At Matins

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV

Canon of the Cross, with 6 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the icon of the Theotokos, with 8 troparia.

Glory..., Now and ever..., the above is repeated.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V—

Hearken, O daughter of the King of heaven and Mother of the Light, and behold our sorrows and evil circumstances, and incline thine ear to our entreaties. For, lo! we have no other mighty ally than thee, nor any other refuge or consolation. We fall down before thee alone, and in thee alone do we set our hope, for thou art able to do all things soever thou desirest.

On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the Mother of God, twice; Glory…, that of the Cross; Now & ever…, that of the Mother of God, once.

Glory..., Now and ever..., the above is repeated.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the Cross, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “Full of loving-kindness…”—

When Thou wast crucified, O Christ Master, the dominion and might of death were overthrown, and all the tyranny of the enemy was trampled down, and those who died of old through the tree of disobedience were given life by the Tree of the Cross. Wherefore, we hymn Thy sufferings.

At “God is the Lord...,” the Troparion of the feast, twice; Glory..., of the saint; Now and ever..., of the feast again.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V—

O pure one, David thine ancestor, perceiving beforehand that thou wouldst be born of his blood to serve mystically for the incarnation of God, cried aloud with joy and reverence, venerating thine all-sweet name from afar, saying: I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation!

Two canons: the canon for the Elevation of the Cross, with six troparia including the Irmos; and the canon of the saint, with six troparia.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the Cross, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…”—

Thou didst will to suffer death and the Cross, fixing it in the midst of creation; when it was Thy good pleasure that Thy body be nailed, the sun hid its rays. Beholding these things, the thief on the cross hymned thee, crying out: Remember me, O Lord! And, believing, he received paradise.

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VII—

Polyeleos, and this magnification—

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “Full of loving-kindness...”—

It is meet to magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art more honorable than the cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “The beauty of thy virginity....”—

Selected Psalm verses—

A O God, give Thy judgment to the king. [71: 1]

B And Thy righteousness to the son of the king. [71: 1]

A That he may judge Thy people with righteousness. [71: 2]

B And Thy poor with judgment. [71: 2]

A He shall judge the beggars among the people, and shall save the sons of the poor. [71: 4]

B Proclaim from day to day the good tidings of the salvation of our God. [cf. 95: 2]

A The Lord shall give speech with great power to those who bring good tidings. [67: 12]

B The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it. [131: 11]

A Of the fruit of thy loins will I set upon thy throne. [131: 11]

B He shall come down like rain upon a fleece. [71: 6]

A And like raindrops that fall upon the earth. [71: 6]

B And He bowed the heavens and came down, and thick darkness was under His feet. [17: 10]

A For the Lord hath elected Sion, He hath chosen her to be a habitation for Himself. [131: 13]

B The Most High hath hallowed His tabernacle. [45: 5]

A God is in the midst of her, she shall not be shaken. [45: 6]

B He shall spare the poor man and the pauper, and the souls of the poor shall He save. [71: 13]

A All the nations shall serve Him. [71: 11]

B All the day long shall they bless Him.[71: 15]

A He shall be a support in the earth on the summits of the mountains. [71: 16]

B His name shall be blessed unto the ages. [71: 17]

A And in Him shall be blessed all the tribes of the earth. [71: 17]

B Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who alone doeth wonders. [71: 18]

A And blessed is the name of His glory forever, and unto the ages of ages. [71: 19]

B And all the earth shall be filled with His glory. So be it. So be it. [71: 19]

Glory…, Now & ever…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. Thrice

Rejoice, now, O convent of the Mother of God, for to thee hath been entrusted a priceless treasury: the holy icon of the Theotokos, not shining with gold and precious stones alone, but adorned yet more with countless miracles and healings, crowned with ineffable glory, venerated by men with fear and love, and served invisibly by angels with trembling. Wherefore, O holy convent, cherish it more than the ark of the covenant, more than any divine gift, any holy thing, that thy love and ardent fervor may be accepted with love by the prototype thereof.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation!

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

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel according to Luke, § 4

[Lk. 1: 39-49, 56]

In those days, Mary arose and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zechariah, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—

O Mistress, who of old accepted worship from the shepherds and hast revealed thy healing image to shepherds: make wise the shepherds of the Church, and shepherd the flock which thy Son hath called with His divine voice, O Virgin. Gather together the scattered sheep, save thy lambs from the wolves which destroy them, and lead them to the everlasting pastures.

When Thou wast crucified, O Christ Master, the dominion and might of death were overthrown, and all the tyranny of the enemy was trampled down, and they who died of old through the tree of disobedience were given life by the Tree of the Cross. Wherefore, we hymn Thy sufferings.

Thou didst will to suffer death and the Cross, fixing it in the midst of creation; when it was Thy good pleasure that Thy body be pierced with nails, the sun hid its rays. Beholding these things, the thief on the cross hymned thee, crying out: Remember me, O Lord! And, believing, he received paradise.