Day 37 of the Great Fast. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.

VESPERS ON MONDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 6

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

My wretched soul has been weakened by my many sins* and by the pleasures of this life,* and I lay upon the bed of slothfulness,* O Master, I cry to You:* O merciful One, come and visit me,* and grant me health and mercy.* Forsake me not, lest I sleep unto death* and the enemy rejoices over my downfall:* for he ever seeks me, O Saviour,* to lead me into the depths of Hades.

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

I have rivalled in foolishness the unmerciful rich man,* overwhelmed by sensuality and passions, I rejoice in pleasures.* Like Lazarus my mind ever lays at the gates of penitence, O Lord,* but with indifference I pass it by,* leaving it hungry, sick, and wounded by the passions.* Therefore I am deserving of the flames of Gehenna:* but deliver me from them, O Master,* for You alone are rich in mercy.

Tone 5

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

O Lord, while dwelling in the flesh on the far side of the Jordan,* You foretold that the sickness of Lazarus would not be unto death,* but rather it would be to Your glory, O our God.* Glory to Your mighty acts and Your all-sovereign power,* for You have destroyed death* in You great mercy, O Lover of mankind.

Tone 4

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

The mystery hidden from all eternity,* unknown even by the angels,* is now entrusted to the archangel Gabriel.* He will come to you, precious vessel;* he will salute you, crying in joy:* Rejoice, pure dove! Rejoice, all holy one!* Make ready by your word to conceive the Word of God!

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

The palace of light is ready for you, Master:* The womb of the undefiled child of God.* Come down to her; come to visit your fallen world,* held in bitter slavery to the jealous enemy.* Many ages have passed since its beauty was destroyed.* Make haste to descend to earth, O Lord!* Come to deliver us from the way of death!

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

Gabriel the archangel comes to you, all-blameless one;* he will greet you, crying with joy:* Rejoice, deliverance from condemnation!* Rejoice, chosen vessel made perfect for God!* Rejoice, life-bearing dawn of the endless day!* The Lord, Whom the heavens cannot contain, is pleased to dwell in you!

Tone 2, Glory… Now…

Today Gabriel announces the good tidings to her who is full of grace:* Rejoice, unwedded Maiden!* Be not struck with dismay by my strange form, nor be afraid:* I am an archangel!* Once the serpent beguiled Eve,* but now I announce to you the good tidings of joy, most pure one:* You shall remain inviolate and yet shall bear the Lord!

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good:* for His mercy endures for ever.

verse: So let them say that have been redeemed by the Lord.

Reading I

Genesis 27:1-41

Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. Now therefore, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. Then make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son; and Esau went to the field to hunt game for his father. So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her younger son, saying, “Indeed, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now to the sheep and bring me from there two kids, choice and good, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it and bless you before his death.”

Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.” But his mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. She also put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the exposed part of his neck. Then she gave the savory food and the bread she had prepared into the hands of her son Jacob.

Thus he went to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” But Isaac said to his son, “How is it you have found it so quickly, my son?” He said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.” Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are my son Esau or not.” So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s.” Thus he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. Then he said, “Are you my son Esau?” He said, “I am.”

He said, “Bring your game to me, my son, and I will eat from it, that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” So he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing.

Thus he blessed him and said:
“Surely, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field the Lord has blessed.
Therefore, may God give you of the dew of heaven
And of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and wine.
Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brethren,
And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
And cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you.”

Now it happened, as soon as Isaac finished blessing Jacob his son, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. He also had made savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that your soul may bless me.” And his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—and indeed, he shall be blessed.” When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!” But he said, “Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.” Then Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing.” So he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”

Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Indeed, I have made him your lord, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with grain and wine I have sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my son?” Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me—me also, O my father!” But when Isaac was troubled, Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

“Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth,
And of the dew of heaven from above.
By your sword you shall live,
And you shall serve your brother;
And it shall come to pass, when you become restless,
That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Thus Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him; and Esau said in his mind, “Let the days of mourning for my father draw near, then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Prokeimenon II, Tone 7

Be exalted above the heavens, O God:* and Your glory above all the earth.

verse: Ready is my heart, O God, ready is my heart.

