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ON HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY

VESPERS

The priest gives the blessing:

Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and to ages of ages.

The appointed monk or the Superior reads the Opening Psalm as follows:

Amen. Come let us worship and fall down before the King, our God.
Come let us worship and fall down before Christ the King, our God.
Come let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, the King and our God.

Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, my soul! O Lord my God, you have been greatly magnified. You have clothed yourself with thanksgiving and majesty, wrapping yourself in light as in a cloak, stretching out the heavens like a curtain, roofing his upper chambers with waters, placing clouds as his mount, walking on the wings of the wind, making spirits his Angels and a flame of fire his Ministers, establishing the earth on its sure base; it will not be moved to age on age. The deep, like a cloak, is its mantle; waters will stand upon the mountains. At your rebuke they will flee; they will quail at the voice of your thunder. The mountains rise and the plains descend to the place which you established for them. You fixed a limit that they will not pass, nor will they return to cover the earth. You send out springs into the valleys; waters will run between the mountains. They will give drink to all the beasts of the field; the wild asses will await them to quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the air will make their dwelling: and sing among the rocks. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth will be filled from the fruit of your works. He makes grass spring up for the cattle, and green herb for the service of mankind; to bring food out of the earth, and wine makes glad the human heart; to make the face cheerful with oil, and bread strengthens the human heart. The trees of the plain will be satisfied, the cedars of Lebanon that you planted. There the sparrows will build their nests; the heron’s dwelling is at their head. The high mountains are for the deer; rocks a refuge for hares. He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knew the hour of its setting. You appointed darkness, and it was night, in which all the beasts of the forest will prowl; young lions roaring to plunder and to seek their food from God. The sun rose and they were gathered together and they will lie down in their dens. Man will go out to his labour; and to his labouring until evening. How your works have been magnified, O Lord. With wisdom you have made them all, and the earth has been filled with your creation. Also this great, wide sea; there there are creeping things without number, living creatures small and great. There ships go to and fro; this dragon which you fashioned to sport in it. All things look to you to give them their food in due season. When you give it them, they will gather it. When you open your hand all things will be filled with goodness. But when you turn away your face they will be troubled. You will take away their spirit, and they will perish and return to their dust. You will send forth your spirit, and they will be created, and you will renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord endure to the ages. The Lord will rejoice at his works. He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble. He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord while I live; I will praise my God while I exist. May my words be pleasing to him. While as for me, I shall rejoice in the Lord. O that sinners might perish from the earth, and the wicked, so that they are no more. Bless the Lord, my soul!

And again

Priest: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy. And so after each petition.

Priest: For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

For our Archbishop N., for the honoured order of presbyters, for the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

For our father and superior, Priest-monk N., and all our brotherhood in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.]

Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To you, O Lord.

Priest: For to you belong all glory, honour and worship, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

At Lord, I have cried we insert 6 Stichera in Tone1.

Psalm 140
[A] Lord, I have cried to you, hear me; hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried to you, hear me. Give heed to the voice of my supplication when I cry to you. Hear me, O Lord.

[B] Let my prayer be directed like incense before you: the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord.

[A] Set a guard, O Lord, on my mouth: and a strong door about my lips.

[B] Do not incline my heart to evil words: to make excuses for my sins.

[A] With those who work iniquity: let me not unite with their elect.

[B] The just will chastise me with mercy and reprove me: but let not the oil of sinners anoint my head.

[A] For yet my prayer shall be in their pleasures: their judges have been swallowed up near the rock.

[B] They will hear my words for they are sweet: as a clod of earth is crushed upon the ground their bones have been scattered at the mouth of Hell.

[A] For my eyes look to you, O Lord, my Lord: I have hoped in you, do not take away my soul.

[B] Keep me from the snare that they have hidden for me: and from the traps of evil-doers.

[A] The sinners will fall into their own net: I am alone until I pass by.

Psalm 141
[B] With my voice I cried to the Lord: with my voice I entreated the Lord.

[A] I will pour out my entreaty before him: and tell him all my trouble.

[B] When my spirit was faint: you knew my path.

[A] In the way where I walked: they had hidden a snare for me.

