O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth; hearken unto me in Thy righteousness. And enter not into judgement with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath humbled my life down to the earth. He hath sat me in darkness as those that have been long dead, and my spirit within me is become despondent; within me my heart is troubled. I remembered days of old, I meditated on all Thy works, I pondered on the creations of Thy hands. I stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee like a waterless land. Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not Thy face away from me, lest I be like unto those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning, for in Thee have I put my hope. Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul. Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto Thee have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for Thy name’s sake, O Lord, shalt thou quicken me. In Thy righteousness shalt Thou bring my soul out of affliction, and in Thy mercy shalt Thou utterly destroy mine enemies. And Thou shalt cut off all those who afflict my soul, for I am Thy servant.
Priest: Blessed is our God… People: Amen.
On the Beatitudes, 8 troparia: 4 from Ode III of the canon of the Cross, and 4 from Ode VI of the canon of the Maccabees.
And the priest saith this prayer quietly—
Reader: O heavenly King… through Our Father…
After the entrance, the troparia of the Cross and the Maccabees; Glory…, kontakion of the Maccabees; Now & ever…, kontakion of the Cross.
And the priest readeth this prayer aloud—
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom…
Prokimenon of the Cross, in Tone VI—
Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy! (twelve times) Glory…, Now & ever… O come, let us worship…
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance.
Then Psalm 142 is read:
Stichos: Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry; O my God, be not silent unto me.
Priest: For Thou art holy, O our God, 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 the ages of ages.
Prokimenon of the Maccabees, in Tone IV—
Then the people chant the following troparia, in Tone VI—
In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them.
Priest: Peace be unto all!
Epistle to the Corinthians, § 125
Reader: And to thy spirit.
[I Cor. 1: 18-24]
Deacon: Wisdom!
Brethren: The preaching of the cross is to those who perish, foolishness; but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Reader: The Prokimenon, in Tone III—
Epistle to the Hebrews, §330 (11:33-40)
Deacon: Wisdom! Reader: A Reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews, §306 [Heb. 2: 11-18]
Brethren: By faith all the saints subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Deacon: Let us attend.
Alleluia, in Tone IV—
Priest: Peace be unto thee.
Stichos: Remember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased from the beginning.
Reader: And to thy spirit.
Stichos: God is our King before the ages, He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Stichos: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and He delivered them out of all their tribulations.
Reader: The Psalm of David: Alleluia, in Tone VI—
Gospel according to John, §60
Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.
[Jn. 19: 6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30-35]
Priest: Peace be unto all.
At that time, the high priests and elders took council against Jesus to put Him to death. And they delivered Him to Pilate saying: “Away with Him! away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said unto them: “Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him. The Jews answered him: “We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgement hall, and said unto Jesus: “Whence art Thou?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Then said Pilate unto Him: “Speakest Thou not unto me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee?” Jesus answered: “Thou couldst have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgement seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said unto the Jews: “Behold your King!” But they cried out: “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said unto them: “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered: “We have no king but Cæsar.” Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away. And He bearing His Cross went forth into a place called the place of the skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha: where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, on either side, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the Cross. And the writing was: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. This title then read many of the Jews; for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother, and His Mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His Mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He said unto His Mother: “Woman, behold thy son!” Then said He to the disciple: “Behold thy Mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, bowed His head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was a high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they broke not His legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bore record, and his record is true.
Priest: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John, §14 [5: 1-4]
Gospel according to Matthew, §38
Deacon: Wisdom!
[Mt. 10: 32-33, 37-38; 19: 27-30]
Priest: At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
The Lord said to His disciples: “Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father Who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father Who is in heaven. He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” Then answered Peter and said unto Him: “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee. What shall we have therefore?” And Jesus said unto them: “Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, so also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”
Then the deacon intoneth the following litany, after each petition of which the people respond, chanting: Lord, have mercy!—
Communion Verses—
Priest: For to Thee is due all glory, honor and worship—to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us.
Then the priest readeth the following prayer—
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.
Priest: Peace be unto all.
Be It Known: On this day, in monasteries, cathedrals and parish churches, the Lesser Blessing of Water is performed as follows:
Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord.
