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Triodion

Mode 4. On Thursday Morning

On Thursday of the Fifth Week Morning

The Service of the Great Canon

Menaion - April 18

Memory of St. John, disciple of St. Gregory of Decapolis

__________

MATINS

CHOIR

Mode 4.

Verse 1: My spirit rises early in the morning to You, O God, for Your commands are a light upon the earth. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Learn righteousness, you who dwell on the earth.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 3: Jealousy will seize an untaught people; and now fire will devour the adversaries.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 4: Bring more evils on them, O Lord, bring more evils on them, on the glorious of the earth.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

From Horologion - - -

Triadic Hymns

Mode 4.

We mortals dare to offer You the hymn of Your noetic ministers, and we say: Holy, holy, holy are You our God. By the intercessions of the Apostles save us. [SD]

Glory.

Now like the orders of Angels in heaven, and the ranks of people on earth, with fear we offer You a hymn of victory, O good One. Holy, holy, holy are You our God. By the intercessions of the Hierarch save us. [SD]

Both now.

Like the Cherubim we dare to glorify the unoriginate Father, and You, O Christ God, and Your all-holy Spirit, and we say: Holy, holy, holy are You our God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us. [SD]

If the Great Canon is on Wednesday at Compline, the appointed Kathismata are read, i.e. Kathismata 6, 7, and 8. Then the short litany.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most 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.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

From Triodion - - -

CHOIR

Kathisma I.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

You made Your Disciples shine like luminaries, O Christ, * throughout the entire earth, for they illumined many souls * by preaching Your word to them. * Idolatry’s deception was through them eliminated, * and the world has been enlightened with Your true Christian doctrines. * We pray You save our souls, by their entreaties on our behalf. [GOASD]

Verse: God is wondrous in His saints, the God of Israel. [SAAS]

N/M (You who were lifted.)

O Master, by Your right hand Moses led Israel through the Red Sea out of bondage and drowned Pharaoh in the waves; and likewise Your wise disciples cut through the sea of bitter godlessness by their miracles, and they guided the people to You, O only benevolent unoriginate Logos. [SD]

Verse: To the saints on His earth, in them the Lord magnified all His will. [SAAS]

For the Martyrs.

Come quickly.

Your prize-winning martyr Saints, equipped and armed with the cross, * defeated the machinations of the arch-evil foe * of mankind, O Christ our God. * Shining like stars in heaven, * they are guides for us mortals. * To those who with faith request them, they dispense cures and healings. * Through their intercessions we pray You to save our souls. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

We have come to know that the Word of the Father, Christ our God, became incarnate from you, O Virgin Theotokos, only pure, only blessed. Therefore we never cease to extol and magnify you. [SD]

Kathisma II.

From Triodion - - -

Mode pl. 4. N/M (O Life of all, You rose.)

Divinely-shining lights, eyewitnesses of the Saviour, illuminate us in the darkness of this life, that we may now walk honestly as in the day; with the torch of abstinence may we drive out the passions of the night, and behold with joy the splendour of Christ’s Passion. [KW]

Glory. Another.

Mode pl. 4. N/M (When he perceived.)

O company of the twelve apostles, chosen by God, offer now to Christ your supplications, that we may all complete the course of the Fast, saying our prayers with compunction and practising the virtues with an eager heart; and so may we attain the glorious Resurrection of Christ our God, bringing to Him praise and glory.

Both now. Theotokion.

Mode pl. 4. N/M (When he perceived.)

The son and Word of God whom nothing can contain, in ways past speech and understanding was born from thee, O Theotokos. With the apostles pray to Him, that He may bestow true peace upon the inhabited earth and grant to us before the end forgiveness of our sins, in His boundless love counting thy servants worthy of the heavenly Kingdom. [KW]

READER

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory. Both now.

Psalm 50 (51).

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar. [SAAS]

PRIEST

O God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Look upon Your world with mercy and compassion. Raise the Orthodox Christians in glory, and send down upon us Your rich mercies:

through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, heavenly, bodiless powers, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, our fathers among the saints, the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasios, Cyril, and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria, Nicholas, bishop of Myra, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous, Nektarios of Pentapolis, the wonderworkers; the holy, glorious, great martyrs George the triumphant, Demetrios the myrrh-streamer, Theodore the soldier, and Theodore the general; Menas the wonderworker; Charalambos and Eleutherios, the hieromartyrs; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; the glorious great Martyr and all-laudable Euphemia; the holy and glorious Martyrs Thecla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Kyriake, Fotene, Marina, Paraskeve and Irene; our venerable and God-bearing fathers; (local patron saint); holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; and all Your saints:

We beseech you, only merciful Lord, hear us sinners who pray to you and have mercy on us.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. (12)

PRIEST

Through the mercy, compassion, and love for humankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

From Menaion - - -

CHOIR

Canon for the Saint.

