Our Holy Father Tarasius, Archbishop of Constantinople.

When

February 25, 2026

All Day

Day 10 of the Great Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ON TUESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4

Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

Like the prodigal I squandered my paternal inheritance,* and now I am in desolation.* I dwell in the land of the wicked.* In my folly, I became like the unreasoning beasts,* stripped of all divine grace.* So I return and cry out to You:* O merciful and compassionate Father,* I have sinned, O God.* Receive me as a penitent and have mercy on me.

The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

O martyrs of the Lord,* you are living sacrifices and spiritual offerings* and perfect incense burnt to God.* You are sheep that know God and are known to Him,* and wolves cannot break into His fold.* Pray that we may be led with you* to pasture beside the still waters.

Tone 1

Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

O Christ, having stretched Your sinless hands upon the Cross,* You gathered together the ends of the earth.* Therefore I cry to You:* Gather together my scattered mind, taken captive by the passions;* and having fully cleansed me through abstinence,* make me a sharer in Your sufferings.

If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

Of old the Children in Babylon were strengthened by fasting,* which, as it is written, made them mightier than the flames of fire.* Fast then O my humble soul,* and kindle within yourself love for the Master,* for thereby you shall escape the fire of Gehenna to come* burning up the destroying passions.

Tone 3

I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

The season of the Fast is one of gladness,* shining forth in purity and unfeigned love,* filled to abundance with the light of prayer and every virtue,* therefore with rejoicing let us cry aloud:* O most Holy Cross of Christ, which has brought forth the joy of life,* count us worthy to venerate you with pure hearts,* and grant us forgiveness and great mercy.

Tone 2

From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

You that love the things of God, honouring those of the Spirit,* come today and let us behold the banquet* of the sweet savour of abstinence* which Tarasius, the godly host, by his immaterial virtues,* has prepared for us in spirit.* Let us all cry out eagerly:* We entreat you, pray that we may obtain forgiveness of our sins!

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

You revealed the faith to the whole world in truth,* wise and eminent father,* you wrote it in stone, shaking off the dirt of heresy,* establishing the beauty of the Church,* as you followed the teachings of the apostles of Christ.* Together with them we all cry out to you:* Rightly-praised father, pray that our souls may be saved!

Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

You received everything of Christ* and the blessedness of giving alms in love for the poor.* Pouring forth alms upon them richly,* you received the mercy of the promise,* for mercy will cry out to be praised at the judgment.* Therefore you departed to life!* We beseech you, pray that we may obtain forgiveness of our sins!

Tone 2, Glory…Now…

As you beheld the all-ripe Cluster of grapes,* which you bore in your womb without cultivation, O pure one,* hanging on the Tree, lamenting you exclaimed and cried out:* ‘O Child, let fall the sweetness whereby all the drunkenness of the passions is abolished,* entreated by Your own lovingkindness,* for the sake of me who bore You, O Benefactor!

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

O Lord, save Your people* and bless Your inheritance.

verse: To You, O Lord, will I cry; O my God.

Reading I

Genesis 4:8-15

Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then God said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He replied, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” Thus God said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. You will be groaning and trembling on the earth.” Then Cain said to the Lord, “My guilt is too great to be forgiven! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be groaning and trembling on the earth. Then it will happen if anyone finds me, he will kill me.” So the Lord God said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” Thus the Lord set a sign on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The Lord will give strength to His people;* the Lord will bless His people with peace.

verse: Bring to the Lord, you sons of God, bring to the Lord glory and honour.

Reading II

Proverbs 5:1-15

My son, hold fast to wisdom

And incline your ear to my words,

That you may guard good thinking;

And I command you with the perception of my lips.

Do not join yourself to a base woman,

For honey drips from the lips of a prostitute,

Or for a season she is pleasing to your taste;

Afterward, however, you will find her more bitter than gall

And sharper than a two-edged sword.

For feet lacking discernment lead those using her down into Hades with death;

Her footsteps are not planted,

For she does not travel the ways of life;

And her paths are slippery and not easy to discern.

Now therefore, my son, hear me,

And do not make my words invalid;

Make your way distant from her

And do not come near the doors of her house,

That you may not give away your life to others

And your existence to the merciless;

That strangers may not be filled with your strength,

And your labors go into the houses of strangers,

And you should feel regret at the last,

When the flesh of your body is consumed;

And you will say, “How I hated instruction

And turned my heart away from reproofs;

I did not hear the voice of my instructor and teacher,

Nor did I incline my ear;

Little by little I was in every evil

In the midst of the church and congregation.”

Drink waters from your vessels

And from the fountains of your spring.