A small table, covered with a cloth, is set up in the usual place in the middle of the church, and a vessel containing water is placed thereon; or, alternatively, we proceed to the wellspring. The priest, vesting in epitrachelion and phelonion, taketh in his hand the precious cross and the sprinkler, and goeth forth, preceded by the deacon with censer and two lamp-bearers with candles. When he arriveth at the table, he setteth the cross thereon and, taking the censer, censeth the water cross-wise. Then he beginneth as usual:
Then the people chant this troparion, in Tone II—
Glory…, Now & ever…
Then the priest kisseth the precious Cross, as do all the people after him, and he sprinkleth everyone with sanctified water, as well as the sanctuary and the whole church; and the people chant the following stichera, in Tone IV—
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice
Priest: Peace be unto all.
Then, the deacon intoneth “God is the Lord…”, and the people chant the following troparia, in Tone IV—
Deacon: Bow your heads unto the Lord.
To thee, the Theotokos, we, the sinful and lowly, now earnestly have recourse; and we fall down in repentance, crying out from the depths of our heart: O Mistress, take pity and have mercy upon us! Haste thou, for we are perishing in the multitude of our transgressions! Turn not thy servants empty away, for thee do we have as our only hope! Twice
Then followeth the dismissal.
Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone—
O Theotokos, we, the unworthy, shall never cease to speak of thy power; for if thou wouldst not intercede in supplication, who would deliver us from such misfortunes? Who would maintain us free until now? We shall not depart from thee, O Mistress; for thou ever savest thy servants from all evils.
Then, Psalm 50—
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine 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 with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.
We then chant the following troparia, in Tone VI—
We hymn thy Son, O Theotokos, and cry out: O all-pure Mistress, deliver thy servants from all misfortunes.
O most immaculate one, thou art the boast of kings and prophets, the apostles and martyrs, and the intercessor for the world.
The tongue of all the Orthodox praiseth and blesseth thee, and glorifieth thine all-pure birthgiving, O Mary, Bride of God.
In that Thou art compassionate, O my Christ, grant remission of debts to me, the unworthy, through the supplications of her who gave Thee birth.
On thee have I set my hope, O Theotokos. Save me by thy supplications, and grant me remission of transgressions.
Enliven me, O thou who gavest birth to the Savior and Bestower of life; and save me by thy supplications, O blessed one, thou hope of our souls.
O most immaculate Virgin, who didst conceive in thy womb the Creator of all, by thy supplications save thou our souls.
O most hymned Theotokos, who at the angel’s word gavest birth to the Word in manner transcending words, Him do thou beseech, that He save our souls.
By thy supplications, O Mistress, render the Judge, thy Son, merciful to me who have sinned more than any other man.
Praying that we may be saved by thy supplications, we cry out to thee as is meet: Rejoice, O pure Ever-virgin Theotokos!
Deliver me from everlasting fire and from the torments which lie before me, O Theotokos, that I may call thee blessed.
Disdain not the entreaties of thy servants, we pray, O most hymned Mistress, that we may be delivered from every evil circumstance.
From infirmities and all sicknesses, and from misfortunes do thou free us who have recourse to thy sacred protection.
Strange is the wonder which was wrought within thee, O Mistress; for like us our God, the Creator of all, was born of thee for our sake.
Thy temple hath been shown to be the free healing of infirmities and the consolation of sorrowful souls, O Theotokos.
O all-holy Theotokos who gavest birth to the Savior, save thy servants from misfortunes and all other necessities.
Deliver thy servants from every impending threat, O all-holy Mistress, from all harm to body and soul.
By thy supplications, O Virgin Theotokos, save all who have recourse to thee, and deliver them from all want and sorrow.
Who, when he hath recourse to thy temple, doth not quickly receive healing of soul as well as body, O all-pure Theotokos?
Entreated by all the ranks of the saints on high, O Compassionate One, cleanse me through her who gave Thee birth.
Spare the souls of our brethren who have departed in hope of life, O Savior, and absolve and remit them their offenses.
Rejoice, O Virgin, thou mercy-seat of the world! Rejoice, O Bride of God, thou jar and lampstand all of gold, holding the divine Manna and Light!