Ode i. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Ἁρματηλάτην Φαραώ.

Verse: Let us sing to the Lord, for He is greatly glorified.

The rod of Moses working wonders once submerged Phar’onic charioteers * when it smote the waters * in the figure of a cross and thereby split the sea in two; * while it rescued on dry land wayfaring fugitive Israel, * which to God resoundingly sang a song. [SD]

Troparia.

Saint of God, intercede for us.

Being whirled around by the waves of passions and now being surrounded by the swelling of thoughts, Venerable father, pilot me by our intercessions to the haven of dispassion and the harbor of salvation, blessed John. [VPA]

Verse: The Lord reigns forever and ever and ever. For Pharaoh’s horses went with his chariots and horsemen into the sea. [SAAS]

Being whirled around by the waves of passions and now being surrounded by the swelling of thoughts, Venerable father, pilot me by our intercessions to the haven of dispassion and the harbor of salvation, blessed John. [VPA]

Verse: But the children of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. [SAAS]

By choice you were truly translated to heaven, venerable Father, and lived angelically upon the earth, having mortified the mind of the flesh through self-control, by which you became a dwelling-place of God, divinely-sweet John. [VPA]

Glory.

Having acquired a ready obedience and humility, they were to you as golden wings. On them you flew from the scandals of the world towards God whom you sought, who saved you from the storm. [VPA]

Both now. Theotokion.

The one who coexists and is co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, the only-begotten Logos, appeared from you upon the earth as man, Theotokos Mary, and saved the entire world, which sends up praise to Him. [VPA]

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Saint.

Ode iii. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Ὁ στερεώσας κατʼ ἀρχάς.

Verse: Holy are You, O Lord, and my spirit praises You.

In the beginning, You O Christ, * established all of the heavens, * and You made firm the earth upon the waters, * with intelligence divine. Confirm me on the Church’s rock. * No one but You is holy, and only You are benevolent. [SD]

Troparia.

Saint of God, intercede for us.

Contemplating the beauties of heaven with sobriety of mind, you did not by any means cleave to material cares , but lifted on wings of poverty, Father, you became wholly uplifted. [VPA]

Verse: The Lord went up into the heaven and thundered. The Lord judges the ends of the earth. [SAAS]

Contemplating the beauties of heaven with sobriety of mind, you did not by any means cleave to material cares , but lifted on wings of poverty, Father, you became wholly uplifted. [VPA]

Verse: He gives strength to our leaders, and He will exalt the horn of His Christ. [SAAS]

Having loved the silence of the silence-loving shepherd Gregory, thrice-blessed John, you eagerly left the upheavals of life and found divine peacefulness through unceasing prayers [VPA]

Glory.

Having calmed the storm through stillness of thoughts, you passed calmly through life, wise one guided by the grace of the Spirit, and lived in holiness, God-inspired John. [VPA]

Both now. Theotokion.

Truly, you were shown to be for us the impassable illuminating gate of the one who rules over all ages, through which He passed and left you sealed again, all-blameless one. [VPA]

Heirmos.

In the beginning, You O Christ, * established all of the heavens, * and You made firm the earth upon the waters, * with intelligence divine. Confirm me on the Church’s rock. * No one but You is holy, and only You are benevolent. [SD]

Ode 3: Short Litany

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most 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.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For You are our God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

CHOIR

Kathisma.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1. N/M (The soldiers.)

Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ.

Having buried the evil treachery of demons through many ascetic works and entreaties, Father, you remained incorrupt when lying dead in the grave. Therefore we celebrate your all-holy memory rejoicing and magnify Christ with gladness of heart. [VPA]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 1. The soldiers.

The multitude of all the believers rejoices * in calling out your name every day, Theotokos. * With longing we glorify your exalted magnificence. * We who faithfully extol you boast that we have you * as our patroness and unassailable helper, * O Virgin immaculate. [GOASD]

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Saint.

Ode iv. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Σύ μου ἰσχύς.

