Holy Friday Passion Gospels

St. Nektarios

Greek Orthodox Church

/ Liturgical Service Texts / Holy Friday Passion Gospels

Priest:

Blessed is our God always, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader:

Amen.

Priest:

Glory to You, our God. Glory to You.

Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who are everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come, abide in us, cleanse us of every stain, and save our souls, O Good one.

Reader:

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

Glory. Both now.

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. (3)

Glory. Both now.

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…

Reader:

Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12) Glory. Both now.

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 19

AY the Lord hear you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you. May he send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion. May he remember all your offerings, and fatten your whole-burnt sacrifice. May the Lord grant you according to your heart, and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and boast in the name of the Lord our God. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord has saved his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven; the salvation of his right hand is with power. Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God. Their feet are entangled, and they have fallen; but we are risen, and stand upright. O Lord, save the king; and hear us in the day when we call upon you.

Psalm 20

HE king shall rejoice in your strength, O Lord; and in your salvation he shall greatly exult. You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld from him the request of his lips. For you have met him with blessings of goodness; you have set a crown of precious stones upon his head. He asked life of you, and you gave him length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in your salvation; you shall lay glory and majesty upon him. For you shall give him a blessing forever and ever; you shall make him exceedingly glad with your countenance. For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved. Let your hand be found by all your enemies; let your right hand find all who hate you. You shall make them like a fiery oven in the time of your presence; the Lord shall trouble them in his wrath, and fire shall devour them. You shall destroy their fruit from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they have intended evil against you; they have de-vised counsels which they are not able to perform. For you shall make them turn their back; with your remnant you shall take aim at their face. Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing, and praise your mighty acts.

Glory. Both now.

Trisagion Prayers.

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

Glory. Both now.

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. (3)

Glory. Both now.

Priest:

For Thine is the Kingdom…

Reader:

Amen.

The Royal Troparia

Dismissal Hymn of the Cross

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth.

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

Kontakion of the Cross

You who were lifted on the cross voluntarily, O Christ our God, bestow your tender compassions upon your new community to which you gave your name. Cause our faithful emperors to be glad in your power, granting them the victories against their adversaries. And for an ally, Lord, may they have you, peace as their armor, the trophy invincible.

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

Theotokion

O awesome and unshamable protection, O good and praiseworthy Theotokos, do not despise our petitions; make firm the community of the Orthodox; save those whom you have called to rule; grant them victory from heaven, for you gave birth to God and are truly blessed.

Priest:

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

1^st Choir:

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

Priest:

Let us pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

2^nd Choir:

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

Priest:

Again we pray for (episcopal rank) (name).

1^st Choir:

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

Priest:

For You are a merciful God Who loves mankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

2^nd Choir:

Amen. In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

Priest:

Glory to the holy and consubstantial, and life giving, and undivided Trinity, always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Reader:

Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. (3)

O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (2)

And we begin the Six Psalms, listening with complete silence and compunction.

Psalm 3

ord, why are they multiplied who afflict me? Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say to my soul, There is no salvation for him in his God. But you, O Lord, are my help, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord will help me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord, save me, my God; for you have struck all who without cause are my enemies; you have shattered the teeth of sinners. Salvation is from the Lord, and your blessing is upon your people.

And again:

I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord will help me.

Psalm 37

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, nor chasten me in your wrath. For your arrows are fixed in me, and your hand presses heavily upon me. There is no health in my flesh because of your anger, nor is there peace in my bones because of my sins. For my transgressions have risen over my head; they have weighed upon me like a heavy burden. My wounds have grown foul and corrupt because of my folly. I am utterly wretched and bowed down; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with mockery, and there is no health in my flesh. I am utterly afflicted and humbled; I have roared because of the groaning of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning is not hidden from you. My heart is troubled, my strength has failed me, and even the light of my eyes is gone from me. My friends and my neighbors drew up across from me and stood, and my kin stood far off. And those who sought my life used violence; and those who sought my hurt spoke vain things, and talked deceitfully all the day long. But I, as if deaf, did not hear, and I was like a mute who does not open his mouth; and I was like a man who cannot hear, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in you, O Lord, have I hoped; you will hear, O Lord my God. For I said, Let never my enemies rejoice over me; when my feet slipped, they spoke boastfully against me. For I am ready for scourges, and my grief is continually before me. For I will declare my transgression, and be sorry for my sin. But my enemies live, and are stronger than I, and those who hate me wrongfully are multiplied. Those who render me evil for good have slandered me, because I pursue goodness. Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord of my salvation.

And again:

Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me.

Make haste to help me, O Lord of my salvation.

Psalm 62

God, my God, I seek you early. My soul thirsts for you; oh how my flesh longs for you in a dry, and trackless, and waterless land! Thus have I appeared before you in the sanctuary, to see your power and your glory. For your mercy is better than life; my lips shall praise you. Thus will I bless you while I live, and lift up my hands in your name. Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fat, that my mouth may praise you with joyful lips. When I remember you upon my bed, I meditate on you in the night watches; for you have been my helper, and in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice. My soul cleaves to you, and your right hand helps me. But these ones sought my life in vain; they shall go down into the lowest parts of the earth. They shall be given to the edge of the sword; they shall be portions for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall glory, for the mouth of those who speak iniquities is stopped.

And again:

I meditate on you in the night watches; for you have been my helper, and in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.

My soul cleaves to you, and your right hand helps me.

The following are said without making the sign of the Cross or bowing.

Glory. Both now.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to you, O God. (3)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory. Both now.

Psalm 87

Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my supplication. For my soul is filled with evils, and my life has drawn near to Hades. I am counted with those who go down into the pit; I am like a man without help, free among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, for they have been cast out of your hand. They have laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Your wrath lies heavily upon me, and you have brought all your billows against me. You have put my acquaintances far from me; they have made me an abomination to themselves. I have been delivered up, and have not escaped; my eyes are weak from poverty. Lord, I have cried to you all the day; I have stretched out my hands to you. Shall you work wonders for the dead? Or shall physicians raise them up, that they might give thanks to you? Shall anyone declare your mercy in the grave, or your truth in perdition? Shall your wonders be known in darkness, or your righteousness in a forgotten land? As for me, I have cried to you, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer shall meet you. Lord, why do you cast off my soul? Why do you turn your face from me? I am poor, and have lived in toils since my youth; having been exalted, I was brought low, and was at a loss. Your anger has come upon me; your terrors have greatly troubled me. They have surrounded me like water all the day; they have encompassed me altogether. You have put far from me friend and neighbor, and my acquaintances, because of my wretchedness.

And again:

O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my supplication.

Psalm 102

less the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all that he has done for you, who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from corruption, who crowns you with mercy and compassion, who satisfies your desire with good things; your youth shall be renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord performs deeds of mercy, and executes judgment for all who are wronged. He made his ways known to Moses, and his will to the children of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy. He will not be angry forever, nor will he keep his wrath for eternity. He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, nor rewarded us according to our sins. For as high as the heaven is above the earth, so greatly has the Lord made his mercy prevail over those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has the Lord removed our iniquities from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so has the Lord had compassion on those who fear him. For he knows our fashioning; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the spirit passes in him, and he is gone; and he shall know his place no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear him, and his righteousness is upon children’s children for those who keep his covenant, and remember his commandments to do them. The Lord has prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, all you his angels, mighty in strength, who perform his word to obey the voice of his words. Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, his ministers who do his will. Bless the Lord, all you his works, in every place of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

And again:

In every place of his dominion, bless the Lord, O my soul.

Psalm 142

Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication in your truth; hear me in your righteousness. And do not enter into judgment with your servant, for none living shall be justified before you. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has cast my life down to the ground; he has set me in darkness like the dead of old. And my spirit has grown weary within me; my heart within me is troubled. I remembered days of old; I meditated on your deeds; I mused on the works of your hands. I stretched out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a waterless land. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has fainted; do not turn your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Let me hear your mercy in the morning, for I have set my hope in you; make known to me, O Lord, the way in which I should walk, for I have lifted up my soul to you. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord; I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; your good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness. For your name’s sake, O Lord, you will give me life; in your righteousness you will bring my soul out of trouble. And in your mercy you will make my enemies perish, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am your servant.

And again:

Hear me, O Lord, in your righteousness; and do not enter into judgment with your servant. (2)

Your good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness.

Glory. Both now.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to you, O God. (2)

And the reader intones:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to you, O God. Our hope, O Lord, glory to you.

Priest/Deacon:

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

1^st Choir:

Lord, have mercy. (after each petition)

For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.

For our (episcopal rank) (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

For our country, for the president, and for all in public service, let us pray to the Lord.

2^nd Choir:

Lord, have mercy. (after each petition)

For the Great and Holy Church of Christ, for this sacred Metropolis, for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

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

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.

2^nd Choir:

To You, O Lord.

Priest:

For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

1^st Choir:

Amen.

Plagal 4^th Mode

1^st Verse: From nightfall my spirit is awake for you, O God, for your commands are light upon the earth.

Choir:

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

2^nd Verse: Learn justice, inhabitants of the earth.

3^rd Verse: Jealousy will seize an untaught people, and now fire devours their adversaries.

4^th Verse: Bring evils upon them, O Lord, bring evils upon them, the glorious ones of the earth.

Troparion. Plagal 4^th Mode.

Ὅτε οἱ ἔνδοξοι Μαθηταί, ἐν τῷ νιπτῆρι τοῦ Δείπνου ἐφωτίζοντο, τότε Ἰούδας ὁ δυσσεβής, φιλαργυρίαν νοσήσας ἐσκοτίζετο, καὶ ἀνόμοις κριταῖς, σὲ τὸν δίκαιον Κριτὴν παραδίδωσι. Βλέπε χρημάτων ἐραστά, τὸν διὰ ταῦτα ἀγχόνῃ χρησάμενον· φεῦγε ἀκόρεστον ψυχήν, τὴν Διδασκάλῳ τοιαῦτα τολμήσασαν. Ὁ περὶ πάντας ἀγαθός, Κύριε δόξα σοι. (3)

When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of the feet, then Judas the ungodly was stricken and darkened with the love of money; and to lawless judges he delivered you, the just judge. O lover of money, look upon him who for its sake hanged himself; flee from the insatiable soul, which dared such things against the Teacher. O you who are good to all, Lord, glory to you. (3)

First Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

13:31-38; 14-18:1

he Lord said to his disciples, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward." Peter said to him, "Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied me three times. Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence. I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. It is to fulfill the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.' But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me." Some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" They said, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he means." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him; so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall ask the Father for you; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father." His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made. I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you did send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth. I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

2^nd Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

1^st Choir:

Antiphon I

Plagal 4^th Mode

Rulers of the peoples were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.

