ODE 9

NOW THE EXAPOSTILARION (Svetilen) IN THE TONE OF THE WEEK, AND WE CONTINUE WITH THE REST OF MATINS, AS

Irmos: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining

the ways of the sinners and strive to regain the grace of Christ through prayer

THE REFRAINS ARE SUNG AFTER EACH

Theotokion: Protect this, thy habitation, O Most-pure Mother of God, for through thee she reigns in faith, by thee she is made strong, by thee she is made victorious defeating every trial and temptation, despoiling every enemy and ruling over her obedient servants. Venerable Father Andrew, pray to God for us. To Saint Andrew: O Venerable and Thrice-blessèd Father Andrew, the shepherd of Crete; cease not to offer thy prayers for us who sing thy praises; that we may be delivered from every danger and affliction, from corruption and sin, who honor thy memory with faith. Katavasia, Irmos 9: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages

pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Irmos: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining

Little Litany and the Exclamation: For all the Powers of heaven praise Thee and to Thee do we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

THE REFRAINS ARE SUNG AFTER EACH

My mind is wounded, my body is feeble, my spirit is sick, my speech has lost its power, my life is ebbing, and the end is at the door. What shalt thou do, O miserable soul, when the Judge comes to examine thy deeds? I have reviewed for thee, O my soul, Moses’ account of the creation of the world, and then all of the canonical Scripture that tells the story of both the righteous and the wicked. But thou, my soul, hast followed the ways of the wicked and hast sinned against God.

Irmos: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining

The Law is grown weak, the Gospel unpracticed, and the whole of

Irmos: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining

Scripture is ignored by thee; the Prophets fail and the words of the righteous are useless. Thy wounds, O soul, have multiplied, and there is no physician to heal thee. I will now show thee, O my soul, examples from the New Testament, to lead thee to repentance. Follow the example of the righteous and avoid following

Katavasia, Irmos 9: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God.

and fasting, purity and reverence. Christ became man, calling thieves and harlots to repentance. Repent then, O my soul! For the doors of the Kingdom are already opened and the Publicans and penitent Pharisees and adulterers pass through before thee. Christ became man by assuming my flesh and He willingly experienced all that belongs to our nature apart from our sin. Thus, He set before thee, O my soul, an example and image of His own condescension. Christ saved the Magi, called the Shepherds, transformed a host of infants into Martyrs and glorified the Elders and the aged Widows, whose lives and deeds thou hast chosen to ignore, O my soul. But woe unto thee when the time of thy Judgement comes!

Irmos: Saved through thee, O Pure Virgin we confess thee to be truly Theotokos,

When the Lord had fasted for forty days in the wilderness, He became hungry thus showing us His human nature. Do not be dismayed, O my soul, and when the enemy attacks thee, drive him away through prayer and fasting. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. To the Trinity: Let us glorify the Father, let us exalt the Son and with faith let us worship the Divine and Holy Spirit, the Trinity undivided, Unity in Essence; Light of Lights, Life and Lives, giving light and life to the ends of the earth. Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: Protect this, thy habitation, O Most-pure Mother of God, for through thee she reigns in faith, by thee she is made strong, by thee she is made

Irmos: With all generations we magnify thee, Mediatrix between heaven and

victorious defeating every trial and temptation, despoiling every enemy and ruling over her obedient servants. Venerable Father Andrew, pray to God for us. To Saint Andrew: O Venerable and Thrice-blessèd Father Andrew, the shepherd of Crete; cease not to offer thy prayers for us who sing thy praises; that we may be delivered from every danger and affliction, from corruption and sin, who honor thy memory with faith. Katavasia, Irmos 9: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God.

Irmos: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining

NOW THE READER CONTINUES WITH PSALM 4 AND THE REST OF THE GRAND COMPLINE FOLLOWS.

ON TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT DURING THE GRAND COMPLINE, WE BEGIN THE SECOND

SECTION OF THE GREAT CANON AFTER THE READING OF PSALM 69 (70).

