Sunday to be added, that of the Publican and the Pharisee.

(Irmos) He is for me unto salvation. . . . I tremble with fear when I ponder and foresee the dread day of Thine ineffable coming, when Thou shalt sit and judge the living and the dead, O my God all-powerful. When Thou shalt come, O God, with thousands and ten thou­ sands of the heavenly hosts o f angels, count me worthy in my wretchedness, O Christ, to meet Thee in the clouds.8* Come, my soul, and call to mind the very hour and day when God shall stand before thee visibly; weep and lament, and so thou shalt be found pure in the hour of trial. Terror and amazement seize me when I think o f the fire o f Gehenna that never shall be quenched, of the bitter worm and the gnashing of teeth. But release me and forgive me, Christ, and set me

41 Dorotheus, writing in Palestine c. 54 0 -8 0 , makes a clear reference to this eighth or preliminary week in Teachings, ι ς (P.G. lxxxviii, 17 8 8 c ). A cryptic passage in Theophanes, Chronographia for the year 6 0 38, i.e. A .D . 546 (ed. de Boor, vol. i, p. 2 2 5), could be interpreted to mean that the preliminary week was observed at Constantinople as early as the reign of Justinian. But the Synaxarion for Saturday in the W eek before Lent connects the introduction of ‘ Cheese Week* at Constantinople with the victories of the Emperor Heraclius over the Persian Ch'osroes in 629 or the years immediately following ( Triodion Katanyktikon [cd. Apostoliki Diakonia], p. 61 ; cf. J. Goar, Euchologion [2nd ed., Venice,

(Katavasia) He is for me unto salvation Helper and Protector. He is my God and I glorify Him, God o f my fathers is He and I exalt Him, for He is greatly glorified.

(3) The Great Litany.

Reader: Amen. Glory to Thee, our Godt glory to Thee.

(of the day): Penitential sticheron from the Triodion. 1 . Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes, 0 Thou that dwellest in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the handmaiden look unto the hands o f her mistress, so do our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until He take pity upon us (Psalm 12 2 : 1-2 ). Repeat the sticheron from the Triodion.

(1) Blessing by the priest: Blessed is our God. . . .31

(Irmos) O Lord, upon the rock o f Thy commandments. . . .

ϊ 7 3 ° ] , p. 17 ς ; V. Peri, ‘ La durata e la struttura della Quaresima nelP antico uso ecclesiastico gcrosolimitano’ , Acvum xxxvii [19 6 3], p. 6 1). In the time o f John of Damascus (first half of the eighth century), the observance of this preliminary week was as yet by no means universal in the Christian East: see On the H olj Fasts (P.G. xcv, 6 4 -7 7 ) .

Jesus, Adam’ s Creator and thy Son.20 (Katavasia) W ith my whole heart I cried to the all-compassionate God: and He heard me from the lowest depths o f hell, and brought my life out o f corruption.

Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord. . . , w e begin to sing the penitential chants used on weekdays in Lent. 31 If the Ninth Hour precedes Vespers, we begin as specified above. But if not, wc begin as follow s: P riest: Blessed is our God. . . .

Then we sing:

Sticheron to the Martyrs. Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Theotokion. a p o s t ic h a

(2) Reader: 0 come, let us worship. . . , and the Psalm of Introduc­

(Irmos) The prophet heard o f Thy coming. . . .

(Katavasia) W e have sinned, we have transgressed, we have done evil in Thy sight; we have not kept or followed Thy commandments. But reject us not utterly, O God of our fathers.

0 heavenly King. . . . Holy God. . . , etc., and the Lord’s Prayer, with the exclamation by

Priest: Blessed be He who is, Christ our God. . . .

(1 o) Reader: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant. . . . Holy God. . . , etc., and the Lord’s Prayer. (11)

tion (Psalm 103).

(Irmos) W ith my whole heart I cried to the all-compassionate God____ At Thy fearful coming, O Christ, when Thou appearest from heaven, when the thrones are set up and the books opened, then spare, O Saviour, spare Thy creature. Since God is the Judge, nothing can help thee there, no zeal, no skill, no glory, no friendship, but only the strength that thou gainest, my soul, from thy works. Prince and governor w ill be there together, my soul, rich and poor; no father or mother w ill be able to help us, no brother will redeem us from the condemnation. Think, my soul, o f the fearful examination before the Judge; in trembling prepare thy defence, lest thou be condemned to the eternal bonds.