[B] I looked to my right hand and saw: but there was none who knew me.

[A] Escape is gone from me: and there is none who seeks for my soul.

[B] I cried to you, Lord, I said, ‘You are my hope: my portion in the land of the living.’

[A] Give heed to my supplication: for I am brought very low.

[B] Deliver me from those who persecute me: for they are too strong for me.

[A] Bring my soul out of prison: that I may confess your name.

[B] The just will await me: until you reward me.

Psalm 129
[A] Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord: Lord hear my voice.

[B] O let your ears be attentive: to the voice of my supplication.

6. If you, Lord, should mark iniquities: Lord, who will stand? But there is forgiveness with you.

Tone 1

All creation was changed by fear when it saw you hanging on the Cross, O Christ; the sun was darkened and the foundations of the earth were shaken; all things were suffering with you, the Creator of them all. You endured willingly for us. Lord, glory to you!

5. For your name’s sake I have waited for you, O Lord: my soul has waited on your word: my soul has hoped in the Lord.

All creation was changed by fear when it saw you hanging on the Cross, O Christ; the sun was darkened and the foundations of the earth were shaken; all things were suffering with you, the Creator of them all. You endured willingly for us. Lord, glory to you!

4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch: let Israel hope in the Lord.

Impious and lawless people, why do you meditate vain things? Why have you condemned the life of all to death? O great marvel! That the Creator of the world, who loves humankind, is betrayed into the hand of transgressors and lifted up on a tree, that he may free the prisoners in Hell. Long-suffering Lord, glory to you!

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him plentiful redemption: and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Today the blameless Virgin, when she saw you hanging on the Cross, with a mother’s love she lamented, bitterly wounded in her heart, groaning in lamentation from the depth of her soul, she struck her cheeks and tore her hair; and so, beating her breast, she cried out with grief, ‘Woe is me, my divine child! Woe is me, light of the world! Why have you left my sight, Lamb of God?’ Therefore the armies of the Bodiless Powers were seized with terror as they said, ‘Lord, beyond understanding, glory to you!’

2. Praise the Lord, all you nations: praise him all you peoples.

When she saw you, O Christ, the Creator and God of all, hanging on the Cross, she who bore you without seed, cried bitterly: My Son, where has the beauty of your form departed? I cannot bear to see you unjustly crucified; hasten then, arise, that I too may see your resurrection from the dead on the third day.

1. For his mercy has been mighty towards us: and the truth of the Lord endures to the ages.

Glory. Tone 6

Both now. Same Tone

A dread and marvellous mystery is seen to come to pass today. The Invisible is grasped, the One who loosed Adam from the curse is bound, the One who tries hearts and reins is tried; the One who shut the abyss is shut up in prison. He, before whom the Powers of heaven stand in fear, stands before Pilate; the Fashioner is struck by hand of the thing he fashioned; he who judges the living and the dead, is condemned to a Tree; the destroyer of Hell is shut up in a tomb. You bear all things with compassion, and save all from the curse, long-suffering Lord, glory to you!

Priest: Wisdom. Stand upright!

We say
THE THANKSGIVING
AT THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMPS
An ancient poem, or, as some say, by the martyr Athenogenes.

O joyful light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy, blessed Father, O Jesus Christ. Now that we have come to the setting of the sun and see the evening light, we sing the praise of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is right at all times to hymn you with holy voices, Son of God, giver of life: therefore the world glorifies you.

Priest: Evening

Reader: Prokeimenon. Tone 4.

They parted my garments among them, and * cast lots for my clothing.

Verse: O God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The Reading is from Exodus.

[33:11-23]

Priest: Let us attend.

Reader: Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then he would return to the camp; but his servant, Jesus son of Nun, would not leave the tent. Moses said to the Lord, ‘See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favour in my sight.’ Now if I have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.’ He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favour in my sight, and I know you by name.’ Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, I pray.’ And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.’ And the Lord continued, ‘See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.’

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: Prokeimenon. Tone 4.

Give judgement, Lord, * against those who wrong me.

Verse: They have rewarded me with evils in return for blessings.

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The Reading is from Job.

[42:12-17]

Priest: Let us attend.