TROPARION. AT EACH REFRAIN WE MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS AND A FULL PROSTRATION.

pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Christ suffered temptation, being tempted by the devil, who showed Him stones that they might be made into bread; and he led Him up into a mountain to see in an instant, all the kingdoms of the world. Be careful, O my soul, when thou art tempted; be watchful and pray every hour to Christ our God.

The Forerunner of God, the Dove of the desert, the Lamp of Christ, the

voice of one crying in the wilderness, was heard preaching repentance while Herod was lying in sin with Herodias. Be careful, O my soul, that thou art not trapped in the snares of the wicked, but rather, embrace repentance.

The Forerunner of Grace went to dwell in the wilderness, and all of Judea

and Samaria ran to hear him; they confessed all their sins and eagerly they were baptized. But thou, O my soul, hast not imitated them. Marriage is an honorable estate, and the marriage bed is undefiled, for Christ blessed both: by eating at the wedding feast in Cana and by turning the water into wine thus revealing His first miracle, so that thou, O my soul, might be transformed. Christ cured the paralytic who then took up his bed; He raised from the dead the widow’s son and the Centurion’s servant; He appeared to the Samaritan woman and taught thee, O my soul, how to worship in the spirit. By the touch of the hem of His garment the Lord healed the woman with

the issue of blood; He cleansed the lepers, gave sight to the blind and made the

lame to walk; with His word He cured the deaf and the dumb and the woman who was bent to the ground. He did this, O my wretched soul, so that thou might be saved. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. To the Trinity: Let us glorify the Father, let us exalt the Son and with faith let us worship the Divine and Holy Spirit, the Trinity undivided, Unity in Essence; Light of Lights, Life and Lives, giving light and life to the ends of the earth. Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God.

NOW THE READER CONTINUES WITH PSALM 4 AND THE REST OF THE GRAND COMPLINE FOLLOWS.

ON WEDNESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT DURING THE GRAND COMPLINE, WE BEGIN THE THIRD SECTION OF THE GREAT CANON AFTER THE READING OF PSALM 69 (70). THE REFRAINS ARE SUNG AFTER EACH

TROPARION. AT EACH REFRAIN WE MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS AND A FULL PROSTRATION.

pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Healing sickness, Christ the Word preached the Gospel to the poor, cured

the crippled, ate with publicans, and conversed with the sinners; and with the

touch of His hand, He brought back the departed soul of Jairus’ daughter.

The Publican was saved and the Harlot turned to chastity, but the

Pharisee with his boasting was condemned; for the first cried out, ‘Be merciful unto me’, and the second, ‘Lord, have mercy on me’. But the third said in his vanity, ‘I thank Thee, O God, that I am not like them’, and other words of madness. Zacchaeus was a publican yet he was saved, but Simon the Pharisee went astray, while the Harlot received remission and release from Him Who has the power to forgive all sins. Make haste then, O my soul, to follow her example.

Thou hast not imitated the Harlot, O my wretched soul, who took the alabaster jar of myrrh and with tears anointed the feet of the Savior and wiped them with her hair. For this, He tore up the handwriting of her sins. Thou knowest, O my soul, how the cities to which Christ offered the Gospel were cursed. Fear their example and their punishment, for the Master likened them to Sodom and condemned them all to hell. Do not be overcome with despair, O my soul, for thou hast heard of the faith of the woman of Canaan, and how her daughter was healed by the Word of God. Cry out like her from the depth of thy heart, ‘O Son of David, save me’, as she once cried to Christ. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: Let us glorify the Father, let us exalt the Son and with faith let us worship the Divine and Holy Spirit, the Trinity undivided, Unity in Essence; Light of Lights, Life and Lives, giving light and life to the ends of the earth. Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: Protect this, thy habitation, O Most-pure Mother of God, for through thee she reigns in faith, by thee she is made strong, by thee she is made victorious defeating every trial and temptation, despoiling every enemy and ruling over her obedient servants. Venerable Father Andrew, pray to God for us. To Saint Andrew: O Venerable and Thrice-blessèd Father Andrew, the shepherd of Crete; cease not to offer thy prayers for us who sing thy praises; that we may

be delivered from every danger and affliction, from corruption and sin, who honor thy memory with faith. Katavasia, Irmos 9: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God.

