The whole service may be prayed by an individual.
If more than one person is present, one of them is designated ‘Reader’ and says or chants the text in normal type. The others respond with the text in bold. Or the rôle of Reader could be shared.
The mark + indicates that the Sign of the Cross is made here.
All stand
+ Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us. Amen.
Glory to you, our God, glory to you.
Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who is everywhere present and fills all things, Treasury of Good Things and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (3x)
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
+ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
Come, let us worship and fall down before our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, our King and our God
Psalm 19
May the Lord hear you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob shield you.
May he send you his help from the holy place, and support you from Sion.
May he remember your every sacrifice, and accept with favour your whole burnt offering.
May the Lord give you your heart’s desire, and fulfil your every purpose.
We shall rejoice in your salvation, and be magnified in the name of our the Lord our God.
May the Lord fulfil all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord has saved his Christ.
He will hear him from his holy heaven; in mighty acts is the salvation of his right hand.
Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will call on the name of the Lord our God.
They were fettered and fell, but we have risen and been set upright.
Lord, save the king, and hear us on the day we call upon you.
Psalm 20
The king will rejoice in your power, O Lord, he will exult exceedingly in your salvation.
You gave him his heart’s desire; you did not deny him the request of his lips.
For you came to meet him with blessings of goodness; you placed a crown of precious stones upon his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave him length of days for age on age.
Great is his glory because of your salvation; you will place on him glory and majesty.
For you will give him blessing for age on age, and make him glad with the joy of your countenance.
For the king puts his hope in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he will not be shaken.
May your hand light upon all your enemies, and your right hand find out all who hate you.
You will make them like a blazing oven at the time of your presence.
The Lord will confound them in his wrath and fire will devour them.
You will destroy their offspring from the earth, and their seed from among the children of humankind.
Because they intended evils against you, and devised plans by which they can in no way succeed.
For you will put them to flight; among your remnants you will prepare their presence.
Be exalted, Lord, in your power; we will sing and praise your mighty acts.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (3x)
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
+ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
Lord, save your people, and bless your inheritance, granting your faithful people victory over their enemies, and guarding your commonwealth by your Cross.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Lifted up on the Cross of your own will, grant you mercies, Christ God, to the new commonwealth called by your name. Make your faithful people glad by your power, giving them victory over their enemies. May they have your help in battle, a weapon of peace, an invincible trophy.
both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Dread Champion that cannot be put to shame, do not despise our petitions, O Good One. All-praised Mother of God establish the commonwealth of the Orthodox, save your people and give them victory from heaven, for you gave birth to God, O only blessed one.
The Six Psalms
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill among men (3x)
Lord, you will open my lips: and my mouth will declare your praise (2x)
Psalm 3
Lord, why have those who afflict me been multiplied? Many rise against me.
Many say to my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in his God’.
But you, Lord, are my helper, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
With my voice, I cried to the Lord, and he heard me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept; I awoke, because the Lord will assist me.
I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who surround me.
Rise, Lord, save me, my God; because you have struck all who are vainly my foes.
You have smashed the teeth of sinners. Salvation is the Lord’s, and your blessing is upon your people.
And again:
I lay down and slept; I awoke because the Lord will assist me.
Psalm 37
Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, nor chastise me in your wrath.
For your arrows have been stuck fast in me, and you have laid a heavy hand upon me.
There is no healing in my flesh on account of your wrath, nor peace in my bones on account of my sins.
My iniquities flooded over my head; like a heavy burden they weighed heavily upon me.
My wounds stank and festered on account of my foolishness.
I was wretched and utterly bowed down; I went about mourning all day long.
For my loins were filled with mockings, and there is no healing in my flesh.
I was maltreated and humiliated exceedingly; I howled from the groaning of my heart.
Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning was not hidden from you.
My heart was troubled, my strength failed me; and even the light of my eyes had gone from me.
My friends and my neighbours drew near and stood against me, and those nearest me stood far away.
Those who sought my life used force, and those who sought evils for me spoke vanities, and meditated trickeries all day long.
But I, like a deaf man, heard nothing; like one who is dumb, who does not open his mouth.
So I became like one who cannot hear, and in whose mouth there are no rebukes.
For in you, Lord, I have hoped; you will answer me, O Lord my God.
For I said: Let my foes never exult over me. When my foot slipped they crowed over me.
For I am ready for blows and my pain is with me continually. For I will declare my iniquity and be troubled at my sin.
