(ii) On Tuesday the liturgical texts refer chiefly to the parable o f

the Ten Virgins, which forms the general theme of these three days.

three sections (staseis or antiphons) of the kathisma: The Small Litany. The priest transfers the Consecrated Gifts from the Holy Table to the Table of the Pro thesis. (ς) Lord, 1 have cried, w i t h t h e t e n a p p o i n t e d s t i c h e r a .

The choir repeats this verse.

Canticle Two

Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Theotokion

Canticle O ne: we follow the same pattern as for Canticle Four on

They refer also to the parable of the Talents that comes immediately after it (Matt. 2^: 14 -30 ). Both these are interpreted as parables of judgement.

(8) Priest or reader: Let my prayer he setforth in Thy sight as incense:

(not a Saturday or Sunday) in the second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth weeks: Holy M artyr Charalampis (10 February) (Greek use only); First and Second Finding o f the Head o f St. John the Baptist (2 4 February); Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (9 M arch ); patronal festival of the church or monastery. 38 On Wednesday in the fifth week o f Lent, kathisma 7 ; on Thursday in the fifth week, kathisma 12 .

Sessional hymns of repentance:

C hoir: Let my prayer be setforth. . . . Priest or reader: Set a watch, 0 Lord, over my mouth: and a door like a rampart enclosing my lips.

(6) Entrance with the incense (or with the Book of Gospels, on

Make haste to open unto me Thy fatherly embrace, for as the Prodigal I have wasted my life. In the unfailing wealth of Thy mercy, 0 Saviour, reject not my heart in its poverty. For with compunction 1 cry unto Thee, O L ord : Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee.2 ψ . O, Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger. . . . Fearful is Thy judgement-seat, and Thy judgement is just; 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 cotint me worthy to stand at Thy right hand, O Judge most just.3 Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Theotokion Unconsumed thou hast conceived the fire of the Godhead, and

Let my prayer be setforth. . . . Priest or reader: 0 let not my heart be inclined to words o f evil: creating reasons to justify sin.

days when there is a Gospel reading: see §9). 0 joyful Light. . . .

without seed thou hast borne the Lord who is the fount of life. O Theotokos full of grace, preserve from death those who magnify thee.4 To the Martyrs As faithful soldiers ye believed with one accord; ye were not terrified, O saints, by the threats of the tyrants, but taking up the precious Cross, eagerly ye followed Christ, and finishing the course, ye received victory from heaven. Glory be to Him who gave you strength; glory be to Him who crowned you; glory be to Him who through you grants healing unto all. 2 Used at monastic profession. 3 Matt. 2$: 31-46. 4 Exod. 3 : 2 .

Let my prayer be setforth. . . . Priest or reader: Let my prayer be setforth in Thy sight as incense. C hoir: And let the lfting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. And then we make three prostrations.41

Sessional hymns o f repentance:

First r e a d i n g f r o m t h e o l d t e s t a m e n t (Genesis).39

‘ Have mercy upon me’ , said David, and I also cry to Thee: I have sinned, O Saviour; blot out my sins through repentance and have mercy upon m e.9 O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger. . . . ‘ Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon m e’ , David lamented over two sins; but I cry aloud to Thee over a diousand trespasses. He watered his bed with tears, but I have not a single tear to shed. In despair I pray: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great m ercy.101 Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Theotokion 1 need thy help, O Theotokos, disregard me not, for my soul trusts in thee; have mercy upon me. To the Martyrs Thou hast made Thy saints to shine brighter than gold, and in Thy

love Thou hast glorified Thy holy ones. At their intercessions, Christ our God, grant peace to our life and make our prayer ascend as incense, O Thou who alone dost rest among the saints.11 8 Ps. 146: 8. 9 Ps. ςοι 3. 10 Ps. £0: 3; 6: 7. 11 Ps. 140: 2; Isa. s j : ι ς (Sept.).

The priest blesses the people with the incense and the lighted

Sessional hymns o f repentance:

candle, saying The Light o f Christ. . . . Second r e a d i n g f r o m t h e o l d t e s t a m e n t (Proverbs).40 (From the Triodion.)

While thou still dwellcst upon earth, repent, my soul, for in the tomb the dust cannot offer praise or gain deliverance from sin. Cry out to Christ thy God: I have sinned, O Knower of men’s hearts; but before Thou dost condemn me, have mercy upon me. y . O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger. . . .

and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.