They laid a lawless charge against me. Lord, Lord, do not abandon me.

Let us bring our senses pure to Christ, and as his friends let us sacrifice our souls for him, and let us not, like Judas, be suffocated by the cares of life; but in our inner chambers let us cry, ‘Our Father in heaven, deliver us from the evil one’.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

A Virgin you gave birth, O unwedded, and a Virgin you remained, O Mother without bridegroom, Mary Mother of God; implore Christ our God that we may be saved.

Antiphon II

Plagal 2^nd Mode

Judas ran, saying to the lawless scribes, ‘What are you willing to give me, and I will hand him over to you?’ As they came to their agreement you, the object of their agreement, were standing among them invisibly agreeing. O you who know the heart, spare our souls.

Let us serve God with mercy, like Mary at the supper, and let us not acquire avarice, like Judas, that we may be ever with Christ our God.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Never cease to intercede, O Virgin, with him to whom you gave birth beyond explanation, as he loves humankind, that he save from dangers those who have recourse to you.

Antiphon III

2^nd Mode

Because of the raising of Lazarus, O Lord, who love humankind, the children of the Hebrews cried to you, ‘Hosanna’. But Judas the transgressor did not want to understand.

At your Supper, Christ our God, you foretold to your Disciples, ‘One of you will betray me’. But Judas the transgressor did not want to understand.

To John, when he asked you, ‘Who is the one who betrays you?’ you indicated him through the bread. But Judas the transgressor did not want to understand.

For thirty silver pieces, Lord, and a deceitful kiss, the Jews sought to slay you. But Judas the transgressor did not want to understand.

At your Washing of the Feet, Christ our God, you instructed your Disciples, ‘As you have seen, so do’. But Judas the transgressor did not want to understand.

‘Watch and pray that you may not be tested’, you said, to your Disciples, O our God. But Judas the transgressor did not want to understand.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Save your servants from dangers, Mother of God, for after God we all take refuge in you as an unbreachable wall and protection.

Kathisma

Grave Mode

At the Supper you nourished the Disciples and, knowing the plan of the betrayal, you exposed Judas during it. You knew he was incorrigible, but you wished to make known to all that you had been handed over willingly, that you might snatch the world from the Stranger. Long-suffering Lord, glory to you!

Second Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

18:1-28

t that time, Jesus went forth with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these men go." This was to fulfill the word which he had spoken, "Of those whom you gave me I lost not one." Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchos. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?" So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had given counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. As this disciple was known to the high priest, he entered the court of the high priest along with Jesus, while Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept the door, and brought Peter in. The maid who kept the door said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this man's disciples?" He said, "I am not." Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves; Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I have said nothing secretly. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them; they know what I said." When he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "Are not you also one of his disciples?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again denied it; and at once the cock crowed. Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover.

1^st Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

2^nd Choir:

Antiphon IV

Plagal 1^st Mode

Today Judas abandons the Teacher and takes up with the devil; he is blinded by the passion of avarice, he falls, darkened, from the light; for how could the one who sold the Lamp for thirty silver pieces see? But the One who suffered for the world has dawned for us. To him let us cry, ‘You who suffered for and suffered with humankind, glory to you!’

Today Judas feigns godliness and is estranged from the gift of grace; though a disciple, he becomes a traitor. In the guise of friendship he conceals his deceit and insanely values thirty silver pieces more than the love of the Master, becoming the guide of the lawless Sanhedrin. But we who have Christ as salvation, let us glorify him.

1^st Mode

Let us, as brothers in Christ, gain brotherly love, and not lack of compassion for our neighbour, lest we be condemned like the unmerciful slave because of the few pence, and repenting like Judas gain nothing.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Glorious things have been spoken of you in every place, because you bore in the flesh the Maker of all things, Mary Mother of God, all-praised and unwedded.

Antiphon V

Plagal 2^nd Mode

The Teacher’s disciple agreed the price and sold the Lord for thirty silver pieces, with a deceitful kiss handing him over for death to the transgressors.

Today the Creator of heaven and earth said to his own Disciples: The hour has drawn near and Judas who betrays me is at hand; let none deny me when they see me on the Cross, between two thieves; for as man I suffer, and as lover of mankind I save those who believe in me.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

O Virgin, who in the last times ineffably conceived and gave birth to your own Creator, save those who magnify you.

Antiphon VI

Grave Mode

Today Judas watches to betray the Lord, the Saviour of the world before the ages, who satisfied multitudes from five loaves. Today the transgressor denies the Teacher; though a disciple he betrayed the Master; for silver he sold the One who satisfied humankind with manna.

Today the Jews nailed to the Cross the Lord who parted the sea with a staff and led them through the desert. Today with a lance they pierced the side of the One who scourged Egypt with plagues for their sake, and they gave vinegar as drink to the One who rained down the manna as nourishment.

Lord, as you came to your voluntary passion, you cried to your Disciples, ‘If you did not even have strength to keep vigil with me for one hour, how did you promise to die for me? Do you see how Judas does not sleep, but hurries to betray me to the transgressors? Rouse yourselves, pray, let none deny me when they see me on the Cross’. Long-suffering Lord, glory to you!

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Hail Mother of God, who contained in your womb the One whom the heavens cannot contain! Hail Virgin, the proclamation of the Prophets, through whom Emmanuel has shone for us! Hail Mother of Christ our God!

Kathisma

Grave Mode

What was it, Judas, that made you into the betrayer of the Saviour? Did he separate you from the choir of the Apostles? Did he deprive you of the gift of healings? When he supped with them, did he thrust you from the table? When he washed the others’ feet, did he despise yours? Oh of how many good things have you become forgetful! Your ungrateful intent is condemned, while his measureless long-suffering is proclaimed, and his great mercy.

Third Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

26:57-75

t that time, soldiers seized Jesus and led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.' " And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ: Who is it that struck you?" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to him, and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the cock crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

2^nd Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

1^st Choir:

Antiphon VII

Plagal 4^th Mode

Bearing with the transgressors who arrested you, Lord, you cried, ‘Though you strike the Shepherd and scatter the twelve sheep, my Disciples, I could have summoned to my side more than twelve legions of Angels; but I endure, that the hidden and secret things, which I showed you through my Prophets, may be fulfilled’. Lord, glory to you!

When he had denied you a third time, Peter at once understood what had been said to him, but he brought you tears of repentance: O God be merciful to me and save me.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Let us all praise the holy Virgin as Gate of salvation, Paradise of delight and Cloud of everlasting light, as we say to her: Hail!

Antiphon VIII

2^nd Mode

Speak transgressors! What did you hear from our Saviour? Did he not expound the Law and the teachings of the Prophets? How then could you have taken counsel to hand over to Pilate the Word, God from God and the Redeemer of our souls?

Let him be crucified, they cried, those who ever enjoyed your gifts of grace, and instead of a benefactor the murderers of the just asked to receive a malefactor; but, O Christ, you were silent, bearing their impudence, as you willed to suffer and to save us, for you love mankind.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Because we have no boldness because of our many sins, entreat the One born of you, Virgin Mother of God, for the prayers of a mother have great force for the kindness of the Master; do not despise the supplications of sinners, O all-holy, because he is merciful and able to save, he who even accepted to suffer for us.

Antiphon IX

3^rd Mode

They paid thirty silver pieces as the price of him who was valued, on whom some of the sons of Israel had set a price. Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak; therefore watch.

They gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink; but do you, Lord, raise me up, and I shall repay them.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

We from the nations sing your praise, pure Mother of God, because you gave birth to Christ our God, who through you freed humankind from the curse.

Kathisma

Plagal 4^th Mode

O how could Judas, once your disciple, meditate betrayal against you! Treacherous and unjust, deceitfully he supped with you. He went and said to the priests, ‘What will you give me, and I will hand over to you that man who breaks the Law and violates the Sabbath?’ Long-suffering Lord, glory to you.

Fourth Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

18:28-40, 19:1-16

t that time, they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered him, "If this man were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death." This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken to show by what death he was to die. Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not of this world." Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told them, "I find no crime in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover; will you have me release for you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again, and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you, that you may know that I find no crime in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." Upon this Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" PIlate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to be crucified.

1^st Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

2^nd Choir:

Antiphon X

Plagal 2^nd Mode

He who wraps himself in light as a garment, stands naked for judgement, and accepts a blow on the cheek by the hands of those he fashioned; while the lawless people nailed to the Cross the Lord of glory. Then the veil of the Temple was rent; the sun grew dark, unable to endure seeing God, before whom all things tremble being outraged. Him let us worship.

The disciple denied, the Thief cried out, ‘Remember me, Lord, in your Kingdom’.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Give peace to the world, Lord, who accepted to put on flesh from a Virgin for the sake of your servants, that with one accord we may glorify you, only Lover of humankind.

Antiphon XI

Plagal 2^nd Mode

In return for the good things which you had done for the Hebrew race, O Christ, they condemned you to be crucified, giving you vinegar and gall to drink. But repay them, Lord, in accordance with their works, because they did not understand your condescension.

The Hebrew race was not content with your betrayal, O Christ, but they wagged their heads, bringing scoffing and derision. But repay them, Lord, in accordance with their works, because they meditated vain things against you.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

We know that God took flesh from you, Virgin Mother of God, alone pure, alone blessed; and so, as we praise you without ceasing, we magnify you.