Verse: Glory to Your strength, O Lord.

You are my strength. * You are my power, O Christ my Lord. * God my Savior, You are my exceeding joy. You came to us, never absent from the bosom of the Father, * and You assumed human poverty. * And so I join the Prophet Habakkuk, singing: Glory * to Your strength, O benevolent Lord my God! [SD]

Troparia.

Saint of God, intercede for us.

You were shown to be a rock of patience, blessed one, for opposing waves each day dashed against you, but you were in no way shaken from the spirit of piety. Therefore the master has stored you as a most precious stone in the eternal treasuries. [VPA]

Verse: Lord, I have heard Your report and was afraid; I considered Your works and was greatly astonished. [SAAS]

You were shown to be a rock of patience, blessed one, for opposing waves each day dashed against you, but you were in no way shaken from the spirit of piety. Therefore the master has stored you as a most precious stone in the eternal treasuries. [VPA]

Verse: When my soul is troubled, You will in wrath remember mercy. [SAAS]

The Father of tender mercies has taken you to himself as one who genuinely loved Him and were vigilant with His commandments, O Father. Having numbered you among the sons of grace, He made you worthy of eternal glory, godly-minded John. [VPA]

Verse: God will come from Teman, the Holy One from the mount of shaded leafy trees. [SAAS]

Having climbed the ladder of the virtues, you truly saw the inconceivable glory of God. And having been illumined in mind and heart by the divine ray of the Spirit, you were shown to be wholly light, like the sun, Father, illumining many in your life. [VPA]

Verse: His excellence covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. [SAAS]

Theotokion.

You alone truly became the foundation of salvation, mother of God, by lending flesh to the Creator and Fashioner from your immaculate blood. Through this, the gates of death were shattered and life was given to men. [VPA]

(read)

Intermediate Verses of Ode Four.

His brightness will be like the light; horns will be in His hand, and He established a mighty love of His strength. [SAAS]

Before His face a word will go forth; it will go out by the shoes of His feet.

The earth stood and was shaken to and fro; He looked and the nations melted away.

The mountains were shattered by force; the everlasting hills wasted away. In the place of distresses, I saw His eternal ways.

The tents of the Ethiopians will be dismayed, even the tents of the land of Midian.

When the Most High divided the nations, when He scattered the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the nations by the number of God’s angels.

You will stretch your bow against scepters, says the Lord. The land of rivers shall be torn asunder.

Many peoples will see you and be in travail, dispersing waters from its course. The abyss uttered its voice; raising its form on high.

The sun arose, and the moon stood in its course; at the light of Your arrows they went forth, at the flashing of Your gleaming weapons.

You will bring low the land with threatening; You will break the nations in wrath.

You went forth for the salvation of Your people, to save Your anointed ones. You brought death upon the heads of the lawless; You brought bonds upon their neck.

You cut off the heads of rulers in amazement; they shall tremble in it. They will break their bridles like a poor man eating secretly.

You ran your horses into the sea, churning up the many waters.

I kept watch, and my belly trembled from the sound of the prayer of my lips; and trembling penetrated into my bones. And my very frame of mind was troubled.

I shall rest in the day of tribulation to go up to the people of my sojourn. [SAAS]

(sung)

From Triodion - - -

Canon 1 from the Triodion.

Ode iv. Mode pl. 4. (NM) O Lord, I have heard the mystery

Εἰσακήκοα Κύριε.

Verse: For though the fig tree will not bear fruit and there be no grapes on the vines. [SAAS]

Enlightened by God, the apostles of Christ lived in abstinence; and by their divine mediation they help us in this season of the Fast. [KW]

Verse: The labor of the olive tree fail and the fields yield no food. [SAAS]

As an instrument of twelve strings, the divine choir of the disciples sang a hymn of salvation, confounding the music of evil. [KW]

Verse: Though the sheep have no pasture and there be no oxen in the cribs. [SAAS]

Driving away the drought of polytheism, O all-blessed apostles, with the rain of the Spirit ye have watered all the earth. [KW]

Verse: Yet I will glory in the Lord; I will rejoice in God my Savior. [SAAS]

Theotokion.

I have passed my life in arrogance: make me humble and save me, all-pure Lady, for thou hast borne the Lord who has exalted our humiliated nature. [KW]

Canon 2 from the Triodion.