Reading II

Proverbs 19:16-25

He who guards the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who despises his ways shall perish.
The one who has mercy on the poor lends to God,
And He will repay him according to his gift.
Instruct your son, for thus he shall be hopeful,
But do not lift up your soul in arrogance.
A malicious man shall be punished severely,
And if he commits injury, he will also add this to his soul.
Hear, my son, the instruction of your father,
That you may become wise in your last days.
There are many thoughts in the heart of a man,
But the counsel of the Lord abides forever.
Mercy is fruit to a man,
And a poor righteous man is better than a rich liar.
The fear of the Lord is unto life for a man,
And he shall lodge without fear in places where knowledge is not examined.
A man who hides his hands in his bosom unrighteously,
He will not even bring them up to his mouth.
When a pestilent man is punished, a man without discernment becomes more astute,
But if you reprove a discerning man, he will understand perception.

Aposticha

Tone 4

Deliver us from soul-destructive greed, O Saviour,* and grant us a place with Lazarus the beggar in the bosom of Abraham.* For You who are rich in mercy* willingly becoming poor for our sakes,* leading us up from corruption to incorruption,* as You are a merciful God and the Lover of mankind.

I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.

Deliver us from soul-destructive greed, O Saviour,* and grant us a place with Lazarus the beggar in the bosom of Abraham.* For You who are rich in mercy* willingly becoming poor for our sakes,* leading us up from corruption to incorruption,* as You are a merciful God and the Lover of mankind.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.

You have accepted the patience of the holy martyrs:* in Your love accept also our hymns of praise,* and by their intercessions grant us Your great mercy.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Gabriel, the leader of the heavenly host,* flew down and greeted the Virgin:* Rejoice, full of grace!* The most Holy Spirit shall come upon you;* the power of the Most High shall overshadow you.* You shall bring forth a Child and remain a pure Virgin:* He is the Son without beginning.* He has come on earth to save His people!

MATINS ON TUESDAY MORNING

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 8

Like the Harlot I fall down before you, Christ my God, seeking to receive forgiveness;* and instead of ointment I offer You the tears from my heart.* Take pity on me, Saviour, as You had on her,* and grant me the remission of my sins.* For I cry like her to You:* Deliver me from the filthiness of my deeds.

O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, neither chasten me in Your wrath.

Keep in mind that fearful day and be vigilant, my soul.* Kindle your lamp and cause it to burn brightly with the oil of compassion.* For you do not know when you shall hear the cry: ‘Behold, the Bridegroom!’* Be watchful, then, my soul, and do not slumber,* lest you be left outside, knocking at the door like the five virgins.* But continue wakeful, and so with the rich oil of mercy in your lamp go out to meet Christ your God;* and may He grant to you the divine bridal chamber of His glory.

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

The tabernacle shines this day with heavenly light,* for within it all the hosts of angels now make glad,* and in company with them the choirs of martyrs rejoice at the memorial of their victorious sufferings.* Through their prayers, O Christ, send down upon Your world* peace and great mercy.

Glory… Now…

O you faithful, let us magnify in hymns the Theotokos,* unshakeable foundation of the Faith and precious gift conferred upon our souls.* Rejoice, for you have held within your womb the Rock of Life!* Rejoice, hope of all the ends of the earth, succour of the afflicted!* Rejoice, Bride without bridegroom!

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 6

Emaciated by the disease of sin, I lie on the bed of despair.* Therefore I ask You, the Physician of the sick;* visit me in You love for mankind;* and leave me not sleeping wickedly in death, O all-compassionate One,* that I may cry to You:* Bestower of mercy, O Lord, glory be to You.

Glory… Now…

The announcement of Gabriel to the Virgin was the beginning of our salvation;* for she heard Rejoice! and rejected not the salutation;* she doubted not, like Sarah of old, but spoke thus saying:* Behold the handmaiden of the Lord!* Be it done to me according to your word!

