Day 29 of the Great Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain these ingredients. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.
VESPERS ON SUNDAY NIGHT
Kathisma Reading
There are no appointed psalms for tonight.
At Psalm 140
Tone 7
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
As the Prodigal Son, I also come to You, O compassionate Lord,* and I fall down before You.* Accept me as one of Your hired servants,* and have mercy on me.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
As the man who fell among thieves and was wounded,* I, too, have fallen through my sins and my soul is wounded.* To whom shall I flee for refuge, guilty as I am,* if not to You, the merciful Physician of our souls?* Pour on me, O God, the oil of Your great mercy.
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Sinner though I be, O Saviour,* cut me not down as the barren fig tree.* Grant me the forgiveness for my many years of sin,* and water my soul with tears of repentance,* that as fruit I may offer You acts of mercy and compassion.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
You are the Sun of righteousness;* illumine the hearts of those who praise You, singing:* Glory be to You, O Lord.
Tone 3
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O faithful, let us take upon ourselves great labours in this season of abstinence,* that we may obtain great glory,* that through the mercy of our great God and King* we may be delivered from the flames 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.
Now that we have passed the midpoint of the Fast,* let us manifest within ourselves the beginning of a godly life,* and let us hasten eagerly towards our journey’s end;* virtuous living, that we may receive the delight that never grows old.
Tone 7
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Having passed the middle point of the Fast,* let us proceed with joy to that which remains,* anointing our souls with the oil of almsgiving;* that we be deemed worthy to worship the divine Passion of Christ our God,* and arrive at His holy and fearful Resurrection.
Tone 8
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
What shall we call you, glorious one?* Warrior of the mighty King and God?* For you courageously destroyed the impiety of bodiless demons!* Beacon shining with spiritual light?* A powerful destroyer of idols?* A most fervent athlete and lawful sufferer?* Pray that our souls may be saved!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
What shall we now name you, Sabinas?* A river of living waters pouring out on us a spiritual flood?* a truly inexhaustible fount of healing,* for us who are cruelly oppressed?* A cup overflowing with spiritual drink;* a most true wonder-worker, equal in honour to the bodiless ones?* Pray that our souls may be saved!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
What shall we call you, holy one?* Guide to those who are going astray?* An intercessor for sinners storm-tossed with evil,* and a true physician for them?* A precious and fragrant lily of paradise?* The first-fruit among martyrs and their confirmation?* An ever-flowing source of miracles;* a valiant struggler?* Pray that our souls may be saved!
Tone 8, Glory… Now…
To whom have you likened yourself, O my wretched soul,* who in no wise rises to repentance,* nor fears the fire which awaits the wicked? * Arise, and call upon her who alone is quick to help, and cry aloud: * O Virgin Mother, entreat your Son and our God,* to deliver me from the snare of the deceiver.
Great Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Do not turn Your face away from Your son, for I am afflicted, hear me quickly. Be attentive to my soul and deliver it.
verse: Let Your salvation, Lord, help me.
verse: Let the poor see it and be glad.
verse: Seek God, and your souls shall live.
Aposticha
Tone 7
Having planted His vineyard and called the labourers, the Saviour is close at hand.* Come, all who have striven to keep the Fast, and let us enjoy our reward;* for the Giver is rich and merciful.* After labouring a little, let us receive His mercy upon our souls.
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.
Adam fell among thieving thoughts:* his mind was robbed, his soul wounded, and he lay naked without help.* Neither the priest who was before the Law attended to him;* nor did the Levite who came after the Law look upon him.* You alone helped him, O God,* You who came not from Samaria but from the Theotokos:* O Lord, glory be to You.
Tone 6
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.
Your martyrs, O Lord, denied You not,* nor forsook Your commandments:* by their intercessions have mercy on us.
Tone 6, Glory… Now…
Like the Archangel, let us the faithful hymn the bridal-chamber of heaven,* the portal truly sealed:* Rejoice, for whose sake has budded forth to us Christ the Saviour of all,* the Bestower of life and God!* With your arm, O Sovereign Lady cast down the tyrants, our godless foes,* O most pure one, O hope of Christians!
MATINS ON MONDAY MORNING
Sessional Hymn I, Tone 7
Since repentance will cure you from all sickness, O my soul,* draw near with tears and sighing to this house of healing,* and cry to the Physician of our souls and bodies:* ‘Free me from my sins, O Lord who loves mankind,* and number me with the Harlot, the Thief and the Publican;* grant me, O God, the forgiveness of my trespasses and save me.