We hymn Thee, the one God in Trinity, crying out the thrice-holy hymn, praying that we may receive salvation.
O Virgin who gavest birth to the Savior, the Lord and Master of the world, entreat Him to save our souls.
Now & ever…:
Rejoice, O mountain! Rejoice, O bush! Rejoice, O gate! Rejoice, O ladder! Rejoice, O divine table! Rejoice, O Mistress, thou hope of all!
Through the supplications of Thine all-pure Mother and of all Thy saints, O Merciful One, grant Thy mercies to Thy people.
Through the supplications of the glorious archangels and angels and the ranks on high, O Savior, preserve well Thy servants.
Through the supplications of Thine honored and glorious Baptist, Prophet and Forerunner, O Christ my Savior, preserve Thy servants.
Through the supplications of the glorious apostles and martyrs, and of all Thy saints, grant Thy mercies to Thy people.
Through the supplications of the glorious unmercenaries, O Theotokos, preserve thy servants, for thou art the intercession and confirmation of the world.
Let us glorify the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, saying: O Holy Trinity, save our souls!
Now & ever…:
O Virgin who in latter times ineffably conceived and gavest birth to thy Creator, save those who magnify thee.
Open unto us the portals of thy loving-kindness, O blessed Theotokos, that we who set our hope on thee may not perish, but may be delivered from misfortunes by thee; for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Then, the deacon saith: Let us pray to the Lord!
People: Amen.
Now hath come the time which sanctifieth all, and the just Judge awaiteth us. Turn thou to repentance, O my Son, crying out with tears like the harlot: O Lord, have mercy on me!
O Christ Who today hast rained down in waters a wellspring of healings in the most honored temple of the Virgin, with the sprinkling of Thy blessing thou dispellest ailments from the infirm, O Physician of our souls and bodies.
As a virgin who knew not wedlock thou gavest birth, yet didst remain a virgin, O unwedded Mother, Mary Theotokos. Entreat Christ our God, that we be saved.
O all-holy Virgin Theotokos, set aright the works of our hands, and ask forgiveness of our transgressions when we chant the angelic hymn:
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us! … and the rest.
And when we have chanted the Trisagion as usual, the deacon saith: Let us attend!
The Lord is my light and my Savior. Whom then shall I fear?
Stichos: The Lord is the defender of my life. Of whom then shall I be afraid?
Brethren: He Who sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: “I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee.” And again: “I will put my trust in Him.” And again: “Behold I and the children whom God hath given me.” Forasmuch, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver those who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels, but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore, in all things it behooved Him to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted.
Stichos: My heart hath poured forth a good word.
Stichos: I speak of my works to the King.
People: And to thy spirit.
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
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.
For this holy temple, and for those who with faith, reverence and the fear of God enter herein, let us pray to the Lord.
For our Most Reverend Metropolitan N.; for our Right Reverend Archbishop [or Bishop] N.; for the venerable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
For this city [or town, or village; or for this holy monastery, or convent], for every city and country, and the faithful that dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
For seasonable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
For travellers by sea, land and air, for the sick, the suffering, the imprisoned, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
That these waters may be sanctified by the power, operation and visitation of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That there may descend upon these waters the purifying activity of the transcendent Trinity, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water may be healing for souls and bodies and may drive away all the power of the adversary, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord God may send down the blessing of Jordan and sanctify these waters, let us pray to the Lord.
For all who are in need of the help and assistance of God, let us pray to the Lord.
That we may be illumined with enlightenment of mind by the consubstantial Trinity, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord our God may show us to be children and heirs of His kingdom through the partaking and sprinkling of this water, let us pray to the Lord.
For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
People: To Thee, O Lord.
Choir: Amen.
