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.

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. 

 

 

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.

Bridegroom Troparion. Plagal 4^th Mode.

ehold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night; and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching, but unworthy is he whom He shall find in slothfulness. Beware, then, O my soul, and be not overcome by sleep, lest you be given over to death and shut out from the Kingdom. But return to soberness and cry aloud: Holy, holy, holy are You, O God: By the power of Your Cross save us.

Glory.

ehold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night; and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching, but unworthy is he whom He shall find in slothfulness. Beware, then, O my soul, and be not overcome by sleep, lest you be given over to death and shut out from the Kingdom. But return to soberness and cry aloud: Holy, holy, holy are You, O God: By the intercessions of the Saints save us. 

Both now.

ehold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night; and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching, but unworthy is he whom He shall find in slothfulness. Beware, then, O my soul, and be not overcome by sleep, lest you be given over to death and shut out from the Kingdom. But return to soberness and cry aloud: Holy, holy, holy are You, O God: through the Theotokos have mercy upon us.

Priest: 

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

Choir: 

Lord, have mercy.

Priest:

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

Choir: 

Lord, have mercy. 

Priest:

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. 

Choir: 

To You, O Lord.

Priest: 

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

Choir: 

Amen.

Kathisma I. 3^rd Mode. Awed by the beauty.

The harlot came to You who love humanity. * She poured perfume and tears over Your feet, O Lord. * At Your command she was absolved from the stench of her sinful deeds. * Judas, on the other hand, still exhaling the scent of grace, * ungratefully rejected it, and disfigured himself with mire; * for he betrayed You for the love of money. * Glory to Your compassion, O Christ!

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

Kathisma II. 4^th Mode. Come quickly.

In love with the love of money, scheming Judas the knave * deceptively premeditated his betrayal of You, * the Treasure of Life, O Lord. * Thus intoxicated, he runs to the Judeans. * He speaks to the unlawful, saying, "What will you give me, * and I shall betray Him to you, * for you to crucify Him?"

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

Kathisma III. 1^st Mode. The soldiers keeping watch.

The harlot wept and sobbed, and she ardently wiped dry * Your undefiled feet, O compassionate Master, * with the hair of her head, and sighed from the depths of her soul and cried, * "O my God, I pray do not reject or abhor me, * but accept me back who am repentant, and save me, * for only You love humanity."

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

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: 

12:17-50

t that time, the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. The Pharisees then said to one another, "You see that you can do nothing; look, the world has gone after him." Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him. Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show by what death he was to die. The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said this, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, yet they did not believe in him; it was that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" Therefore they could not believe. For Isaiah again said, "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and turn for me to heal them." Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me."

Choir: 

Glory to You, 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.

 

 

Choir:

The Canon. By Cosmas the Monk.

Ode III. 2^nd Mode. Heirmos.

You strengthened me on the rock of faith, O Savior. * You made me smile at my enemies and deride them. * My spirit is rejoicing, as I am singing, * "No one is holy like our God, * and no one is righteous but You, O Lord." (2)

Glory to You, our God, glory to you.

The council of unlawful men now assembles * to bring idle charges against You with malice, * to rule on Your conviction, and to condemn You, * O Christ. We sing to You * and say, "You are our God, * and no one is holy but You, O Lord."

Glory. Both now.

Today, the wicked council of the unlawful, * whose soul opposes God, confers in order * to kill the Righteous One, as inconvenient. * O Christ, we sing to You * and say, "You are our God, * and no one is holy but You, O Lord."

Katavasia

You strengthened me on the rock of faith, O Savior. * You made me smile at my enemies and deride them. * My spirit is rejoicing, as I am singing, * "No one is holy like our God, * and no one is righteous but You, O Lord."

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

More than the harlot have I transgressed, and yet no torrents of tears have I offered You, O Good One. But praying in silence, I fall before You, and with longing I kiss Your immaculate feet, so that You, as Master, will grant forgiveness of trespasses to me who cry out to You, O Savior: From the mire of my sinful burdens deliver me.

Oikos

The woman, once prodigal, suddenly appeared restrained, hating the works of shameful sins and physical pleasures, and reflecting on the great shame and punishment to which harlots and prodigals will be condemned. I myself am first among them, and I am afraid, yet I persist in my bad habit, mindless that I am. The harlot, on the other hand, was afraid and hastened quickly, and came crying to You the Redeemer: O Compassionate Lord who love mankind, from the mire of my sinful burdens deliver me.

Synaxarion from the Menaion, then:

On Wednesday, as the most divine fathers ordained, we commemorate the harlot who anointed the Lord's feet with fragrant ointment, since this occurred shortly before the saving Passion.

Verses

With ointment the woman anointed the body

Of Christ, in advance of the aloes of Nikodemos.

O Christ God, who were anointed with the spiritual ointment, free us from the influent passions and have mercy on us, for only You are holy and love mankind.

