The Lamentations.

The clergy come out of the sanctuary and stand in front of the Epitaphion, censing and beginning each stanza.

Psalm 118 (119)

First Stanza. Mode pl. 1.

Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your ordinances.

Verse: Blessed are the blameless in the way who walk in the law of the Lord. [SAAS]

You, O Life, were buried * in a tomb, O my Christ, * and angelic hosts were struck with astonishment, * glorifying Your ineffable descent. [GOASD]

Verse: Blessed are those who search out His testimonies; they shall search for Him with their whole heart.

You are dead and buried. * O Life, how can this be! * You are devastating death and its realm, O Lord. * From the netherworld You resurrect the dead.

Verse: For those who work lawlessness do not walk in His ways.

You are King, O Jesus, and we magnify You; * and we honor Your entombment and suffering, * by which You, O Lord, have salvaged us from doom.

Verse: You commanded us regarding Your commandments, that we should be very diligent to keep them.

You who laid the measures * of the earth lie today * in a narrow tomb, O Jesus the King of all, * resurrecting many dead from opened tombs.

Verse: Would that my ways were led, that I might keep Your ordinances.

Jesus Christ, my Savior, * what did You, King of all, * seek to do, going to Hades? In fact it was * to deliver and release the human race.

Verse: Then I would not be ashamed when I regard all Your commandments.

The almighty Master * is observed to be dead. * He is laid within a new, unused sepulcher, * He who emptied many graves of those who died.

Verse: I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with an upright heart, when I learn the judgments of Your righteousness.

You, O Life, were buried * in a tomb, O my Christ. * You destroyed the realm of death by Your death, O Lord, * and became the source of life for all the world.

Verse: I shall keep Your ordinances; do not utterly forsake me.

With those malefactors * You were counted, O Christ, * as a criminal, while You vindicated us * from the ancient villain's crime against us all.

Verse: How shall a young man keep his way straight? when he keeps Your words.

He was called the fairest * and most handsome of men. * He who beautified the nature of all appears * as a corpse bereft of majesty and form.

Verse: I searched for You with my whole heart; do not drive me away from Your commandments.

How will Hades bear it * when You go there, O Christ, * being swiftly crushed and blinded and stupefied * by the flash and gleaming glory of Your light?

Verse: I hid Your teachings in my heart so as not to sin against You.

How can You be hidden * in a dark, unlit tomb, * O my Jesus, being sweet and salvific light? * Your forbearance is ineffable, O Lord.

Verse: Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your ordinances.

All noetic beings * and the bodiless hosts * are bewildered and perplexed by the mystery * of Your awe-inspiring burial, O Christ.

Verse: With my lips I declared all the judgments of Your mouth.

As a breathless body, * He who gave me my breath * is by Joseph's hands prepared now for burial. * Oh the strange and novel wonders we behold!

Verse: I delight in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.

It is paradoxal * and amazing, O Christ, * that You lay within the tomb here on earth and yet * never left Your Father's bosom in the heights.

Verse: I shall meditate on Your commandments, and I shall understand Your ways.

Jesus, all creation * recognized You as true * King of heaven and of earth, even when You were * in a dark and narrow sepulcher enclosed.

Verse: I shall meditate on Your ordinances; I shall not forget Your words.

After You, O Maker, * had been laid in a tomb, * the foundations of the netherworld quaked, O Christ, * and the tombs opened of people who had died.

Verse: Reward Your servant; I shall live, and keep Your words.

Jesus, who is holding * all the earth in His hand, * has been killed, and underground is His body held, * as He liberates the dead from Hades' hold.

Verse: Unveil my eyes, and I shall understand the wonders in Your law.

O my life and Savior, * when You died, You went down * to the place where all the dead were and smashed the bars * of the netherworld and rose again from death.

Verse: I am a sojourner on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.

The Lord's holy body, * the proverbial lamp * that was put under a bushel, is hidden now * underground, driving away the nether gloom.

Verse: My soul longed to desire Your judgments in every season.

The angelic armies * came to watch Joseph help * Nicodemus wrap Your body and bury it * in a tomb, O Lord whom nothing can contain.

Verse: You rebuke the arrogant; those who turn aside from Your commandments are accursed.

Fount of life, my Jesus, * by Your own will You died * and were buried in the earth and gave life to me, * who through tragic disobedience had died.

Verse: Take away reproach and contempt from me, for I searched Your testimonies.

By Your Passion, all things * were affected, O Lord. * All creation joined You suffering, knowing You * as the Logos and maintainer of all things.

