MATINS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Troparion, Tone 8

Behold the Bridegroom cometh 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 rise up and cry aloud: Holy, holy, holy are You, O God:* through the Theotokos have mercy upon us. (3)

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 3

The harlot drew near to You, and poured myrrh onto Your feet* mingled with her tears, O Lover of mankind,* and at Your command she was delivered from the foul stench of her wicked deeds.* But the ungrateful disciple, though he breathed Your grace,* rejected it and clothed himself in filth,* out of love of money, selling You.* Glory to Your loving-kindness O Christ.

Glory… Now…

The harlot drew near to You, and poured myrrh onto Your feet* mingled with her tears, O Lover of mankind,* and at Your command she was delivered from the foul stench of her wicked deeds.* But the ungrateful disciple, though he breathed Your grace,* rejected it and clothed himself in filth,* out of love of money, selling You.* Glory to Your loving-kindness O Christ.

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 4

Deceitful Judas, consumed by his love of money,* pondered how he might betray You, O Lord, the Treasury of Life.* Intoxicated by this madness he hastened to the Jews* and said to the transgressors:* “What will you give me, and I will deliver Him to you to be crucified ?”

Glory… Now…

Deceitful Judas, consumed by his love of money,* pondered how he might betray You, O Lord, the Treasury of Life.* Intoxicated by this madness he hastened to the Jews* and said to the transgressors:* “What will you give me, and I will deliver Him to you to be crucified ?”

Sessional Hymn III, Tone 1

To You the harlot lamented, O compassionate Lord;* ardently wiping Your pure feet with the hair of her head,* and groaning from the depth of her heart saying:* “Cast me not from You, O my God, nor loathe me,* but accept me in penitence, and save me,* for You alone are the Lover of mankind.”

Glory… Now…

To You the harlot lamented, O compassionate Lord;* ardently wiping Your pure feet with the hair of her head,* and groaning from the depth of her heart saying:* “Cast me not from You, O my God, nor loathe me,* but accept me in penitence, and save me,* for You alone are the Lover of mankind.”

Gospel

John 12:17-50

Canon

Ode 3

Irmos: You have established me on the rock of faith,* and You have emboldened my mouth against my enemies.* For my spirit rejoices when I sing: there is none as holy as our God* and none more righteous than You, O Lord.

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

In vain does the Sanhedrin of the transgressors gather together with evil intent, to sentence You the Redeemer to be condemned O Christ, to whom we sing: You are our God, and there is none more holy than You, O Lord.

Glory… Now…

The wicked assembly of the transgressors, with souls filled to overflowing with hatred for God, contemplates how to kill the righteous Christ, to whom we sing: You are our God, and there is none more holy than You, O Lord.

Katavasia: You have established me on the rock of faith,* and You have emboldened my mouth against my enemies.* For my spirit rejoices when I sing: there is none as holy as our God* and none more righteous than You, O Lord.

Kontakion, Tone 4

More than the harlot have I sinned, O Good One,* yet never have I offered You flowing tears.* But in silence I fall down before You,* and beseeching You with love I kiss Your most pure feet,* that as Master, You may grant me remission of sins;* Wherefore I cry to You,* O Saviour, deliver me from the filth of my works.

Ikos

The woman who was once a harlot, became suddenly chaste, and hating the shameful works of sin and the pleasures of the flesh, she thought upon her deep disgrace and the judgment of torment that awaits harlots and those defiled, of whom I am the first, wherefore I am afraid, yet mindlessly I continue in my evil ways. But the woman who was a harlot, filled with fear, made haste and came crying to the Redeemer: “O Lord, merciful Lover of mankind, deliver me from the filth of my works.

Ode 8

Irmos: Whereas the command of the tyrant prevailed, and the furnace of old was heated sevenfold,* the flames did not burn the children,* who having trampled underfoot the decree of the king, cried aloud:* “O all you works of the Lord, praise the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

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

The woman poured precious myrrh upon Your divine and royal head, O Christ, and laid hold of Your pure feet with her defiled hands and cried aloud: “O all you works of the Lord, praise the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

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

She who was guilty of sin, washed the feet of her Creator with tears and wiping them with the hairs of her head, received forgiveness for all that she had done in life, and cried aloud: “O all you works of the Lord, praise the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

Let us bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Lord!

Through the holy action of grace, the grateful woman was delivered by salvific sorrow and the fountain of her tears; washed clean by her confession, she was not ashamed but cried aloud : “O all you works of the Lord, praise the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

Now…

Through the holy action of grace, the grateful woman was delivered by salvific sorrow and the fountain of her tears; washed clean by her confession, she was not ashamed but cried aloud : “O all you works of the Lord, praise the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

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

Katavasia: Whereas the command of the tyrant prevailed, and the furnace of old was heated sevenfold,* the flames did not burn the children,* who having trampled underfoot the decree of the king, cried aloud:* “O all you works of the Lord, praise the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.”