Within this developed pattern of Lent, what precisely do the rules of fasting demand? Neither in ancient nor in modern times has there ever been exact uniformity, but most Orthodox authorities agree on the following rules:

(8) Litany of Fervent Intercession: Let us complete our evening prayer

Choir: P riest:

TONE FIVE

(4) Lord, I have cried, with the ten appointed s t i c h e r a :

(Irmos) W e have sinned, we have transgressed. . . . 0 ye faithful, let us fall down and lament before that day o f judgement comes, when the heavens shall be destroyed, the stars fall and all the earth shall be shaken, that at the end we may receive mercy from the God of our fathers.

Pharisee and that of the Prodigal Son, there is a general dispensation from all fasting. Meat and animal products may be eaten even on

( 1 4 ) The Prayer of St. Ephraim twice, with four prostrations and twelve bows.

Wisdom. Truly it is right to call thee blessed. . . . Most holy Theotokos, save us. Greater in honour than the cherubim. . . . Glory to Thee, 0 Christ our God. . . . Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Kyrie eleison (three times). Give the blessing, father. And the priest says the Dismissal.

Hail, Theotokos Virgin, Mary fu ll of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is thefruit o f thy womb: fo r thou hast borne the Saviour o f our souls (prostration). Glory be to the Father. . . . 0 Baptist o f Christ, be mindful o f us all, that we may be deliveredfrom our iniquities: fo r unto thee is given grace to pray fo r us (prostration). Both now. . . . Pray fo r us, holy apostles and all saints, that we may be delivered from peril and afflictions: for ye are our fervent advocates before the Saviour (prostration). Beneath thy tender mercy we take refuge, Theotokos: despise not our supplications in distress: but deliver usfrom peril, fo r thou alone art pure

four in the Tone of the week (see pp. 18 4 -8 ); three of the day (in the main text of the Triodion) ; three for the saint of the day (in the Menaion); Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Theotokion in the Menaion. (g) Entrance with the incense. 0 joyful Light. . . . (6 )

(Irmos) The hosts of heaven give Him glory. . . . O Lord, when I think how I must meet Thee at Thy fearful second coming, I tremble at Thy menace, I fear Thy wrath. In that

in the existing Triodion.74 Very frequently repeated at this feast is the sticheron beginning, ‘Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together. . . . ’ It is possible to see reflected here the practice of St. Euthymios, St. Sabas and other Palestinian monks in the fifth and sixth centuries. 74 Such a procession existed at Constantinople in the eleventh century: see Mateos, Le Typicon de la Grande Eg Iisc, voi. ii, pp. 6 6 -7 .

(i^ ) R eader: Holy God. . . , etc., and the Lord’s Prayer; Kyrie eleison (twelve times), and then: 0 Most Holy Trinity, consubstantial Power, undivided Kingship, the Cause o f all good, be gracious even to me, a sinner. Confirm and instruct 34 In Holy W eek, from Exodus. 35 In Holy W eek, from Job.

and alone blessed (no prostration).

Shortly after the Feast of Epiphany they left their monasteries to make a Lenten retreat in the wilderness, either singly or with a com­ panion, spending the following weeks in silence and continual prayer, eating nothing but wild roots. Then, on Saturday afternoon in the sixth week of Lent, they all returned to their monasteries for

Prayer of St. Ephraim is said twice, with four prostrations and twelve bows. 48 Except on Friday evening, when w e make bows instead o f prostrations.

(1 o) Reader: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant. . . . Holy God. . . , etc., and the Lord’s Prayer. ( 1 1 ) Then we sing, as on Sunday evening: Hail, Theotokos Virgin. . . (prostration). Glory be to the Father. . . . 0 Baptist of Christ. . . (prostration). Both now. . . . Pray fo r us, holy apostles. . . (prostration) Beneath thy tender mercy. . . (no prostration)

(a) Turn not away Thyface from Thy servant. . . (on the Sunday of Forgiveness, and on the second and fourth Sundays in Lent). 30 Vespers on Sunday evening in Lent is unusual, in that it falls into two clearly contrasted parts. The atmosphere of the service changes after the Great Proki­ menon. Until then, the normal pattern for Great Vespers on a Saturday evening is followed; but from Vouchsafe, 0 Lord. . . onwards, the rules for ordinary Vespers on a weekday in Lent are applied, except that the Prayer o f St. Ephraim is said once and not twice, and then the Dismissal follows immediately. A t the moment o f transition, during Vouchsafe, 0 Lord. . . , the priest’ s vestments and the covers on the ikon-stands are changed from a light to a dark colour; and with the Litany

taken by the existing midnight service of Easter Mattins, with the

(12) Reader: Kyrie eleison (forty times)

Kyrie eleison (twelve times). Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . 0 comey let us worship. . . , and the Psalm of Introduction.