Verse: For rulers sat and spoke against me, but Your servant meditated on Your ordinances.

When voracious Hades * swallowed You, Rock of life, * and had You inside its belly, it vomited * and expelled the dead it swallowed from all time.

Verse: For Your testimonies are my meditation, and Your ordinances are my counsels.

You, O Christ, were buried * in a new, unused tomb. * Then You rose within three days from the dead as God, * and You made our human nature new again.

Verse: My soul cleaves to the earth; give me life according to Your word.

You came down, O Master, * to save Adam on earth. * But not finding him on earth, You went further down * into Hades, and You sought to find him there.

Verse: I made known my ways and You heard me; teach me Your ordinances.

All the earth was quaking, * and it trembled with fear; * and the sun concealed its light, when the greatest Light, * You the Logos, were concealed beneath the earth.

Verse: Cause me to understand the way of Your ordinances, and I shall meditate on Your wonders.

Willingly, O Savior, * as a mortal You died; * and as God You resurrected the dead from graves * and all people from the hellish pit of sin.

Verse: My soul fainted because of its listlessness; establish me in Your words.

Tearful lamentations * did the pure Lady pour * over You, O sweetest Jesus, maternally * crying out, "How can I bury You, my Son?"

Verse: Remove the way of unrighteousness from me, and with Your law have mercy on me.

Buried, You were planted * like a kernel of wheat * in the earth; and then You raised Adam's progeny, * thus producing fruit abundantly, O Lord.

Verse: I chose the way of truth; I have not forgotten Your judgments.

Like the sun, O Savior, * You have set; and by earth * You are hidden and concealed by the night of death. * Rise and shine even more splendidly, we pray!

Verse: I cleave to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not disappoint me.

You, O Lord and Savior, * are eclipsed now by death * in the body; for the tomb is concealing You, * as the moon conceals the sun in an eclipse.

Verse: I ran on the path of Your commandments, when You enlarged my heart.

Christ is life incarnate. * He experienced death, * and from death He liberated humanity. * Now to everyone He gives the gift of life.

Verse: Give me as law, O Lord, the way of Your ordinances, and I shall always search them.

You have come as Adam, * made anew in the flesh. * By Your death, O Lord, You brought Adam back to life; * for of old because of envy he had died.

Verse: Cause me to understand, and I shall search out Your law; and I shall keep it with my whole heart.

When they saw You, Savior, * lying dead on the Stone * of Anointing for our sake, Your angelic hosts * were astounded and stood veiled behind their wings.

Verse: Guide me in the path of Your commandments, for I desire it.

Lord and Word, when Joseph * took You down from the Cross, * he prepared Your corpse laid it inside the tomb. * Now arise as God and save us all, we pray!

Verse: Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to greediness.

For Your Angels, Savior, * You are naturally joy. * When they saw You as a dead, lifeless corpse, O Lord, * You became for them the cause of grief as well.

Verse: Turn away my eyes that I may not see vanity; give me life in Your way.

Savior, being lifted * on the Cross, with yourself * You lift up the living; and going underground, * You are raising those who lie beneath the earth.

Verse: Establish Your teaching in Your servant In regard to Your fear.

You bowed down, O Savior, * as a lion and slept * in the flesh and died; but then You were roused again * as a cub, and You shook off old age of flesh.

Verse: Take away my blame, which I have suspected, for Your judgments are good.

From the side of Adam * You, O Lord, took a rib * and made Eve from it of old. Now Your side is pierced, * and from it You pour out purifying streams.

Verse: Behold, I long for Your commandments; give me life in Your righteousness.

Lambs were once discretely * sacrificially slain. * O forbearing Savior, You they slew publicly; * and You purified the whole world by Your blood.

Verse: And may Your mercy come upon me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your teaching.

Shocking and horrific * is this turn of events! * He who rules over creation now willingly * undergoes the Passion and He dies for us.

Verse: And I shall answer those who insult me with a word, for I hope in Your words.

Angels in amazement * cried aloud, "How can God, * the immortal source and giver of life, appear * to be dead and be enclosed within a tomb?"

Verse: Do not take away the word of truth completely from my mouth, for I hope in Your judgments.

From Your side, O Savior, * that was pierced with a spear, * You drip life on Life, yes Eve who of old deprived * me of life, and You make me and her alive.

Verse: So I shall keep Your law always, forever and unto ages of ages.

With Your arms extended * on the Cross, You, O Lord, * drew all people. Since Your life-giving side was pierced, * You, O Jesus, gush forgiveness unto all.

Verse: And I walk in a broad space, for I searched Your commandments.