The Magnificat is not chanted.

Ode 9

Irmos: Come let us magnify the undefiled and most holy Mother of Emmanuel* with pure souls and undefiled lips.* and through her let us bring our prayer to the Child she has born:* spare our souls, O Christ God, and save us.

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

He who has revealed himself to be foolish and envious in his wickedness, with a word sold the blessed gift, the gift by which the woman obtained release from the debt of her sins; thus has Judas wickedly stolen the grace of divine love. From this spare our souls, O Christ God, and save us.

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

Having gone to the lawless rulers, Judas said: “What will you give me, if I deliver to you Christ whom you seek?” In exchange for gold, he has rejected fellowship with Christ. From this spare our souls, O Christ God, and save us.

Glory… Now…

O the blindness and shame of the love of money! From whence did you forget all that has been taught to you, that your soul is of more value than the world! For in despair, you have hanged yourself. From this spare our souls, O Christ God, and save us.

Katavasia: Come let us magnify the undefiled and most holy Mother of Emmanuel* with pure souls and undefiled lips.* and through her let us bring our prayer to the Child she has born:* spare our souls, O Christ God, and save us.

Hymn of Light, Tone 3

Sung slowly with compunction

Your bridal chamber do I see all-adorned, O my Saviour, yet I have no wedding garment that I may enter therein. Make the robe of my soul to shine forth, O Giver of Light, and save me. (3)

At the Praises

Tone 1

Praise Him for His mighty acts,* praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness.

O Son of the Virgin, the harlot recognized You to be God,* having committed sins worthy of tears, weeping she prayed to You:* “Loose me from my debt as I unloosen my hair.* Love me who loves You, though rightly I am deserving of Your loathing,* that with the publicans I may entreat You,* O Benefactor and Lover of mankind.”

Praise Him with the sound of trumpet,* praise Him with the psaltery and harp.

The harlot mingled precious myrrh with her tears* and poured it upon Your most pure feet, kissing them;* and straightway You justified her.* Grant also to us forgiveness,* O You who have suffered for our sake, and save us.

Praise Him with timbrel and dance,* praise him with strings and flute.

When the sinful woman brought myrrh,* the disciple come to an agreement with the exceedingly wicked.* She rejoiced to pour forth that which was very precious,* while he made haste to sell the One who is above all price.* She acknowledged Christ as Lord,* while he severed himself from the Master.* She was set free, but Judas became a slave of the enemy.* Grievous was his impudence! Great was her repentance!* Grant such repentance also to me, O Saviour* who suffered for our sake, and save us.

Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation.* Let every breath praise the Lord.

O the wretchedness of Judas!* He saw the harlot kiss Your feet, and deceitfully plotted to betray You with a kiss.* She loosed her hair and he was bound a prisoner by his fury,* bearing in place of myrrh the stench of evil:* for envy does not know how to prefer that which is profitable.* O the wretchedness of Judas.* From this deliver our souls, O God.

Tone 2, Glory…

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

Tone 4, Now…

Drowning from sin, she found in You a haven of salvation,* and pouring out myrrh mingled with her tears, she cried aloud to You:* “Lo, You are He that awaits the repentance of the sinful.* O Master, save me from the waves of sin* for the sake of Your great mercy.”

Aposticha

Tone 6

Today Christ comes to the house of the Pharisee,* and the sinful woman draws near and falls down before Him, crying:* “Behold me who am sunk in sin,* despairing on account of my deeds,* yet not rejected from Your compassionate goodness.* Grant me, O Lord, the remission of my wicked deeds, and save me.

In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days.

The harlot stretched forth her hair before You, O Master,* while Judas stretched forth his hands to the lawless ones:* she did so, to receive forgiveness; and he, to receive money.* Wherefore we cry aloud to You who was sold and has set us free:* O Lord, glory be to You.

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.

The woman draws near, defiled by the stench of sin,* to shed tears upon Your feet, O loving Saviour, proclaiming Your Passion.* “How can I look upon You, O Master?* For You have come to save the harlot.* I am dead, raise me up from the depths,* as You raised Lazarus from the tomb on the fourth day.* Accept me in my wretchedness, O Lord, and save me.

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.

Filled with despair on account of her life,* by reason of her well known ways,* she came to You, bearing myrrh, and cried aloud:* “Harlot though I am, cast me not out,* O You who were born of the Virgin;* despise not my tears, O Joy of the angels;* but receive me in penitence, O Lord,* and reject me not who have sinned against Your,* for the sake of Your great mercy.”