Antiphon XII

Plagal 4^th Mode

Thus says the Lord to the Jews, ‘My people, what have I done to you? Or in what have I wearied you? I gave light to your blind, I cleansed your lepers, I set upright a man lying on a bed. My people, what have I done to you, and how have you repaid me? Instead of the manna, gall; instead of the water, vinegar; instead of loving me, you have nailed me to a cross. I can endure no longer; I will call my nations, and they will glorify me, with the Father and the Spirit; and I shall grant them eternal life.

Today the veil of the Temple is rent as a reproof to the transgressors; and the sun hides its own rays, as it sees the Master crucified.

Lawgivers of Israel, Jews and Pharisees, the choir of the Apostles cries out to you, ‘See a Temple, which you have destroyed; see a Lamb, whom you have crucified. You handed him over to a tomb, but by his own authority he has risen. Do not be deceived, O Jews, for it is he who saved you in the sea, and fed you in the desert. He is the life and the light and the peace of the world’.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Hail Gate of the King of glory, through which the Most High alone has passed, and left it sealed again, for the salvation of our souls.

Kathisma

Plagal 4^th Mode

When you stood before Kaiaphas, O God, and were handed over to Pilate, O Judge, the powers of heaven were shaken from fear; but then you were raised up on the Tree between two thieves and were numbered with transgressors, O sinless One, to save humankind. Long-suffering Lord, glory to you!

Fifth Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

27:3-32

t that time, when Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me." Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream." Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified." And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified." So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross.

2^nd Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

1^st Choir:

Antiphon XIII

Plagal 2^nd Mode

The assembly of the Jews asked Pilate for you to be crucified, O Lord; for having found no cause in you, they freed the guilty Barabbas, and condemned you, the Just, so incurring the guilt of murder. But give them their reward, Lord, for they meditated vain things against you.

Christ, the Power of God and the Wisdom of God, before whom all things quake and tremble, whom every tongue praises, the priests struck on the face and gave him gall. And he accepted to suffer all things, as he wished to save us from our iniquities with his own blood, for he loves humankind.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mother of God, who through a word beyond reason gave birth to your own Creator, implore him to save our souls.

Antiphon XIV

Plagal 4^th Mode

Lord, you took the Thief, whose hands were defiled with blood, as a companion for the journey. Number us too with him, as you are good and love humankind.

The Thief on the cross uttered few words, but found great faith. He was saved in one instant, and having opened the gates of Paradise was the first to enter. Lord, who accepted his repentance, glory to you!

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Hail, you who received the joy of the world through an Angel. Hail, you who gave birth to your Maker and Lord. Hail, you who were found worthy to become the Mother of Christ our God.

The congregations kneels as the icon of the Crucifixion is processed. The priest intones the following troparion, then the Choirs sing it antiphonally, verse by verse.

Priest:

Antiphon XV

Plagal 2^nd Mode

Today he is hung upon a tree, he who hung the earth upon the waters. (3)

He is arrayed in a crown of thorns, he who is the King of the Angels. He is wrapped in mocking purple, he who wraps the heaven in clouds. He receives a blow on the face, he who freed Adam in the Jordan. He is transfixed with nails, the Bridegroom of the Church. He is pierced by a lance, the Son of the Virgin.

We worship your Sufferings, O Christ; (3)

Show us also your glorious resurrection.

Choirs:

Today he is hung upon a tree, he who hung the earth upon the waters. (3)

He is arrayed in a crown of thorns, he who is the King of the Angels.

He is wrapped in mocking purple, he who wraps the heaven in clouds.

He receives a blow on the face, he who freed Adam in the Jordan.

He is transfixed with nails, the Bridegroom of the Church.

He is pierced by a lance, the Son of the Virgin.

We worship your Sufferings, O Christ; (3)

Show us also your glorious resurrection.

Let us not feast like Jews, for our Passover too has been sacrificed for us, Christ God. But let us purify ourselves from all defilement, and sincerely beseech him, ‘Arise, Lord, save us as you love humankind’.

Your Cross, Lord, is life and resurrection for your people; and putting our trust in it, we praise you our crucified God. Have mercy on us.

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

When she who bore you saw you hanging on the Cross, O Christ, she cried out, ‘What is this strange mystery that I see, my Son? How are you dying on a tree, nailed in the flesh, O Giver of life?’

Kathisma

4^th Mode

By your precious blood you have redeemed us from the curse of the law; nailed to the Cross and pierced by the lance, you have become a source of immortality for humankind. Our Saviour, glory to you!

Sixth Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

15:16-32

t that time, the soldiers led Jesus away inside the palace (that is, the praetorium); and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him. And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and they knelt down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!" So also the chief priests mocked him to one another with the scribes, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

2^nd Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

1^st Choir:

The Beatitudes

4^th Mode

In Your kingdom. Remember us, O Lord, when You come in Your kingdom. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Through a tree Adam became exiled from the garden of paradise; but through the Tree of the Cross the Good Thief made Paradise his own home; the former, through tasting fruit set aside his Maker’s commandment out of pride, the latter, while crucified along with the hidden God, crying out, confessed: ‘Remember us also, O Savior in Your Kingdom.’

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

The creator of the Law was bought from a disciple by lawless men, and as a lawbreaker was brought to stand charged before Pilate’s judgment seat, the lawless cried, ‘Crucify’ the one who in the desert sent manna down for them. While we all now imitate the just Thief and cry out to Christ our God with faith, ‘Remember us also, O Savior, in Your Kingdom.’

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

That swarm of those who slaughtered God, the Judeans’ nation of lawlessness, in their frenzy cried aloud and demanded Pilate condemn to death and even to crucify Christ the innocent requesting that he release instead Barabbas. But we address to Christ God the faithful words of the grateful Thief, ‘Remember us also, O Savior, in Your Kingdom.’

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Your life-bearing side, O Lord, gushing up like a spring out of Eden’s midst gives drink to your Church, O Christ, as to a spiritual Paradise, dividing itself from there, into four Gospels as four riverheads, it irrigates all the world, making the whole creation glad and faithfully teaching the nations to worship Your Kingdom.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

You were crucified for me that you might pour forgiveness upon my head; you were pierced in your pure side that for me you might gush forth great streams of life. Transfixed by the iron nails, you let me see the height of Your power by the depth of all Your sufferings, that I might cry out to You, O Christ, giver of life, ‘Glory to both Your Cross, Savior, and Your suffering!’

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

When You were crucified, O Christ, all of creation trembled at seeing it. The foundations of the earth began to quake with fear of your pow’r and might. The lamps of heaven hid themselves and the Temple’s veil was completely rent in two. The mountains shrank back and quailed, and rocks were split and with us the faithful Thief cries out to you, O Savior, ‘Remember me.’

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.

On the Cross, O Lord of all, You tore apart the record of all our sins, and though numbered with the dead, you tied down the tyrant that dwells therein, delivering all of us by Your Resurrection from the restraints of death. Enlightened through this, O Lord, we cry to You, only Lover of humankind, ‘Remember us also, O Savior, in Your Kingdom.’

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

Lifted upon the Cross, and destroying the power of death, O Lord, and as God wiping out the whole record of sins held against us, O Lover of humankind, grant the Thief’s repentance also to all of us who worship You in faith, Christ our God, and cry to You: ‘Remember us also, O Savior, in Your Kingdom."

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

Let us all believers pray with one accord to glorify worthily God, the Father and the Son, and the all-holy Spirit, and praise in song a Godhead in unity that exists in three Persons, three hypostases, yet one undivided God, and unapproachable in divinity, through Whom we are delivered from the fire of eternal punishment.

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

Your spotless mother, O Christ God, who gave You birth in the flesh without human seed was truly Virgin and remained completely incorrupt after childbirth, and her we now bring to you intercession, Master most merciful, to loose, pardon, and remit the offences of those who ever cry, ‘Remember us also, O Savior, in Your Kingdom.’

Prokeimenon

4^th Mode

They parted my garments among them; and cast lots for my clothing.

Διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτιά μου ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἱματισμόν μου ἔβαλον κλῆρον. (2)

Verse: O God, my God, hear me; why have You forsaken me?

They parted my garments among them; and cast lots for my clothing.

Seventh Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

27:33-54

t that time, when the soldiers came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews." Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

2^nd Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

Reader:

Psalm 50

ave mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy, and according to the multitude of your compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against you only have I sinned, and done evil before you, that you might be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bring me forth. For behold, you have loved truth; you have revealed to me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice. Turn your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and establish me with a governing Spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, and the ungodly shall return to you. Deliver me from blood-guilt, O God, the God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in your righteousness. O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. For had you desired sacrifice, I would have given 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, to Zion in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shall you be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offering; then shall they offer bullocks upon your altar.

Eighth Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

27:33-54

t that time, two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.

2^nd Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

1^st Choir:

The Canon. By Cosmas the Monk.

Ode V. Plagal 2^nd Mode. Heirmos.

For You I rise, Lord, who through Your compassion fully emptied Yourself for your creature who had fallen, not suffering change, and impassibly bowed to the Passion, O Word. Grant me peace, only Lover of humanity. (2)

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Their feet washed clean, and by participating in the great divine Mystery, Your servants were all cleansed before going with You up from Zion to the great Mount of Olives, singing Your praises, O Lover of humanity.

Glory. Both now.

You said, "Behold, friends, do not be afraid now, for my hour is at hand to be taken to be slaughtered by hands of transgressors while You will all scatter and leave me; whom I shall gather to proclaim me, the Lover of humanity.

Katavasia

Little Litany

Priest:

For you are the King of peace and the Saviour of our souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to the ages of ages.

Reader:

Amen.

Kontakion

Come, let us all praise him who was crucified for us; for Mary looked upon him on the Tree and said: ‘Though you endure the Cross, yet you are My Son and my God.’

Oikos

As she saw her own Lamb being dragged to slaughter Mary, the Ewe-lamb, worn out with grief, followed with other women, crying out, ‘Where are you going, my child? For whose sake are you completing the course so fast? Is there once again another wedding in Cana? And are you hurrying there now to make wine for them from water? Should I go with you, my child, or rather wait for you? Give me a word, O Word; do not pass me by in silence, you who kept me pure, My Son and my God.’