That respected member * of the council, O Lord, * wraps Your body and respectfully buries You. * He is awestruck at this awful sight of You.

Verse: I spoke of Your testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed.

As You willed, O Jesus, * as a mortal You go * to the netherworld and lead to the heights again * those who long ago had fallen thence, O Lord.

Verse: And I meditate on Your commandments, which I love exceedingly.

Even if we saw You * as one dead, yet as God * You are living and reviving the ones who died, * after neutralizing him who made me dead.

Verse: And I raise my hands to Your commandments, which I love. And I meditate on Your ordinances.

Jesus, great and boundless * was the joy and delight * that You filled them with in Hades when You arrived * and were flashing light in dark and gloomy caves.

Verse: Remember Your word to Your servant, in which You give me hope.

I revere Your Passion, * Your entombment I praise, * and I magnify Your might, for by these am I * freed from soul-destroying passions, loving Lord.

Verse: This comforted me in my humiliation, for Your teaching gives me life.

Against You, O Savior, * godless men whet a sword; * and the sword of the once strong man is blunted now; * and the sword that guarded Eden is withdrawn.

Verse: The arrogant transgressed exceedingly, but I did not turn away from Your law.

When the Savior's Mother * saw her lamb being slain, * shot with anguish she lamented and cried aloud, * moving us, the flock of Christ, to cry as well.

Verse: I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord, and I was comforted.

Jesus Christ my Savior, * even though You were laid * in a sepulcher and went to the netherworld, * You stripped Hades and evacuated tombs.

Verse: Despondency held me because of sinners who abandon Your law.

As You wished, descending * to the regions below, * You revived the dead, O Savior, and led them up, * in the glory of Your Father and our God.

Verse: Your ordinances were sung to me In the place of my sojourning.

All creation shudders, * both the sun and the earth, * which is quaking now, for one of the Trinity * in the flesh endured a painful death for us.

Verse: I remembered Your name in the night, O Lord, and I kept Your law.

Jesus is the Savior * who gave manna as food * to the tribe of Judah, which like a bitter pool * issued offspring who have laid Him in a pit.

Verse: This happened to me in the night, because I searched Your ordinances.

Even as the chosen * Judge of all, Jesus Christ * stood on trial before Pilate who wrongfully * sentenced Him to die by hanging on a cross.

Verse: You are my portion, O Lord; I said I will keep Your law.

Such a prideful people! * What a murderous mob! * What befell you that wanted Barabbas freed * but delivered Christ the Savior to the cross?

Verse: I sought Your presence with my whole heart; have mercy on me according to Your teaching.

With Your hand You fashioned * first-formed Adam of earth. * You became in nature human for him, O Lord. * You were crucified for him as You so willed.

Verse: I considered Your ways, and I turned my feet toward Your testimonies.

You obeyed Your Father, * Son and Logos of God, * and came down, even as far as the netherworld, * and from awful Hades raised the human race.

Verse: I prepared myself, and I was not troubled, that I might keep Your commandments.

As the Virgin Mary * was lamenting, she wept, * and purportedly she said, "O my light, alas! * O my dearest Jesus, light of all the world!"

Verse: The ropes of sinners ensnared me, but I did not forget Your law.

People filled with envy, * wretched murderous mob, * now that Christ has truly risen, be shamed at last * by the grave clothes that were left and by the shroud.

Verse: At midnight I arose to give thanks to You because of the judgments of Your righteousness.

O defiled disciple, * vile murderer, come, * and explain to me the ways of your wickedness, * by which you became the betrayer of Christ.

Verse: I am a companion of all who fear You and keep Your commandments.

Foolish, blind, disloyal, * and completely depraved, * you pretend to be some kind of philanthropist, * who would sell the costly ointment for a price.

Verse: Lord, the earth is full of Your mercy; teach me Your ordinances.

What was your suggested * price for heavenly myrrh? * What would you accept as right for the costly oil? * Cursed devil, as your prize you lost your mind.

Verse: Lord, You dealt with Your servant in goodness, according to Your word.

If you cared for the poor * and were grieved that the oil * that was poured on Christ the Light to redeem a soul * was not sold, how can you sell Him out for gold?

Verse: Teach me goodness, instruction, and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments.

You are God and Logos. * You, my Son, are my joy. * How can I endure Your three day long burial? As a mother I am torn inside with grief.

Verse: Before I was humbled, I transgressed; therefore, I kept Your teaching.

The all-holy Virgin * Bride of God cried aloud, *"Who will hydrate me as I shed a flood of tears, * as I weep for sweetest Jesus, yes my Son?"