O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, neither chasten me in Your wrath.
I have not emulated the repentance of the Publican;* I have not gained the tears of the Harlot.* In my blindness, I cannot understand how to amend my life as they did.* But in Your compassion, O God, save me, for You love mankind.
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Your saints, O Lord, fought bravely on this earth:* they trampled underfoot the enemy and overthrew the error of idolatry.* Therefore, they received crowns from You, O loving Master,* God of all compassion, have mercy on us.
Glory… Now…
All-holy Virgin, you are greater in honour than the glorious cherubim.* Unable to endure the divine splendour, they veil their faces with their wings as they perform their ministry;* but you gaze with your own eyes upon the Incarnate Word.* Without ceasing pray to Him for our souls.
Sessional Hymn II, Tone 3
The most beautiful of seasons has dawned upon us,* the praiseworthy days of abstinence.* O brethren, let us hasten to be cleansed,* that we may appear in purity before our Creator and receive His beauty,* by the prayers of her who gave birth to Him,* the only pure Mother of God.
Glory… Now…
Awed by the beauty of your virginity* and the exceeding radiance of your purity,* Gabriel called out to you, O Theotokos:* What worthy hymn of praise can I offer to you?* And what shall I name you?* I am in doubt and stand in awe.* Therefore as commanded, I cry to you:* Rejoice, O Full of Grace.
Sessional Hymn III, Tone 7
O Lord, having granted us to reach this present day,* on which, radiant with illumination* we commence the holy week of the raising of Lazarus,* deem us Your servants worthy to walk in reverent fear of You,* and so complete the course of the Fast.
Glory… Now…
O all-pure Virgin, you are greater in honour than the glorious cherubim.* For unable to endure the divine splendour,* while performing their ministry, they veil their faces with their immaterial wings;* but with your own eyes you have gazed upon the Incarnate Word,* ceaselessly pray to Him on behalf of our souls.
Canon
Ode 1
Irmos: He who of old assembled the waters into one gathering by His divine decree,* divided the sea for the people of Israel.* For He is our God and He is glorified* and to Him alone let us sing, for He has been glorified.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
With the divine ploughshare of the holy Fast, let us till the noetic soil of our mind, and thereby reap the sheaf of virtues; that we not hunger eternally, but rejoice in gladness with never-waning joy.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I bear within me the passions of many years, darkening my wretched soul; O timeless Word of the eternal Father, with a contrite heart I fall down before Your unconquerable power, and I pray: have compassion upon me and save me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The holy Fast feeds our hearts, ripening within us thoughts acceptable to God, and drying up the deep abyss of our passions, and with the gentle rain of compunction it cleanses those who with faith offer praise to the Almighty One.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O Maiden of many names, rejoice holy Virgin! Mary, Birthgiver of God, the glory of the faithful, deliverance from the curse, the heavenly ladder, and wonder transcending understanding, the un-burnt bush, and untilled earth.
Irmos: Let us sing a song of victory to the Lord,* who drowned all the power of Pharaoh in the sea: for He has been glorified.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Having venerated the life-giving Tree, let us, rejoicing, advance now upon the path of the Fast to the Passion of Christ.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Following Christ, let us shun the world, and taking up the Cross, let us share in His divine passion.
Glory…
Let us all sing the praises of the Divinity, supreme in Essence, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Now…
May He whom you bore in a manner transcending understanding, O pure Virgin, Jesus the Saviour, be merciful to your servants.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
When You come in glory with the angels to judge the whole world, O Christ, grant us to worthily make a good defence before You.
Katavasia: Let us sing a song of victory to the Lord,* who drowned all the power of Pharaoh in the sea: for He has been glorified.
Ode 8
Irmos: The Babylonian furnace did not burn for the youths,* as the Virgin was not consumed by the fire of the divinity;* O faithful, we sing together with the youths:* bless the Lord, all you His works.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Being led astray by the harmful deception of the serpent, I have beguiled my mind, and each day I add anguish to my pain. Therefore I cry to You, O Saviour: O Physician of the sick, come to me and save me.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Of old Elisha raised up the child of the Shunnamite woman, clearly strengthened in spirit by fasting. May we the faithful, who have become deadened by the pleasures of passion, through the life-giving Fast also regain life.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Of old, O Lover of mankind, You saved the people of Nineveh when they repented with tears and fasting. Do You also, O Lord, in Your mercy be compassionate with us, for we are at a loss to confess You through our deeds.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
After bearing a child you remained without corruption, O all-immaculate One, therefore we pray you to deliver from corruption your servants who with faith sing in oneness of soul: “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.”