Ode iv. Mode pl. 4. (NM) O Lord, I have heard

Εἰσακήκος Κύριε, τὴν ἀκοήν.

Verse: The Lord God is my strength; He will direct my feet to the end. [SAAS]

O honoured choir of the apostles, in your intercessions to the Maker of all, ask that He have mercy on us who sing your praises. [KW]

Verse: He will set me upon high places, so to conquer by His song. [SAAS]

As Christ’s husbandmen, O apostles, ye have tilled the whole world with the word of God, and ye bring Him fruit at all times. [KW]

Glory. For the Trinity.

Trinity one in essence, without beginning and supreme in power, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: O God, Light and Life, guard Thy flock. [KW]

Both now. Theotokion.

Hail, fiery Throne! Hail, Candlestick that bears the Light! Hail, Mountain of sanctification, Ark of life, Tabernacle and Holy of Holies! [KW]

Heirmos (not metered). Mode pl. 4.

Εἰσακήκος Κύριε, τὴν ἀκοήν.

Lord, I heard Your report and I was afraid. I considered Your works, and I glorified Your dominion, O Master. [SD]

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Saint.

Ode v. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Ἵνα τί με ἀπώσω.

Verse: O Lord our God, grant us peace.

Why reject me, Your servant, * from before Your face, O Lord the light that never sets? * Miserable sinner that I am, now this strange darkness covers me. * Savior, I implore You to bring me back to Your commandments, * which are light, and I pray You to guide my ways. [SD]

Troparia.

Saint of God, intercede for us.

The great Shepherd led you to the eternal courts as a guileless lamb brought up on the pasture of asceticism, blessed John, and showed you to be numbered with the sheep at His right hand, venerable one. [VPA]

Verse: The dead shall rise up; and those in the tombs shall arise. Those in the earth shall be glad. [SAAS]

The great Shepherd led you to the eternal courts as a guileless lamb brought up on the pasture of asceticism, blessed John, and showed you to be numbered with the sheep at His right hand, venerable one. [VPA]

Verse: For your dew is a healing for them, but the land of the ungodly shall come to an end. [SAAS]

You steadfastly bore the burden and heat of the day, Father, working well the divine vineyard of virtues. Therefore on the evening of your departure from life, you received your deserved wages. [VPA]

Glory.

Having built a high tower upon the foundation of the commandments, you flew up by means of it to the highest of good things. And truly seeing the lover of souls, as is right, you followed him with your whole soul. [VPA]

Both now. Theotokion.

O Virgin, having been killed by the sting of transgression and lying sick, raise me up, as you gave birth to immortal life, the savior of the world, redeemer and king; and guide me to the light, immaculate one. [VPA]

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Saint.

Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Ἱλάσθητί μοι Σωτήρ.

Verse: Save us, O Lord, like You saved the Prophet Jonah.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, * for many are my iniquities; * and bring me up from the depth of evils, I supplicate. * Like Jonah, I cry to You. * O my Savior, hear me, * as the God of my Deliverance. [SD]

Troparia.

Saint of God, intercede for us.

With the drops of your tears, you dried up the sea of passions, and drowned the strengthless power of the noetic foe, with Christ empowering you. [VPA]

Verse: Those who follow vanity and lies forsake their own mercy. [SAAS]

With the drops of your tears, you dried up the sea of passions, and drowned the strengthless power of the noetic foe, with Christ empowering you. [VPA]

Verse: As much as I vowed, I shall offer up to You, to You, the Lord of Deliverance. [SAAS]

Christ, the undecaying King set you aside in the undecaying treasuries of everlasting life as pure gold tested in the fire of asceticism, O Father. [VPA]

Glory.

You became an all-flourishing and fruitful garden, well irrigated by the ducts of your tears and bringing to the Creator myrrh-smelling fruit, venerable John. [VPA]

Both now. Theotokion.

Let us piously hymn the immaculate Mary, the truly divine and all-august tabernacle of God, for having received Him, she contained the uncontainable and incomprehensible God. [VPA]

Heirmos.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, * for many are my iniquities; * and bring me up from the depth of evils, I supplicate. * Like Jonah, I cry to You. * O my Savior, hear me, * as the God of my Deliverance. [SD]

Ode 6: Short Litany

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most 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.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For You are the King of peace and the savior of our souls, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

From Triodion - - -

READER

For the Martyrs. Mode 4.