(2) Protopresbyter George L. Papadeas, Greek Orthodox Holy

Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Greater in honour than the cherubim. . . . In the Name of the Lord, give the blessing, father.

(b) 0 Lord, Thou hast given an inheritance. . . (on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, and on the third and fifth Sundays in Lent). (7)

Week and Easter Services (New York, 19 7 1) .87 86 Woodward apparently is ignorant of Lady Lechmere’ s work, for he claims of his own version, 1 . . . now seen in English for the first time* (p. iv). 86 O f all the many versions o f the Akathistos Hymn listed here, this is undoubtedly

(13) Reader: 0 heavenly King, uphold our rulers. . . .

Vouchsafe, 0 Lord. . . .

the most extraordinary.

my heart and take awayfrom me every defilement. Enlighten my mind, that I may ever glorify, praise and worship Thee, saying: One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Blessed be the Name of the Lord, from hencforth and fo r evermore (three times). Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Psalm 3 3 · 36

to the Lord. . . . (9)

87 Not a new translation, but for the most part a revision of the anonymous trans­ lation of 1 9 1 $ .

(16) Priest:

2. Have mercy upon us, 0 Lord, have mercy upon us: fo r we are

Translated material from the Lenten Triodion can also be found in Katharine Lady Lechmere, Synopsis, pp. 2 10 -2 6 , 28 1-4 4 2 ; G. V. Shann, Euchology (Kidderminster, 18 9 1), pp. 26 0 -3 7 7 ; b F. Hap. good, Service Book o f the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic (GrecoRussian) Church (Boston/New York, 1906), pp. 2 0 4 -2 5; Anon., The

P riest: C h o ir:

utterly humiliated. Let shame come on them that prosper, and abasement on

the proud (Psalm 1 2 2 : 3-4).

A N D THE PHARISEE

11 4 ) . After the Polyeleos we sing By the waters of Babylon, and after Psalm SO we sing Open unto me, O Giver o f Life, and the verses following . ITie Canon We use four troparia (including the irmos) from the Canon o f the Resurrection and two troparia from the Canon to the Theotokos, both in the Tone o f the week from the Octoechos; and then the Canon o f the Triodion with eight troparia, by St. Theodore the Studite.

TONE SIX

in the ranks o f Thine elect.® Unworthy though I be, may I also hear Thy voice, so greatly desired, that calls Thy saints to joy, and may I attain the ineffable blessings of the Kingdom o f Heaven.10 Enter not into judgement with me, bringing before me the things I should have done, examining my words and correcting my im­ 8 i Thess. 4 : 17 . ® Mark 9 : 4 4 ; Matt, ς : 2 2 ; 8 : 1 2. 10 Matt. 25·: 3 4 .

pulses. But in Thy mercy overlook my sins and save me, O Lord almighty.11 Glory be to the Father. . . . Unity in three Persons, sovereign Lord o f all, Source o f perfec­ tion, God without beginning, Father, Son and all-holy Spirit, do Thou Thyself save us. Both now. . . . Theotokion Who has ever begotten a son not sown by a father according to the law o f nature? Yet such a Son the Father begets without a mother. Most strange and marvellous wonder 1 For thou, pure Virgin, hast at

the same time borne both God and man.

The Lord comes, and who shall endure the fear o f His coming?

Who shall dare to appear before His face? But prepare thyself to meet Him, O my soul. Let us make haste before it is too late; let us lament, let us be reconciled to God before the end comes. For fearful is the judge­ ment at which all of us shall stand naked. Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on me, I cry to Thee, when Thou comest with Thine angels to give to every man due return for his deeds. How shall I endure the naked wrath o f Thy judgement, for I have disobeyed Thy commandment? But spare, O spare me in the hour of judgement. Turn back, wretched soul, and lament, before the fair-ground of life comes to an end, before the Lord shuts the door of die bridal chamber.1112 O Lord, I have sinned as no other man before, I have trans1 1 Ps. 142: 2.