Verse: You are good, O Lord, and in Your goodness teach me Your ordinances.

Alas! hills and valleys, * multitudes of mankind, * join me; all you people everywhere, weep with me, * who am Mother of our God, as I lament.

Verse: The unrighteousness of the arrogant multiplied against me, but I will search out Your commandments with my whole heart.

The all-holy Virgin * cried aloud in her grief, * "Savior, when will I behold You, eternal light, * You my Son, the joy and sweetness of my heart?"

Verse: Their heart was curdled like milk, but I meditated on Your law.

Savior, as the capstone * You consented to be * struck and cut, O Lord and source of eternal life; * and You thus for us poured out the living stream.

Verse: It is good for me that You humbled me, that I might learn Your ordinances.

From that single fountain * of Your side, on the Cross * You gushed forth the double river, from which we now * sacramentally imbibe immortal life.

Verse: The law of Your mouth is good for me, rather than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

As You willed, O Logos, * You were seen as one dead * in the tomb, and yet You live; and as You foretold, * by Your rising You, my Savior, raise mankind.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Lord of all and Logos, * we extol You as God * with Your Father and Your Spirit, and glorify * Your divine and holy burial, O Christ.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Virgin Theotokos, * now we all call you blessed, * and we honor the divine three-day burial * of your Son, our God, with ardent faith and love.

(End with the first one again.)

You, O Life, were buried * in a tomb, O my Christ, * and angelic hosts were struck with astonishment, * glorifying Your ineffable descent.

DEACON

Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

( Lord, have mercy. )

Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

( To You, O Lord. )

PRIEST

For blessed is Your name, and glorified is Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

Second Stanza. Mode pl. 1.

Right it is to sing * magnifying You, life-giving Savior. * You stretched out Your arms on the Cross, O Lord, * and You shattered the dominion of the foe. [GOASD]

Verse: Your hands made and fashioned me; instruct me, and I will learn Your commandments. [SAAS]

Right it is to sing * magnifying You who made the cosmos. * By Your Passion saved from destructive death, * we may now attain dispassion in our lives.

Verse: Those who fear You will see me and be glad, because I hope in Your words.

Never-setting Sun, * buried physically, You set, O Savior. * Earth expressed its horror and quaked, O Christ, * and the sun in awe and protest was eclipsed.

Verse: I know, O Lord, Your judgments are righteousness, and You humbled me with truth.

In the tomb You slept * life-producing sleep, O Christ my Savior, * even as You woke up the human race * from the deep and heavy sleep of death and sin.

Verse: Let Your mercy be for my comfort, according to Your teaching to Your servant.

Virgin Mary said, * "Son, I bore You as the only woman * who gave birth with no pain. But watching now * as You suffer, I feel agonizing pain."

Verse: Let Your compassions come to me, and I shall live; for Your law is my meditation.

Seraphim see You, * who on high are never separated * from the Father, Savior, below on earth * lying dead, and they are shuddering in awe.

Verse: Let the arrogant be shamed, for they transgressed unjustly against me; but I shall meditate on Your commandments.

You were crucified, * and the curtain of the Temple ruptured. * You, the Sun, were hidden beneath the earth, * and the stars above, O Logos, hid their light.

Verse: Let those who fear You turn to me, and those who know Your testimonies.

He who simply willed * and made planet earth in the beginning * goes now as a dead man beneath the earth. * At this spectacle, O Heaven, be amazed!

Verse: Let my heart be blameless in Your ordinances, that I may not be disappointed.

You who fashioned man * with Your hand have gone beneath the earth now, * so that You might raise all humanity * from its fall, by Your almighty strength, O Christ.

Verse: My soul earnestly longs for Your salvation, and I hope in Your word.

Come and let us sing * unto Christ, who died, these lamentations, * so that, as the Myrrh-bearing Women then, * we may also hear the Savior say, "Rejoice!"

Verse: My eyes strained to look at Your teaching, saying, "When will You comfort me?"

Word, You are in truth * inexhaustible perfume and ointment. * Thus to You who live, as to one who died, * did the Myrrh-bearers bring ointments and perfume.

Verse: I am like a leather bag in a frost; I did not forget Your ordinances.

Christ, You were entombed, * and You crushed the mighty realm of Hades; * death You put to death by Your death, O Lord; * from destruction You have saved us born on earth.

Verse: How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment for me upon those who persecute me?

Christ, the Wisdom of God, * pouring forth the streams of life, was buried, * went into the depths of the netherworld, * and gave life to those who languished in its cells.