NOW THE READER CONTINUES WITH PSALM 4 AND THE REST OF THE GRAND COMPLINE FOLLOWS.

ON THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT DURING THE GRAND COMPLINE, WE BEGIN THE FOURTH AND

LAST SECTION OF THE GREAT CANON AFTER THE READING OF PSALM 69 (70).

TROPARION. AT EACH REFRAIN WE MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS AND A FULL PROSTRATION.

pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Take pity on me, save me and have mercy on me, O Son of David, Who didst heal the man possessed by demons with Thy Word; and let me hear Thy compassionate voice speak to me as to the Thief: ‘Truly, I say unto thee, thou shalt be with me in Paradise, when I shall come in My glory.’ One thief reviled Thee and the other thief confessed Thy Divinity while each was hanging on his cross. So open even unto me, O Most-compassionate One, the door of Thy glorious Kingdom, as unto Thy believing Thief, who acknowledged Thee as God.

All of creation was in anguish, seeing Thee crucified. The mountains and rocks fell asunder from fear, the earth did quake, hell was laid bare, and the light grew dark in the middle of day, seeing Thee, O Jesus, nailed to the Cross. Do not require of me worthy fruits of repentance, for my strength has failed within me. Rather, grant me an ever-contrite heart and a poor and simple spirit, that I may offer them to Thee as a pleasing sacrifice, O only Savior. O my Judge Who knowest me, look upon me with Thy merciful eye when Thou comest again with the Angels to judge the whole world, and spare me; take pity on me, O Jesus, for I have sinned more than any other. Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

To St Mary of Egypt: Thou didst astonish both the ranks of Angels and the assemblies of men by thy wondrous life, O Mother Mary; for by living in the spirit thou hast surpassed all nature, and like a bodiless Angel, thou didst cross

the River Jordan as if with immaterial feet.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us. To St Mary of Egypt: Intercede with the Creator for us who sing thy praises, O Venerable Mother Mary, that we may be set free from the sufferings and afflictions that assail us from every side, and that being delivered from misfortunes we may unceasingly magnify the Lord Who has glorified thee. Venerable Father Andrew, pray to God for us. To Saint Andrew: O Venerable and Thrice-blessèd Father Andrew, the shepherd of Crete; cease not to offer thy prayers for us who sing thy praises; that we may be delivered from every danger and affliction, from corruption and sin, who honor thy memory with faith. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: Let us glorify the Father, let us exalt the Son and with faith let us worship the Divine and Holy Spirit, the Trinity undivided, Unity in Essence; Light of Lights, Life and Lives, giving light and life to the ends of the earth. Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: Protect this, thy habitation, O Most-pure Mother of God, for through thee she reigns in faith, by thee she is made strong, by thee she is made victorious defeating every trial and temptation, despoiling every enemy and ruling over her obedient servants.

NOW THE READER CONTINUES WITH PSALM 4 AND THE REST OF THE GRAND COMPLINE FOLLOWS.

and with the choirs of Angels we magnify thee. Refrain: Apostles of Christ, pray to God for us.

You were revealed, O Apostles, as fountains of the water of salvation: bring refreshment to my soul that faints from the thirst of sin. I am drowning as I flounder in the deluge of sin: with Thy right hand, O Lord, save me as Thou hast saved Peter. You are the salt that gives savor to the teachings of salvation: dry the rottenness of my mind and dispel the darkness of my ignorance. Most Holy Theotokos, save us. Theotokion: O Lady, thou hast brought forth our Joy: grant me the spirit of mourning that in the coming Day of Judgement I may be comforted by God.