Reader: The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first Day, the second Cassia, and the third Horn of Amaltheia. In all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children’s children, four generations. And Job died, old and full of days. It is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises. He is described in the Syriac book as dwelling in the land of Ausis, on the borders of Idumea and Arabia. His name before was Jobab and he took an Arabian wife and begot a son named Enon. He himself was the son of his father Zare, one of the sons of Esau. His mother was Bosorra, so that was fifth in descent from Abraham.

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The Reading is from the Prophecy of Isaias.

[52:13-53:12]

Priest: Let us attend.

Reader: Thus says the Lord: See, my servant will understand; he shall be exalted and glorified exceedingly. Just as there many will be astonished at you, so your appearance will be without glory from men, and your glory from the sons of men. So many nations will marvel at him; kings shall shut their mouths; for that which had not been told them about him they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate. Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? We brought a report as of a child before him, as a root out of dry ground; he had no form or glory, and we saw him, and he had neither form nor beauty. But his form was without honour and inferior to the children of men. He was a man in suffering and acquainted with bearing weakness, because his face has been away, he was dishonoured and not esteemed. He bears our sins and is in pain for us. We reckoned him to be in toil and in affliction and trouble. But he was wounded for our sins and crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment of our peace, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; every one has gone astray in their own way, and the Lord handed him over for our sins. And he, because of his affliction, does not open his mouth; like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation his judgement was taken away; who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken away from the earth; because of the iniquities of my people he was led to death. And I will give the evil for his burial and the rich for his death, because he practised no iniquity, nor was there guile in his mouth. And the Lord wishes to cleanse him of his blow. If you give an offering for sin, your soul will seed a long-lived descendence. And the Lord wishes to take away from the toil of his soul, to show him light and to fashion him with understanding, to justify the just one, who serves many well, and he will bear their sins. Therefore he will inherit many and divide the spoils of the strong. Because his soul was handed over to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and was handed over because of their iniquities. Rejoice, barren one who do not give birth, break out and cry, you who are not in labour, for the children of the desolate are more than those of her that has a husband.

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: Prokeimenon. Tone 6. [Psalm 87]

They have placed me in the lowest pit; in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Verse: Lord God of my salvation, I called for help by day; and by night also before you.

Priest: Wisdom!

Reader: The reading is from the 1st Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians.

[1:18-2:2]

Priest Let us attend.

Reader: Brethren, the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Priest: Peace to you.

Reader: And to your spirit.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Tone 5. [Psalm 68]

Verse 1: Save me, O God, for the waters have come in even to my soul.

Verse 2: And they gave me gall for my food; and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Verse 3: Let their eyes be darkened, so that they see not; and bow down their back continually.

Priest: Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the holy Gospel. Peace to all.

Reader: And to your spirit.

Priest: The Reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

[27:1-38, Lk. 23:39-43, Matt. 27:39-54, Joh. 19:31-37, Matt. 27:55-61]