But my enemies live and have prevailed over me, and those who hate me unjustly have been multiplied.
Those who repay me with evils in place of good have slandered me, since I pursued goodness.
Do not forsake me, Lord; my God, do not go far from me. Hasten to help me, Lord of my salvation.
And again:
Do not forsake me, Lord; my God do not go far from me. Hasten to help me, Lord of my salvation.
Psalm 62
O God, my God, I watch for you at dawn;
My soul has thirsted for you, my flesh how often in a desert, untrodden and waterless land.
Thus I appeared before you in the holy place, to see your power and your glory.
For your mercy is better than life; my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
May my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness; my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.
When I remembered you upon my bed, every dawn I meditated upon you.
For you became my helper, and in the shelter of your wings I shall rejoice.
My soul clung to you; and your right hand upheld me.
But those who vainly sought my life will go down to the deepest parts of the earth,
They will be delivered to the power of the sword, they will be portions for foxes.
But the king will rejoice in God, and all who swear by him will be praised;
For the mouths of those who speak iniquities have been stopped.
And again:
Every dawn I meditated upon you, for you became my helper, and in the shelter of your wings I shall rejoice. My soul clung to you; and your right hand upheld me.
The following prayers are said without bows or the sign of the Cross.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God (3x)
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Psalm 87
Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried by day, and by night also before you.
Let my prayer come into your presence, and turn you ear to my supplication.
For my soul was filled with evils, and my life drew near to Hell.
I was reckoned among those that go down to the Pit; I became as one that has no help, free among the dead.
Like the slain that sleep in the tomb, whom you remembered no more; and they were cut off from your power.
They placed me in the lowest Pit; in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Your wrath lay heavy upon me, and you brought all your waves against me.
You put my friends far from me, and made me an abomination to them.
I was handed over and I came out; my eyes grew weak because of my beggary.
I cried to you, Lord, all the day; I stretched out my hands towards you.
Will you work wonders for the dead; or will physicians raise them up again to praise you?
Will any declare your mercy in the tomb, or your truth in the place of destruction?
Will your wonders be known in the dark, or your justice in a land that has been forgotten?
But to you, Lord, I have cried, and in the morning my prayer will come before you.
Why have you rejected my soul, Lord; why do you turn away your face from me?
I am poor and in toils since my youth; exalted, I was humbled and brought to despair.
Your fierce anger overwhelmed me, and your terrors appalled me.
They surrounded me like water all day long; they closed in upon me from every side.
Friend and neighbour you have put far from me, and my companions because of my misery.
And again:
Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried by day; and by night also before you.
Let my prayer come into your presence, and turn your ear to my supplication.
Psalm 102
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Blessed are you, O Lord.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of his benefits.
He forgives all your iniquities; he heals all your diseases.
He redeems your life from corruption and crowns you with mercy and compassion.
He satisfies your desire with good things; your youth will be renewed like an eagle’s.
The Lord performs deeds of mercy and judgement for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his wishes to the children of Israel.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and full of mercy.
He will not always be wrathful, nor will he be enraged for ever.
He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, nor rewarded us according to our sins. For, like the height of heaven above the earth, the Lord has made his mercy prevail over those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he taken our sins from us.
As a father takes pity on his children the Lord has taken pity on those who fear him.
For he knows of what we are made; has remembered that we are but dust.
As for man, his days are but as grass, he will blossom like a flower of the field.
For when a wind has passed over it, it will be no more and will know its place no longer.
But the mercy of the Lord is for ever and ever upon those who fear him.
And his justice is upon their children’s children,
Upon those who keep his covenant and remember his commandments to do them.
The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, all you his Angels, powerful in strength, who perform his word and listen to the voice of his words.
Bless the Lord, all you his Powers, his Ministers who do his will.
Bless the Lord, all you his works. In every place of his dominion, bless the Lord, my soul!
And again:
In every place of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 142
Lord, hear my prayer: in your truth give ear to my supplication, and in your justice hear me.
Do not enter into judgement with your servant: for in your sight no one living can be justified.
For the enemy pursued my soul, humbled my life to the ground. Made me dwell in darkness, like those for ever dead.
My spirit grew despondent within me and my heart within me was troubled.
I remembered days of old, I meditated on all your works: I made the works of your hands my meditation.
I stretched out my hands towards you: my soul thirsted for you like a waterless land.