Synaxarion from the Menaion, then:

On holy and great Friday we remember the holy, saving and dread Sufferings of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ: the spittings, the blows, the buffetings, the outrages, the mockings, the purple cloak, the reed, the sponge, the vinegar, the nails, the lance and above all the Cross and death, which he accepted willingly for our sake; but also the saving confession on the cross of the Good Thief, crucified with him.

Verses on the Crucifixion

You are the living God, slain on a Tree,

O naked corpse, and Word of living God.

Verses on the Good Thief

Eden’s locked gates the Thief has opened wide,

By putting in the key, ‘Remember me’.

In your ineffable and all unbounded compassion, Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

2^nd Choir:

The Canon. By Cosmas the Monk.

Ode VIII. Plagal 2^nd Mode. Heirmos.

Three godly young men made a spectacle of evil’s ungodly monument while the Sanhedrin of the lawless raged and took up vain counsel against Christ, and in their plot thought to slay the One who holds life in His palm forever, Whom all creation blesses, glorifying Him to all the ages.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

“O my disciples, shake the sleep now from your eyelids,” You said to them, O Christ, “lest you be subject to temptation, now be vigilant with your prayers, especially Simon: greater trials come to the mighty. No know me Simon, Peter, whom all creation blesses, glorifying Me to all the ages."

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

"Ne’er a profane word, O my Master, will I utter aloud from my own lips; nay, I will die with You most gladly, thou all others deny You, I will never,’ cried Peter, ‘Neither flesh nor blood, but Your Father revealed You to me, You whom all creation blesses, glorifying You to all the ages."

We bless Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord; we praise and exalt Him above all forever.

"You have not searched out the whole depth of wisdom of knowledge that come from God; you have not grasped the depths of my judgements; you do not comprehend, my friend,’ the Lord said to Peter. ‘Since you are flesh, then, do not boast: you will three times deny me, whom all creation blesses, glorifying me to all the ages.’

Both now.

‘Yet you protest, I Simon Peter, that which you will be persuaded to do, as it has been foretold, and suddenly a maidservant coming near will frighten you sorely. Bitterly weeping, you will yet find Me full of mercy, whom all creation blesses, glorifying Me to all the ages.’

Katavasia

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

Deacon:

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

1^st Choir:

Ode IX. Plagal 2^nd Mode. Heirmos.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gave birth to God the Word; the very Theotokos, you do we magnify. (2)

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

A deadly and God-hating band of men, a wicked assembly of God-slayers came upon you, O Christ, and they dragged you away as malefactor, the Master of all things, Whom we all now magnify.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Ignoring the Law and the Prophets both, the impious, meditating vain things, arrested You and unjustly dragged You like a sheep led to slaughter, the Master of all things, Whom we all now magnify.

Glory.

The priests with the scribes wounded by their hate and envy delivered to the nations Him Who is Life, to be done away with, even Him Who by nature is Giver of all life, Whom we all now magnify.

Both now.

They encircled you like so many dogs, Sovereign Lord, they struck you on the cheek with their buffetings; and questioning you, they bore false witness against you, yet you, enduring all of these things, have saved us all.

Katavasia

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gave birth to God the Word; the very Theotokos, you do we magnify.

Little Litany

Priest:

For all the powers of heaven praise You and give You glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

1^st Choir:

Amen.

Exaposteilarion

3^rd Mode. Automelon.

Τὸν Λῃστὴν αὐθηµερόν, τοῦ Παραδείσου ἠξίωσας Κύριε, κᾀµὲ τῷ ξύλῳ τοῦ Σταυροῦ, φώτισον καὶ σῶσόν µε. (3)

O Lord, who on that very day made the Thief worthy of Paradise, so by the tree of the Cross enlighten and save me. (3)

Ninth Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

19:25-37

t that time, standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), "I thirst." A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness - his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth - that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of him shall be broken." And again another scripture says, "They shall look on him whom they have pierced."

2^nd Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

1^st Choir:

The Praises

3^rd Mode

Let every breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the highest. To you is due praise, O God.

Praise him, all his angels; praise him all his hosts. To you is due praise, O God.

Idiomela. 3^rd Mode.

1^st Verse: Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him according to his abundant greatness.

‘Israel my firstborn son has done two wicked things: he has abandoned me, source of the water of life, and dug for himself a broken well. He has crucified me on a tree, but asked for Barabbas and released him. Heaven was amazed at this and the sun hid its rays; while you, Israel, felt no shame, but handed me over to death. Forgive them, holy Father, for they do not know what they have done’.

2^nd Verse: Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with psaltery and harp.

3^rd Verse: Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute.

Each member of your holy flesh endured dishonour for our sake: your head the thorns; your face the spittings; your cheeks the blows; your mouth the taste of gall mixed with vinegar; your ears the impious blasphemies; your back the scourge and your hand the reed; your whole body the stretching on the Cross; your joints the nails and your side the lance. You suffered for our sake, and freed us from passions, you stooped down to us in your love for humankind, and raised us up. All powerful Saviour, have mercy on us.

4^th Verse: Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord.

When it saw you crucified, O Christ, all creation trembled; the foundations of the earth quaked with fear of your might. For when you were lifted up today, the Hebrew race perished; the veil of the Temple was rent apart; the graves were opened, and the dead arose from the tombs. The Centurion, seeing the marvel, was afraid; while your Mother, standing by, cried out, lamenting as a mother, ‘How should I not lament, and beat my breast, as I see you naked as one condemned, hanging on a tree?’ Crucified, buried and risen from the dead, Lord, glory to you!

Glory. Plagal 2^nd Mode.

They stripped me of my garments and clothed me in a scarlet cloak; they placed a crown of thorns upon my head and put a reed into my right hand, that I might smash them like potter’s vessels.

Both now. Same Mode.

I gave my back to scourgings while I did not turn away my face from spittings. I stood at Pilate’s judgment seat and endured the Cross for the salvation of the world.

Tenth Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

15:43-47

t that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

2^nd Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

Reader:

Small Doxology

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. Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory. O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father almighty, O Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. O Lord God, Lamb of God, 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. Receive our prayer, you who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us. For you alone are holy, you alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day I will bless you, and I will praise your name forever, and to the ages of ages. Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: O Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Lord, I have fled to you for refuge. 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. Continue your mercy to those who know you. Grant, O Lord, that we may be kept this day without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is your name to the ages. Amen. Let your mercy be upon us, O Lord, even as we have hoped in you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. Blessed are you, O Master; grant me understanding of your statutes. Blessed are you, O Holy One; enlighten me with your statutes. Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not overlook the works of your hands. To you is due praise, to you is due song, to you glory is due, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Deacon:

Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.

1^st Choir:

Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:

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

1^st Choir:

Lord, have mercy.

Deacon:

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

1^st Choir:

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.

1^st Choir:

Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:

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

2^nd Choir:

Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:

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

2^nd Choir:

Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:

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

2^nd Choir:

Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:

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.

2^nd Choir:

Grant this, O Lord.

Deacon:

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.

2^nd Choir:

To You, O Lord.

Priest:

For You are the God of mercy and compassion and love for mankind, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.

1^st 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, dwelling on high and beholding things below and, with your eye that observes all, keeping watch over the whole creation, to you we have bowed the neck of our soul and body, and we beseech you, O Holy of Holies: Stretch forth your invisible hand from your holy dwelling and bless us all. And, as you are good and love humankind, pardon us if we have sinned in anything, voluntarily or involuntarily, granting us your blessings both of this world and of the world above.

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

2^nd Choir:

Amen.

Eleventh Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

19:38-42

t that time, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. Nikodemos also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds' weight. They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

1^st Choir:

Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord, glory to you!

2^nd Choir:

Aposticha

1^st Mode

All creation was changed by fear when it saw you hanging on the Cross, O Christ; the sun was darkened and the foundations of the earth were shaken; all things were suffering with you, the Creator of them all. You endured willingly for us. Lord, glory to you!

2^nd Mode

Verse: They parted my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

Impious and lawless people, why do you meditate vain things? Why have you condemned the life of all to death? O great marvel! That the Creator of the world, who loves humankind, is betrayed into the hand of transgressors and lifted up on a tree, that he may free the prisoners in Hell. Long-suffering Lord, glory to you!

Verse: They gave me gall for food; and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Today the blameless Virgin, when she saw you hanging on the Cross, with a mother’s love lamented, bitterly wounded in her heart, groaning in lamentation from the depth of her soul, she struck her cheeks and tore her hair; and so beating her breast she cried out with grief, ‘Woe is me, my divine child! Woe is me, light of the world! Why have you left my sight, Lamb of God?’ Therefore the armies of the Bodiless Powers were seized with terror as they said, ‘Lord, beyond understanding, glory to you!

Verse: God is our king, he has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

When she saw you, O Christ, the Creator and God of all, hanging on the Cross, she who bore you without seed, cried bitterly: My Son, where has the beauty of your form departed? I cannot bear to see you unjustly crucified; hasten then, arise, that I too may see your resurrection from the dead on the third day.

Glory. Plagal 4^th Mode.

Lord, when you ascended the Cross, fear and trembling fell on creation; and you prevented the earth from swallowing those who crucified you, while you ordered Hell to send back its prisoners for the rebirth of mortals. Judge of the living and the dead, you came to grant life and not death. Lover of humankind, glory to you.

Both now. Same mode.

Already the pen of sentence is being dipped by unjust judges, and Jesus is convicted and condemned to the Cross, and Creation suffers seeing the Lord upon the Cross. But O good Lord who suffers for me in the body’s nature, glory to you.

Twelfth Gospel

Deacon:

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

1^st Choir:

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

Deacon:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:

Peace be with all.

2^nd Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Deacon:

Let us be attentive.

1^st Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

27:62-66

ext day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' Therefore order the sepulcher to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." So they went and made the sepulcher secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

2^nd Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

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.

Trisagion Prayers

Reader:

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

Glory. Both now.

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. (3)

Glory. Both now.

Priest:

For Thine is the Kingdom…

1^st Choir:

Amen.