12 Matt, i £ \ 10 .

gressed more than any m an: before the day of judgement comes, be merciful to me in Thy love for mankind. G loiy be to the Father. . . . O simple Unity praised in Trinity of Persons, uncreated Nature without beginning, save us who in faith worship Thy power. Both now. . . . Theotokion O undefined Virgin, in a childbearing without seed thou hast given birth to the living W ord, who took flesh in thy womb yet was not altered. Glory to thy childbirth, O Mother o f God. (Katavasia) O Lord, upon the rock o f Thy commandments make firm my wavering heart, for Thou alone art Holy and Lord.

Sessional Hymn13

TONE ONE

Fearful is Thy judgement-seat, and Thy judgement is ju st; but my works are very evil. Come, merciful Lord, before it is too late: save me and deliver me from punishment. Redeem me, Master, from the condemnation of the goats, and count me worthy to stand at Thy right hand, O Judge most ju st.14 Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Theotokion 0 pure Virgin, through the action o f the Holy Spirit thou hast contained within thy womb the Maker o f all, thy God and thy Creator, and without corruption thou hast given birth to Him. W e exalt Him and we sing thy praises, O Palace o f the King of glory and pledge o f the world’ s redemption. Another Sessional Hymn .

TONE SIX

1 think upon the fearful day and lament my evil acts. What answer shall I give to the immortal King? And with what boldness shall I the Prodigal gaze upon the Judge? O compassionate Father, only-begotten Son and Holy Spirit, have mercy upon me. 13 This hymn and the Theotokion immediately following are not in the Slav books. 14 Matt. 25·: 4 1 .

Glory be to the Father. . . . In die valley of lamentation, in the place Thou hast appointed, when Thou shalt sit, O merciful Lord, to execute just judgement, publish not my secret sins; put me not to shame before the angels, but spare me, O God, and have mercy upon m e.1516 Both now. . . . Theotokion

Theotokos Virgin, thou art die good hope o f the w orld: I ask for thy dread protection, and for thine alone. Have compassion on thy people diat are left without defence; pray unto the merciful God that our souls may be delivered from every threat, for thou alone art blessed.

The day is upon us, the judgement is already at the door. Be

vigilant, my soul. Kings and princes, rich and poor are gathering, and each shall receive the due reward for his actions. Each in his own order, monk and hierarch, old and young, slave and master shall be examined; widow and virgin shall be corrected. And woe to all whose lives are sinful! Thy judgement is without respect of persons; no cunning argu­ ment or skill in eloquence can deceive Thy judgement-seat; false witnesses cannot pervert Thy sentence. For in Thy sight, O God, every secret stands revealed. Let me not come into the valley of lamentation, O my Christ and W ord ; let me not see the place o f darkness; let me not be bound hand and foot, and cast out from Thy bridal chamber, because in my

utter wretchedness I have defiled the garment o f incorruption.16 When at the judgement o f the world Thou shalt separate the sinners from the righteous, count me as one o f Thy sheep and place me not with the goats, O loving Lord, but may I hear Thy words of blessing.17 When the trial takes place and the books recording all our acts 15 Ps. 8 3 : 7 ; Joel 3 : 2 . 16 Matt. 22 : 1 1 - 1 3 .

17 Matt. 25·: 31-4.

in are opened, what shalt thou do, O miserable soul? What answer shalt thou make before the judgement-seat, for thou hast no fruits of righteousness to offer Christ thy Creator? I hear die lamentation of the rich man in the flames of torment, and in my misery I weep and wail, for I deserve the same condemna­ tion. Therefore I entreat T hee: Have mercy on me, Saviour o f the world, at the time of judgement.18 Glory be to the Father. . . . I glorify the Son and the Spirit who come from the Father as light and ray from the sun: the One begotten as Offspring, the Other pro­ ceeding and sent forth; divine and coeternal Trinity, adored by all creation. Both now. . . . Theotokion O honoured Virgin, who hast given birth yet kept thy purity, thou

hast borne both God and man, a single Person with a twofold nature. This thy miracle, O Virgin Mother, fills every ear and mind with wonder. (Katavasia) The prophet heard of Thy coming, O Lord, and he was afraid: how Thou wast to be bom o f a Virgin and revealed to men, and he said: T have heard the report o f Thee and I was afraid. * Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

(frmos) From the night I seek Thee early. . . . Fear and trembling beyond all description are there: for the Lord w ill come and try the work o f every man. And who w ill not mourn for himself?