Hear me swiftly, O Lord, my spirit has failed.
Do not turn your face from me, or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Make me hear of your mercy in the morning, for I have hoped in you.
Make known to me the way in which I should walk, for to you I have lifted up my soul.
Deliver me from my enemies, Lord: I have run to you for shelter.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your good Spirit will guide me in an upright land.
For your name’s sake, O Lord, you will give me life.
In your justice, you will bring my soul out of trouble, in your mercy slay my enemies,
And destroy all those that afflict my soul, for I am your servant.
And again:
In your justice hear me, O Lord, and do not enter into judgement with your servant. (2x)
Your good Spirit will guide me in an upright land.
The following prayers are said with bows and the sign of the Cross.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
+ Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God (3x)
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia Verses in Tone Eight
From nightfall my spirit is awake for you, O God, for your commands are light upon the earth.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Learn justice, inhabitants of the earth.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Jealousy will seize an untaught people, and now fire devours their adversaries.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Bring evils upon them, O Lord, bring evils upon them, the glorious ones of the earth.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Behold, the Bridegroom in Tone Eight
Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and blessed is that servant whom he finds watching; but unworthy is the one whom he finds slothful. Take care then, my soul, not to be overcome with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and be shut out of the kingdom; but rouse yourself and cry: Holy, holy, holy are you, O God; through the protection of Bodiless Powers, have mercy on us.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and blessed is that servant whom he finds watching; but unworthy is the one whom he finds slothful. Take care then, my soul, not to be overcome with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and be shut out of the kingdom; but rouse yourself and cry: Holy, holy, holy are you, O God; through the prayers of the Holy Equal-to-the Apostles Constantine, have mercy on us.
… both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and blessed is that servant whom he finds watching; but unworthy is the one whom he finds slothful. Take care then, my soul, not to be overcome with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and be shut out of the kingdom; but rouse yourself and cry: Holy, holy, holy are you, O God; through the Mother of God, have mercy on us.
Kathisma Fourteen
Tone 3. Awed by the beauty.
To you a harlot came, pouring with tears sweet myrrh upon your all-pure feet, Lover of humankind; and from the foul stench of her sins at your command she was released; but although he breathed your grace, the ungrateful disciple cast, O Lord, your grace away, and with filth he was defiled, cast, O Lord, your grace away, and with filth he was defiled, by selling you out of avarice. Glory, O Christ, to your com passion!
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
To you a harlot came, pouring with tears sweet myrrh upon your all-pure feet, Lover of humankind; and from the foul stench of her sins at your command she was released; but although he breathed your grace, the ungrateful disciple cast, O Lord, your grace away, and with filth he was defiled, cast, O Lord, your grace away, and with filth he was defiled, by selling you out of avarice. Glory, O Christ, to your compassion!
Kathisma Fifteen
Tone 4. Your Martyr, O Lord.
Judas the cunning, in his love for gold, cunningly thought to betray you, Lord, the treasury of life. And so like a drunkard he runs swiftly to the Jews, and he says to the lawless: What are you willing to give me, and I shall hand him over to you for you to crucify him?
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Judas the cunning, in his love for gold, cunningly thought to betray you, Lord, the treasury of life. And so like a drunkard he runs swiftly to the Jews, and he says to the lawless: What are you willing to give me, and I shall hand him over to you for you to crucify him?
Kathisma Sixteen
Tone 1. The soldiers watching.
The harlot cried aloud as her tears flowed freely and eagerly she wiped our immaculate feet, O Merciful, with the hair of her head, as she groaned from the depth of her heart, ‘Do not reject me, do not loathe me, my God, but as I repent accept me and save me, as you alone love humankind’.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The harlot cried aloud as her tears flowed freely and eagerly she wiped our immaculate feet, O Merciful, with the hair of her head, as she groaned from the depth of her heart, ‘Do not reject me, do not loathe me, my God, but as I repent accept me and save me, as you alone love humankind’.
The Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. [12:17-50]
Glory to you, Lord, glory to you.