Apolytikion

4^th Mode

Ἐξηγόρασας ἡµᾶς, ἐκ τῆς καταρας τοῦ νόµου, τῷ τιµίῳ σου Αἵµατι, τῷ σταυρῷ προσηλωθείς, καὶ τῇ λόγχῃ κεντηθείς, τὴν ἀθανασίαν ἐπήγασας ἀνθρώποις. Σωτὴρ ἡµῶν δόξα σοι. (3)

You ransomed us from the curse of the Law by Your precious Blood. You were nailed to the Cross, and You were pierced with a spear, and You gushed forth immortality for humanity. Our Savior, glory to You! (3)

Deacon:

Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear us and have mercy.

1^st Choir:

Lord, have mercy. (Three times, after each petition. The two choirs continue to alternate.)

Deacon:

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

Again we pray for our archbishop (name).

Again we pray for our brethren: the priests, the hieromonks, the hierodeacons, the monastics, and all our brotherhood in Christ.

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church.

Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church, and for all our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep before us, who here have been piously laid to their rest, as well as the Orthodox everywhere.

Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people here present who await your great and rich mercy.

Choir:

Lord, have mercy. (once)

Priest:

For you are a merciful God who love mankind, and to you we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

2^nd Choir:

Amen.

Dismissal

Deacon:

Wisdom.

1^st Choir:

Father, bless.

Priest:

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

Reader:

Amen. The Lord God make firm the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy Great Church of Christ, this sacred Metropolis, and this city, to the ages of ages.

Priest:

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Reader:

More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, you do we magnify.

Priest:

Glory to You, our God. Glory to You.

Reader:

Glory. Both now. Lord, have mercy. (3) Father, bless!

Priest:

ay He who endured the spitting, the scourging, the beatings, the Cross and death for the salvation of the world, 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, of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

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

Choir:

Amen.

Royal Hours

Great Hours of Holy Friday

The First Hour

Ιερευσ:	Priest:
Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν πάντοτε, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.	Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Χοροσ:	Choir:
Ἀμήν.	Amen.
Ιερευσ:	Priest:
Δόξα σοι ὁ Θεός ἡμῶν, δόξα σοι.	Glory to you, our God, glory to you.
Προσευχη εισ το Αγιον Πνευμα	Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Βασιλεῦ Οὐράνιε, Παράκλητε, τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς Ἀληθείας, ὁ Πανταχοῦ Παρὼν καὶ τὰ Πάντα Πληρῶν, ὁ Θησαυρός τῶν Ἀγαθῶν καὶ Ζωῆς Χορηγός, ἐλθὲ καὶ σκήνωσον ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ καθάρισον ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης κηλῖδος καὶ σῶσον, Ἀγαθὲ τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.	O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who are everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come, abide in us, cleanse us of every stain, and save our souls, O Good one.
Αναγνωστησ:	Reader:
Τρισαγιον	The Trisagion Prayers
Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς (ἐκ γ')	Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Παναγία Τριάς, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. Κύριε, ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν, Δέσποτα, συγχώρησον τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῖν. Ἅγιε, ἐπίσκεψαι καὶ ἴασαι τὰς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου.	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.
Κύριε, ἐλέησον (ἐκ γ')	Lord, have mercy. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Η Κυριακη προσευχη	The Lord’s Prayer
Mατθ. 6:9-13, Λου. 11:2-4	Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4
Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου, ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου, γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον, καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν, καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.	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.
Ιερευσ:	Priest:
Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.	For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Αναγνωστησ:	Reader:
Ἀμήν.	Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (12) Glory. Both now.

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 5

IVE ear to my words, O Lord; consider my cry. Attend to my voice in my supplication, O my King and my God. For to you, O Lord, will I pray; in the morning you shall hear my voice. In the morning I will set my plight before you, and you will look upon me; for you are not a God who delights in wickedness. The evildoer shall not sojourn with you, nor shall transgressors endure before your eyes. You have hated all the workers of iniquity; you will destroy all those who speak falsehood. The Lord shall abhor the bloody and deceitful man. As for me, I will come into your house in the multitude of your mercy; I will worship toward your holy temple in the fear of you. Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make my way straight before you. For there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is vain. Their throat is an open sepulcher; they have dealt deceitfully with their tongues. Judge them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out according to the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you, O Lord. But let all who put their hope in you be glad; they shall rejoice forever, and you shall make your dwelling among them; and all who love your name shall boast in you. For you will bless the righteous, O Lord; you have crowned us as with a shield of favor.

Psalm 2

HY have the nations raged, and the peoples imagined a vain thing? The kings of the earth assembled, and the rulers gathered together, against the Lord and against his Christ. Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast off their yoke from us. He who dwells in the heavens shall laugh at them, and the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his wrath. But I was appointed king by him on Zion, his holy mountain, proclaiming the decree of the Lord. The Lord said to me: You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall shepherd them with a rod of iron; you shall shatter them like a potter’s vessels. Now therefore, understand, O kings; be instructed, you who judge the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice in him with trembling. Seize upon instruction, lest the Lord be angry, and you perish from the righteous way. When his wrath is quickly kindled, blessed are all who trust in him.

Psalm 21

GOD, my God, be attentive to me; why have you forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my transgressions. O my God, I cry by day, and you will not hear; and by night, and it shall not be accounted to me as folly. But you, who are the praise of Israel, dwell in the sanctuary. Our fathers trusted in you; they trusted, and you delivered them. They cried to you, and were saved; they trusted in you, and were not confounded. But I am a worm, and not a man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All who see me have laugh at me; they speak with their lips, they shake their heads: He trusted in the Lord, let him deliver him; let him save him, for he delights in him. But you are he who drew me from the womb, my hope since I was at my mother’s breasts. I was cast upon you from the womb; you are my God from my mother’s belly. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded me; fat bulls have closed me in on every side. They have opened wide their mouth at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like melting wax in the midst of my body. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my throat; and you have brought me down to the dust of death. For many dogs have surrounded me; the assembly of evildoers has enclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet. They have counted all my bones, and have looked and stared upon me. They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. As for you, O Lord, do not remove my help from me; hasten to my aid. Deliver my soul from the sword, my only one from the hand of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth, and my humility from the horns of unicorns. I will declare your name to my brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the Lord, praise him; all you the seed of Jacob, glorify him; let all the seed of Israel fear him. For he did not despise nor abhor the supplication of the poor; neither did he turn his face from me; and when I cried to him, he heard me. My praise shall be of you in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before those who fear him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him; their hearts shall live forever and ever. All the ends of the earth shall remember, and turn to the Lord; and all the tribes of the nations shall worship before him. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and he shall have domin-ion over the nations. All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and worshipped; all who go down into the earth shall bow before him. And my soul lives for him, and my seed shall serve him. The generation to come shall be told of the Lord, and they shall tell of his righteousness to a people yet un-born, which the Lord has made.

Glory. Both now.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory.

Troparion

When You were crucified, O Christ, the enemy's tyranny was lifted and his power was crushed. For it was no Angel nor mere man, but You, the Lord himself, who saved us. Glory to You!

Both now. Theotokion.

What shall we call you, O Full of grace? Heaven? For you made the Sun of justice dawn. Paradise? For you made the flower of incorruption blossom. Virgin? For you remained incorrupt. Pure Mother? For you held in your holy embrace a Son who is the God of all. Implore him that our souls may be saved.

Choir:

Idiomela

Plagal 4^th Mode.

Today the veil of the Temple is rent as a reproof to the transgressors; and the sun hides its own rays, as it sees the Master crucified. (2)

Plagal 4^th Mode

Verse:WHY have the nations raged, and the peoples imagined a vain thing?

You were led like a sheep to the slaughter, Christ King, and as an innocent lamb you were nailed to the Cross by lawless men for our sins, O Lover of mankind.

Verse:The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were assembled together against the Lord and against his Christ.

Repeat: You were led like a sheep…

Glory. Plagal 4^th Mode.

Allowing the lawless to arrest you, Lord, you cried out, ‘Though you strike the shepherd and scatter the twelve sheep, my disciples, I could call to my side more than twelve legions of Angels; but I forbear, that the hidden and secret things, which I revealed to you through my Prophets, may be fulfilled.’ Lord, glory to you!

Both now.

Repeat.

The Prophecy

Reader:

Prokeimenon in the 4^th Mode. He gathered iniquity to himself; he went out and spoke in the same manner.

Verse:Blessed is one who considers the poor and needy; the Lord will deliver in an evil day.

The reading is from the Prophecy of Zechariah.

Priest:

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader:

11:10-13

hus says the Lord: I shall take my staff Beauty, and I shall cast it away, to break my covenant which I made with all the people. And in that day they will be scattered about. And the Canaanites shall know the flock is kept safe, for this is the word of the Lord. And I shall say to them, "If it is fitting in your judgment, give me my payment, or refuse it." And they established my wage at thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, "Drop them into the smelting furnace and see if it is proven, as in the same manner I was proven for their sake." And I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the smelting furnace in the house of the Lord, as the Lord commanded me.

The Epistle

Reader:

The reading is from the Paul’s Letter to the Galatians.

Priest:

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader:

6:14-18

rethren, far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Priest:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be with all.

Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Let us be attentive.

Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

27:1-56

hen morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death; and they bound him and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me." Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream." Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified." And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified." So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews." Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Reader:

Direct my steps according to your word, and let no iniquity lord it over me.

Deliver me from the slander of men, and I shall keep your commandments.

Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes.

Let my mouth be filled with your praise, O Lord, that I may hymn your glory, all day long your splendor.

Τρισαγιον	The Trisagion Prayers
Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς (ἐκ γ')	Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Παναγία Τριάς, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. Κύριε, ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν, Δέσποτα, συγχώρησον τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῖν. Ἅγιε, ἐπίσκεψαι καὶ ἴασαι τὰς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου.	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.
Κύριε, ἐλέησον (ἐκ γ')	Lord, have mercy. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Η Κυριακη προσευχη	The Lord’s Prayer
Mατθ. 6:9-13, Λου. 11:2-4	Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4
Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου, ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου, γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον, καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν, καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.	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.
Ιερευσ:	Priest:
Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.	For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Αναγνωστησ:	Reader:
Ἀμήν.	Amen.