Your prize-winning martyr Saints, equipped and armed with the cross, * defeated the machinations of the arch-evil foe * of mankind, O Christ our God. * Shining like stars in heaven, * they are guides for us mortals. * To those who with faith request them, they dispense cures and healings. * Through their intercessions we pray You to save our souls. [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On April 18, we commemorate our devout father John, the disciple of Saint Gregory of Decapolis.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Savvas the Commander.

On this day we also commemorate our father among the saints Cosmas, Bishop of Chalcedon.

On this day we also commemorate our devout mother Athanasia.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Neo-martyr John from Ioannina, who witnessed in the 1526.

From the Triodion.

On this day, Thursday of the fifth week of Lent, according to ancient tradition, we chant the service of the Great and compunctious Canon.

Verses

Jesus, give the habit of compunction

to us who now sing the Great Canon.

By the intercessions of Saint Andrew, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

From Menaion - - -

CHOIR

Canon for the Saint.

Ode vii. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Οἱ ἐκ τῆς Ἰουδαίας.

Verse: Blessed are You, the God of our fathers.

Those Servants from Judea, * who of old were deported and sent to Babylon, * once treaded on the fire * of the furnace by holding * to the faith in the Trinity * and chanted: Blessed are You the God of our fathers. [SD]

Troparia.

Saint of God, intercede for us.

Reflecting upon the Lord’s second coming, you put away the sleep of negligence from the eyelids of your soul, wise one and sleeplessly you cried: O God of our Fathers, you are blessed. [VPA]

Verse: Blessed are You on the throne of Your kingdom, and You are praised and exalted beyond measure unto the ages. [SAAS]

Reflecting upon the Lord’s second coming, you put away the sleep of negligence from the eyelids of your soul, wise one and sleeplessly you cried: O God of our Fathers, you are blessed. [VPA]

Verse: Blessed are You in the firmament of heaven, for You are praised and glorified unto the ages. [SAAS]

You chose the good portion from tender childhood, all-wise one: to serve the Lord in fear and to accomplish His statutes, crying out: O God of our Fathers, you are blessed [VPA]

Glory.

You removed yourself from the bonds of the flesh, O John, and were mindful of your soul, serving the Lord of your free will and daily shouting: O God of our Fathers, you are blessed. [VPA]

Both now. Theotokion.

Mistress of the world, who bore God incarnate for us, save my soul which has been mastered by many disgusting sins, that I may bless you, pure and blessed one. [VPA]

Ode viii.

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Saint.

Ode viii. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Ἑπταπλασίως κάμινον.

Verse: O you works, to the Lord sing a hymn, and exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages.

The tyrant king of Babylon * had the furnace made seven times * hotter for the godly men, for he was furious. * But after he witnessed how * a higher power rescued them, * he cried out and said, “You Servants, bless the Creator; * sing hymns to the Redeemer, O you priests; and you people * exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages.” [SD]

Troparia.

Saint of God, intercede for us.

Having suitably inherited the grace of your famous shepherd as though a sheepskin, Father John, with it you parted in two the sea of the pleasures, and having been preserved from sinking, you were seen as a co-dweller of the angels, crying out with them: O people, greatly exalt Christ unto the ages. [VPA]

Verse: Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

Having suitably inherited the grace of your famous shepherd as though a sheepskin, Father John, with it you parted in two the sea of the pleasures, and having been preserved from sinking, you were seen as a co-dweller of the angels, crying out with them: O people, greatly exalt Christ unto the ages. [VPA]

Verse: Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, you heavens of the Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

Having piously imitated the Lord who is beyond good and who became poor for us, you struggled to be like the birds in poverty and you acquired the wealth of eternal good things, singing: O priests, bless Him, and you, O people, greatly exalt Christ unto the ages. [VPA]

Verse: Bless the Lord, all you waters above the heaven, all you powers of the Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

The pure grace of the Spirit, having dwelt in your soul, created in you a clean heart, and renewed a right spirit within you. Therefore, having lived a pure life, O John, you cried out: O priests, bless Him, and you, O people, greatly exalt Christ unto the ages. [VPA]

Verse: Bless the Lord, you sun and moon, you stars of heaven, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

Theotokion.

Having been sanctified by the Spirit, all-blameless Theotokos, you truly received in your womb the beginningless and eternal Son, who became incarnate in you for the benefit of those crying out with faith: O children, bless Him; O priests, sing hymns unto Him, O people greatly exalt Christ unto the ages. [VPA]

(read)

Intermediate Verses of Ode Eight.