Epistle

2 Corinthians 4:6-15

Brethren, it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Gospel

Matthew 11:2-15

When John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

MATINS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 4

You have redeemed us from the curse of the law by Your precious Blood;* nailed to the Cross and pierced by the spear.* You have poured forth immortality upon mankind.* O our Saviour, glory to You.

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool for He is holy.

Come quickly to our help,* before we are enslaved to the enemies that blaspheme You, Christ our God, and threaten us.* By Your Cross, destroy those that make war against us,* and may they know what power is given to the orthodox faith:* through the prayers of the Theotokos, O You who loves mankind.

God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.

Through their sufferings, O Lord,* Your martyrs obtained crowns of immortality from You our God.* For strong in Your might they overthrew the tyrants* and crushed the powerless arrogance of the devils.* At their supplications save our souls, O Christ our God.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin undefiled, Mother of Christ our God,* a sword pierced your all-holy soul,* when you had seen your Son and God crucified of His own will.* O blessed among women, never cease to intercede* that He may grant us pardon for our sins.

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 1

O Christ, stretched and slain upon the Cross,* You slew the serpent our enemy, the origin of evil,* restoring to life those killed by his sting,* therefore I entreat You, O Saviour:* Enliven my deadened soul, for to You do I turn in prayer and fasting.

Glory… Now…

O Christ, the Ewe-lamb, upon seeing You, her Lamb,* hanging upon the Cross between two malefactors,* cried aloud weeping and bitterly lamenting:* “O most beloved Child, what is this wonder that I see?”* whereupon You replied,* “O most pure Mother,* this same wonder shall bring life to all the world.”

Sessional Hymn III, Tone 3

As we pass through the solemn time of abstinence,* let us trumpet hymns and cry aloud:* Through the Fast life has blossomed forth in the world,* and the death that comes from self-indulgence has been destroyed,* by the power of Your Cross, O Christ the Word,* preserve Your servants.

You willingly endured a violent death in crucifixion, O Compassionate One.* And she who gave birth to You was wounded, beholding You.* By her supplications, for the sake of Your merciful loving-kindness,* have compassion upon the world and save it,* O You who take away the sins of the world.

Canon

Ode 3

Irmos: Let my heart be established in Your will, O Christ God,* who has established a second heaven over the waters,* and founded the earth upon the waters,* O all-powerful One.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

You stretched forth Your arms upon the Cross, and thereby in Your mercy and compassion, slay the sin of Adam, who of old stretched out his hand to the tree of knowledge. O supremely good Word of God.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Firmly establish my understanding, for it has been shaken through the envy of the serpent, by Your Passion subdue the assaults of the passions, for through Your sufferings You granted to the faithful freedom from the passions.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The grace of the Fast has shone forth, driving out the darkness of sinful self-indulgence; behold, now is the acceptable time and the day of salvation. Let us bring forth fruits of repentance and we shall live.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Having fallen from the cliff of lustful passions, and through grievous sins, plunged into the abyss; O pure Virgin, the restoration of those who have fallen, raise me up and lead me back to life.

Irmos: Firmly establish our hearts, O Lord,* and grant us light that we may sing Your praise* and glorify You, O Saviour* to the ages of ages.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

O Lord, firmly establish our hearts by Your Cross, that we may not turn away from You to evil thoughts or wicked deeds.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

O Master, heaven and earth were altered visibly, when they beheld Your Passion, and they bore witness that You are in truth the King of all.

Glory…

O Most Holy Trinity, equal in honour and beginningless; Unity, Creator of life and the Source of light; the Father, Son, and Spirit, save me.

Now…

O Mother of God who has not known a man, you alone have given birth to God, yet not lost the incorruption of your pure virginity; remaining inviolate, as you were before childbirth.

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.

O Jesus, I venerate and praise Your scarlet robe, the nails and the Cross, the sponge and the lance, that have given life to all the world.

Katavasia: Firmly establish our hearts, O Lord,* and grant us light that we may sing Your praise* and glorify You, O Saviour* to the ages of ages.

Ode 8

Irmos: To Christ who saved the children that sang His praises and who bedewed the raging furnace,* let us hymn and supremely exalt throughout all ages.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O You who accepted to be numbered with the transgressors, in the abundance of Your mercy be gracious to my sins, that in faith I may glorify You throughout all ages.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

With the lance that pierced Your side, tear up the record of my sins, O Lord, and heal the agony of my heart pierced through by the arrows of wickedness of the evil demons.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Wash clean my heart, blackened by the defilement of sin, with the blood that flowed from Your side, that I may glorify You throughout all ages.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

O you who have borne the heavenly Ear of wheat which feeds all things by His divine power: feed my hungry and humiliated soul.