(SECOND CANON)

TONE 8

earth: for in thee, O Virgin, the fullness of the Godhead came to dwell bodily. Refrain: Apostles of Christ, pray to God for us.

We magnify you in our hymns, O glorious company of the Apostles: for you have been revealed as the shining lights of the inhabited earth that cast out error and delusion. O Blessèd Apostles, catching rational men like fish with the net of the Gospel, bring them always as an offering to Christ. In your prayers to God remember us, O Apostles, that we may be delivered from all temptation, who lovingly sing your praises.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. To the Trinity: I sing Thy praises, O Unity in Three Persons, Father, Son and Spirit, One God, Consubstantial Trinity, equal in power and without beginning. Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: With all generations we call thee blessèd, O Mother and Virgin: for through thee we are delivered from the curse, for thou hast borne the Lord our Joy .

NOW WE CONTINUE WITH ODE 9 OF THE GREAT CANON:

pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

1. My mind is wounded, my body is feeble, my spirit is sick, my speech has lost its power, my life is ebbing, and the end is at the door. What shalt thou do, O miserable soul, when the Judge comes to examine thy deeds? 2. I have reviewed for thee, O my soul, Moses’ account of the creation of the world, and then all of the canonical Scripture that tells the story of both the righteous and the wicked. But thou, my soul, hast followed the ways of the wicked and hast sinned against God. 3.

The Law is grown weak, the Gospel unpracticed, and the whole of

Scripture is ignored by thee; the Prophets fail and the words of the righteous are useless. Thy wounds, O soul, have multiplied, and there is no physician to heal thee. 4. I will now show thee, O my soul, examples from the New Testament, to lead thee to repentance. Follow the example of the righteous and avoid following the ways of the sinners and strive to regain the grace of Christ through prayer and fasting, purity and reverence. 5. Christ became man, calling thieves and harlots to repentance. Repent then, O my soul! For the doors of the Kingdom are already opened and

the Publicans and penitent Pharisees and adulterers pass through before thee.

6. Christ became man by assuming my flesh and He willingly experienced all that belongs to our nature apart from our sin. Thus He set before thee, O my soul, an example and image of His own condescension. 7. Christ saved the Magi, called the Shepherds, transformed a host of infants into Martyrs and glorified the Elders and the aged Widows, whose lives and deeds thou hast chosen to ignore, O my soul. But woe unto thee when the time of thy Judgement comes! 8. When the Lord had fasted for forty days in the wilderness He became hungry thus showing us His human nature. Do not be dismayed, O my soul, and when the enemy attacks thee, drive him away through prayer and fasting. 9. Christ suffered temptation, being tempted by the devil, who

showed Him stones that they might be made into bread; and he led Him up into a mountain to see in an instant, all the kingdoms of the world. Be careful, O my soul, when thou art tempted; be watchful and pray every hour to Christ our God. 10.

The Forerunner of God, the Dove of the desert, the Lamp of Christ,

the voice of one crying in the wilderness, was heard preaching repentance while

Herod was lying in sin with Herodias. Be careful, O my soul, that thou art not trapped in the snares of the wicked, but rather, embrace repentance. 11.

The Forerunner of Grace went to dwell in the wilderness, and all of

Judea and Samaria ran to hear him; they confessed all their sins and eagerly they were baptized. But thou, O my soul, hast not imitated them. 12. Marriage is an honorable estate, and the marriage bed is undefiled, for Christ blessed both: by eating at the wedding feast in Cana and by turning

the water into wine thus revealing His first miracle, so that thou, O my soul,

might be transformed. 13. Christ cured the paralytic who then took up his bed; He raised from the dead the widow’s son and the Centurion’s servant; He appeared to the Samaritan woman and taught thee, O my soul, how to worship in the spirit. 14. By the touch of the hem of His garment the Lord healed the woman with the issue of blood; He cleansed the lepers, gave sight to the blind and made

the lame to walk; with His word He cured the deaf and the dumb and the

woman who was bent to the ground. He did this, O my wretched soul, so that thou might be saved. 15. Healing sickness, Christ the Word preached the Gospel to the poor, cured the crippled, ate with publicans, and conversed with the sinners; and with

the touch of His hand, He brought back the departed soul of Jairus’ daughter.