Bless the Lord, every shower and dew, all you winds, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

Bless the Lord, you fire and heat, you winter cold and summer heat, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages.

Bless the Lord, you dews and snows, you frost and cold, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages.

Bless the Lord, you hoarfrosts and snows, you lightning and clouds, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages.

Bless the Lord, you light and darkness, you night and day, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages.

Bless the Lord, you earth, you mountains and hills, and all you things growing on the earth, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages.

Bless the Lord, you springs, you seas and rivers, you sea-monsters and everything that moves in the waters, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

(sung)

From Triodion - - -

Canon 1 from the Triodion.

Ode viii. Mode pl. 4. (NM) The eternal King of glory

Τὸν ἄναρχον Βασιλέα.

Verse: Bless the Lord, all you birds of heaven, all you wild animals and cattle, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

As coals of immaterial fire, O apostles, burn up my material passions and kindle within me now a longing for divine love. [KW]

Verse: Bless the Lord, O children of men. Bless the Lord, O Israel, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

Let us honour the well-tuned trumpets of the Word, which have caused the ill-founded walls of the enemy to fall, and have firmly established the ramparts of the knowledge of God. [KW]

Verse: Bless the Lord, O priests of the Lord, O servants of the Lord, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

Break in pieces the passionate idols of my soul, as ye brake in pieces the temples and pillars of the enemy, O apostles of the Lord, consecrated temples. [KW]

Verse: Bless the Lord, O spirits and souls of the righteous, O holy ones and humble in heart, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

Theotokion.

O pure Virgin, thou hast contained Him who by nature cannot be contained; thou hast held Him who upholds all things; thou hast given suck to Him who sustains the creation, Christ the Giver of Life. [KW]

Canon 2 from the Triodion.

Ode viii. Mode pl. 4. (NM) The eternal King of glory

Τὸν ἄναρχον Βασιλέα.

Verse: Bless the Lord, O Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

O apostles of Christ, with the Spirit as architect ye have built the whole Church, within it ye bless Christ for ever. [KW]

Verse: Bless the Lord, O Apostles, Prophets, and Martyrs, and exalt Him beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SAAS]

Sounding the trumpets of the dogmas, the apostles have overthrown all the error of idolatry, exalting Christ above all for ever. [KW]

Verse: We bless the Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; we sing a hymn to Him and exalt Him beyond measure unto the ages. [SAAS]

For the Trinity.

O threefold Sun, all-radiant Sovereignty of God, O Nature one in glory, one in throne: Father all-creating, Son and Spirit of God, I praise Thee for ever. [KW]

Both now. Theotokion.

As a throne honoured and most high, let us praise in ceaseless song the Mother of God, O ye peoples, for she alone is both a Mother and a Virgin after childbirth. [KW]

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

Heirmos. Mode pl. 4.

Τὸν ἄναρχον Βασιλέα.

The regiments of the Angels all shudder * at the unoriginate King of glory. * O priest and people praise and exalt Him beyond measure, * unto all the ages. [GOASD]

Stand for the singing of Ode ix.

DEACON

Let us honor and magnify in song the Theotokos and the Mother of the light.

CHOIR

Ode ix.

The Magnificat. Mode pl. 4.

Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Saint.

Ode ix. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Ἐξέστη ἐπὶ τούτῳ.

The heavens were astounded because of this, * and the ends of the earth were astonished, because God himself * bodily appeared to the human race, * O Theotokos, coming forth * from your virgin womb, which indeed became * more spacious than the heavens. * And therefore by the orders * of men and angels you are magnified. [SD]

Troparia.

Saint of God, intercede for us.

O John, having plowed up the furrow of your soul with the plow of prayer, you threw down in it the pious and life-bearing seeds of the virtues. Therefore, you reaped the rich sheaf of divine healings, God-bearer, by which you nourish those who hymn you. [VPA]

Verse: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people. [RSV]

O John, having plowed up the furrow of your soul with the plow of prayer, you threw down in it the pious and life-bearing seeds of the virtues. Therefore, you reaped the rich sheaf of divine healings, God-bearer, by which you nourish those who hymn you. [VPA]

Verse: And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. [RSV]

Having finished the road of asceticism and kept the faith, blessed one, as truly being full of spiritual maturity, you received the crown of righteousness from Christ, godly-minded Father, and now you rest in the most luminous dwellings with the righteous, all-renowned one. [VPA]

Verse: As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us. [RSV]

You climbed into heaven as in a four-horsed chariot of the virtues, blessed one, being heavenly like another Elias, wise Father, and you dwelt with the righteous, leaving your much-labored body upon the earth as a treasure of healings and expeller of demons for those who love you. [VPA]

Verse: To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant. [RSV]

Theotokion.