O Lord our God, Who art great in counsel and wondrous in Thy works, Author of all creation, Who preservest Thy covenant and Thy mercy for those who love Thee and keep Thy commandments, and acceptest the tears of compunction which we shed at all times of need—for for this cause didst Thou come in the guise of a servant, not affrighting us with apparitions, but granting us true health of body, saying: “Behold, thou art whole. Go, and sin no more!”; and Thou didst form healthy eyes out of clay and, commanding the blind man to wash, didst by Thy word cause Him to dwell in the light—Who troubleth the waves of adverse passions, Who driest up the briny sea of this life, and tamest the grievous billows of pleasures: O King Who lovest mankind, Who hast granted that we may clothe ourselves in vesture white as snow: through water and the Spirit, by the partaking and sprinkling of this water, send down upon us Thy blessing, which washeth away the defilement of the passions. Yea, we pray Thee, O Good One, visit Thou our weakness, and by Thy mercy heal our infirmities of soul and body. Through the supplications of our most pure and all-blessed Mistress, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, through the power of the precious and life-creating Cross, through the intercessions of the honored incorporeal hosts of heaven, of the honored and glorious Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy glorious and most praised apostles, of our venerable and God-bearing fathers, of our fathers among the saints, the great hierarchs and teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, of our fathers among the saints Athanasius and Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria, of our father among the saints Spyridon of Tremithus, the wonder-worker, of our father among the saints Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the wonder-worker, of our fathers among the saints Methodius and Cyril, teachers of the Slavs, of our fathers among the saints, the wonder-workers of all Russia: Michael, Peter, Alexis, Jonah, Philip, Macarius, Demetrius, Metrophanes, Tychon and Theodosius, of the holy and glorious great-martyr George the victorious, of the holy and glorious great‑martyr Demetrius the myrrh-streaming, of the holy and right victorious martyrs, of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, of the holy and glorious unmercenary physicians and wonder-workers Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermolaus, Samson and Diomedes, Mocius and Anicetas, Thalaleus and Tryphon, of the holy N., whose memory we celebrate today, and of all the saints: preserve, O Lord, Thy servants: His Eminence N., Metropolitan of (insert name of see), and His Grace, Archbishop [or Bishop] N. Grant them health of body and soul, and be thou merciful in all things to the Christian community which serveth Thee. Remember, O Lord, all Orthodox bishops who rightly divide the word of Thy truth, the ranks of the clergy and monastics, and their salvation. Remember, O Lord, both those who hate us and those who love us, the faithful who serve us, who stand here before Thee, those who are absent for good purpose, and those who have enjoined upon us to pray for them, unworthy though we are. Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy upon them according to Thy great mercy, delivering them from every need.
For Thou art the Source of healings, O Christ our God, and to Thee do we send up glory, with Thine unoriginate Father and Thine all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. People: Amen.
People: And to thy spirit.
People: To Thee, O Lord!
Incline Thine ear, O Lord Who didst deign to be baptized in the Jordan and sanctified the waters, and hearken unto us, and bless all of us who, by the bowing of our heads, signify that we are dutiful servants; and vouchsafe that we may be fulfilled by participating in the sanctification of this water, and that it may be unto us for the health of soul and body, O Lord.
Exclamation: For Thou art our sanctification, and unto Thee do we send up glory, thanksgiving and worship, with Thine unoriginate Father and Thy most holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. People: Amen.
Then, taking up the precious cross, the priest blesseth the water therewith, thrice, in the form of the Cross; and he chanteth the following troparion, thrice, in Tone I—
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victory to Orthodox Christians over their adversaries. And by Thy Cross preserve Thou Thy commonwealth.
Make us worthy of thy gifts, O Virgin Theotokos, overlooking our offenses, and granting healing unto those who with faith receive thy blessing, O all-pure one.
As ye possess a fountain of healings, O holy unmercenaries, ye bestow healing upon all in need, having been vouchsafed the greatest of gifts by our Savior, the ever-flowing Wellspring. For the Lord saith unto you, as to the apostles whose zeal ye shared: “Lo! I have given you power over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to heal every infirmity and all sickness.” Wherefore, having lived well according to His precepts, ye freely received and freely give, healing the sufferings of our souls and bodies.
Mercifully regard the supplications of thy servants, O most immaculate one, putting down the evils which rise up against us and freeing us from all sorrow; for thee alone do we have as a steadfast and goodly confirmation. We have acquired thine intercession, that we who call upon thee may not be put to shame, O Mistress. Haste thou to make entreaty for those who with faith cry out to thee: Rejoice, O Mistress, thou help of all, joy, protection and salvation of our souls.