Verse: Transgressors described their meditations to me, but these are not like Your law, O Lord.

By My death I wish * to renew destructed human nature. * So, I let them whip me and scar my flesh. * Therefore, Mother, do not grieve and beat your breasts.

Verse: All Your commandments are truth; they persecuted me unjustly; help me.

Sun of righteousness, * when You set beneath the earth, O Savior, * You wakened the dead as from sleep, O Lord, * and from Hades You drove out the darkness all.

Verse: They almost ended my life on earth, but I did not forsake Your commandments.

In the ground today * is the double-natured, life-producing * kernel sown and watered with tears of grief. * When it blossoms it will fill the world with joy.

Verse: Give me life according to Your mercy, and I shall keep the testimonies of Your mouth.

Adam hid in fear * at the sound of God walking in Eden. * Seeing Him in Hades, he leaps for joy, * being raised now from his fall so long ago.

Verse: Forever, O Lord, Your word continues in heaven.

Christ, Your Mother wept * many tears for You, as she lamented, * as Your corpse was laid in the sepulcher. * She cried out, "My Son, arise, as You foretold!"

Verse: Your truth continues from generation to generation; You laid the foundation of the earth, and it continues.

Joseph reverently * in his own new tomb inters Your body. * Mixing lamentations with funeral hymns * fit for God, he sings to You, O Savior Christ.

Verse: By Your arrangement each day continues, for all things are Your servants.

When Your Mother saw * how they nailed You to the Cross, O Logos, * nails of bitter sorrow and darts of grief * pierced her heart and soul, as she had been foretold.

Verse: If Your law were not my meditation, I would have perished in my humiliation.

Watching You, O Lord, * sweet delight of all the world, be given * sour wine to drink it, Your Mother wept, * and she wet her holy face with bitter tears.

Verse: I will never forget Your ordinances, for in them You give me life, O Lord.

"I am pained and pricked * to the heart, my Son and Logos, watching * You unjustifiably be put to death," * said the all-pure Virgin Mary as she wept.

Verse: I am Yours; save me, for I search Your ordinances.

"How am I to shut * Your sweet eyes and lips, O Lord and Logos? * How can I prepare You for burial?" * Joseph shuddered as he uttered this to Christ.

Verse: Sinners waited for me to kill me; I understood Your testimonies.

Graveside hymns are sung * now by Joseph and by Nicodemus * unto Christ who died for the sake of all. * They are joined in sacred song by Seraphim.

Verse: I saw the limit of every accomplishment; Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Sun of Righteousness, * You have set beneath the earth, O Savior, * blocking her who bore You from seeing You. * Like the moon, she was eclipsed by pain and grief.

Verse: How I love Your law, O Lord; It is my meditation the whole day long.

Hades quaked in fear * when it saw You, O life-giving Savior, * as You resurrected the dead it held * from the dawn of time and stripped it of its wealth.

Verse: You make me wiser than my enemies with Your commandment, for it is mine forever.

After night the sun * brightly shines, and likewise You, O Logos, * after death will rise and will brightly shine * from Your chamber as the Bridegroom that You are.

Verse: I understand more than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

Savior, earth received * You, its Maker, in its lowest caverns. * Trembling under pressure, it quaked with fear * and by quaking woke the dead who were asleep.

Verse: I understand more than the elders, for I search Your commandments.

Nicodemus brought * myrrh and aloes and with Joseph wrapped You * in a manner new and unique, O Christ; * and they cried, "Behold and shudder, all the earth!"

Verse: I withheld my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Your words.

You created light. * Now You set, and with You sets the sun's light. * All creation trembles, proclaiming You * as the Maker of the universe, O Christ.

Verse: I did not turn away from Your judgments, for You taught me Your law.

Earth, behold and quake! * For the Cornerstone has now been covered * by a quarried stone, and within a tomb * God as mortal is concealed by mortal man.

Verse: How sweet to my taste are Your teachings, more than honey and the honeycomb in my mouth.

"Child, behold and see * Your beloved Disciple and Your Mother. * Let me hear Your sweet voice. Please speak to me," cried the Virgin Mary tearfully to Christ.

Verse: I gained understanding because of Your commandments; therefore, I hate every unrighteous way.

O Giver of life,* even stretched out on the Cross, O Logos, * You refused to put any Jews to death; * on the contrary You raised their dead as well.

Verse: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths.

Lord, You had no form * neither comeliness during Your Passion. * But once You arose, You shone brilliantly, * and You beautified mankind with light divine.

Verse: I swore and confirmed that I would keep the judgments of Your righteousness.