Irmos: To Him before whom the cherubim are in awe, and the seraphim filled with wonder,* the Fashioner of the world:* O you priests and servants and spirits of the righteous,* hymn, bless, and supremely exalt throughout the ages.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O you faithful, strengthened by abstinence with God’s help, let us run the remainder of the fast and receive our crown.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Seeing my soul sickly and bereft of fruit, be patient with me, O Christ, and cut me not down, like the fig tree which You cursed.
We bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.
O Sovereign Trinity, Unity in three Hypostases, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, deliver from every temptation and danger those who hymn You.
Now…
Rejoice! Mountain of God; Rejoice! ever-radiant Lamp; Rejoice! new Heaven; Rejoice! Mind brighter than lightning; Rejoice! Temple of the Lord; Rejoice! all-hymned one.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
When I think of Your dread judgment, O Christ, I am filled with fear and trembling, and I cry aloud: “You are merciful without measure; save me wretched as I am.”
We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!
Katavasia: To Him before whom the cherubim are in awe, and the seraphim filled with wonder,* the Fashioner of the world:* O you priests and servants and spirits of the righteous,* hymn, bless, and supremely exalt throughout the ages.
Magnificat
Ode 9
Irmos: A new wonder, worthy of God!* The Lord has truly passed through the closed gate of the Virgin.* He entered the world naked,* and at His departure we see Him clothed in the flesh;* yet the door has remained closed.* The one who is Mother of God, we now extol beyond words.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The grace of the Fast has filled the divine chalice with the wine of compunction, calling the faithful together; therefore we cry out with joy: “Come and partake with gladness, lay aside the drunkenness of the passions, that you may be deemed worthy of the comforting joy to come.”
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The judgment is near: take heed, O my soul. Be attentive to your conscience, and do good, and it will ever preserve you uncondemned. For if we judge ourselves in this present life, we shall not be judged there, lacking compassionate witnesses, where the guilty will be condemned.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Principalities and powers, thrones, seraphim and dominions, authorities and cherubim, angels and archangels: pray to God that we may complete the time of the Fast, doing that which is acceptable to Him, that as servants who have pleased Him, we may share in glory.
Most holy Theotokos save us.
With the martyrs and the prophets, and all the venerable saints accept now the supplications of her who gave birth to You, on behalf of us Your servants who have angered You, O only Lover of mankind and Master, before whom the hosts of heaven tremble.
Irmos: Mother beyond nature and Virgin by nature, she who alone is blessed among Women:* let us the faithful magnify with hymns.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Let us pray that sailing through the tranquillity of the Fast, driven by the wind of the Spirit, we may attain to the safe haven of Christ’s Passion.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Imitating the woman of Canaan, I cry aloud to You: have mercy on me, O God, Son of David; heal my sick soul, as You healed her daughter.
Glory…
Let us sing the praises of the divine Nature, Unity in three Hypostases, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.
Now…
You conceived within your womb, and without seed gave birth in the flesh to the uncircumscribed Word, pray fervently that our souls be saved.
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.
You justified the Publican when he cried; “Be merciful to me!” Grant Your mercy also to me, a sinner, O Judge of all, and forgive me my offences.
Katavasia: Mother beyond nature and Virgin by nature, she who alone is blessed among Women:* let us the faithful magnify with hymns.
Aposticha
Tone 8
Like the man who fell among thieves, O Master of all,* I have fallen among my sins and been cruelly wounded by them.* But leave me not bereft of healing, O Lord,* who came not from Samaria but from the pure Virgin.* O Jesus, whose name means Salvation,* have mercy on me.
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.
Like the man who fell among thieves, O Master of all,* I have fallen among my sins and been cruelly wounded by them.* But leave me not bereft of healing, O Lord,* who came not from Samaria but from the pure Virgin.* O Jesus, whose name means Salvation,* have mercy on 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.
What shall we call you, O saints?* Cherubim, for Christ rested upon you?* Seraphim, for you glorified Him without ceasing?* Angels, for you have renounced the body?* Powers, for you perform miracles?* Many are your names,* but greater are your gifts of grace:* pray that our souls be saved.
Glory… Now…
Those in heaven hymn you, O joyously blessed Mother unwedded,* and we glorify your inscrutable birth-giving, O Theotokos;* pray that our souls be saved!