Sessional hymns o f repentance:

Priest or reader: Lord, 1 have cried unto Thee, hear me: attend to

Lying upon the bed of my many sins, 1 am despoiled of my hope 27 Dan. 7: 1 0 - 1 1 ; 1 Cor. ι ς : ς2, 28 Ezek. 44: 1 - 3 ; Luke 1 : 28. 29 Matt. 20: 22.

the voice of my supplication when I cry unto Thee.

of salvation; for the sleep o f my slothfulness will bring punishment upon my soul. But spare me, Christ my God, for Thou alone lovest mankind. y . O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger. . . . Let us all keep watch and go out to meet Christ, and let us make our lamps burn brightly with our many acts of compassion; then shall we be counted worthy to enter the bridal chamber. For once we have been shut outside the door, we shall cry unto God to no avail, ‘ Have mercy upon m e.’ 30 Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . Theotokion

(9) On 24 February and 9 March: the appointed r e a d i n g s f r o m

The strange mystery o f the Virgin has brought salvation to the

world. For the Joy o f all was born from her without seed and was revealed in the flesh without corruption. O Lord, glory to Thee. To the Martyrs Through the miracles of Thy holy martyrs, O Christ our God, Thou hast given us a rampart that cannot be destroyed. At their prayers scatter to the winds the schemes of the heathen and strengthen the rulers of our land, for Thou alone art good and lovest mankind.

Sixth and Ninth Hours and on Wednesday at the Third Hour; St. John (up to 13 : 32) in two portions, on Wednesday at the Sixth and Ninth Hours.

Sessional hymns of'repentance:

Give me, O Lord, the watchfulness of the wise virgins, and cause

the lamp of my soul to burn brightly with the oil of Thy compassion,

that I may sing to Thee the hymn of the angels: Alleluia.86 y . O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger. . . . 38 Ps. 8 3 : 7 ; Joel 3 : 2. 34 Prov, 1 3 : 9 (Sept.). 36 Matt. 2$: 1- 13 .

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us; for we sinners, lacking all defence, offer unto Thee as Master this prayer: Have mercy upon u s.. Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Theotokion Open unto us the gate of thy loving-kindness, most blessed Theo­ tokos. In thee we set our hope: suffer us not to go astray, but. through thee may we be delivered from adversities. For thou art the salvation of the Christian people. To the Martyrs With patient endurance the saints suffered and contended, and they received the prize of victory from Thee. They brought to nothing the schemes of the transgressors, and were granted crowns of incorruption. At their prayers, O God, bestow upon us Thy

great mercy.

Sessional hymns o f repentance:

Thou hast accepted the tears of Peter and the Harlot, and Thou hast justified the Publican when he groaned from the depths of his heart. My sins have brought me to despair, O Saviour: take pity on me also and save m e.41 y . O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger. . . . Peter’s denial Thou hast washed away with his tears; the Publi­ can’s sins Thou hast forgiven when he cried to Thee in sorrow. O Lord who lovest man, glory to Thee. Glory be to the Father. . . . Both now. . . . Theotokion O blessed Theotokos, thou art higher than the powers of heaven, for thou wast made a temple of the Godhead and hast given birth to Christ, the Saviour of our souls. 41 Matt. 26: 75; Luke 7: 37-^0; 18: 14.

To the Martyrs Rejoice, ye righteous, and let the heavens be glad: for, fighting bravely upon earth, the martyrs have brought error to an end. Let

the Church celebrate a feast of joy and triumph, giving glory to the

Judge who alone confers the victory, Christ our God who grants the world great mercy.

Sessional hymns o f repentance:

Like the Harlot I fall down before Thee, Christ my God, seeking 43 Matt. 2 $ : i - i 3.

to receive forgiveness; and instead of ointment I offer Thee the tears from my heart. Take pity on me, Saviour, as Thou hast on her, and grant me the remission of my sins. For I cry like her to Thee: Deliver me from the filthiness of my deeds.44 ψ . O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger. . . . Keep in mind that fearful day and be vigilant, my soul. Kindle thy lamp and cause it to burn brightly with the oil of compassion. For thou dost not know when thou shalt hear the cry, ‘ Behold, thy Bridegroom !’ Be watchful, then, my soul, and do not slumber, lest thou be left outside, knocking at the door like the five virgins. But continue wakeful, and so with the rich oil o f mercy in thy lamp go out to meet Christ thy G o d ; and may He grant to thee the divine

bridal chamber of His glory.454

O ye faithful, let us magnify in hymns the Theotokos, unshakeable foundation of the Faith and precious gift conferred upon our souls. Hail, for thou hast held within thy womb the Rock of Life! Hail, hope of all the ends of the earth, succour of the afflicted! Hail, Bride without bridegroom !4e To the Martyrs

The tabernacle shines this day with heavenly light, for within it

all the hosts of angels now make glad, and in company with them the choirs of martyrs rejoice at the memorial of their victorious suffer­ ings. At their prayers, O Christ, send down upon Thy world peace and great mercy.