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins,* perceiving Your divinity,* took upon herself the part of a myrrh-bearer,* lamenting, before Your burial she brought sweet-smelling myrrh to You.* “Woe is me,” she said, “for the night burns me with the lust to fornicate in the dark and moonless night of sin.* Accept the fountain of my tears, O You who bring the waters from the clouds to the sea.* Incline Your ear to the groaning of my heart, O You who in Your ineffable self-emptying* have bowed down the heavens.* I shall kiss Your most pure feet and wipe them with the hairs of my head,* the feet whose sound Eve heard at dusk in Paradise,* and hid herself in fear.* Who can fathom the multitude of my sins and the abyss of Your judgments, but You?* O Saviour of my soul, despise me not, Your handmaiden,* O You who without measure are merciful.

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

At Psalm 140

Tone 1

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

In You, born of the Virgin, the harlot recognized her God;* ashamed of her sinful deeds, she sighed and wept, and said:* O Lord, loosen my debt to You, as I unloosen my hair.* Grant Your love to the one who loves You, despite all my unworthiness;* and I shall exalt Your love for all,* harlots and publicans alike,* O Lover of humankind and their Benefactor.

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

The harlot mixed her tears with the precious myrrh,* as she poured them over Your most pure feet,* which she covered with kisses;* thus You showed her to be justified.* O Lord, who suffered for us,* grant us Your forgiveness and save us.

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

While the sinful woman was offering You her ointment,* Your disciple conspired against You.* She rejoiced to pour out the precious myrrh,* while he hastened to sell the One who is beyond price.* As she came to recognize her Lord,* the disciple separated himself;* she was set free,* while Judas became enslaved to the Enemy.* She was ennobled through repentance,* while he was disgraced by his vile actions.* O Saviour, who suffered for us,* grant us Your forgiveness and save us.

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

O the misery of Judas!* He saw the sinful woman kiss the feet of the Lord,* and he shamefully thought of his kiss of betrayal.* She loosened her hair,* while he let himself be bound up by passion;* instead of the fragrance of myrrh, he bore the odour of his perverse and evil ways;* for jealousy does not know how to seek what is good.* O the misery of Judas!* O Lord, keep our souls from falling like him.

Tone 2

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

The sinful woman hastened to buy the precious myrrh,* in order to anoint her Saviour.* She said to the merchant:* Give me the myrrh that I might anoint the One* who washed me of all my sins.

Tone 6

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

Drowning in the abyss of sin,* the harlot found in You a harbour of salvation.* She poured out myrrh with her tears, and said:* O Lord, You can forgive sins,* but You await the repentance of sinners.* Behold me, O Master, for I am sinking in the storm of sin;* in Your great goodness, save me.

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

Today Christ comes to the house of the Pharisee,* and the sinful woman falls at His feet.* She bows before Him and says:* Behold, I am drowning in the abyss of sin;* I have lost all hope because of my deeds.* In Your goodness, do not turn away from me;* but grant me forgiveness, O Lord, and save me.

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

The harlot loosened her hair for You, O Lord,* while Judas reached out his hand to the godless ones.* One acted to receive Your forgiveness, the other to gain money.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O Lord, sold for our deliverance, glory to You.

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

Filled with the odour of sin, the woman drew near to You, O Saviour;* she poured out her tears over Your feet and thus proclaimed Your Passion.* “O Master, how shall I dare to raise my eyes to You,” she cried.* Yet You came to save the fallen;* You raised Lazarus from the tomb;* so lift me also from the abyss of death.* O Lord, accept me in my misery and save me.

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

She who was rejected because of her life,* and who was accepted because of her conversion,* came to You, bearing myrrh, and saying:* Do not cast me out, O Son of the Virgin, for I am a wretched one;* O Joy of the angels do not despise my tears;* but receive me in repentance,* and in Your goodness, accept me a sinful one.

Tone 8

Glory… Now…

O Lord, the woman who had fallen into a multitude of sins,* recognized Your divinity and thus joined the ranks of the myrrh-bearing women;* before Your burial, she offered You myrrh with her tears:* “Alas,” she said, “Woe is me!* The stinging night of pleasure seizes me;* the dark and moonless love of sin grasps me.* Accept the stream of my tears and my copious weeping, O Lord,* for You make the waters fall from the clouds into the sea.* Incline Your ear to the cry of my heart,* for You incline the heavens in Your ineffable condescension.* Allow me to kiss Your most pure feet,* and to dry them with the locks of my hair;* for these are the feet that Eve heard in Paradise,* and, trembling at their approach, she hid herself.* O Lord, who can search out the number of my sins?* Who shall search the depth of Your judgments, O Redeemer and Saviour of our souls?!* In Your infinite love, do not despise Your servant.”

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4

To the God of heaven give thanks* for His love endures forever.

verse: Give thanks to the God of gods, for His love endures forever.

Reading I

Exodus 2:11-22

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4

Your love, O Lord, is eternal,* do not discard the work of Your hands.

verse: I thank You, Lord, with all my heart.

Reading II

Job 2:1-10

Gospel

Matthew 26:6-16