2^nd Choir:

The Canon. By Cosmas the Monk.

Ode VIII. 2^nd Mode. Heirmos.

When the decree of the tyrant prevailed of old, * the fiery furnace was heated to sevenfold strength. * The three Servants did not burn therein, * when they defied the king's pronouncement; * but they cried out and sang, "All you works of the Lord, sing a hymn to the Lord, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages."

Glory to You, our God, glory to you.

The woman poured out the very costly fragrant oil * on Your divine and awe-inspiring head, O Lord. * O Christ, she laid hold of Your immaculate * holy feet with her hands defiled in sin. * And she cried out and sang, "All you works of the Lord, sing a hymn to the Lord, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages."

Glory to You, our God, glory to you.

The woman guilty of sins washed the Maker's feet * with her tears and she wiped them dry with the hair of her head. * For this she did not fail to be absolved * of the sins she committed all her life, * but she cried out and sang, "All you works of the Lord, sing a hymn to the Lord, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages."

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

The sacrament of the grateful woman's ransom * is performed by the Savior's tender love and her own fountain of tears; * in which, through confession of her many sins, * she was washed clean and she was not ashamed, * but she cried out and sang, "All you works of the Lord, sing a hymn to the Lord, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages."

Katavasia

We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord.

When the decree of the tyrant prevailed of old, * the fiery furnace was heated to sevenfold strength. * The three Servants did not burn therein, * when they defied the king's pronouncement; * but they cried out and sang, "All you works of the Lord, sing a hymn to the Lord, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages."

Deacon: 

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

1^st Choir:

Ode IX. 2^nd Mode. Heirmos.

With souls that are pure, let us open unpolluted lips, * and come, let us magnify the all-immaculate * and most pure, all-holy Mother of Emmanuel, * as through her we offer up * intercession to Him, the Son she bore. * "Spare our souls, O Christ our God, and save us, we pray."

Glory to You, our God, glory to You. 

Ungrateful and jealous did wicked Judas prove to be, * reckoning the value of the gift befitting God, * and through which a debt of sinfulness was forgiven; * for the scoundrel thought that he could traffic in the God-loving favor. * "Spare our souls, O Christ our God, and save us, we pray."

Glory to You, our God, glory to You. 

Going to the rulers who did not uphold the Law, * Judas says to them, "What will you give to me if I * deliver Christ to you who seek Him and wish to kill Him?" * In exchange for money he rejected his relationship with Christ. * "Spare our souls, O Christ our God, and save us, we pray."

Glory. Both now.

O pitiless man, alas, your blinding avarice! * Therefore you forgot what you were taught, that all the world * is not equal in value to a single soul. * For you fell into despair and hanged yourself and choked to death, O betrayer. * Spare our souls, O Christ our God, and save us, we pray.

Katavasia

With souls that are pure, let us open unpolluted lips, * and come, let us magnify the all-immaculate * and most pure, all-holy Mother of Emmanuel, * as through her we offer up * intercession to Him, the Son she bore. * "Spare our souls, O Christ our God, and save us, we pray."

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.

I see your bridal chamber; it is adorned, my Savior, and I have no wedding garment, that I may enter therein. Illumine the vesture of my soul, O Giver of Light, and save me.

The Praises. 1^st 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.

1. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you stars and light.
2. Praise him, you heavens of heavens, and the water that is above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord; 
3. For he spoke, and they came into being; he commanded, and they were created.
4. He established them forever, and to the ages of ages; he made a decree, and it shall not pass away.
5. Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons, and all deeps;
6. Fire, hail, snow, ice, tempest wind, which fulfill his word;
7. Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars;
8. Wild beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and winged birds;
9. Kings of the earth, and all peoples; princes, and all judges of the earth;
10. Young men and virgins; elders with youths. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted.
11. His praise is on earth and in heaven, and he will exalt the horn of his people.
12. This is a hymn for all his saints, for the children of Israel, a people who draw near to him.
13. Sing to the Lord a new song; let his praise be in the congregation of the saints.
14. Let Israel rejoice in his Maker, and let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
15. Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praises to him with the timbrel and psaltery.
16. For the Lord takes pleasure in his people, and will exalt the meek with salvation.
17. The saints shall boast with glory, and shall be joyful on their beds.
18. The high praises of God shall be in their throats, and two-edged swords in their hands,
19. To execute vengeance among the nations, and rebukes among the peoples;
20. To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron;
21. To execute among them the written judgment. This glory shall be for all his saints.
22. Praise God in his saints; praise him in the firmament of his power.

Sticheron I. 1^st Mode.

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

O Son of the Virgin, the harlot knew You to be God and she prayed to You lamenting, for she had committed sins worthy of tears. “Loose me from my debt,” she cried, “as I unloose my hair. Show love to her who loves You, though rightly she deserves Your hatred, and with the publicans I shall proclaim You, O Benefactor who love mankind.”

