotokos on the iconostasis, lifts his orarion and says:
Deacon: The Theotokos and Mother of the Light, let us honor and magnify in song.
While the choir chants the ninth ode, the deacon asks the blessing of the priest upon the incense and does the great censing - exiting the sanctuary through the north door and entering through the south door.
Choir: With souls clear and pure, and with unstained and spotless lips, * come ye, let us magnify the all-immaculate * and transcendently pure Mother of Emmanuel, * as through her we make appeal * to Him that of her womb was begotten: * Spare our souls, O Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us, O Lord.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Ungrateful and envious with guile and craftiness, * baneful Judas maketh reck’ning of the gift of God, * through which gift a debt of sins was wholly done away, * and he maketh merchandise * of God’s gift of love so freely given. * Spare our souls, O Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us, O Lord.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Gone forth to the lawless rulers, saying unto them: * What will ye now give me and I shall deliver Christ, * Whom ye seek, to you that want Him? Judas thrust away * intimacy with Christ, * exchanging God for gold in his blindness. * Spare our souls, O Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us, O Lord.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
What avarice blinded thee, foe most implacable! * Whereby thou forgottest what thou hadst been taught before, * that the whole world is not equal to the soul in worth. * For thou fast didst bind thyself * to despair and thou didst hang thyself, O traitor. * Spare our souls, O Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us, O Lord.
With souls clear and pure, and with unstained and spotless lips, * come ye, let us magnify the all-immaculate * and transcendently pure Mother of Emmanuel, * as through her we make appeal * to Him that of her womb was begotten: * Spare our souls, O Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us, O Lord.
Little Litany
Deacon: Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Deacon: Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God. Choir: To thee, O Lord. Priest: For all the powers of heaven praise thee, and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Exaposteilarion
(Tone 3; special melody)
Chanters: I behold thy bridal chamber richly adorned, O my Saviour; but I have no wedding garment to worthily enter. Make radiant the garment of my soul, O Giver of Light, and save me. (thrice)
Praises for Holy Wednesday
(Tone 1)
Choir: Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights. To thee, O God, is due our song.
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. To thee, O God, is due our song.
Verse 1 Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Thee, the Son of the Virgin, did the harlot recognize as God; and imploring Thee with weeping, since she had done things worthy of tears, she said: Loose my debt, as I unloose my tresses; love her who kisseth Thee, and is justly hated. And together with publicans, I will proclaim Thee, O Benefactor and Friend of man.
Verse 2 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp..
The harlot mingled the very precious myrrh with her tears, and she poured it out on Thine immaculate feet, as she tenderly kissed them. Even as Thou didst justify her at once, grant us forgiveness also, O Thou Who didst suffer for us, and do Thou save us.
Verse 3 . Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.
While the sinful woman was offering myrrh, then was the disciple making terms with the lawless. She rejoiced in emptying out that which was of great price, and he made haste to sell Him that is beyond price. She recognized the Master; he severed himself from the Master. She was set free, and Judas became a slave of the enemy. Fearful is heedlessness! Great is repentance! Which do Thou grant unto me, O Savior, Who didst suffer for us, and do Thou save us.
Verse 4 . Praise Him upon the loud cymbals; praise Him upon the high-sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
O the wretchedness of Judas! He beheld the harlot kissing Thy feet, and he treacherously meditated the kiss of betrayal. She let loose her tresses, and he bound himself with wrath, bearing instead of myrrh, his stinking wickedness; for envy knoweth not even to prefer its own profit. O the wretchedness of Judas! From which, O God, do Thou deliver our souls.
(Tone 2) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
The sinful woman ran to purchase myrrh, very precious myrrh, to anoint the Benefactor. To the seller of myrrh she cried: Give me myrrh, that I may also anoint Him Who hath wiped away all my sins.
(Tone 6) Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
She that was engulfed in sin found Thee, the Haven of Salvation; and pouring out myrrh with her tears, she cried to Thee: Behold Him that beareth the repentance of them that sin. But, O Master, rescue me from the swelling tempest of sin, for Thy great mercy’s sake.
The Little Doxology
Reader: Thine is the glory, O Lord our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will among men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory.
O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.
For thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, O Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy Name forever; yea, forever and ever.
Lord, thou hast been our refuge in all generations. I said: Lord, be merciful unto me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.
Lord, I have fled unto thee: teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God.
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
O continue thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified be thy name forever. Amen.
Let thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we have set our hope in thee.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me thy statutes.
Blessed art thou, O Master, make me to understand thy commandments.
Blessed art thou, O Holy One, enlighten me with thy precepts.
Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever; O despise not the works of thy hands.
To thee belongeth worship, to thee belongeth praise, to thee belongeth glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Litany Of Supplication
Standing at his place before the holy doors, the deacon intones the petitions of the litany of supplication.
Deacon: Let us complete our morning prayer unto the Lord.
The choir responds Lord, have mercy to the first two petitions.
Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
The choir responds Grant this, O Lord to this and the remaining petitions.
An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.
All things good and profitable for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful, and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.
Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To thee, O Lord.