The river o f fire devours and torments m e; the gnashing of teeth

grinds me to pow der; the darkness o f the abyss fills my heart with dismay. And what can I do to gain God’s mercy? Spare, O Lord, spare Thy servant. Do not deliver me to the bitter tormentors, to the cruel angels in hell, who will never let me be at rest 18 Luke 16: 23-4.

Prince and governor together, rich and humble, great and small, all alike are tried. W oe to him that is not prepared! Pardon, remit and forgive, O Lord, all my sins against T h ee; and condemn me not there, in the presence of the angels, to the punish­ ment of fire and to unending shame. Spare, O spare the work of Thine hands, O Lord. I have sinned, forgive m e : for Thou alone art pure by nature, and none save Thee is free from defilement. Glory be to the Father. . . . O Trinity, I praise Thee as Unity by nature, without beginning, incomprehensible, supreme in sovereignty, beyond perfection, God and Light and Life, Creator of the world. Both now. . . . Theotokion In thy childbearing that surpasses nature, the laws of nature, holy

Virgin, are plainly made void. For without seed thou hast given birth to God, begotten before all ages from the Father. (Katavasia) From the night I seek Thee early, O Lover of man­ kind : give me light, I pray Thee, and guide me in Thy commandments, and teach me, O Saviour, to do Thy w ill.

0 Lord, let me not hear Thee say, ‘Take what is due to thee’ , as Thou dost send me from Thy presence; let me not hear Thee say, ‘Depart from Me into the fire o f the accursed’ , but may I hear Thy words o f blessing to the righteous.19 Deliver me, O Lord, from the gates of hell, from chaos and dark­ ness without light, from the lowest depths of the earth and the un­ quenchable fire, and from all the other everlasting punishments. Glory be to the Father. . . . 1 sing die praises o f die Triune Godhead, Father, Son and divine Spirit, one sovereign Principle divided in three Persons. Both now. . . . Theotokion Thou art the gate, pure Lady, through which One alone has passed, going in and out, yet not breaking the seal of thy virginity:

TONE ONE

When Thou comest, O God, upon the earth widi glory, the whole world w ill tremble. The river of fire w ill bring men before Thy judgement-seat, the books w ill be opened and the secrets dis­ closed. Then deliver me from the unquenchable fire, and count me worthy to stand on Thy right hand, Judge most righteous. lkos O Lord supreme in love, as I think upon Thy fearful judgementseat and the day o f Judgement, I tremble and am full o f fear, for I am accused by my own conscience. When Thou sittest on Thy throne and bringest all to trial, none w ill be able then to deny his sins, for the truth w ill accuse him and terror will constrain him. The flames of Gehenna will roar and the sinners w ill gnash their teeth.

Therefore have mercy upon me before the end, and spare me, Judge most righteous. 19 Matt. 2 0 : 1 4 ; 20 Ezek. 4 4 : 1 - 3 .

The trial is without respect of persons, and fearful is the judge­

ment on that day; nothing escapes the Judge, no favour can be won with bribes. But spare me, Master, and deliver me from all Thy fearful wrath.

The Lord comes to judge: who can endure the sight of Him?

Tremble, my wretched soul, tremble and prepare for thy departure, that thou mayest gain mercy and compassion from the God o f thy fathers. Terror seizes me when I think o f the unquenchable fire, of the bitter worm, the gnashing of teeth, and soul-destroying h e ll; yet I do not turn to true compunction. O Lord, Lord, before the end, strengthen Thy fear within me. 1 fall down before Thee, and as tears I offer Thee my words. I have sinned as the Harlot never sinned, and I have transgressed as no other man on earth. But take pity on Thy creature, Master, and call me back.21 Turn back, repent, uncover all that thou hast hidden. Say unto God to whom all things are known: Thou alone knowest my secrets,

O Saviour; ‘have mercy on m e’ , as David sings, ‘according to Thy m ercy.’ 22 Glory be to the Father. , . . I sing the praises o f the Three that are one in Essence, o f the One that is three in Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one power, one w ill, one energy, one thrice-holy God, one sovereign Kingdom. Both now. . . . Theotokion God comes forth in beauty from the chamber o f thy womb, O Virgin; He is clothed as a King in the divinely-woven robe dyed mystically in thine all-pure blood, and He reigns over the earth. 21 Luke 7 : 3 7 . 22 Ps. s o : 3.