The appointed Gospel is said (not chanted)
Now the crowds which were with him were testifying that he had called Lazarus from the tomb and had raised him from the dead. It was also for this reason that the crowds went with him, because they had heard that he had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said among themselves, “You see how this is accomplishing nothing? Look! The world has gone after him!” Now, among those coming up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. They came to Philip who was from Bethsaida of Galilee and said to him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip told Jesus. Jesus responded, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I tell you that unless a grain of wheat, falling to the ground, dies, it remains a single [grain], but if it dies it bears much fruit. Those who love their life will lose it; those who hate their life in this world will keep it for ever. If any want to serve me, let them follow me. Where I am, there my servant will be also. If any want to serve me, the Father will honour them. Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is why I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven saying, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd standing nearby, hearing it, said that it was thunder; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus replied, “This voice has come, not for my sake but for yours. Now judgement is upon this world. Now the ruler of this world shall be driven out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself.” Now he said this signifying what kind of death he would die. [People in] the crowd said to him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever, so why do you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” Then Jesus told them, “For a little longer the light will be with you; walk while you have the light so that darkness may not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness do not know where they are going. While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Having said these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them. He performed so many signs in their presence, yet they did not believe in him. This was to fulfil the words of Isaiah the prophet who said, ‘Lord, who has believed our preaching? And the arm of the Lord – to whom has it been revealed?’ This is why they could not believe, as Isaiah said elsewhere, ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart so that they might not see with their eyes or understand with their heart, and turn back so that I might heal them.’ Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory and spoke about him. Even so, many of the rulers did believe in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not admit it so that they would not be expelled from the synagogue, for they loved the respect of human beings more than the respect of God. Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in the one who sent me. And whoever sees me, sees the one who sent me. I have come as a light to the world so that all who believe in me may not remain in darkness. If any listen to my sayings and do not believe, I do not judge them, for I came, not that I might judge the world but that I might save the world. Those who reject me and do not accept my sayings have a judge: what I have said, that is what will judge them on the last day, because I have not spoken for myself; but the Father who sent me has given me a commandment about what I should say and what I should preach. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Therefore I say what the Father has told me – that is what I say.”
Glory to you, Lord, glory to you.
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me O God, in your great mercy. In accordance with the multitude of your compassion blot out my offence.
Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my wickedness, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you only I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight, that you may be justified in your words, and win when you are judged.
For see, in wickedness I was conceived, and in sin my mother bore me.
For see, you have loved truth: you have shown me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom.
You will sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed; you will wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
You will make me hear of joy and gladness; the bones which have been humbled will rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me.
Do not cast me out from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
Give me back the joy of your salvation, and establish me with a sovereign Spirit.
I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn to you again.
O God, the God of my salvation, deliver me from bloodshed, and my tongue will rejoice at your justice.
Lord, you will open my lips: and my mouth will declare your praise.
For if you had wanted a sacrifice, I would have given it; you will not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a humbled heart God will not despise.
Do good to Sion, Lord, in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt.
Then you will be well pleased with a sacrifice of justice, oblation and whole burnt offerings.
Then they will offer calves upon your altar.
Canon by St Kosmas in Tone Two
Ode 3. The Irmos
‘Establishing me upon the rock of the faith, my mouth you have broadened against my enemies; for my spirit has rejoiced as it sings: There is none holy as our God, and there is none just but you, O Lord.’
Troparia
In vain is the Sanhedrin of the lawless being assembled with evil intent to pass sentence of condemnation upon you, O Christ the Deliverer, to whom we sing: You are our God, and there is none holy but you, O Lord.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit; Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The dread council of the lawless, their souls making war on God, plans how to slay as a malefactor Christ the just, to whom we sing: You are our God, and there is none holy but you, O Lord.
Katavasia
Establishing me upon the rock of the faith, my mouth you have broadened against my enemies; for my spirit has rejoiced as it sings: There is none holy as our God, and there is none just but you, O Lord.
Ode 8. The Irmos
‘Since the word of the tyrant prevailed, the furnace was once heated seven times. In it the youths, having trampled on the king’s decree, were not consumed by flames, but they cried aloud, ‘All you works of the Lord praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages.’
Troparia
A woman emptied out precious ointment on your royal, divine and awesome head, O Christ; with her polluted palms laid hold on your immaculate feet and cried aloud, ‘All you works of the Lord praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages.’
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit;
Guilty of sins, she washed with tears the feet of the Creator and wiped them with her hair; and so she did not fail to find redemption of all that she had done in life, but cried aloud, ‘All you works of the Lord praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages.’
… both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Redemption was ministered to the grateful woman from the Saviour’s tender love and the fountain of her tears. Washed clean by them, through her confession, she was not ashamed, but she cried aloud, ‘All you works of the Lord praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages.’