Never-setting Sun, * when You set beneath the earth in body, * in the sky the sun could not bear to watch, * and at high noon it went dark and hid its light.

Verse: I was humbled exceedingly; O Lord, give me life according to Your word.

Savior, sun and moon * both went dark, and thereby they depicted * most devoted servants of Yours, O Lord, * for they hid their light and robed themselves in black.

Verse: Be well-pleased with the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your judgments.

Joseph cried aloud, * "The Centurion has recognized You * as God, even after You died, O Lord. * O my God, how can I touch You with my hands?"

Verse: My soul is always in Your hands, and I have not forgotten Your law.

Adam went to sleep; * from his side he brought forth death in due course. * You, O Word of God, also went to sleep; * now You pour out streams of life for all the world.

Verse: Sinners set snares for me, but I did not wander from Your commandments.

You, O Savior, slept * for a short time and reanimated * the dead, O good Lord; and since You arose, * You have raised those who for ages slept in death.

Verse: I inherited Your testimonies forever, for these are the exceeding joy of my heart.

Taken from the earth, * You, O Lord, the grape vine ever flowing * with life, still pour out our salvation's wine. * Now I glorify Your Passion and Your Cross.

Verse: I inclined my heart to do Your ordinances forever for a reward.

When they saw You judged, * naked, bloody, and condemned, O Savior, * how did Your sublime Master Sergeants bear * the audacity of those who crucified You?

Verse: Transgressors I hate, but I love Your law.

Disobedient * and delinquents of the chosen people, * you knew that the Temple could be rebuilt. * So then why did you condemn and censure Christ?

Verse: You are my helper and my protector; I hope in Your word.

In a scarlet robe * is the Marshal of celestial armies, * who splendidly studded the sky with stars * and who decorated earth, arrayed and mocked.

Verse: Turn away from me, you evildoers, and I shall search out the commandments of my God.

From Your wounded side * You shed vivifying streams, O Logos, * and revived Your children when we were dead, * as the pelican of lore revived her young.

Verse: Uphold me according to Your teaching, and give me life; and may You not disappoint my expectation.

Joshua stayed the sun * on that day he smote the foreign armies. * You, O Lord, conversely concealed its light, * and the prince of darkness fell to You, O Christ.

Verse: Help me, and I shall be saved; and I shall meditate always in Your ordinances.

Tender-loving Lord, * You were ever in the Father's bosom, * and You were well pleased to became a man, * and to Hades You descended, O Christ.

Verse: You set at naught all who departed from Your ordinances, for their thought is unrighteous.

Hung upon a cross * is the One who hung the earth on waters. * Dead now, He is buried beneath the earth, * which, unable to endure it, quakes with fear.

Verse: I counted as transgressors all the sinners of the earth; for this reason I always love Your testimonies.

"Woe is me, O Son!" * said the Virgin Mary and lamented. * "You have been condemned and are crucified, * You whom I had hoped would reign as King of all!"

Verse: Nail my flesh with the fear of You, for I fear You because of Your judgments.

So said Gabriel * when he came at the Annunciation; * he told me that Jesus my Son would reign, * and that of His kingdom there will be no end.

Verse: I work judgment and righteousness; do not deliver me to those who wrong me.

Woe is me! Alas! * What the Elder Symeon foretold me, * that a sword would pierce through my heart and soul, * is fulfilled now, O Emmanuel, my Son.

Verse: Take Your servant to that which is good; do not let the arrogant falsely accuse me.

See and be ashamed, * O you Pharisees and scribes and chief priests, * at least by the dead who were raised by Christ, * the Life-giver, you delivered to be killed.

Verse: My eyes strained to look at Your salvation and at the teaching of Your righteousness.

When the sun beheld * You the unseen Light, O Christ my Savior, * a dead corpse concealed in a sepulcher, * it was horrified and hid its midday light.

Verse: Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy and teach me Your ordinances.

Your immaculate * and all-blameless Mother cried her eyes out, * watching You be laid in a tomb, O Christ * the ineffable eternal Word and God.

Verse: I am Your servant; cause me to understand, and I shall know Your testimonies.

When she saw Your death, * O my Christ, Your ever-virgin Mother * poignantly cried out, "O my Son and life, * do not stay among the dead for very long."

Verse: It is time for the Lord to act; they broke Your law.

When it saw You, Lord * and immortal Sun of glory, enter, * frightful Hades, frightened, was terrified * and at once released its prisoners to You.

Verse: For this reason I love Your commandments more than gold and topaz.