Kontakion

Come, let us all sing the praise of him who was crucified for us; for Mary looked upon him on the Tree and said: ‘Though you endure the Cross, yet you are my Son and my God’.

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Prayer of the Hours

Christ our God, who at all times and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth, are worshipped and glorified, long suffering and plenteous in mercy and compassion; who love the just and show mercy to the sinners; who call all men to salvation through the promise of the blessings to come: Do you, the same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present time, and direct our lives according to your commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set our minds right; cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, evil and distress. Surround us about with your holy Angels so that being guarded and guided by their array, we may attain unto the unity of the faith and the knowledge of your ineffable glory; for blessed are you unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory. Both now.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gave birth to God the Word; the very Theotokos, you do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

Priest:

May God have compassion on us and bless us; may his face shine upon us and have mercy on us.

Reader:

Amen.

Priest:

O Christ, the true light that enlightens and sanctifies every man who comes into the world, let the light of Your countenance shine on us, that in it we may behold the unapproachable light. And direct our steps to keep Your commandments, by the intercessions of Your all-immaculate Mother and all the saints.

Reader:

Amen.

Third Hour

Reader:

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 34

ONTEND, O Lord, with those who contend with me; make war on those who make war on me. Take up weapon and shield, and arise to my help. Draw the sword, and close off the way before those who pursue me; say to my soul: I am your salvation. Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek my life; let them be turned back and put to shame who devise evils against me. Let them become like chaff before the face of the wind, with the Angel of the Lord thrashing them. Let their way become dark and slippery, with the Angel of the Lord pursuing them. For without cause they hid for me destruction in their snare; they reviled my soul without reason. Let a snare come upon him unawares, and let the net which he hid catch him; and he shall fall into that very snare. But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; it shall delight in his salvation. All my bones shall say: Lord, O Lord, who is like you? delivering the poor from the hand of those stronger than he, and the poor and needy from those who de-spoil him? Unjust witnesses rose up against me, and asked me things I did not know. They rendered me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul. But I, when they troubled me, put on sackcloth; I also humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer shall return to my bosom. I behaved as though he were a neighbor or our own brother; I humbled myself as one grieving and mourn-ing. And they rejoiced against me, and gathered together; scourges gathered together against me, and I did not know it. They were split asunder, yet felt no compunction; they tried me, they mocked me with mockery, they gnashed their teeth at me. Lord, when will you look upon me? Restore my soul from their malice, my only one from the lions. I will give thanks to you in the great congregation; I will praise you among a great people. Let not those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me, who hate me without cause and wink with their eyes. For they spoke peaceably to me, but in their wrath they were devising treachery. And they opened wide their mouth at me; they said: Well done, well done, our eyes have seen it. You have seen it, O Lord; do not pass by in silence; O Lord, do not be far from me. Awake, O Lord, and attend to my judgment; O my God and my Lord, attend to my justice. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, O Lord my God, and let them not rejoice over me. Let them not say in their hearts: Well done, well done, our soul; let them not say: We have swallowed him up. Let them be ashamed and confounded together who rejoice in my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and confusion who speak boastfully against me. Let them shout for joy and be glad who desire justice for me, and let them say continually: The Lord be magnified, who desire the peace of his servant. And my tongue shall meditate on your righteousness, on your praise all the day long.

Psalm 108

GOD, do not pass by my praise in silence. For the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the de-ceitful are opened against me; they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They also have surrounded me with words of hatred, and made war on me without a cause. In return for my love, they have slandered me; but I prayed. And they rendered me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Appoint a sinner over him, and let the devil stand at his right hand. When he is judged, let him come forth guilty; and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children wander without a dwelling place, and beg; let them be driven from the ruins of their houses. Let the creditor search all that belongs to him, and let strangers make spoil of his labors. Let there be none to help him, nor any to pity his father-less children. Let his posterity meet with destruction; let his name be blotted out in one generation. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. Let them be before the Lord continually; and let the memory of them perish from the earth. For he did not remember to show mercy, but persecuted the needy and poor man, that he might slay the bro-ken in heart. As he loved cursing, so shall it come to him; as he did not delight in blessing, so shall it be far from him. And he clothed himself with cursing as with a garment, and it went into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. Let it be for him like the garment that covers him, and like a belt with which he is girded continually. This is the work of those who slander me before the Lord, and who speak evil against my soul. As for you, Lord, O Lord, deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; for your mercy is good. Deliver me, for I am poor and needy, and my heart is troubled within me. I am gone like a declining shadow; I have been shaken off like the locust. My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh is changed for want of oil. I also have become a reproach to them; they saw me, they shook their heads. Help me, O Lord my God, and save me according to your mercy. And let them know that this is your hand, and that you, O Lord, have done this. They will curse, but you will bless; those who rise up against me shall be ashamed; but your servant shall rejoice. Let those who slander me be clothed with confusion, and let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a cloak. I will give great thanks to the Lord with my mouth, and in the midst of many I will praise him; For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save me from those who persecute my soul.

Psalm 50

AVE mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy, and according to the multitude of your compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against you only have I sinned, and done evil before you, that you might be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bring me forth. For behold, you have loved truth; you have revealed to me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; you shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice. Turn your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and establish me with a governing Spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, and the ungodly shall return to you. Deliver me from blood-guilt, O God, the God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in your righteousness. O Lord, you will open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. For had you desired sacrifice, I would have given 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, to Zion in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shall you be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offering; then shall they offer bullocks upon your altar.

Glory. Both now.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory.

Troparion

Lord, the Jews condemned You to death, You the Life of all. They who walked across the Red Sea by the rod of Moses, had You nailed to a cross; and they who sipped honey from a rock gave you gall. But You willingly endured it, in order to free us from slavery to the enemy. O Christ our God, glory to You!

Both now. Theotokion.

Theotokos, you are the true vine that produced the fruit of life. Lady, we fervently entreat you to intercede along with the Apostles and all the saints, that our souls be treated mercifully.

Choir:

Idiomela

Plagal 4^th Mode.

Through fear of the Jews Peter, your friend and neighbour, denied you, Lord; and in bitter grief he cried out: Do not pass by my tears in silence, compassionate Master; for I said I would keep faith, but have not kept it. Accept our repentance too, and have mercy on us. (2)

Plagal 4^th Mode

Verse: Give ear to my words, O Lord; understand my cry.

Before your precious Cross as the soldiers mocked you, Lord, the spiritual hosts were struck with amazement. For you were wreathed with a crown of outrage, you who painted the earth with flowers; and you wore a cloak of mockery, you who wrap the firmament in clouds; by such a dispensation was your compassion made known, O Christ, and your great mercy. Glory to you!

Verse: Attend to the voice of my prayer, my King and my God. Repeat: Before Your precious Cross…

Glory. Plagal 1^st Mode.

As you were dragged to the Cross, Lord, you cried out thus: For what work do you wish to crucify me, O Jews? Because I braced the paralytic? Because I raised the dead from sleep? I healed the woman with an issue of blood, I took pity on the woman of Canaan. For what work do you wish to slay me, O Jews? But, transgressors, you will see Christ whom now you pierce.

Both now.

Repeat.

The Prophecy

Reader:

Prokeimenon in the 4^th Mode. For I am ready for scourges; * and my pain is with me continually.

Verse:O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; nor chasten me in your wrath.

The Reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

Priest:

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader:

50:4-11

he Lord gives Me the tongue of the learned, so as to know when to speak a word at a fitting time; and He causes My ear to listen each morning. The Lord's instruction opens My ears, and I am not disobedient, nor do I contradict Him. I gave My back to whips, and My cheeks to blows; and I turned not away My face from the shame of spitting. The Lord became My helper; therefore, I was not disgraced. But I made My face like a solid rock and knew I would not be ashamed. For He who pronounces Me righteous draws near. Who is he who judges Me? Let him oppose Me at the same time. Who is he who judges Me? Let him come near Me. Behold, the Lord will help Me. Who will harm Me? Behold, all of you will grow old like a garment, and old age will devour you, as a moth does a garment. Who among you fears the Lord? Let him listen to the voice of His Servant. You who walk in the darkness and have not light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon God. Behold, all of you kindle a fire and feed a flame. Walk in the light of your fire and the flame you kindled. This happened to you for My sake, and you shall lie down in sorrow.

The Epistle

Reader:

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

Priest:

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader:

5:6-10

rethren, we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man—though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Priest:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be with all.

Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Mark. Let us be attentive.

Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

15:16-41

nd the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the praetorium); and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him. And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and they knelt down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour, when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!" So also the chief priests mocked him to one another with the scribes, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah." And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down." And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him; and also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Reader:

Blessed is the Lord God, blessed is the Lord day by day; may the God of our salvation give us prosperity, our God, the God who saves.

Τρισαγιον	The Trisagion Prayers
Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς (ἐκ γ')	Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Παναγία Τριάς, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. Κύριε, ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν, Δέσποτα, συγχώρησον τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῖν. Ἅγιε, ἐπίσκεψαι καὶ ἴασαι τὰς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου.	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.
Κύριε, ἐλέησον (ἐκ γ')	Lord, have mercy. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Η Κυριακη προσευχη	The Lord’s Prayer
Mατθ. 6:9-13, Λου. 11:2-4	Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4
Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου, ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου, γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον, καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν, καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.	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.
Ιερευσ:	Priest:
Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.	For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Αναγνωστησ:	Reader:
Ἀμήν.	Amen.

Kontakion

Come, let us all sing the praise of him who was crucified for us; for Mary looked upon him on the Tree and said: ‘Though you endure the Cross, yet you are my Son and my God’.

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Prayer of the Hours

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory. Both now.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gave birth to God the Word; the very Theotokos, you do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

Priest:

May God have compassion on us and bless us; may his face shine upon us and have mercy on us.