Priest: For thou art the God of mercies and of bounties, and of love toward mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
The priest turns to the west and blesses the people with his right hand, saying:
Priest: Peace be to all. Choir: And to thy spirit.
Bowing to the icon of Christ, the deacon says:
Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord. Choir: To thee, O Lord.
PRAYER AT THE BOWING OF THE HEADS
Facing east and bowing low before the holy table, the priest says:
Priest: O holy Lord, who dwellest on high and regardest the humble of heart, and with thine all-seeing eye dost behold all creation, unto thee have we bowed the neck of our soul and body, and we entreat thee: O Holy of holies, stretch forth thine invisible hand from thy holy dwelling-place, and bless us all. And if in aught we have sinned, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, forgive, inasmuch as thou art a good God, and lovest mankind, vouchsafing unto us thy earthly and heavenly good things.
For thine it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
The Aposticha
(Tone 6)
Chanter: Today, Christ is present in the house of the Pharisee; and a sinful woman approached Him and fell at His feet, crying: Look upon her who is engulfed in sin, and in despair because of her deeds, and yet not abhorred by Thy goodness. Grant even me, O Lord, the remission of mine evil deeds; and save me.
Stichos: (Verse 1) We were filled in the morning with thy mercy, O Lord, and we rejoiced and were glad.
The harlot spread out her hair before Thee, the Master; Judas spread out his hands to the iniquitous. She, to receive forgiveness; he, to receive the silver. Wherefore, we cry to Thee, Who wast sold and hast made us free: O Lord, glory be to Thee.
(Verse 2) In all our days, let us be glad: for the days wherein thou hast humbled us, for the years wherein we have seen evil. And look upon thy servants, and upon thy works, and do thou guide their sons.
A woman, foul-smelling and covered with mire, drew nigh, O Savior, and poured out tears upon Thy feet, proclaiming Thy Passion. How can I gaze upon Thee, the Master? Yet Thou Thyself art come to save the harlot. Out of this abyss do Thou raise me who am dying, O Thou Who didst rouse Lazarus from the tomb after four days. Receive me, hapless as I am, O Lord, and save me.
(Verse 3) 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 works of our hands do Thou guide aright.
She that was in despair because of her life, and was known for her ways, held the myrrh as she drew nigh to Thee, and she cried: Cast me, the harlot, not away, O Thou Who wast born of a Virgin. Disregard not my tears, O Thou Joy of the angels; but receive me, the repentant, Thou Who didst not reject me, the sinner, O Lord, for Thy great mercy’s sake.
(Tone 8) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins perceived Thy divinity, and taking upon herself the duty of a myrrh-bearer, with lamentation she bringeth Thee myrrh-oils before Thine entombment. Woe unto me! saith she, for night is become for me a frenzy of licentiousness, a dark and moonless love of sin. Receive the fountains of my tears, O Thou Who dost gather into clouds the water of the sea. Incline unto me, unto the sighings of my heart, O Thou Who didst bow the Heavens by Thine ineffable condescension. I will kiss Thine immaculate feet, and wipe them again with the tresses of my head; those feet, at whose sound Eve hid herself for fear when she heard Thee walking in Paradise in the cool of the day. As for the multitude of my sins and the abyss of Thy judgments, who can search them out, O Savior of souls, my Savior? Do not disdain me, Thy handmaiden, O Thou Who art boundless in mercy.
Priest: It is a good thing to confess unto the Lord, to sing praises to thy name, O Most High, to show forth thy mercy in the morning and thy truth by night.
The Trisagion Prayers
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Kontakion
Reader: Though I have transgressed more than the harlot, O Good One, I have in no wise brought forth streams of tears for Thee; but in silence, I supplicate Thee and fall down before Thee, kissing Thine immaculate feet with love, so that, as Master that Thou art, Thou mayest grant me the forgiveness of debts, as I cry to Thee, O Savior: From the mire of my deeds do Thou deliver me.
Reader: Lord, have mercy. (40 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without stain bearest God the Word and art truly Theotokos: We magnify thee.
Priest: Bless, Father, in the name of the Lord.
Christ our God, the Existing One, is blessed, always; now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
O Heavenly King, strengthen our civil authorities, establish the Faith, pacify the nations, give peace to the world, protect this city, place our departed fathers and brethren in the dwellings of the just, and of thy goodness and mercy, receive us also who come to thee with penitence and thanksgiving.
Prayer Of St. Ephraim The Syrian
Priest: O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power and idle talk. (prostration)
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant. (prostration)
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen. (prostration)
Prayers Before The Holy Doors
The priest, standing in the holy doors, bows toward the icon of Christ on the iconostasis, saying:
Priest: Glory to thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to thee.
Choir: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (thrice) Father, bless.
The Little Dismissal
Standing in the holy doors, facing the people, the priest says the little dismissal.
Priest: May He who is going to his voluntary passion for our salvation, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of his all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the protection of the honorable bodiless powers of heaven; of N. (patron saint of the church); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; and of all the Saints: have mercy on us and save us forasmuch as he is good and loveth mankind.
Then facing the icon of Christ on the iconostasis, the priest says:
Choir: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Reader: Amen.
The people come forward to venerate the icon of the Bridegroom (Nymphios).