Sessional Hymn III, Tone 5

Yesterday and today the sickness of Lazarus, was manifest to Christ by his sisters.* With joy prepare yourself, O Bethany,* to welcome as your guest the Lord and King,* and to cry aloud together with us:* O Lord, glory be to You.

Glory… Now…

O most holy Mother of God, bulwark of Christians:* as is your manner, deliver your people who diligently supplicate you;* do battle against our shameful and proud thoughts,* that we may cry out to you:* Rejoice, O Ever-Virgin!

Canon

Ode 2

Irmos: Behold now, and see that I am God, who by My right hand and by My power alone* rained down manna in the days of old,* and made springs of water flow from the barren rock,* for My people in the wilderness.

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

You who are rich by nature, willingly became a pauper, O Christ; and You who fill every living thing with abundance, have willingly deprived Yourself. Therefore satisfy me who hungers for Your grace, and show me, O Word, to be a partaker of Your table in the age to come.

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

Make me, O Christ, as poor as Lazarus in sin, scattering the wealth of evil that I have wickedly gathered; fill me with Your perfect love, O compassionate One, and deliver me from the fearful torments.

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

Once in Babylon the Children became stronger than the fire through fasting. Be not despondent, O my soul, but emulate them, and you shall quench the fire of sensual pleasure with the dew of the Spirit.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

We cry to you who have conceived our joy, “Rejoice,” O divinely joyous Virgin Theotokos. Pray to God whom you bore, that we who ever hymn you, be delivered from danger and corruption.

Irmos: Behold, now, and see that I am God* who has willingly clothed Myself in flesh to save Adam,* who from the snares of the serpent* fell into transgression.

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

See now, see that I am God, who, when dwelling on the far side of the Jordan heard that Lazarus was sick, and said: “He will not die, but this is for My glory.”

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

Lamenting, the sisters of Lazarus noetically revealed their anguish to You who knows all things. But You delayed somewhat, that the miracle of his raising would reveal to Your disciples Your awesome power.

Glory…

A Unity in three Hypostases, a single sovereignty, and kingdom of the ages, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the multitude of angels and all mankind glorify You.

Now…

Who is not filled with wonder, O Virgin, at beholding the Creator refashioning fallen Adam within you, in an ineffable union, and born from you in the flesh without undergoing change, for our salvation?

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

Adorn yourself with rejoicing now, O Bethany, and make ready to receive the King of all: for He is coming to you to reveal Lazarus returned from corruption to life.

Katavasia: Behold, now, and see that I am God* who has willingly clothed Myself in flesh to save Adam,* who from the snares of the serpent* fell into transgression.

Ode 8

Irmos: You made flame bedew the holy children,* and burned the sacrifice of a righteous man with water.* For You alone, O Christ, do all as You will,* You do we exalt throughout all ages.

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

I contemplate the multitude of my transgressions and am pierced by pangs of conscience; I suffer as though already in the flames of Hades wretched as I am: Have compassion upon me, O Word of God, by Your mercy.

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

I have overlooked the virtuousness of Lazarus and emulated the ways of the unmerciful rich man. O lovingly compassionate God, have compassion upon me, and turn me back, that I may glorify You throughout all ages.

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

Held fast by the infirmities of my soul, despair has brought me near to death and I stand in need of Your visitation, O Jesus, who gives life to those who call upon You.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

O most holy Virgin, save me and come to the aid of my feebleness, for you have given birth to Him whose will it is to be merciful, whom we supremely exalt throughout all ages.

Irmos: Your venerable children sang Your praises in the furnace, O Christ,* and they cried aloud: all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!

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

Rejoice, O Bethany, home of Lazarus, for Christ comes to you to perform a mighty work, the raising of Lazarus to life.

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

Lazarus has fallen sick that You, O Son of God, may be glorified through him; therefore, without ceasing, the works of Your hands praise You, O Lord.

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

We hymn the all-holy Trinity, in the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit, chanting: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Now…

With all mankind, we hymn the praises of your ineffable childbearing, O pure one; and honouring your Son as God, we bless and praise Him without ceasing.

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

Preparing branches of the virtues with which to meet Christ, we cry aloud: O you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

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

Katavasia: Your venerable children sang Your praises in the furnace, O Christ,* and they cried aloud: all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!

