Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalm are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “You have given a sign…”

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

When all creation beheld You crucified, it was changed and trembled:* the whole earth shook, quaking, О long-suffering Word;* in fear the veil of the temple rent in two* and in terror the rocks split asunder when You were insulted;* and the sun, knowing You to be its Creator, hid its rays.

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

How did the most iniquitous council dare to condemn You, О immortal Judge,* who of old in the desert gave the law to Moses, who beheld God?* How could they fail to be filled with terror,* beholding the Life of all dead upon the Cross?* How could their mind not fathom that You are the one Lord and Master of creation?

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

With the piercing of Your side, О greatly Merciful One,* the ancient record of our forefather Adam was rent asunder;* and by the shedding of Your blood rejected human nature was sanctified,* and cried aloud: Glory be to Your loving-kindness!* Glory be to Thy divine crucifixion,* О almighty Jesus, the Saviour of our souls!

Tone 8, Special Melody: “O all-glorious wonder…”

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

The chosen Chief Cornerstone has been set up in Sion,* the immovable Foundation whereon the ranks of the martyrs have founded themselves.* With them the victorious Hyacinth shines with heavenly lustre.* O Your ineffable loving-kindness, O Master!* Thereby, O Christ, save our souls, in that You alone are merciful.

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

You flew through Jerusalem, the splendid city of God,* like a stone dyed with blood, clad in the purple robe of suffering.* And now you have manifestly prayed, dancing and rejoicing.* By your supplications save those who celebrate your all-glorious and sacred memory,* O all-blessed one.

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

Possessed of right acceptable boldness before Christ the Master, as an invincible martyr,* and His well-given ear as a lawful athlete,* cease not in your entreaties, O right wondrous one,* delivering from temptations and evil circumstances* those who, keeping your memory, hymn you faithfully.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Seeing the God-Man who ineffably shone forth from her, suspended upon the Cross,* the Theotokos said weeping:* What is this sight which my eyes behold, O Master?* Lifted up upon a tree, You who sustain all creation die,* granting life to all

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.

verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.

Aposticha

Tone 4

You have given Your Cross to us as an invincible weapon, О Christ;* and with it we triumph over the assaults of the alien one.

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.

Ever possessing Your Cross as a help, О Christ,* we easily trample underfoot the snares of the enemy.

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.

О Christ God, who are glorified in the memorials of Your saints,* entreated by them send down upon us great mercy.

Tone 4, Podoben “Called from on high…”

Glory… Now…

“Lament not for Me, O Mother,* beholding Me your Son and God hanging upon the Tree,* who has suspended the earth upon the waters unsupported,* and has fashioned all creation;* for I shall arise and be glorified,* and shall crush the kingdoms of Hades with strength;* destroying its power* and delivering those in bondage from its wickedness,* for I am compassionate;* and I shall bring them to My Father,* in that I am the Lover of mankind.”

Troparia

Tone 4

Your martyr, Hyacinth, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin, all immaculate Mother of Christ God,* a sword pierced your all-holy soul* when you saw your Son and God willingly crucified.* Therefore, O blessed One,* never cease to pray to Him* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

AT DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Your martyr, Hyacinth, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: As a bright and unerring star you appeared to the world* proclaiming with your rays the Sun, that is, Christ, O martyr, Hyacinth,* and you have extinguished all error.* But to us you give light, praying without ceasing for all of us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.

verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)

Epistle

1 Corinthians 4:5-8

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.

verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:13,14)

Gospel

Matthew 13:44-54

Communion Hymn

The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)