In Tone VIII: O Mistress, accept the supplications of thy servants, and deliver us from all want and grief.
When the sprinkling hath been completed, the deacon intoneth the following litany—
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee: Hearken and have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy! Thrice
Again we pray that this holy church, and every city and country, be preserved from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, invasion of aliens and civil strife, that our good God Who loveth mankind may be merciful and readily mollified, that He may avert His righteous wrath which is directed at us, deliver us from his just anger which lieth upon us, and have mercy on us.
People: Lord, have mercy! Forty times
Hear us, O God our Savior, Thou hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those far out upon the sea, and be merciful, be merciful, O Master, concerning our sins, and have mercy on us; for thou art a merciful God Who lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
People: Amen.
People: And to thy spirit.
People: To Thee, O Lord!
O greatly merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the supplications of our most exceedingly pure Mistress, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, by the power of the precious and life-creating Cross, through the intercessions of the honorable incorporeal hosts of heaven, of the honorable and glorious Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles, of the holy, glorious and right victorious martyrs, of our venerable and God-bearing fathers, of our fathers among the saints, the great universal teachers and holy hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, of our father among the saints Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the wonder-worker, of our fathers among the saints Methodius and Cyril, the teachers of the Slavs, of our fathers among the saints, the wonder-workers of all Russia: Michael, Peter, Alexis, Jonah, Philip, Macarius, Demetrius, Metrophanes, Tychon and Theodosius, of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna — of the holy Seven Maccabean Martyrs Abimus, Antoninus, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusabonus, Alimus and Marcellus; their mother Solomonia and their teacher Eleazar; the holy Nine Martyrs of Perge in Pamphilia: Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus, Minsitheus, Cyriacus, Mineon, Catanus and Euclus; the holy bishop Ethelwold of Winchester, the holy Virgin-Martyr Sidwell of Exeter, the holy Martyr Papas the New, the holy Martyr Eleazar, the holy Martyr Cyricus, the holy Martyrs Theodore and Polyeuctus; the holy Martyrs Menas, Menais and those with them, of England; the holy Martyr Elessa of Cythera, our holy father Timothy the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Priconissus of the Peleponnessus (or such other saints as are commemorated, should this blessing be used on a different day) , whose memory we celebrate today — and of all Thy saints, be Thou well-pleased to accept our supplication. Grant us remission of our transgressions, protect us under the shelter of Thy wings, and drive far away from us every enemy and foe. Grant peace to our life, O Lord, and have mercy upon us and Thy world, and save our souls, in that Thou art good and lovest mankind.
People: Amen.
On the Beatitudes, 8 troparia: 4 from Ode III of the canon of the feast, and 4 from Ode VI of the canon of the Cross.
Prokimenon, in Tone VI—
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance.
Stichos: Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry; O my God, be not silent unto me.
Epistle to the Corinthians, § 125
[I Cor. 1: 18-24]
Brethren: The preaching of the cross is to those who perish, foolishness; but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Alleluia, in Tone I—
Stichos: Remember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased from the beginning.
Stichos: God is our King before the ages, He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.
Gospel according to John, §60
[Jn. 19: 6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30-35]
At that time, the high priests and elders took council against Jesus to put Him to death. And they delivered Him to Pilate saying: “Away with Him! away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said unto them: “Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him. The Jews answered him: “We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgement hall, and said unto Jesus: “Whence art Thou?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Then said Pilate unto Him: “Speakest Thou not unto me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee?” Jesus answered: “Thou couldst have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgement seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said unto the Jews: “Behold your King!” But they cried out: “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said unto them: “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered: “We have no king but Cæsar.” Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away. And He bearing His Cross went forth into a place called the place of the skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha: where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, on either side, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the Cross. And the writing was: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. This title then read many of the Jews; for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother, and His Mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His Mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He said unto His Mother: “Woman, behold thy son!” Then said He to the disciple: “Behold thy Mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, bowed His head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that sabbath day was a high day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they broke not His legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bore record, and his record is true.
Communion Verse—
The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us.
Be It Known: On this day, in monasteries, cathedrals and parish churches, the Lesser Blessing of Water is performed. This service is set forth at the end of the preceding service, i.e., of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Precious & Life-creating Cross.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.