When you became the mother of the redeemer, all-pure one, you again called us who had been thrown out of the heavenly life and wretchedly fallen into death, and again made us worthy to return to the original fatherland. Therefore, we unceasingly magnify you, mother of God. [VPA]

From Triodion - - -

Canon 1 from the Triodion.

Ode ix. Mode pl. 4. (NM) Saved through thee, pure Virgin

Κυρίως Θεοτόκον.

Verse: The oath which he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, be[ing] delivered from the hand of our enemies. [RSV]

Ye were revealed, O apostles, as fountains of the water of salvation: bring refreshment to my soul that faints from the thirst of sin. [KW]

Verse: [That we] might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. [RSV]

I am swimming in the deep waters of destruction and have come near to drowning: with Thy right hand, O Lord, save me as Thou hast saved Peter. [KW]

Verse: And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways. [RSV]

Ye are the salt that gives savour to the teachings of salvation: dry up the rottenness of my mind and dispel the darkness of my ignorance. [KW]

Verse: To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God. [RSV]

Theotokion.

O Lady, thou hast brought forth our Joy: grant me the spirit of mourning that in the coming Day of Judgement I may be comforted by God. [KW]

Canon 2 from the Triodion.

Ode ix. Mode pl. 4. (NM) With all generations we magnify thee

Σὲ τὴν οὐρανοῦ.

Verse: When the day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. [RSV]

We magnify you in our hymns, O glorious company of the apostles: for ye have been revealed as shining lights of the inhabited earth, driving out error. [KW]

Verse: To guide our feet into the way of peace. [RSV]

O blessed apostles, catching rational fish with the net of the Gospel, bring them always as an offering to Christ. [KW]

Glory. For the Trinity.

I sing Thy praises, Unity in three Persons, Father, Son and Spirit, one God, consubstantial Trinity, equal in power and without beginning. [KW]

Both now. Theotokion.

With all generations we call thee blessed, O Mother and Virgin: through thee we are delivered from the curse, for thou hast borne the Lord our Joy. [KW]

Heirmos (not metered). Mode pl. 4.

Σὲ τὴν οὐρανοῦ.

We, all generations, magnify you, the mediator between heaven and earth. Indeed, O Virgin, the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in you physically. [GOASD]

It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most 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.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You they offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

CHOIR

Photagogic Hymns

From Horologion - - -

Mode 4.

O Lord, who cause the light to rise on Your world, purify from every sin my soul, which is in the darkness; by the intercessions of the Apostles, and save me. [SD]

O Lord, who cause the light to rise on Your world, purify from every sin my soul, which is in the darkness; by the intercessions of the Hierarch, and save me. [SD]

O Lord, who cause the light to rise on Your world, purify from every sin my soul, which is in the darkness; by the intercessions of the Theotokos, and save me. [SD]

READER

Lauds. (read)

Psalm 148.

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars and light. Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Lord’s name, for He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created. He established them forever and unto ages of ages; He set forth His ordinance, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons and all the deeps, Fire and hail, snow and ice, stormy wind, which perform His word, mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds, kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, young men and maidens, elders with younger, let them praise the Lord’s name, for His name alone is exalted; His thanksgiving is in earth and heaven. And He shall exalt the horn of His people, a hymn for all His saints, for the children of Israel, a people who draw near to Him. [SAAS]

Psalm 149.

Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His holy ones. Let Israel be glad in Him who made him, and let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King. Let them praise His name with dance; with tambourine and harp let them sing to Him; for the Lord is pleased with His people, and He shall exalt the gentle with salvation. The holy ones shall boast in glory, and they shall greatly rejoice on their beds; the high praise of God shall be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand, to deal retribution to the nations, reproving among the peoples, to shackle their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to fulfill among them the written judgment: This glory have all His holy ones. [SAAS]

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 abundance of His greatness. Praise Him with the sound of a trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre; praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute; praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Alleluia. [SAAS]

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Stand for the reading of the Doxology.