Great and terrible * is the spectacle today, O Savior! * As it was Your will to give life to all, * You the cause of life willingly yield to death.

Verse: Therefore I directed myself to all Your commandments; I hated every unrighteous way.

Lord, Your side was pierced * and Your hands were nailed; and by the wounding * of Your side, You healed our Ancestors' wound * and corrected the intemperance of their hands.

Verse: Wondrous are Your testimonies; for this reason my soul searches them out.

Rachael's son of old * was the subject once of lamentation. * Now it is for Jesus, the Virgin's Son, * that His Mother and Disciples all lament.

Verse: The revelation of Your words gives light, and it causes children to understand.

Struck across the cheek * by the hands of men was Christ the Savior, * who with His divine hand had fashioned man * and in Hades broke the savage lion's teeth.

Verse: I opened my mouth and drew in my breath, for I longed for Your commandments.

With these hymns, O Christ, * we the faithful all extol Your Passion * and Your Crucifixion and Burial. * By Your death, O Lord, You rescued us from death.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

O eternal God, * co-eternal Word, and Holy Spirit, * fortify our country and drive away * foreign enemies, O Lord, as You are good.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Mother of our life, * O good Lady, pure and blameless Virgin, * put an end to scandals within the Church, * and restore her peace and unity once more.

(End with the first one again.)

Right it is to sing * magnifying You, life-giving Savior. * You stretched out Your arms on the Cross, O Lord, * and You shattered the dominion of the foe.

DEACON

Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

( Lord, have mercy. )

Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

( To You, O Lord. )

PRIEST

For holy are You, our God, resting on the glorious throne of the cherubim, and to You we send up glory, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

Third Stanza. Mode 3.

All generations offer * these hymns, O Christ my Savior, * to honor Your entombment. [GOASD]

Verse: Look upon me and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of those who love Your name. [SAAS]

The Arimathean * from the Cross removed You, * O Christ, and he entombed You.

Verse: Direct my steps according to Your teaching and let no lawlessness rule over me.

O Christ, Myrrh-bearing women * prepared their fragrant ointments * and brought them to anoint You.

Verse: Ransom me from the slander of men, and I will keep Your commandments.

All creation, come now, * sing to our Creator * these graveside lamentations.

Verse: Make Your face shine upon Your servant and teach me Your ordinances.

As if Myrrh-bearing women, * knowingly we perfume * as dead the living Savior.

Verse: My eyes poured down streams of tears because they did not keep Your law.

Bury now the body * of Christ who is the Giver * of life, thrice-blessed Joseph.

Verse: Righteous are You, O Lord, and upright is Your judgment.

Descendants of the people * who ate the manna lifted * their heel against their Savior.

Verse: You commanded Your testimonies exceedingly in righteousness and truth.

Descendants of the people * who ate sweet manna offer * their Savior sour wine mingled.

Verse: The zeal of Your house caused me to yearn for home, for my enemies forgot Your words.

Madness was the killing * of their own Messiah * of those who killed the Prophets.

Verse: Your teaching is exceedingly purified in fire, and Your servant loves it.

As a foolish servant, * Judas the disciple * betrayed the sea of wisdom.

Verse: I am young, and beheld as nothing, but I have not forgotten Your ordinances.

Judas the dissembler, * by selling off the Savior * became himself a captive.

Verse: Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and Your law is truth.

The mouth of lawless chief priests * and scribes was like a deep pit, * according to the Proverbs.

Verse: Affliction and trouble found me, but Your commandments are my meditation.

Thorns and snares were surely * in the ways of wicked * perverted scribes and chief priests.

Verse: Your testimonies are righteousness forever; give me understanding, and I shall live.

With help from Nicodemus, * Joseph buries Jesus, * decedent and Creator.

Verse: I cry out with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord; I shall search Your ordinances.

O life-giving Savior, * glory to You power, * by which You conquered Hades!

Verse: I cry out to You; save me, and I shall keep Your testimonies.

Seeing You, O Logos, * lying dead, the Virgin * maternally lamented.

Verse: I arose at midnight and cried out; I hoped in Your words.

O my sweetest Child, * my refreshing springtime, * why has Your beauty wilted?

Verse: My eyes awoke before dawn that I might meditate on Your teachings.

Moved to lamentation * was Your all-pure Mother, * seeing You dead, O Logos.

Verse: Hear my voice, O Lord, according to Your mercy; give me life according to Your judgment.

Women come with spices * and ointments to perfume You, * O Christ, the divine ointment.

Verse: Those who persecute me in lawlessness drew near; they are far removed from Your law.