Katavasia
Since the word of the tyrant prevailed, the furnace was once heated seven times. In it the youths, having trampled on the king’s decree, were not consumed by flames, but cried aloud, ‘All you works of the Lord praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages.’
Ode 9. The Irmos
With souls that are pure and undefiled lips, come, let us magnify the unsullied and all-pure, the all-pure Mother of Emmanuel, as through her we offer intercession to the one born of her, ‘Spare our souls, Christ God, and save us.’
Troparia
Revealed as ungrateful, wicked and envious, now he calculates the price of a gift befitting God, through which she was released from the debt of her sins, and the wretched Judas traffics in the grace of God’s love. Spare our souls, Christ God, and save us.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit.
Judas goes to the lawless rulers and says, ‘What are you willing to give me, and I shall betray to you who want him, Christ whom you seek?’ So it was that he exchanged Christ’s fellowship for gold. Spare our souls, Christ God, and save us.
… both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Unrelenting in blind avarice, why have you forgotten that the world is not equal to the soul, as you were taught; for in despair, traitor, you hanged yourself. Spare our souls, Christ God, and save us.
Katavasia
With pure souls and undefiled lips, come, let us magnify the unsullied and all-pure Mother of Emmanuel, as through her we offer intercession to the one born of her, ‘Spare our souls, Christ God, and save us’.
Exapostilarion sung slowly in Tone Three
Your bridal chamber, O my Saviour, I see all adorned, but I have no garment so that I may enter it. Make bright the mantle of my soul, O Giver of light, and save me! (3x)
The Praises in Tone One
Psalm 148
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the highest. To you praise is due, O God.
Praise him, all his angels: Praise him, all his Powers. To you praise is due, O God.
Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light!
Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord.
For he spoke and they came into being; he commanded and they were created.
He established them for ever and ever; he made an ordinance, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth; praise him, you sea-monsters and all deeps;
Fire and hail, snow and ice and storm-wind; things that do his word.
Mountains and all hills, fruiting trees and all cedars;
Beasts of the wild, and all cattle, creeping things and winged birds;
Kings of the earth and all peoples, rulers and all judges of the earth;
Young men and maidens: old men and youths together, let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone has been exalted.
His praise is above earth and heaven, and he will exalt the horn of his people.
A hymn for all his holy ones; for the children of Israel, a people that draws near him.
Psalm 149
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the Church of the holy ones.
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him, let the children of Sion be joyful in their king.
Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing his praise with timbral and with harp.
For the Lord is well-pleased with his people; he will exalt the meek with salvation.
His holy ones will exult in glory, and rejoice upon their beds.
The high praises of God in their mouths, and two-edged swords in their hands,
To execute vengeance on the nations, punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings in fetters; and their nobles in shackles of iron;
To execute upon them the judgement that is decreed; such glory will be for all his holy ones!
Psalm 150
Praise God in his saints; praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him according to the greatness of his majesty.
Stichera 1 in Tone One
Recognising you, the Virgin’s Son, recognising you to be God, a harlot said, imploring you with weeping, for she had done things worthy of tears, ‘Loose my debt, as I unloose, as I unloose my hair; love the one who kisses you, though justly hated, and along with tax collectors I shall proclaim you, O Benefactor, who love humankind.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with lute and harp.
Stichera 2 in Tone One
The sweet myrrh of great price the harlot mixed with her tears, poured it over your immaculate feet and kissed them. Her you justified at once, but grant us pardon, grant us pardon who suffered for us and save us.
Praise him with timbral and dance; praise him with strings and pipe.
Stichera 3 in Tone One
When the sinful woman offered myrrh, then the disciple made an agreement with the lawless ones. The one rejoiced as she emptied out something of great price, while the other hurried to sell the One beyond price. She acknowledged the Master; he was parted and separated from the Master. She was liberated while Judas became the slave of the enemy. Fearful and dreadful is sloth! Great is repentance! O Saviour, grant it to me, Lord who suffered for us, and save us.
Praise him on fine-sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of gladness. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Stichera 4 in Tone One
O the wretchedness of Judas! He watched the harlot kissing your feet and with cunning and with guile began to plot the kiss of treachery. She untied her locks and set them free, and he was being bound, being bound by rage, bringing foul-smelling wickedness instead of myrrh; for envy does not know how to prefer its advantage. O the wretchedness of Judas! From it, O God, deliver our souls’
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit.
