Ode 5. Irmos

After the small litany the Kontakion

‘I rise for you at dawn, who through compassion without change emptied yourself for the one who had fallen, and impassibly bowed yourself to the Passion, O Word of God. Grant me peace, O Lover of humankind.’

Kontakion. Tone 8.

When their feet had been washed and they had been cleansed by participation in the divine Mystery, O Christ, your servants went with you from Sion up to the great Mount of Olives, singing your praises, O Lover of humankind.

‘See, my friends’, you said, ‘Do not be afraid, for now the hour is near for me to be taken and to be slain by the hands of transgressors; while you will all be scattered and leave me; whom I shall gather to proclaim me the Lover of humankind.

I rise for you at dawn, who through compassion without change emptied yourself for the one who had fallen, and impassibly bowed yourself to the Passion, O Word of God. Grant me peace, Lover of mankind.

Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord. ****

Lord, have mercy. ****

Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by your grace. ****

Lord, have mercy. ****

Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God. ****

To you, O Lord. ****

For you are the King of peace and the Saviour of our souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to the ages of ages. ****

Come, let us all praise him who was crucified for us; for Mary looked upon him on the Tree and said: ‘Though you endure the Cross, yet you are My Son and my God.’

As she saw her own Lamb being dragged to slaughter Mary, the Ewe-lamb, worn out with grief, followed with other women, crying out, ‘Where are you going, my child? For whose sake are you completing the course so fast? Is there once again another wedding in Cana? And are you hurrying there now to make wine for them from water? Should I go with you, my child, or rather wait for you? Give me a word, O Word; do not pass me by in silence, you who kept me pure, My Son and my God.’

The Menologion of the day and then the following notice:

On holy and great Friday we remember the holy, saving and dread Sufferings of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ: the spittings, the blows, the buffetings, the outrages, the mockings, the purple cloak, the reed, the sponge, the vinegar, the nails, the lance and above all the Cross and death, which he accepted willingly for our sake; but also the saving confession on the cross of the Good Thief, crucified with him.

Verses on the Crucifixion

You are the living God, slain on a Tree,

O naked corpse, and Word of living God. ****

Verses on the Good Thief

Eden’s locked gates the Thief has opened wide,

By putting in the key, ‘Remember me’.

In your ineffable and all unbounded compassion, Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.