At that time all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, so as to put him to death. They bound him and led him away and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor. Then Judas, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, repented and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ And flinging down the pieces of silver in the temple he went away and hanged himself. But the chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, ‘It is not permitted to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.’ So they conferred together and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. And so that field has been called ‘Field of Blood’ until today. Then what had been said by the prophet Jeremy was fulfilled, when he said, ‘And the took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one who was prized, whom they prized from the children of Israel, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me’. But Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned him saying, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You say so.’ And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders he made no answer. Then Pilate says to him, ‘Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?’ But he did not answer him with s single word, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. They had at the time a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do wish me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus called Christ?’ For he knew that they had handed him over through envy. But while he was seated on the tribunal, his wife sent to him saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just man. For I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.’ But the chief priests and elders had persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas. Pilate says to them, ‘So what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?’ They say to him, ‘Let him be crucified!’ The governor said, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted even louder, saying, ‘Let him be crucified!’ So Pilate, seeing that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, took water and washed his hands in full view of the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just man. You look to it.’ And the whole people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children.’ Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he had scourged and handed him over to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort round him. They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet cloak, and having woven a crown of thorns, they placed it on his head and a reed in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They spat on him and took the reed and struck it on his head. And when they had mocked him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him. As they went out they found a Cyrenian named Simon; they forced him to carry his cross. And they came to a place called Golgotha, which means ‘place of a skull’, and they gave him vinegar to drink mixed with gall. And when he had tasted it he would not drink. When they had crucified him they divided his garments, casting lots, that saying by the prophet might be fulfilled, ‘They divided my garments among themselves, and cast lots for my raiment’. Then they sat down and watched him there. And over his head they placed his charge, which ran, ‘This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.’ Then they crucified with him two thieves, one on the right and one on the left. One of the criminals hanging there blasphemed him, saying, ‘If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.’ But the other answering, rebuked him and said, ‘Do you have no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; but he has done amiss.’ And he said to Jesus, ‘Remember me, Lord, when you come in your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Amen I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’ The passers by blasphemed him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days! Save yourself. If you are the son of God, come down from the cross.’ Likewise the chief priests also mocked him with the scribes and elders and Pharisees, saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. If he is king of Israel, let him come down from the cross and we let us believe in him. He trusted in God, let him now deliver him, if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the son of God.’’ The thieves too, who had been crucified with him, reviled him in the same way. From the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, ‘Eli, Eli, lama savachthani?’ That is, ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’ Some of those standing there when they heard said, ‘This one is calling Elias.’ And one of them ran quickly and taking a sponge filled it with vinegar, placed it on a reed and gave it him to drink. But the rest said, ‘Wait, let us see if Elias is coming to save him.’ But Jesus, having cried out again with a loud voice, gave up the spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom, and the earth was shaken and the rocks rent, and the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints who slept were raised, and coming out of their graves, after his rising they entered the holy city and appeared to many. But the centurion and those with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, were greatly afraid and said, ‘Truly, this was the son of God.’ So the Jews, that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, since it was the preparation—for that day was a great Sabbath—, asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be removed. So the soldiers came and the broke the legs of the first and the other who was crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus, as they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one of the soldiers with a lance pierced his side, and immediately there came out blood and water. And the one who saw it has borne witness, and his witness is true, and he knows that he speaks the truth, that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘Not a bone of him will be broken’. And again another scripture says, ‘They will look on him whom they pierced’. And there were many women there also watching from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him. Among whom were Mary Magdalen and Mary the mother of James and Joses and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When it grew late there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself also a disciple of Jesus. He approached Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered the body to be handed over. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean linen and placed it in his own new grave, which he had hewn from the rock. He rolled a great stone to the door of the grave and departed. But Mary Magdalen was there and the other Mary, seated in front of the tomb.

Reader: Glory to you, Lord, glory to you.

Priest: Let us all say, with all our soul and with all our mind, let us say.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Lord almighty, the God of our fathers, we pray you, hear and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy, we pray you, hear and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy. (Three times. And so after the remaining petitions)

Priest: Also we pray for our Archbishop N.

Also we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, pardon and forgiveness of sins for the servants of God, all devout and Orthodox Christians, those who dwell in or visit this city and parish, the wardens and members of this church and their families; [and for the servants of God N. & N. (Here he may name those for whom he has been asked to pray), and all who have asked for our prayers, unworthy though we are.]

Also we pray for the blessed and ever-remembered founders of this holy church, and for all our departed brothers and sisters, Orthodox believers, who have gone to their rest before us and who here and in all the world lie asleep in the Lord; [and for the servants of God N. & N. (Here he may name those for whom he has been asked to pray), and that they may be pardoned all their offences, both voluntary and involuntary.]

Also we pray for those who bring offerings, those who care for the beauty of this holy and venerable house, for those who labour in its service, for those who sing, and for the people here present, who await your great and rich mercy.

Priest: For you, O God, are merciful and love mankind, and to you we give glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

After the Litany say this prayer.

Priest: Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy. (And so after each of the following petitions)

Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by your grace.

That the whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

People: Grant this, O Lord. (And so after each of the following petitions)

Priest: An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To you, O Lord.

Priest: For you, O God, are good and love mankind, and to you we give glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Priest (blessing the People): Peace to all.

People: And to your spirit.

Priest: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

People: To you, O Lord.

