Day 10 of the Great Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients.

MATINS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 1

Beholding You, O Christ, stretched dead upon the Cross,* Your all-blameless Mother cried out:* ‘O my Son, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* what is this ineffable act of love, whereby in Your compassion, O Master,* You have saved the work of Your own hands?’

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

O Lord, who loves mankind, we venerate the wood of Your Cross,* for You, the Life of all, were nailed upon it.* O Saviour, You have opened Paradise to the thief who turned to You with faith,* and You counted him worthy of Your joy when he confessed to You, ‘O Lord, remember me.’* Accept us also as You have accepted him, for we cry aloud:* ‘We have all sinned, but in Your compassion reject us not.’

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

Accept in supplication, O Lord who loves mankind,* the sufferings that the saints endured for You;* and, we beseech You, heal all our distress.

Glory… Now…

When the Ewe saw You her Lamb,* crucified upon the Tree between two thieves, O long-suffering Word,* Your side pierced by a spear, with a mother’s grief she cried:* ‘O my Son, what is this strange and fearful mystery?* How is God, whom nothing can contain, confined within a tomb?* What words have power to describe these things?* Forsake not Your Mother, my beloved Child.’

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,* wherefore 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,* we must speak no deceit with our tongues* nor place obstacles in the path of each other.* But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,* that with tears we may call out to Christ:* Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.

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

O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,* we must speak no deceit with our tongues* nor place obstacles in the path of each other.* But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,* that with tears we may call out to Christ:* Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.

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

O martyrs, worthy of praise,* though the earth may not have covered you, heaven received you,* opening to you the gates of Paradise, where you dwell,* delighting in the Tree of Life.* Beseech Christ to grant our souls peace and great mercy.

Tone 3

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

Through the prayers of the divine apostles, O righteous Lord,* grant that this time of the Fast may be well spent.* In Your kindness grant repentance to our hearts,* that we all may be saved and give glory to You.

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

Your coming will be great and fearful, O Lord,* when You shall sit in just judgment.* Do not pass sentence on me,* for I am already condemned;* but show Your divine favour toward me,* through the intercession of Your apostles.

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.

O apostles of Christ who shine your light on all mortals,* you are the treasuries of the holy knowledge of God.* Through your prayers deliver from temptation those who praise you.* Guide us successfully through the course of this Fast;* direct our lives in peace,* so that with our eyes lifted up to the Passion of Christ,* we may with courage give praise to our God.

Tone 1

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

The streams of your wisdom, drawn from noetic clouds,* pour forth a fountain of Orthodoxy upon the world;* and we, the faithful, drawing forth sweetness from there,* turn away from the emissions of heresy* as from the bitter waters of Marah.

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

The streams of your wisdom, drawn from noetic clouds,* pour forth a fountain of Orthodoxy upon the world;* and we, the faithful, drawing forth sweetness from there,* turn away from the emissions of heresy* as from the bitter waters of Marah.

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

Lying in the tomb, your most pure body did not in any way decay,* but was found to be whole, O most blessed Nicephorus; and bearing it forth with zeal, those nurtured by Orthodoxy rejoiced,* gloriously blessing you, O divinely wise one.

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

The Church honoured with the name of the Apostles* received you, O most blessed one,* who through your godly actions became a temple of God,* and who after your interment are again interred in sacred manner* and have buried all the fetid foolish prating of the heretics.

Tone 1

Glory… Now…

We are caught in the stormy sea of temptations and sins,* striving in the tempest to reach your tranquil haven.* O Mother of God, we beg you, hear our cry;* stretch out your steady hand to your servants,* and rescue us from the raging of the enemy.*

Prokeimenon I, Tone 8

Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,* exult, O you just!

verse: Blessed are those whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is remitted.

Reading I

Genesis 4:16-26

Prokeimenon II, Tone 1

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* as we have hoped in You.

verse: Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

Reading II

Proverbs 5:15-6:3