Reader:

Amen.

Priest:

O Master God, Father Almighty, Lord only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power: have mercy on me a sinner, and by the judgments which You know, save me Your unworthy servant; for blessed are You to the ages of ages.

Reader:

Amen.

Sixth Hour

Reader:

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 53

AVE me, O God, by your name, and judge me by your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and strong men have sought after my life; they have not set God be-fore them. For behold, God assists me, and the Lord is the helper of my soul. He shall return evil to my enemies; destroy them in your truth. I will freely sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. For you have delivered me out of every trouble, and my eye has looked down upon my enemies.

Psalm 139

ESCUE me, O Lord, from an evil man, deliver me from an unjust man; Who devise iniquities in their hearts; all the day long they are drawn up for battle. They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; the venom of asps is under their lips. Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the sinner; rescue me from unjust men, who have purposed to trip up my steps. The proud have hid a snare for me, and have stretched out cords as a snare for my feet; they have laid stumbling blocks by the wayside. I said to the Lord: You are my God; hear my voice in my supplication, O Lord. Lord, O Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. O Lord, do not give me up to the sinner because of my desire. They have conspired against me; do not for-sake me, lest they be exalted. As for the head of those who surround me, the mischief of their lips shall cover them. Coals shall fall on them; you shall cast them down with fire; they shall not bear up under their miseries. A man full of words shall not prosper on the earth; evils shall hunt down an unjust man to his destruction. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the poor, and the right of the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell with your presence.

Psalm 90

E who dwells in the help of the Most High shall abide under the protection of the God of heaven. He will say to the Lord: You are my help and my refuge, my God, in whom I will trust. For he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowlers, and from a troubling word. He shall overshadow you with his pinions, and under his wings you shall trust; his truth shall surround you with a shield. You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the thing that walks about in darkness, nor of the mishap or demon of noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. You shall only look with your eyes, and see the reward of sinners. For you, O Lord, are my hope. You have made the Most High your refuge. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any scourge come near your dwelling. For he has given his angels charge concerning you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the asp and basilisk, and trample the lion and the dragon under foot. Because he has set his hope on me, I will deliver him; I will protect him, for he has known my name. He shall cry to me, and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and glorify him. I will satisfy him with length of days, and show him my salvation.

Glory. Both now.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory.

Troparion

You worked salvation in the midst of the earth, O Christ our God. You stretched out your immaculate hands on the Cross, and gathered all the nations, who cry to You: "Lord, glory to You!"

Both now. Theotokion.

Since we may not presume to speak because of our many sins, will you beseech your Son, O Virgin Theotokos. For the request of a mother can do much to pacify the Master. Do not despise the prayers of us sinners, allnoble Lady. He is merciful and able to save us; after all, He accepted to suffer for our sake.

Choir:

Idiomela

Plagal 4^th Mode

Thus says the Lord to the Jews, ‘My people, what have I done to you? Or in what have I wearied you? I gave light to your blind, I cleansed your lepers, I set upright a man lying on a bed. My people, what have I done to you, and how have you repaid me? Instead of the manna gall; instead of the water vinegar; instead of loving me, you have nailed me to a cross. I can endure no longer; I will call my nations, and they will glorify me, with the Father and the Spirit; and I shall grant them eternal life. (2)

Plagal 4^th Mode

Verse: They gave me gall for food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Lawgivers of Israel, Jews and Pharisees, the choir of the Apostles cries out to you, ‘See a Temple, which you have destroyed! See a Lamb, whom you have crucified! You handed him over to a tomb, but by his own authority he has risen. Do not be deceived, O Jews, for it is he who saved you in the sea, and fed you in the desert; he is the life and the light and the peace of the world.

Verse: Save me, O God; for the waters have come in, even as far as my soul. Repeat: Lawgivers of Israel…

Glory. Plagal 1^st Mode.

Come, Christ-bearing peoples, let us see what Judas the betrayer has plotted with the lawless priests against our Saviour. Today they have found the immortal Word guilty of death, and having betrayed him to Pilate, crucified him on the place of the Skull. And as he suffered all this our Saviour cried out and said, ‘Forgive them this sin, Father, that the nations may know my Resurrection from the dead’.

Both now.

Repeat.

The Prophecy

Reader:

Prokeimenon in the 4^th Mode. Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is your name * in all the earth!

Verse:For your majesty is raised high above the heavens.

The Reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

Priest:

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader:

52:13-54:1

hus says the Lord: Behold, My Servant shall have wisdom, and He shall be exalted and glorified exceedingly. Just as many shall be astonished at You, so Your form and glory shall be dishonored by men. Thus many nations shall marvel at Him, and kings shall shut their mouth, because they to whom no report was brought concerning Him shall see; and they who did not hear shall understand. O Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed? We proclaimed His presence as a Child, as a Root in the thirsty land. He had no form or glory, and we saw Him; and He had no form or beauty. But in comparison to all men, His form was lacking in honor. He was a man in suffering and knew how to bear sickness. His face was turned away, and He was dishonored and not esteemed. He bears our sins and suffers for us, yet we considered Him to be in pain, suffering, and ill-treatment. But He was wounded because of our lawlessness, and became sick because of our sins. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His bruise we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. Man has gone astray in his way, and the Lord delivered Him over for our sins. Although He was ill-treated, He opened not His mouth. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before his shearers, so He opens not His mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth, and because of the lawlessness of My people He was led to death. I will appoint evil men for His burial and rich men for His death, because He committed no lawlessness, nor was deceit found in His mouth. The Lord wishes to cleanse Him of His wound, and if You give an offering for sin, Your soul shall see a long-lived seed. The Lord wishes to take away the pain of His soul, to show Him light, to form Him with understanding, and to pronounce righteous the Righteous One who serves many well; and He shall bear their sins. Therefore He shall inherit many, and will divide the spoil with the strong, because His soul was delivered over to death. He was considered among the lawless, and He bore the sins of many, and was delivered over because of their sins. "Be glad, O barren woman who does not bear; break forth and cry out, you who are not in travail, for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman."

The Epistle

Reader:

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.

Priest:

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader:

2:11-18

rethren, he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Priest:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be with all.

Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Luke. Let us be attentive.

Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

23:32-49

wo others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.

Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Reader:

Let your mercies, O Lord, come quickly to our aid, for we are utterly poor; help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name. O Lord, deliver us, and have mercy on our sins, for your name’s sake.

Τρισαγιον	The Trisagion Prayers
Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς (ἐκ γ')	Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Παναγία Τριάς, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. Κύριε, ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν, Δέσποτα, συγχώρησον τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῖν. Ἅγιε, ἐπίσκεψαι καὶ ἴασαι τὰς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου.	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.
Κύριε, ἐλέησον (ἐκ γ')	Lord, have mercy. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Η Κυριακη προσευχη	The Lord’s Prayer
Mατθ. 6:9-13, Λου. 11:2-4	Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4
Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου, ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου, γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον, καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν, καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.	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.
Ιερευσ:	Priest:
Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.	For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Αναγνωστησ:	Reader:
Ἀμήν.	Amen.

Kontakion

Come, let us all sing the praise of him who was crucified for us; for Mary looked upon him on the Tree and said: ‘Though you endure the Cross, yet you are my Son and my God’.

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Prayer of the Hours

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory. Both now.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gave birth to God the Word; the very Theotokos, you do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

Priest:

May God have compassion on us and bless us; may his face shine upon us and have mercy on us.

Reader:

Amen.

Priest:

God and Lord of hosts and Maker of all creation, in Your unfathomable compassion and mercy You sent down Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the human race; and by His precious Cross You tore up the record of our sins, and triumphed over the principalities and powers of darkness. O Lord and Lover of mankind, accept the thanksgiving and fervent prayers even of us sinners. Deliver us from every dark and destructive transgression and from all the visible and invisible enemies that seek to harm us. Nail our flesh with the fear of You, and do not incline our hearts to evil words or thoughts; but rather prick our souls with love for You, so that always looking to You, and guided by Your light, and gazing on You, the eternal and ineffable Light, we may send up unceasing praise and thanksgiving to You, the Father without beginning, and Your Only-Begotten Son, and Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.

Reader:

Amen.

Ninth Hour

Reader:

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 68

AVE me, O God, for the waters have come into my soul. I am stuck in the deep mire, and there is no ground; I have come into the depths of the sea, and the tempest has overwhelmed me. I am weary with crying; my throat is hoarse; my eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; my enemies who wrongfully persecute me have grown strong; I restored at once that which I did not take. O God, you know my foolishness, and my trespasses are not hidden from you. Let not those who wait for you be put to shame through me, O Lord, Lord of hosts; let not those who seek you be confounded through me, O God of Israel. Because for your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to my mother’s children. For the zeal of your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. And I covered my soul with fasting, and it was to my reproach. I also made sackcloth my clothing, and I became a proverb to them. And those who sit in the gates murmured against me, and those who drink wine made me their song. But I cry to you with my prayer, O Lord; it is a propitious time. Hear me in the abundance of your mercy, O God, in the truth of your salvation. Save me from the mire, lest I be stuck; let me be delivered from those who hate me, and from the deep waters. Let not the watery tempest overwhelm me, nor let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut its mouth upon me. Hear me, O Lord, for your mercy is good; look upon me according to the multitude of your compassions. Turn not your face from your servant, for I am in dis-tress; hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of my enemies. For you know my reproach, and my shame, and my humiliation; all those who afflict me are before you; my soul has expected reproach and misery. And I waited for one who would grieve with me, but there was none, and for one who would comfort me, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them, and a recompense, and a stumbling block. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; and bow down their back continually. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their habitation be desolate, and let no one dwell in their tents. For they have persecuted the one you smote, and have added to the pain of my wounds. Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not come into your righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written among the righteous. I am poor and in pain; let your salvation help me, O God. I will praise the name of my God with a song, I will magnify him with praise; And this shall please God better than a young bull put-ting forth horns and hoofs. Let the poor see this and be glad; seek after God, and your soul shall live. For the Lord has heard the needy, and has not despised his prisoners. Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the sea, and every creeping thing therein. For God will save Zion, and the cities of Judah shall be built; and they shall dwell there, and inherit it. And the seed of your servants shall possess it, and those who love your name shall dwell therein.