Sticheron II. 1^st Mode.

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

 

The harlot mingled precious oil of myrrh with her tears and poured it on Your most pure feet, as she kissed them; and straightway You have proclaimed her justified. To us also grant forgiveness, O Lord who have suffered for our sake, and save us.

Sticheron III. 1^st Mode. 

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

While the sinful woman brought oil of myrrh, the disciple came to an agreement with the transgressors. She rejoiced to pour out what was very precious, he made haste to sell the One who is above all price. She acknowledged Christ as Lord, he severed himself from the Master. She was set free, but Judas became the slave of the enemy. Grievous was his lack of love! Great was her repentance! Grant such repentance also unto me, O Savior who have suffered for our sake, and save us.

Sticheron IV. 1^st Mode. 

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

O misery of Judas! He saw the harlot kiss Your feet, and deceitfully he plotted to betray You with a kiss. She loosed her hair and he was bound a prisoner by fury, bearing in place of myrrh the stink of evil: for envy knows not how to choose its own advantage. O misery of Judas! From this deliver our souls, O God.

From the Triodion. 2^nd Mode. Glory.

The sinful woman hastened to buy precious oil of myrrh, with which to anoint the Benefactor, and she cried aloud to the merchant: “Give me oil of myrrh that I may anoint Him who has cleansed me from all my sins.”

From the Triodion. Plagal 2^nd Mode. Both now. 

Drowning in sin, she found in You a haven of salvation, and pouring out the oil of myrrh with her tears, she cried to Thee: “Behold, You are He who accepts the repentance of the sinful. O Master, save me from the waves of sin in Your great mercy.”

Reader or Superior: 

Small Doxology

o 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.

Aposticha. Plagal 2^nd Mode.

Today Christ comes to the house of the Pharisee, and the sinful woman draws near and falls down at His feet, crying: “Behold me sunk in sin, filled with despair by reason of my deeds, yet not rejected by Your love. Grant me, Lord, remission of my sins and save me.”

1^st Verse: We were filled in the morning with your mercy, O Lord, and we rejoiced and were glad.

The harlot spread out her hair before You, O Master, while Judas stretched out his hands to the transgressors: she, to receive forgiveness; and he, to receive money. Therefore we cry aloud to You who were sold and have set us free: O Lord, glory to You.

2^nd Verse: In all our days, let us be glad, for all the days you have afflicted us, for the years we have suffered adversity. Look upon your servants and your works, and guide their children.

Evil-smelling and defiled, the woman drew near to You, shedding tears upon Your feet, O Savior, and proclaiming Your Passion. “How can I look upon You, O Master? Yet You have come to save the harlot. I am dead: raise me from the depths, as You [have] raised Lazarus on the fourth day from the tomb. Accept me in my wretchedness, O Lord, and save me.”

3^rd Verse: And may the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us. Direct the work of our hands, O direct the work of our hands.

Full of despair on account of her life, her evil ways well known, she came to You, bearing oil of myrrh, and cried aloud: “Harlot though I am, cast me not out, O Son of the Virgin; despise not my tears, O Joy of the angels; but receive me in repentance, O Lord, and in Your great mercy reject me not, a sinner.”

By the Nun Kassia. Plagal 4^th Mode.

Glory. Both now.

The woman who had fallen into many sins, perceiving Your divinity, O Lord, fulfilled the part of a myrrh-bearer; and with lamentations she brought sweet-smelling oil of myrrh to You before Your burial. ‘Woe is me,’ she said, ‘for night surrounds me, dark and moonless, and stings my lustful passion with the love of sin. Accept the fountain of my tears, O You Who draw down from the clouds the waters of the sea. Incline to the groanings of my heart, O You Who in Your ineffable self-emptying bowed down the heavens. I shall kiss Your most pure feet and wipe them with the hairs of my head, those feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise, and hid herself for fear. Who can search out the multitude of my sins and the abyss of Your judgements, O Savior of my soul? Despise me not, Your handmaiden, for You have mercy without measure.’

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.

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. 

Kontakion

More than the harlot have I transgressed, and yet no torrents of tears have I offered You, O Good One. But praying in silence, I fall before You, and with longing I kiss Your immaculate feet, so that You, as Master, will grant forgiveness of trespasses to me who cry out to You, O Savior: From the mire of my sinful burdens deliver me.

Lord have mercy. (40)

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:

Blessed are You, Christ our God, always now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Reader: 

Amen. 

Priest: 

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

Reader: 

Amen.

The Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian

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

nstead, grant me, Your servant, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience and love. (prostration)

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

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

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

Reader: 

Amen.

Dismissal

Priest: 

Glory to You, our God. Glory to You. 

Reader: 

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

Priest: 

ay He who is coming to His voluntary Passion for our salvation, 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.