Irmos: In His divine power the Lord descended into the flames* and was seen walking with the Children of the Hebrews:* O priests, bless and supremely exalt Him* throughout all ages.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Rejoice, O Cross, for by you the thief in a single moment acknowledged Christ’s divinity, crying: “Lord, remember me in Your Kingdom.” Make us also sharers in that Kingdom.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Pierced with a spear, O Christ, You turned back the fiery sword and open Paradise again to mortal mankind. Let us enter therein and ever rejoice in the immortal life that comes from You.

We bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.

With the Father we worship the Son and the Holy Spirit in a Unity of essence, and from mouths of clay we cry without ceasing: Glory in the highest to God in Trinity.

Now…

You alone, who are full of the grace of God, gave birth while yet remaining a virgin. O great mystery, awesome and marvellous! For you have given birth to God incarnate, the Saviour of the world.

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.

O Cross of Christ, the hope of the ends of the earth, grant that by thy guidance we may pass calmly over the sea of the holy Fast, saved from the tempest of sin.

We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!

Katavasia: In His divine power the Lord descended into the flames* and was seen walking with the Children of the Hebrews:* O priests, bless and supremely exalt Him* throughout all ages.

Ode 9

Irmos: The ever-flowing wellspring of life,* light-bearing candlestick of grace,* the animate temple, and most pure cloud,* wider than the heavens and the earth,* the Theotokos do we the faithful magnify.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Elisha, as it is written, brought the dead child back to life after fasting: let us also therefore fast, killing the multitude of carnal thoughts, that in the age to come we may receive eternal life.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Alas, O my soul! Fearful is the court of judgment, and terrible the sentence of the Judge. Make haste, repent, and be reconciled to Christ, who for your sake has been nailed upon the Cross, delivering the faithful from condemnation.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Open to me the gates of repentance and close within me the doors through which the passions enter, O Christ, who at Your Crucifixion, granted the thief swift entry into Paradise, that I too may glorify Your goodness.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

As one cast into the deep waters of sin; I am tossed to and fro by adverse thoughts; I have become a plaything of demons and a slave to pleasure. Help me, O pure Virgin Mother, and guide me to the path of salvation.

Katavasia: Upon Mount Sinai Moses saw you in the bush,* as one who conceived the fire of the Godhead within your womb, and yet remained unconsumed.* Daniel saw you as a mountain not cut by the hand of man,* and Isaiah proclaimed you as the Rod that blossomed forth from the root of David.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

Of Your own will You were given up, surrendering Yourself to murderers; and standing before the judgment seat, You were struck by the hands formed by You. You were crucified and mocked, and pierced by the lance, O Lord; suffering bodily, and enduring all things in Your tender compassion, that we may be saved.

Glory to Your precious Cross, O Lord.

The hosts of angels trembled when they saw You on the Cross, the lights of heaven hid their brightness, the earth quaked, and all things were shaken at the outrage done to You, Lord. By Your divine sufferings, O God, You have accomplished our salvation.

Glory…

The Trinity supreme in Godhead is by Essence an undivided Unity. Though single in Nature, it is distinguished in Hypostases; though indivisible, it is divided; though one, it is three: the Father, Son, and Spirit of Life, watching over all things.

Now…

Who has ever heard of a virgin bearing a child, and a mother who knew not a man? O Mary, this miracle has been accomplished in you, but pray tell me how? “Do not enquire into the mystery of my childbearing: it is altogether true yet transcends the understanding of man.”

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.

By Your wounds have we all been healed from the passions of sin: for, raised upon the Cross, You struck down the enemy, the author of evil. Count us worthy to pass through the time of the Fast without condemnation and reach the Resurrection.

Aposticha

Tone 7

Through Your Cross, O Lord, You destroyed death,* which came into the world when Adam ate from the forbidden tree in Paradise.* Through the present Fast deliver us from every pleasure that corrupts the soul;* and, we beseech You, grant that we may labour for the Food which endures to life eternal,* that we may obtain crowns of everlasting joy,* which You have prepared for those who fast earnestly.

In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth Your work to Your servants; let Your glory shine on their children.

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands, give success to the work of our hands.

O all-praised passion-bearers,* shining upon the whole inhabited earth* like beacons affixed in the firmament,* cry aloud to Christ: O Lord, glory be to You.

Glory… Now…

When You were willingly nailed upon the Tree,* the all-immaculate one upon seeing You,* wept and hymned Your sovereignty.