Psalm 69

GOD, hasten to my help; O Lord, be quick to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek after my soul; let them be turned back and put to shame who desire my hurt. Let them soon be turned back with shame who say to me: Well done, well done. Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you, O God, and let those who love your salvation say continually: The Lord be magnified. But I am poor and needy; help me, O God. You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.

Psalm 85

OW down your ear, O Lord, and hear me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am holy; O my God, save your servant who trusts in you. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I will cry to you all the day long. Give joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy toward all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, and attend to my voice in my supplication. In the day of my trouble I have cried to you, for you have answered me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great, and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Lead me in your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; let my heart rejoice, that I may fear your name. I will give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For your mercy is great toward me, and you have delivered my soul from the lowest Hades. O God, transgressors have risen up against me, and an assembly of violent men have sought my life, and have not set you before them. But you, O Lord my God, are compassionate, and merciful, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy, and true. Look upon me, and have mercy on me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your handmaid. Show me a sign for good, and let those who hate me see it and be ashamed, because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

Glory. Both now.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory.

Troparion

The Thief, seeing the Prince of life hanging on the Cross, said: If he who is crucified with us was not God incarnate, the sun would not have hidden its rays, nor would the shaken earth be quaking. But you who bear all things, remember me, Lord, in your kingdom.

Both now. Theotokion.

Born of a Virgin, O Good One who also endured crucifixion for our sake, who by death took the spoils of death as plunder and showed resurrection, being God, O despise not the ones that You formed with Your own hand. Demonstrate Your love for man, O Lord of mercy, and accept Your Mother, the Theotokos, who intercedes on our behalf, O Savior, and save us a despairing people.

Choir:

Idiomela

Grave Mode

A strange wonder it was to see the Maker of heaven and earth hanging on a cross; the sun darkened, the day changed again into night and the earth giving back the bodies of the dead from their tombs; with them we worship you. Save us. (2)

2^nd Mode

Verse: They parted my garments among them, and cast lots for my clothing.

When the transgressors saw you, the Lord of glory, nailed to the Cross, you cried out to them, ‘How have I grieved you? In what have I angered you? Before me, who delivered you from affliction? And now how do your repay me? With evils for blessings: instead of a pillar of fire, you have nailed me to a cross; instead of a cloud, you have dug me a tomb; instead of the manna, you have offered me gall; instead of water, you have given me vinegar to drink. From now on I shall call the nations, and they will glorify me with the Father and the holy Spirit.’

Verse: They gave me gall for food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Repeat: When the transgressors…

The following Idiomelon is first solemnly intoned in a loud voice by the Canonarch in the middle of the Church. Then it sung melodically by the two Choirs.

Glory. Both now. Plagal 2^nd Mode.

Today he is hung upon a tree, he who hung the earth upon the waters (3).

He is arrayed in a crown of thorns, he who is the King of the Angels.

He is wrapped in mocking purple, he who wraps the heaven in clouds.

He receives a blow on the face, he who freed Adam in Jordan.

He is transfixed with nails, the Bridegroom of the Church.

He is pierced by a lance, the Son of the Virgin.

We worship your Sufferings, O Christ (3).

Show us also your glorious Resurrection.

The Prophecy

Reader:

Prokeimenon in the 6^th Mode. The fool has said in his heart: * ‘There is no God’.

Verse:There is none who does good; no, not one.

The Reading is from the Prophecy of Jeremiah.

Priest:

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader:

11:17-22; 12:1-5, 9-11, 14-15

Lord, teach me, and I will know. Then I saw their purpose. For I did not know I was like an innocent lamb led to be sacrificed. They plotted an evil device against me, saying, "Come, let us put wood in his bread, and destroy him root and branch from the land of the living, so his name might not be remembered any longer." But, O Lord, You who judge righteously, who tests minds and hearts, let me see Your vengeance on them, for I have revealed my righteous plea to You. Therefore thus says the Lord against the men of Anathoth, against those who seek my life, and who say, "Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, lest you die by our hands"— "Behold, I will visit them. The young men shall die by the sword, and their sons and daughters shall die by famine. There shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring calamities on the inhabitants of Anathoth in the year of their visitation." O Lord, You are righteous, that I may plead my case with You, to speak to You concerning judgments. Why does the way of the ungodly prosper, and all who deal treacherously flourish? You planted them, and they took root. They bear children and are fruitful. You are near in their mouth, but far from their mind. But You, O Lord, know me. You have proven my heart before You. Set them apart for the day of slaughter. How long will the land mourn and the grass of the field wither, because of the vices of those who dwell in it? The cattle and the birds are destroyed, because they said, "God will not see our ways." "Your feet run and grow weary. Gather together all the wild beasts of the field and let them come to devour her. Many shepherds destroyed My vineyard and defiled My portion. They turned My pleasant portion into an impassable desert. It was made a complete ruin." For thus says the Lord: "Concerning all the evil neighbors who touch My inheritance, which I divided to My people Israel—behold, I shall draw them away from their land and will cast out Judah from their midst. Then it shall come to pass, after I cast them out, that I will return them and have mercy on them. I will settle them, each in his inheritance and each in his land."

The Epistle

Reader:

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.

Priest:

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

Reader:

10:19-31

rethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Priest:

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be with all.

Choir:

And with your spirit.

Priest:

The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to John. Let us be attentive.

Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:

19:23-37

hen the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfil the scripture, "They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), "I thirst." A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of him shall be broken." And again another scripture says, "They shall look on him whom they have pierced."

Choir:

Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.

Reader:

For your holy name’s sake do not finally reject us, do not annul your covenant, do not take your mercy from us for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, and for the sake of Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one.

Τρισαγιον	The Trisagion Prayers
Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος Ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος Ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς (ἐκ γ')	Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Παναγία Τριάς, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. Κύριε, ἱλάσθητι ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἡμῶν, Δέσποτα, συγχώρησον τὰς ἀνομίας ἡμῖν. Ἅγιε, ἐπίσκεψαι καὶ ἴασαι τὰς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός σου.	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.
Κύριε, ἐλέησον (ἐκ γ')	Lord, have mercy. (3)
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι. Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεί, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.	Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Η Κυριακη προσευχη	The Lord’s Prayer
Mατθ. 6:9-13, Λου. 11:2-4	Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4
Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου, ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου, γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον, καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν, καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.	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.
Ιερευσ:	Priest:
Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.	For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
Αναγνωστησ:	Reader:
Ἀμήν.	Amen.

Kontakion

Come, let us all sing the praise of him who was crucified for us; for Mary looked upon him on the Tree and said: ‘Though you endure the Cross, yet you are my Son and my God’.

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Prayer of the Hours

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory. Both now.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gave birth to God the Word; the very Theotokos, you do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

Priest:

May God have compassion on us and bless us; may his face shine upon us and have mercy on us.

Reader:

Amen.

Priest:

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, who are long-suffering in the face of our transgressions, and have led us to the present hour, in which, as You hung upon the lifegiving tree, You made a way into Paradise for the penitent robber, and destroyed death by death: Cleans us, Your humble, sinful and unworthy servants. For we have sinned and transgressed and are not worthy to lift up our eyes and look at the height of heaven, for we have abandoned the path of righteousness and followed the desires of our hearts. So we implore Your incomparable goodness: Spare us, O Lord, according to the abundance of Your mercy, and save us for Your holy name's sake, for our days have passed in vanity. Rescue us from the hand of the adversary and forgive our sins, and mortify our mind set on the flesh; so that we may put off the old man be clothed with the new, and live for You, our Master and Benefactor. And thus may we follow Your commandments, and arrive at the eternal rest, where the dwelling is of all those who rejoice. For You are the true joy and exultation of those who love You, Christ our God, and we send up glory to You and Your unoriginate Father and Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.

Reader:

Amen.

The Beatitudes

In your kingdom remember us, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

Glory. Both now.

The following are read more solemnly and we make a full prostration at each one:

Remember us, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom. (Prostration)

Remember us, O Master, when you come in your kingdom. (Prostration)

Remember us, O Holy One, when you come in your kingdom. (Prostration)

The heavenly choir hymns you and says: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Verse: Come to him and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed.

The heavenly choir hymns you and says: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Glory.

The choir of holy Angels and Archangels with all the heavenly Powers hymns you and says: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Both now.

believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.

Then:

Remit, forgive, pardon, O God, our offences, willing and unwilling, in deed and in word, in knowledge and in ignorance, of the day and of the night, in mind and in thought; pardon them all, as you are good and love mankind.

Priest:

For Thine is the Kingdom…

Reader:

Amen.

Kontakion

Come, let us all sing the praise of him who was crucified for us; for Mary looked upon him on the Tree and said: ‘Though you endure the Cross, yet you are my Son and my God’.

Lord, have mercy. (12)

Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and to the ages. (3)

Glory. Both now.

Psalm 33

WILL bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; let the meek hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me out of all my afflictions. Come to him, and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed. This poor one cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him from all his afflictions. The angel of the Lord shall encamp all around those who fear him, and shall deliver them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him. O fear the Lord, all you his saints; for those who fear him have no want. The rich have turned poor and gone hungry, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. Come, children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life, who loves to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their supplication; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to root out the remembrance of them from the face of the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of all their afflictions. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and will save the lowly in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver them out of them all. The Lord keeps all their bones; not one of them shall be broken. The death of sinners is evil, and those who hate the righteous shall go wrong. The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants, and none who trust in him shall go wrong.

Glory. Both now. Lord, have mercy. (3) Father, bless!

Priest:

e Who endured the spitting, the scourging, the beatings, the Cross and death for the salvation of the world, 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, of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

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

Reader:

Amen.

St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church — 5108 Kuykendall Road, Charlotte NC 28270
tel: 704-708-4669 | fax: 704-846-6094 | office@stnektarios.org | @stnektarioscharlotte

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