Magnificat

Ode 9

Irmos: It is impossible for mankind to see God* upon whom the orders of Angels dare not gaze;* but through you, O all-pure one, did the Word Incarnate become man* and with the Heavenly Hosts we magnify Him and we call you blessed.

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

Having once tasted of the bitter fruit, the first-formed man was banished in grief from Paradise and harnessed to the bridle of death. Fast, O my soul; flee from his example; flee from the pain and suffering that comes from taking pleasure in eating.

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

I call to mind Your judgment seat, and the unquenchable flames; and before the judgment has come, O righteous Judge, I have condemned myself. I fear and tremble, for without measure I have sinned against You, more than any other mortal man: therefore have compassion upon me.

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

Let us cleanse ourselves of the darkness of the passions through the illumination of prayer and bearing branches of virtue let us hasten to greet Christ, who shall soon approach riding upon a foal, preparing himself to suffer that he may save us.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Coming forth from you, O Virgin who are full of the grace of God, Christ the Giver of light and peace has shone upon us, who are darkened by the passions. Having forgiven us the transgression that came about through heedlessness, He has bestowed redemption upon us.

Irmos: O Isaiah, rejoice and be glad! The Virgin has conceived in her womb,* and has borne a Son, Emmanuel, who is both God and man;* and Orient is His name;* we magnify Him and we call the Virgin blessed.

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

O wise Lazarus, prepare now for your burial; for tomorrow morning you shall die and pass from this life. Behold the tomb in which you shall lay, for Christ shall return you to life again, raising you up on the fourth day.

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

Rejoice and be glad, O Bethany: for Christ shall come to you, and perform in you a great and fearful miracle. Binding death, as the God of all, He shall raise up Lazarus, who having died shall once again magnify the Creator.

Glory…

O Trinity, I sing Your praises, One in Essence, beginningless, honoured source of life, an undivided Unity: the Father unbegotten, the Word and Son begotten, and the Holy Spirit, save us who hymn You.

Now…

Your childbearing transcends comprehension, O Mother of God. For you conceived without a man, giving birth without corruption; and the Child that was borne from you is God. We magnify Him, O Virgin, and you we call blessed.

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

Come, let us prepare to meet the Lord, bringing the palms of virtue to Him. That we may receive Him in our souls as though in the city of Jerusalem, worshipping Him and hymning his praises.

Katavasia: O Isaiah, rejoice and be glad! The Virgin has conceived in her womb,* and has borne a Son, Emmanuel, who is both God and man;* and Orient is His name;* we magnify Him and we call the Virgin blessed.

Aposticha, Tone 5

Lulled into the sleep of indifference by transgressions* and bound fast by the bonds of sin,* why do you despair, O my soul?* Why are you slothful and lazy?* Ever flee from the burning of lasciviousness, as did Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah;* turn not back, lest you become a pillar of salt.* Save yourself upon the mountain of the virtues;* ever flee the consuming flames of the unmerciful and cruel rich man.* Rather, like Lazarus go to dwell in the bosom of Abraham, crying out in humbleness of thought:* My hope and my refuge, O Lord, glory be to You.

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.

Lulled into the sleep of indifference by transgressions* and bound fast by the bonds of sin,* why do you despair, O my soul?* Why are you slothful and lazy?* Ever flee from the burning of lasciviousness, as did Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah;* turn not back, lest you become a pillar of salt.* Save yourself upon the mountain of the virtues;* ever flee the consuming flames of the unmerciful and cruel rich man.* Rather, like Lazarus go to dwell in the bosom of Abraham, crying out in humbleness of thought:* My hope and my refuge, O Lord, glory be to You.

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.

Your passion-bearers, O Lord,* emulating the life of the angelic hosts,* patiently endured tortures, as though they themselves were bodiless,* having a singular hope in the blessings You have promised.* By their prayers, O Christ our God, grant peace to Your world,* and to our souls great mercy.

Glory… Now…

To you do we pray, as the Mother of God:* O blessed one,* pray for the salvation of our souls!