Doxology (read)

HIERARCH or READER

To you belongs glory, O Lord our God, and to you we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

READER

Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, and we thank you, for your great glory. Lord, King, Heavenly God, Father Almighty; only-begotten Son, Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. Lord God, the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, you who take away the sins of the world. Accept our supplication, you who sit at the right of the Father, and have mercy on us. For you are the only Holy One, you are the only Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day I shall bless you, and I shall praise your name forever, and unto the ages of ages. Lord, you have become for us a refuge from generation to generation. I have said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Lord, to you I have fled; teach me to do your will, for you are my God. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we shall see light. Extend your mercy to those who know you. Grant, O Lord, that in this day we may be kept without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is your name unto the ages. Amen. Let your mercy, Lord, come upon us, just as we have hoped in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, O Master, make me understand your commandments. Blessed are you, O Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy remains forever, do not turn away from the works of your hands. To you belongs praise, to you belongs a hymn, to you belongs glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

DEACON

Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

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

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR (after each petition)

Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.

For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most 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.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For You are good and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

CHOIR

And with your spirit.

DEACON

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Holy Lord, who dwell in the highest and look upon the humble and observe all creation with Your all-seeing eye, to You we bow the neck of soul and body, and we pray You, Holy of holies: Extend Your invisible hand from Your holy heavens and bless us all. And as good and benevolent God, forgive us any misdeeds we committed voluntarily or involuntarily, and grant us Your blessings in this world and in the next.

PRIEST (aloud)

For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

CHOIR

Aposticha. From the Triodion.

From Triodion - - -

Idiomelon. Mode pl. 4.

Into the ambushes of thieves thou hast fallen, O my soul, and thou art sorely wounded, delivered through thine own sins into the hands of enemies without reason. But while thou still hast time, cry out with compunction: O hope of the hopeless, life of the despairing, raise me up, O Saviour, and save me. [KW]

Verse: I lift my eyes to You, who dwell in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their masters, as the eyes of the maidservant look to the hands of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God until He shall have compassion on us. [SAAS]

Into the ambushes of thieves thou hast fallen, O my soul, and thou art sorely wounded, delivered through thine own sins into the hands of enemies without reason. But while thou still hast time, cry out with compunction: O hope of the hopeless, life of the despairing, raise me up, O Saviour, and save me. [KW]

For the Martyrs.

Mode pl. 4.

Verse: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are greatly filled with contempt; our soul is greatly filled with it. We are a disgrace to those who prosper, and a contempt to the arrogant. [SAAS]

When you put on the breastplate of righteousness and faith, and you fully armed yourselves with the sign of the cross, you became the Lord’s mighty soldiers, you bravely confronted the tyrants, and you blunted the deceit of the devil. And you were awarded medals as victors. We pray you intercede for the salvation of our souls. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode pl. 4.

O all-pure Virgin Theotokos, accept the supplications of thy servants, and pray without ceasing that we may be given peace and the remission of our sins. [KW]

PRIEST

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your mercy in the morning and Your truth at night. [SAAS]

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

READER

Standing in your glorious church, O Theotokos, we think we are standing in heaven. O heavenly Gate, open to us the door of your mercy.

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

PRIEST

Blessed is Christ our God, the One who is, always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

O heavenly King, uphold our rulers, strengthen the Faith, calm the nations, give peace to the world. Protect this holy Church (or, Monastery); grant our departed fathers and brethren that they may dwell with the righteous, and accept us in repentance and confession; for You are good and benevolent.

( Amen. )

We now make three prostrations: i.e. we recite the Prayer of St. Ephrem (quietly or mentally), and with each verse we make a bow or prostration.

While it has become customary for this prayer to be recited by someone aloud, nevertheless the indicated practice is that it be recited inaudibly and mentally by everyone, clergy and congregants alike, with the accompanying bows etc.

Prayer of St. Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life, do not permit the spirit of laziness and meddling, the lust for power and idle talk to come into me.

Instead, grant me, Your servant, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience and love.

Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Then we make the sign of the cross 12 times, each time saying, “God, be gracious to me a sinner and have mercy on me.” Then we repeat the third verse of the Prayer (quietly or mentally) and make a final bow or prostration.

Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Then we begin the First Hour, saying: “Come let us worship…”

or:

READER

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (3) Father, bless!

Dismissal

PRIEST

Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Conclusion, i.e. “Through the prayers…”

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

CHOIR

Amen.