The Publican was saved and the Harlot turned to chastity, but the

Pharisee with his boasting was condemned; for the first cried out, ‘Be merciful unto me’, and the second, ‘Lord, have mercy on me’. But the third said in his 75

vanity, ‘I thank Thee, O God, that I am not like them’, and other words of madness. 17. Zacchaeus was a publican yet he was saved, but Simon the Pharisee went astray, while the Harlot received remission and release from Him Who has

the power to forgive all sins. Make haste then, O my soul, to follow her example.

18. Thou hast not imitated the Harlot, O my wretched soul, who took

the alabaster jar of myrrh and with tears anointed the feet of the Savior and

wiped them with her hair. For this, He tore up the handwriting of her sins. 19. Thou knowest, O my soul, how the cities to which Christ offered

the Gospel were cursed. Fear their example and their punishment, for the Master

likened them to Sodom and condemned them all to hell. 20. Do not be overcome with despair, O my soul, for thou hast heard of

the faith of the woman of Canaan, and how her daughter was healed by the

Word of God. Cry out like her from the depth of thy heart, ‘O Son of David, save me’, as she once cried to Christ. 21. Take pity on me, save me and have mercy on me, O Son of David, Who didst heal the man possessed by demons with Thy Word; and let me hear Thy compassionate voice speak to me as to the Thief: ‘Truly, I say unto thee, thou shalt be with me in Paradise, when I shall come in My glory.’ 22. One thief reviled Thee and the other thief confessed Thy Divinity while each was hanging on his cross. So open even unto me, O Mostcompassionate One, the door of Thy glorious Kingdom, as unto Thy believing Thief, who acknowledged Thee as God. 23. All of creation was in anguish, seeing Thee crucified. The

mountains and rocks fell asunder from fear, the earth did quake, hell was laid bare, and the light grew dark in the middle of day, seeing Thee, O Jesus, nailed to

24. Do not require of me worthy fruits of repentance, for my strength has failed within me. Rather, grant me an ever-contrite heart and a poor and simple spirit, that I may offer them to Thee as a pleasing sacrifice, O only Savior. 25. O my Judge Who knowest me, look upon me with Thy merciful eye when Thou comest again with the Angels to judge the whole world, and spare me; take pity on me, O Jesus, for I have sinned more than any other. Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us. To St Mary of Egypt: Thou didst astonish both the ranks of Angels and the assemblies of men by thy wondrous life, O Mother Mary; for by living in the spirit thou hast surpassed all nature, and like a bodiless Angel, thou didst cross

the River Jordan as if with immaterial feet.

Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us. To St Mary of Egypt: Intercede with the Creator for us who sing thy praises, O Venerable Mother Mary, that we may be set free from the sufferings and afflictions that assail us from every side, and that being delivered from misfortunes we may unceasingly magnify the Lord Who has glorified thee. Venerable Father Andrew, pray to God for us. To Saint Andrew: O Venerable and Thrice-blessèd Father Andrew, the shepherd of Crete; cease not to offer thy prayers for us who sing thy praises; that we may be delivered from every danger and affliction, from corruption and sin, who honor thy memory with faith. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: We sing Thy praises, O Trinity, One in Essence and Unity in Three Persons: we glorify the Father, we magnify the Son and we worship the Spirit — One in Nature truly God, Life and Lives, Kingdom without end. Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: Protect this, thy habitation, O Most-pure Mother of God, for through thee she reigns in faith, by thee she is made strong, by thee she is made victorious defeating every trial and temptation, despoiling every enemy and ruling over her obedient servants. Katavasia, Irmos 9: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God.

USUAL ON A WEEKDAY IN GREAT LENT.