Prayer at the Bowing of Heads

Lord our God, who bowed the heavens and came down for the salvation of the human race, look upon your servants and upon your inheritance, for to you, the fearful Judge who love mankind, your servants have bowed their heads and inclined their necks, not waiting for any human help, but awaiting your mercy and looking for your salvation. Guard them at every moment, during both the present evening and the approaching night, from every foe, from every hostile operation of the devil and from vain thoughts and evil desires.

(Aloud) Blessed and glorified be the might of your kingdom, of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

During the Aposticha the takes place the solemn procession from the Sanctuary of the Winding Sheet [Epitaphion], which is placed on the bier in the middle of the Church.

Tone 2. Model Melody.

When from the Tree the Arimathean took you down as a dead body, O Christ, who are the life of all, he buried you, with myrrh and a shroud; and with love he embraced your immaculate body with heart and lips; yet, shrouded with fear, he cried out to you rejoicing, ‘Glory to your condescension, Lover of humankind!’

Verse 1: The Lord is King, he has robed himself with majesty. The Lord has robed, and girded himself with power.

When in the new tomb you, the Redeemer of all, had been laid for the sake of all, Hell became a laughing stock and, seeing you, quaked with fear; the bars were smashed, the gates were shattered, the graves were opened, the dead arose; then Adam with thanksgiving cried out to you rejoicing, ‘Glory to your condescension, Lover of humankind!’

Verse 2: He has made the world firm; it will not be shaken.

When in the tomb in the flesh you were enclosed by your own will, O Christ, who by the nature of your godhead are uncircumscribed and unbounded, you unlocked the storehouses of Hell and emptied all his palaces; then too you granted this Sabbath divine blessing and glory and your own splendour.

Verse 3: Holiness becomes your house, O Lord, for ever.

Glory. Both now. Tone 5

When Joseph with Nikodemos took you, who are clothed with light as a garment, down from the Tree, and saw you a dead body, naked, unburied, he was filled with compassion, and raising a lament he grieved and said, ‘Alas, sweetest Jesu, when a little while ago the sun saw you hanging on the Cross, it wrapped itself in gloom, and the earth quaked with fear, and the veil of the temple was rent in two; but see, I now look on you, who for me have willingly undergone death; how shall I bury you, my God? Or how shall I wrap you in shrouds; with what hands shall I touch your immaculate body? Or what songs shall I sing at your departure? I magnify your sufferings and I hymn your burial, with your resurrection, as I cry: Lord, glory to you!’

On the completion of the Aposticha, we say the
Song of Symeon who Received God (Luke 2,29)

Now, Master, you let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.

Reader: Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (three times).

Our Father, in heaven, may your name be hallowed, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest: For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

Then the following Apolytikia
Tone 2.

The noble Joseph, taking down your most pure Body from the Tree, wrapped it in a clean shroud with sweet spices and laid it for burial in a new grave.

The same Tone.

The Angel standing by the grave cried to the women bearing myrrh: Myrrh is fitting for the dead, but Christ has shown himself a stranger to corruption.

Priest: Wisdom.

Reader: Bless.

Priest (from inside the Sanctuary): Blessed is He Who Is, Christ our true God, always, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen. May the Lord God strengthen the holy and pure faith of devout and orthodox Christians, with his holy Church [and this sacred Monastery], unto ages of ages.

Priest: Most holy Mother of God, save us.

Reader: Greater in honour than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word; truly the Mother of God, we magnify you.

The Priest, standing in the holy Doors and facing the People, gives the Great Dismissal as follows:

Glory to you, Christ God, our hope, glory to you.

Reader: Glory. Both now. Lord, have mercy (x3). Give the blessing.

And the Priest, lowering the Phelonion, continues:

May he who for our sake and for our salvation accepted the fearful sufferings and the life-giving Cross and the voluntary Burial in the flesh, Christ our true God, through the prayers of his all-pure and holy Mother, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, through the intercessions of the holy, glorious and all-praised Apostles, [of Saint N. (to whom the Church is dedicated), of Saint N., whose memory we keep today,] and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for he is good and loves mankind.

Turning to the East he says,

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

People: Amen.

All texts and translations on this page are copyright to
Archimandrite Ephrem ©

This page was last updated on 18 April 2008