The sinful woman ran for the myrrh, to buy myrrh, myrrh of great price, to anoint with myrrh the Benefactor, and to the myrrh-seller she cried, ‘Give me the myrrh, that I may anoint the One who has wiped away, wiped away all my sins’.
… both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The woman drowned by sin found you, the harbour of salvation, and emptying out myrrh with tears, she cried out, she cried out to you, ‘See, the one who has authority to pardon sins. See, the One who waits for the repentance of the sinful. But, Master, save me from the tempest of my sin through your great mercy’.
The Little Doxology – Plain Reading
To you glory is due, O Lord, our God, and to you we give glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to ages of ages. Amen.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we thank you for your great glory. O Lord, heavenly King, God the almighty Father. O Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Lord God, lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us, who takes away the sins of the world. Receive our prayer, you who sit on the right hand of the Father and have mercy upon us. For you alone are holy, you alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day I will bless you, and praise your name for ever and ever. I said, Lord, have mercy upon me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Lord, I have run to you for refuge; teach me to do your will for you are my God. For with you is the source of life, and in your light we shall see light. O continue your merciful kindness toward those who know you.
Grant, Lord, this day to keep us without sin. Blessed are you, Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name for to the ages. Amen. May your mercy, Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in you. Blessed are you, Lord, teach me your statutes. Blessed are you, Master, make me understand your statutes. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me with your statutes. Lord, your mercy is for ever; do not scorn the work of your hands. To you praise is due, to you song is due, to you glory is due, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The Aposticha in Tone Six
Today Christ comes to the house of the Pharisee and a sinful woman draws near and flings herself at his feet, crying, ‘Behold, a woman who has been drowned by sin, without hope because of her deeds, yet not rejected with loathing from your goodness, and give me, Lord, forgiveness of my evil deeds and save me’.
Stichera 1
We were filled in the morning with your mercy, O Lord, and we rejoiced and were glad. In all our days.
The harlot spread out her hair for you, the Master; Judas spread out his hands to the lawless: she to receive forgiveness, he to receive silver. And so we cry to you, you who were sold and you set us free, ‘Lord, glory to you!
Stichera 2
Let us be glad, for all the days you have afflicted us, for the years we have suffered adversity. Look upon your servants and your works, and guide their children.
A woman foul-smelling and defiled drew near, pouring tears upon your feet, O Saviour, and proclaiming your passion. ‘Master, how can I gaze upon you? For you have come yourself to save a harlot. From the deep raise me who am dead, raise me from the deep, you roused Lazarus you roused Lazarus from the tomb after four days. Lord, in my misery accept me and save me’.
Stichera 3
Rejected because of her life, well-known because of her ways, she approached you carrying sweet myrrh and crying, ‘Do not cast me out, who am a harlot, you, who were born of a virgin. Do not despise, do not despise my tears my tears, O Joy of the Angels,; but, O Lord, as I repent, accept me, whom you did not thrust from you when I sinned, through your great mercy.’
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
By the Nun Kassiani in Tone Eight
O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving your divinity, your divinity, took up the role of myrrh-bearer, and with lamentation brings sweet myrrh to you before your burial. ‘Alas!’, she says, ‘for night is for me a frenzy of lust, a dark and moonless love of sin. Accept the fountains of my tears, you who from the clouds draw out the water of the sea; bow yourself down to the groanings of my heart, you who bowed the heavens by your ineffable self-emptying. I shall kiss your immaculate feet, and wipe them again with the locks of my hair, those feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise, and hid herself in fear. Who can search out the multitude of my sins and the depths of your judgements, my Saviour, saviour of souls? Do not despise me, your servant, for you have mercy without measure.’
The Trisagion
+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (3x)
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
+ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
Think, miserable soul, on the hour of the end, and made fearful by the cutting down of the fig tree, work with love of toil at the talent given you, as you watch and cry: May we not be left outside Christ’s bridal chamber!
Lord have mercy (40x)
Greater in honour than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word, truly the Mother of God we magnify you.
The Prayer of St Ephrem
Lord and Master of my life, do not give me a spirit of sloth, idle curiosity, love of power and useless chatter.
Rather accord to me, your servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love.
Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults, and not to condemn my brother; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen
Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults, and not to condemn my brother; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen
The Dismissal
+ Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy and save us. Amen.