O my God, You killed death * by Your death, O Savior, * in Your divine dominion

Verse: You are near, O Lord; all Your commandments are truth.

Deceiving the deceiver, * O God, You masterminded * the rescue of his victim.

Verse: From the beginning I knew Your testimonies, that You established them forever.

Cast into the pit of * decay and to the bottom * of Hell was the betrayer.

Verse: Behold my humiliation and deliver me, for I have not forgotten Your law.

The crooked ways of Judas, * thrice-wretched and demented, * are thorns and snares, as written.

Verse: Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life because of Your word.

With him Your crucifiers, * O Son of God and Logos * and King of all, have perished.

Verse: Salvation is far from sinners, for they have not searched Your ordinances.

Likewise into the pit of * decay those men of blood were * cast down, and there they perished.

Verse: Your compassions are many, O Lord; give me life according to Your judgment.

O Son of God, my Maker * and King of all, how did You * submit and bear the Passion!

Verse: Many are those who pursue and afflict me, but I did not turn away from Your testimonies.

The heifer saw her young bull * crucified, and therefore * she cried aloud lamenting.

Verse: I saw those acting foolishly, and I yearned for You; for they did not keep Your teachings.

With help from Nicodemus, * Joseph wraps and buries * the vivifying body.

Verse: Behold, I love Your commandments; O Lord, in Your mercy, give me life.

The Virgin cried in anguish; * her heart was pierced with sorrow: * she wept hot tears lamenting.

Verse: The beginning of Your words is truth, and all the judgments of Your righteousness are forever.

The sepulcher conceals You * from me. Alas! O Jesus, * light of my eyes, my sweet Son!

Verse: Rulers persecuted me without cause, but my heart feared because of Your words.

Do not lament, O Mother. * I suffer this to rescue * Adam and Eve from Hades.

Verse: I shall greatly rejoice in Your teachings, like one finding great spoil.

My Son, I glorify You * and Your sublime compassion, * because of which You suffer.

Verse: I hate and abhor unrighteousness, but I love Your law.

To cancel the illicit * taste of old, O Savior, * You tasted gall and sour wine.

Verse: I praise You seven times a day for the judgments of Your righteousness.

Nailed unto a post, Lord, * are You who saved Your people * with cloud and fiery pillar.

Verse: Great peace have all who love Your law, and it is not an offense to them.

Women came with spices * to Your tomb, O Savior. * Now they are called Myrrh-bearers.

Verse: I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and I love Your commandments.

Arise, O loving Savior, * and also resurrect us * from Hades and perdition.

Verse: My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.

Your Mother weeps a faucet * of tears as she is saying, * "Arise now, O Life-giver!"

Verse: I keep Your commandments and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You, O Lord.

Speedily, O Logos, * arise and put an end to * Your virgin Mother's sorrow.

Verse: Let my supplication draw near before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your teaching.

The Powers of the heavens * were struck with fear and wonder, * seeing You dead and buried.

Verse: May my petition come before You; Deliver me according to Your teaching.

Forgive every transgression * of those who now with longing * and love extol Your Passion.

Verse: My lips shall overflow in song when You teach me Your ordinances.

How can earth conceal You! * This scene is horrifying * and strange, O God and Logos.

Verse: My tongue shall speak of Your teaching, for all Your commandments are righteousness.

One Joseph long ago, Lord, * took You and departed; * another now entombs You.

Verse: Let Your hand be for saving me, for I chose Your commandments.

Your all-holy Mother * sees You dead, O Savior; * and weeping, she laments You.

Verse: I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my meditation.

The Angels shudder, seeing * the strange and dread entombment * of You the world's Creator.

Verse: My soul shall live and praise You, and Your judgments shall help me.

Coming very early, * Myrrh-bearing women sprinkled * Your sepulcher with perfume.

Repeat the following verse several times, as the priest sprinkles the tomb and the people.

Coming very early, * Myrrh-bearing women sprinkled * Your sepulcher with perfume.

Verse: I went astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.

By Your resurrection, * reconcile Your churches, * O Lord, and save Your people.

Verse: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

O Trinity, my one God, * Father, Son, and Spirit, * grant the world Your mercy.

Verse: Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

We pray you, Virgin Mother * of Christ, to count us worthy * to see His resurrection.

(End with the first one again.)

All generations offer * these hymns, O Christ my Savior, * to honor Your entombment.

DEACON

Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

( Lord, have mercy. )

Commemorating our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

( To You, O Lord. )

PRIEST

For You are the King of peace and the Savior of our souls, O Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )