The Priest blesses the incense and begins to cense the sanctuary and the whole church as usual.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. 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, our God.

With three metanias; then the following two psalms.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen

The priest must take care that he is standing beneath the Polyeleos to say this conclusion. He then enters the sanctuary, puts away the censer and takes his stand in front of the Holy Table.

Lord, save your people, and bless your inheritance, granting your faithful people victory over their enemies, and guarding your commonwealth by your Cross.

Glory.

Lifted up on the Cross of your own will, grant you mercies, Christ God, to the new commonwealth called by your name. Make your faithful people glad by your power, giving them victory over their enemies. May they have your help in battle, a weapon of peace, an invincible trophy.

Do not forsake me, Lord; my God do not go far from me.
Hasten to help me, Lord of my salvation.

Every dawn I meditated upon you, for you became my helper, and in the shelter of your wings I shall rejoice.
My soul clung to you; and your right hand upheld me.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried by day; and by night also before you.
Let my prayer come into your presence, and turn your ear to my supplication.

The priest comes from the Altar and reads the morning prayers quietly.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit.

Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

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

For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy Churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy house, and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

[For our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Family, her Government, and all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy monastery, for every monastery, city, town and village, and for the faithful who dwell in them, let us pray to the Lord.

For favourable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and temperate seasons, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who travel by land, air or water, for the sick, the suffering, for those in captivity, and for their safety and salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and constraint, let us pray to the Lord.

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

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.

Glory.

When you went down to death, O immortal life, then you slew Hell with the lightning flash of your Godhead; but when from the depths below the earth you raised the dead, all the Powers beyond the heavens cried out: Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to you!

Both now.

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.

Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

In the tomb they laid you,
you, O Christ, who are Life;
in amazement angel armies lift up their song
as they glorify your self-abasement, Lord.

Blessed are those who search out his testimonies, they will seek for him with their whole heart.

Life, how can you perish,
or how dwell in a tomb?
Yet the royal hall of Death you now bring to nought,
and from Hades’ realm you raise the dead again.

For the workers of iniquity have not walked in his ways.

Now we magnify you,
O Lord Jesu, our King,
we pay honour to your Passion and burial
for from foul corruption you saved us through them.

You have commanded that your commandments be strictly kept.

King of all, O Jesu,
who established earth’s bounds,
on this day you make your home in a little tomb,
raising up the dead of ages from their graves.

Would that my ways might be directed to keep your statutes.

O my Christ, my Jesus,
king and monarch of all,
seeking what have you descended to those in Hell?
Was it not to liberate the mortal race?

Then I should not be ashamed when I look on all your commandments.

He who governs all things
here is seen as a corpse,
new the grave in which his body is laid to rest,
he the one who empties graves of all their dead.

I shall confess you in uprightness of heart, when I have learned the judgements of your justice.

In the tomb they laid you,
you, O Christ, who are Life;
death itself you brought to nothing by your own death,
and became the fount of life for all the world.

I shall keep your statutes, do not utterly forsake me.

Guilty with the guilty
you were judged, O my Christ,
at the moment you wrought justice for all of us,
from the ancient trickster’s foul and evil deeds.

How will a young man correct his way? By keeping your words.

Fairer he in beauty
than are all mortal kind,
now a corpse we see, unsightly, bereft of form,
he who beautified the nature of all things.

I have sought you with my whole heart, do not drive me from your commandments.

How could Hell endure it,
When in splendour you came,
and how not be swiftly shattered and plunged in dark,
blinded by the blazing glory of your light?

I have hidden your words in my heart, that I may not sin against you.

Light that saves, O Jesu,
you are sweetness to me,
in the darkness of the grave how can you lie hid,
O forbearance that no language can express!

Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes.

Angels are bewildered,
and the bodiless host
at a loss, O Christ, before that great mystery
your ineffable entombment, beyond speech.

With my lips I have declared all the judgements of your mouth.

O most strange of wonders,
What new deeds we now see!
He who gave me my life’s breath, lies unbreathing now
born to burial at noble Joseph’s hands.

I have been delighted by the way of your testimonies, as by all wealth.

Like the sun when setting,
to the tomb you descend,
yet, O Christ, your Father’s bosom you do not leave,
What strange paradox, what wondrous thing this is.

I shall reflect on your commandments and consider your ways.

As the sky’s true monarch,
as true king of the earth,
Though enclosed within the narrowest sepulchre
you were known by all creation, Jesu, Lord.

I shall meditate on your statutes, I shall not forget your words.

In the tomb they laid you,
Christ the maker of all,
then were Hell’s foundations shaken, they tremble now,
as the graves of mortal kind are opened wide.

A recompense for your servant: make me live and I shall keep your ways.

He who in the hollow
of his hand holds the earth,
in the flesh is put to death and lies in earth’s grasp,
as he now redeems the dead from Hades’ grip.

Unveil my eyes, and I shall consider the wonders of your law.

You rose from corruption
O my saviour, my life,
having died and gone to dwell there among the dead,
smashed and shattered Hades’ brazen bolts and bars.

I am a pilgrim on the earth; do not hide your commandments from me.

Like a burning lampstand
here the flesh of our God,
as beneath a bushel measure, now lies concealed
under earth and puts the gloom of Hell to flight.

My soul has longed to desire your judgements at all times.

Nothing can contain you,
yet the Heavenly hosts,
with the noble Joseph and with Nicodemus now
hasten to enclose you in a little grave.

You have rebuked the proud; those who turn aside from your law are cursed.

Willingly, my Jesus,
slain and laid underground,
fount of life, you gave me life when I lay in death,
when by bitterest transgressions I was slain.

Take reproach and contempt from me, for I have sought your testimonies.

By your Passion, Jesu,
all creation was changed,
all things suffered with you, Word, knowing you to be
the Maintainer and Sustainer of the world.

For rulers sat and spoke against me, but your servant reflected on your statutes.

Death who eats up all things
swallowed you, Rock of Life,
when you entered in his belly he vomited
spewing forth the dead gulped down from every age.

For your testimonies are my meditation, and your statutes my counsels.

There, O Christ, they laid you,
in a newly made grave,
and the nature of us mortals you then renewed,
when from death you rose in majesty divine.

My soul has been stuck to the ground; make me live according to your word.

Down to earth, O Master,
to save Adam you came,
and not finding him on earth, you descended, Lord,
to the depths of Hades, searching for him there.

I declared my ways, and you heard me: teach me your statutes.

All the earth was shaken
and it trembled in fear,
and the light-bearer, O Word, hid its rays away
to see you, the greatest Light, hid in the earth.

Make me understand the way of your statutes, and I shall reflect on your wonders.

Willingly as mortal,
O my Saviour, you die,
but as God you raised the dead back to life again,
from their graves and the abysmal depths of sin.

My soul slumbered from listlessness, strengthen me by your words.

Tears of lamentation
she pours out over you,
as your mother the pure Virgin, O Jesu, cries,
How, my son, am I to lay you in the tomb?

Remove the way of injustice from me and by your law have mercy on me.

Like a wheat grain buried
in the bosom of Earth,
you have yielded harvest in great abundance, Lord,
raising up all Adam’s mortal progeny.

I have chosen the way of truth, and have not forgotten your judgements.

Now you have been hidden
like the sun ‘neath the earth
and been covered over, veiled by the night of death.
Dawn again, O, Saviour, dawn more brightly yet.

I have clung to your testimonies, O Lord; do not put me to shame.

As the moon eclipses
the sun’s disk, Saviour Lord,
now the sepulchre has hidden you from our eyes,
in the flesh you undergo eclipse by death.

I ran in the way of your testimonies, when you set my heart at large.

Life itself, Christ Saviour,
having tasted of death,
freed all mortal kind from death, liberated us,
and the gift of life he now bestows on all.

Lay down for me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I shall always seek it.

By your death, O Saviour,
you lead back into life
Adam, who of old by envy was brought to death,
as in flesh as a new Adam you appear.

Make me understand, and I shall search out your law and keep it with my whole heart.

The angelic orders,
were amazed to behold
you, our Saviour, for our sake laid out as a corpse
with their wings they veil their faces from the sight.

Guide me in the path of your commandments, for that is what I have wanted.

Noble Joseph takes you,
as a corpse, from the Tree,
new the grave, O Word, in which he now buries you,
But as God arise , save all of human kind!

Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to covetousness.

To the angels, Saviour,
you are gladness and joy,
but a cause of grief you now have become to them,
as they see you in the flesh a lifeless corpse.

Turn my eyes from seeing vanities; give me life in your way.

Lord you lift up with you,
lifted up on the Tree,
every living mortal, but now laid under earth
all who lie beneath it you raise up again.

Establish your word for your servant, for him to fear you.

In the flesh, O Saviour,
like a lion you slept,
as a lion cub he rises, our Mighty Dead,
sloughing off the flesh’s feebleness and age.

Take away my reproach, which I dreaded; for your judgements are good.

Mother Eve you fashioned
from a rib, which you took
from the side of Adam, Lord, now your side is pierced,
and from thence there gush forth purifying streams.

See, I have longed for your commandments; in your justice make me live.

Sacrificed in secret,
was the lamb slain of old,
under open skies, O Saviour long-suffering,
cleansing all creation, you were sacrificed.

Let your mercy come upon me, O Lord, your salvation according to your word.

Who is there can tell it,
this dread thing, truly new:
see, the Master of creation today accepts
death and suffering, and dies now for our sake.

And I shall answer those who reproach me that I have hoped in your words.

‘How can life’s Dispenser
now be seen as a corpse?’
cried the Angels in amazement, ‘How can our God
be confined here, be shut up within a grave?’

Do not take the word of truth utterly from my mouth, because I have hoped in your judgements.

When the lance, O Saviour,
pierced your side, you let fall
drops of life on Eve, who from life had banished me,
giving life to her you gave me life as well.

And I shall keep your law always, for ever and for ever.

Mortal kind you gathered
into one, Jesus, Lord,
when stretched out upon the Tree, and your side was pierced
from that life-source you pour pardon forth for all.

And I walked in freedom, because I sought your commandments.

Noble Joseph, Saviour,
filled with dread lays you out,
nobly readies you and buries you as a corpse,
trembling awe-struck at the sight of your dread form.

And I spoke of your testimonies before kings and was not ashamed.

Willingly as mortal,
you went down ‘neath the earth;
from the earth’s depths you lead back up to Heaven’s height
all of those, O Jesu who lay fallen there.

And I meditated on your commandments, which I loved greatly.

Though a corpse we see you,
yet alive as our God
you gave life again to mortals who once were slain,
put to death the one who brought me to my death.

And I lifted up my hands to your commandments which I loved, and reflected on your statutes.

O the joy, the gladness,
O the boundless delight,
with which, Jesu, you filled those who lay bound in Hell,
when you made light blaze throughout its murky depths.

Remember your words to your servant, by which you gave me hope.

Lord, your pains I worship,
and your burial praise,
and I magnify your might, Lover of mankind.
By them I am freed from passions which destroy.

This comforted me in my humiliation, that your word had given me life.

A great sword was sharpened
against you, O my Christ,
but the strong one’s mighty sword has been blunted now,
and the sword that guarded Eden is turned back.

The proud have utterly transgressed; but I have not swerved from your law.

When the Ewe that bore him
saw the Lamb that was slain,
shot with anguish she lamented and cried aloud,
rousing all the flock to join its cry to hers.

I remembered your judgements of old, Lord, and I was comforted.

Buried in a tomb, Lord,
and descended to Hell,
yet, O Saviour, you have emptied the sepulchres,
mighty Hades you stripped naked, O my Christ.

Dejection has taken hold of me because of sinners, who abandon your law.

Willingly, O Saviour,
you went down ‘neath the earth,
granted life again to mortals whom death had slain,
in the glory of the Father led them up.

Your statutes have been my songs in the place of my pilgrimage.

Shameful death he suffered
in the flesh for our sake,
who is one of the divine holy Trinity.
Quails the sun, and all earth shudders at the sight.

I remembered your name in the night, Lord, and I kept your law.

From the tribe of Judah
from that bitterest source,
came the offspring who cast Jesus into the pit,
him who furnished them with manna for their food.

This happened to me, because I sought your statutes.

Judge he stands for judgement
before Pilate as judge,
and the unjust judge condemns him to unjust death,
to be put to death upon that Tree, the Cross.

You, Lord, are my portion; I have said that I would keep your law.

Why so boastful Israel,
people tainted with blood?
why did you deliver Barabbas from his pains,
yet hand over Christ the Saviour to a Cross?

I have begged for your presence with my whole heart; have mercy on me according to your word.

With your hand you fashioned
Adam out of the earth;
for him you became by nature a man, O Lord,
and were crucified for him by your own will.

I have thought over your ways and turned back my feet to your testimonies.

You obeyed your Father,
and descended, O Word,
to the depth of dreadful Hell, to the realm of Death,
and raised up again the race of mortal kind.

I was prepared, and not troubled, to keep your commandments.

Bitterly lamenting,
‘Woe is me, O my light!
my heart’s longing and the Light of the World, alas!
Woe is me, my heart’s desire’, the Virgin cried.

The cords of sinners entangled me, and I did not forget your law.

Murderous, malicious,
men whose deeds for vengeance cry!
See the graveclothes and the napkin left lying here,
as Christ rises from the dead: are you not shamed?

At midnight I rose to confess you, for the judgements of your justice.

Murdering disciple,
blood-stained man, show me now
all the manner, all the ways of your wickedness,
through which you became betrayer of our Christ.

I am a companion of all who fear you and keep your commandments.

Monster of destruction,
blind, implacable fool!
How can you pretend to act from philanthropy,
when you sold the Myrrh for thirty silver pence?

The earth is full of your mercy, O Lord; teach me your statutes.

How much did they pay you
for the heavenly Myrrh?
What did you receive as price of the precious One?
You found raving madness, Satan, most accursed.

You have shown goodness to your servant, O Lord, according to your word.

If you suffered anguish
as a friend of the poor,
when for mercy on a soul precious myrrh was poured,
how, then, can you sell the fount of light for gold?

Teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge, because I have believed your commandments.

‘O God’s Word, my gladness,
my Lord and my God,
how can I endure your burial for three days?
As a mother now my heart is torn with grief.’

Before I was disciplined I offended; for this reason I have kept your word.

‘Who will give me water,
give me fountains of tears,’
cried the Virgin bride of God, ‘that I may lament
and may weep for my sweet Jesus, who lies slain?’

You are good, O Lord, and in your goodness teach me your statutes.

‘Mountain heights and valleys,
all the whole human race,
come, all creatures, come lament and shed tears with me,
weep with me, who am the Mother of your God.’

The injustice of the proud has been heaped upon me, but with my whole heart I shall search out your commandments.

‘Saviour, light eternal,
the delight of my heart,
when shall I see you, my gladness, my only joy?’
cried the Virgin most afflicted in her grief.

Their heart has curdled like milk; but I have meditated on your law.

Like a rock, O Saviour,
sharp and flinty and hard,
you received the blow, but poured forth, as source of life,
streams of living water, bringing life to all.

It is good that you disciplined me, that I might learn your statutes.

As if from one fountain
as from only one spring,
from the double stream that flows from your side we drink,
and we pluck the fruit that grants immortal life.

The law of your mouth is good to me, beyond thousands of gold and silver.

By your will we see you,
as a corpse in the tomb,
but you live, O Word, and Saviour as you foretold,
by your Resurrection you raise mortal kind.

Glory.

Word, we sing your praises,
as the Lord God of all,
with the Father and your most Holy Spirit, Lord,
and we glorify your burial divine.

And at once:

It is right indeed
we should magnify the one who grants life,
you, that stretched your hands wide upon the Cross,
broke and smashed the might and power of the foe.

Your hands made me and fashioned me; make me understand and I shall learn your commandments.

It is right indeed
you to magnify, who fashion all things,
your pains from corruption deliver us,
and your Passion grants dispassion to our souls.

Those who fear you will see me and be glad, because I have hoped in your words.

All Earth quaked in fear
and the sun concealed itself, O Saviour,
when, O Christ, our light, you set bodily,
as the light that knows no evening was entombed.

I know, Lord, that your judgements are justice, and that in truth you disciplined me.

Sleeping in the tomb
with the sleep that breathes forth life, Anointed,
from sin’s heavy sleep you, as God, aroused
all the human race that sin had held enthralled.

Oh let your mercy be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant.

‘Of all woman-kind
I alone bore you, my child, without pain;
cruel pangs now wrack me as I behold
your great suffering’, the Holy Virgin cries.

Let your mercies come to me, and I shall live, because your law is my meditation.

Seeing you on high,
never separated from the Father,
yet below on Earth, laid out as a corpse,
the dread Seraphim, my Saviour, shake with fear.

Let the proud be shamed, for they have wronged me unjustly; but I shall meditate on your commandments.

See, the Temple Veil,
rent asunder at your crucifixion,
Heaven’s beacons hide, O my Christ, their light,
to see you, the Sun, now hid beneath the earth.

Let those who fear you and know your testimonies turn back to me.

He who at the start
by His will alone set Earth revolving,
lifeless as a mortal sets under earth;
let the sky now shake and tremble at the sight.

Let my heart become blameless in your statutes, that I may not be ashamed.

Human-kind you formed,
with your own hand fashioned us, O Saviour,
now, O Sun, you set underneath the earth,
raising companies of mortals from the fall.

My soul faints for your salvation, I have hoped in your words.

Come, now, let us sing,
let our sacred hymn lament the dead Christ,
singing as the Myrrh-bearing women did,
that with them we too may hear the word ‘rejoice!’

My eyes have fainted for your word, saying: When will you comfort me?

Truly you are Myrrh,
truly, Word of God, the Myrrh Unfailing,
so it was myrrh-bearers brought myrrh to you,
to the Living God brought myrrh as to the dead.

Because I have become like a wineskin in the frost, I have not forgotten your statutes.

Buried, O my Christ,
the great palaces of Hell you shattered,
Death you put to death by your death, O Lord,
from corruption you set free those born of earth.

How many are your servant’s days? When will you execute judgement on my persecutors?

To the grave descends
he, the Wisdom of our God, that pours out
streams of life; descending into a tomb,
giving life to those in Hades deepest depths.

The lawless have told me fables, but nothing like your law, O Lord.
‘Willingly by death
I was wounded in the flesh, dear Mother,,
thus the broken nature of mortal kind
to renew, so do not beat your breast in grief.’

All your commandments are truth; they have persecuted me unjustly, help me.

When beneath the Earth
you had set, the Morning Star of justice,
you aroused the dead as if they but slept,
as you put to flight the murk and gloom of Hell.

They almost made an end of me on earth, but I did not abandon your commandments.

Sown with tears today,
the life-breathing grain of two-fold nature,
here within earth’s furrows the grain is sown,
but tomorrow it will burst once more to life.

Give me life according to your mercy, and I shall keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Trembling, Adam quailed,
when God walked in Paradise, he feared him,
but rejoices now as God enters Hell.
As of old he fell, so now he rises up.

O Lord, your word endures for ever in heaven.

Offerings of tears,
O my Christ, your Mother poured out, weeping,
as in flesh you lay buried in the grave,
‘But arise, my Son, as you foretold’, she cried.

Your truth from generation to generation; you founded the earth and it endures.

Filled with godly fear,
in a new tomb noble Joseph hides you,
singing, Saviour, hymns for your burial,
hymns befitting God and mingled with laments.

By your decree day endures; because all things are your servants.

Bolts of bitter grief
pierced you Mother’s soul, and nails of anguish,
when she saw you nailed to a Tree, O Word,
saw you fastened to the Cross with cruel nails.

If your law had not been my meditation, I would have perished in my humiliation.

When her eyes beheld
you who are the whole world’s sweetness,
drinking, O my Saviour, the bitter drink,
your sweet Mother drenched her eyes with bitter tears.

I will never forget your statutes, because through them you have given me life.

‘Dreadful is the wound,
all my inward parts are rent asunder,
as your unjust slaughter I see, O Word’,
cried the Virgin most afflicted as she wept.

I am yours, save me, for I have sought your statutes.

‘Tell me, Word of God,
how am I to close you lips and sweet eyes,
how to bury you as befits the dead?’
cried the noble Joseph, shivering with fear.

Sinners waited for me to destroy me; I understood your testimonies.

Sacred hymns they sing,
Nicodemus and the noble Joseph,
while the Seraphim join them in their hymn
for the burial of Christ, who now lies dead.

I have seen an end of every perfection, your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Sun of justice, now
you have set beneath the earth, my Saviour,
Therefore she, the Moon that gave birth to you,
is eclipsed with grief, at seeing you no more.

How I have loved your law, O Lord; all day it is my meditation.

Hades trembled then,
when he saw you, the Life-giving Saviour,
in your might despoiling him of his wealth,
raising up the dead he held from every age.

By your commandment you have made me wiser than my foes, for it is mine for ever.

Once the night has passed
then again, O Word, the bright Sun blazes;
radiant you blaze forth, when after death,
as though from a bridal chamber, you arise.

I have understood more than all those who teach me, for your testimonies are my meditation.

How Earth quaked with fear,
O Creator, as into her bosom,
shaking, she received you, my Saving Lord,
by her fearful shaking she awoke the dead.

I have understood more than my elders, for I have sought your commandments.

With sweet myrrh, O Christ,
Nicodemus and the noble Joseph
laid you out for burial strange and new,
as they cried aloud, ‘Now tremble, all the earth!’

I restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep your words.

Maker of the light,
you have set, and with you sets the sunlight;
all creation, trembling and shuddering,
now proclaims you as the Maker all things.

I did not turn from your judgements, for you gave me your law.

Christ, our Cornerstone,
Him a stone hewn from the rock now covers;
Tremble Earth to see how a mortal man
hides away our God as mortal in a tomb!

How sweet are your words to my throat, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

‘O my Child, behold
the disciple whom you loved; my sweet one,
see your Mother too, and grant us a word’,
cried the Virgin as she raised her sad lament.

From your commandments I gained understanding; therefore I hated every way of injustice.

O, Life-giving Word,
even stretched out on the Cross and nailed there,
you, as Lord of Life, did not kill the Jews,
granting resurrection even to their dead.

Your law is a lamp for my feet and a light for my paths.
Suffering, O Word,
you were quite bereft of form and beauty;
Rising, Lord, you shone forth resplendently,
and with your Godhead’s rays made mortals fair.

I have sworn and am determined to keep the judgements of your justice.

In the flesh you set,
‘neath the earth, Dawn Star that knows no evening,
at height of noon-day the sun grew dark,
as unable to endure the fearful sight.

I have been exceedingly humbled; O Lord, give me life according to your word.

Sun and moon grew dark,
they are images of faithful servants,
who, as mourners, Saviour, attire themselves
in the sombre mourners’ robes of deepest black.

Be well pleased, Lord, with the freewill offerings of my mouth, and teach me your judgements.

‘Though you hung there dead,
the centurion knew you as true God.
‘See, with fear I shake’, noble Joseph cried,
Tell me, how am I to touch you with my hands?’

My soul is ever in your hands, and I have not forgotten your law.

Adam lay asleep,
and, while sleeping, from his side brought forth death.
You, O Word of God, who are sleeping here,
now are pouring from your side life for the world.

Sinners laid a snare for me, and I have not strayed from your commandments.

For a while you slept,
to the dead who lay in Hell you brought life.
Rising up, O Good One, you then raised up
all the multitudes of dead from every age.

I have inherited your testimonies for ever, for they are the joy of my heart.

Vine from which life flows!
As above the earth, Lord, you were lifted,
you poured forth the wine of salvation then,
now I glorify your Passion and your Cross.

I have inclined my heart to do your statutes for ever for the sake of the recompense.

Lords of Angel Hosts,
when they saw you, O my Saviour, naked,
blood-stained, and condemned, how did they endure
to perceive your crucifiers’ insolence?

I have hated transgressors, but I have loved your law.

What perversity!
Come, most crooked race of Hebrews, tell us,
how could you condemn the Anointed One,
when you knew the temple would be raised again.

You are my helper and protector; I have hoped in your words.

In a mocking cloak
you have clothed the one who orders all things.
He arrayed the Earth, and most wondrously,
he it was who strewed the stars across the skies.

Depart from me all evil-doers, and I shall search out the commandments of my God.

Like the pelican,
you gave life, O Word, to your dead children,
wounded in your side, you let life-blood flow,
letting fall life-giving drops of blood on all.

Help me according to your word, and give me life, and may I not be disappointed in my expectation.

Jesus stayed the sun,
as of old he smote the foreign foe, Lord;
you, Christ, hid its light as you overthrew
that great prince, the Lord of darkness and of death.

Help me and I shall be saved and I shall ever meditate on your statutes.

O Compassionate,
while remaining in your Father’s bosom,
mortal nature willingly you assumed,
and as mortal man, O Christ, went down to Hell.

You have despised all those who abandon your statutes, because their desire is unjust.

He who hung the earth
on the waters, on a Cross is lifted,
as a lifeless corpse he is laid in earth,
which, unable to endure it, dreads and quakes.

I reckoned all the sinners on earth as transgressors; that is why I have loved your testimonies.

‘Woe is me, my Son!
For I hoped as king to see you reigning,
whom I see condemned, hanging on the Cross’,
the pure Virgin Mother voices her lament .’

Nail my flesh with fear of you; for I was afraid of your judgements.

‘Gabriel announced,
in the wondrous message that he brought me,
the eternal kingdom he said would be
the possession of my Jesus, my dear Son’.

I have done judgement and justice; do not hand me over to those who injure me.

‘Woe, alas for me!
Now a prophecy has found fulfilment,
As the just man Symeon had foretold,
now, Emmanuel, your sword has pierced my heart.’

Be responsible for your servant’s good; do not let the proud slander me.

Are you not ashamed?
Tell me, do not all those dead he raised up
shame you, for the Giver of life is he,
whom from spiteful envy, Jews, you did to death .

My eyes have grown weak looking for your salvation and the word of your justice.

Bitterly she wept,
your all-blameless Mother, when she saw you
lying dead, O Word, lying in the tomb,
the eternal God no language can express.

Deal with your servant according to your mercy and teach me your statutes.

Seeing you, my Christ,
you, the Light invisible, now hidden,
lifeless in the grave, then the sun on high
shook and trembled as its light grew dark in fear.

I am your servant; make me understand, and I shall know your testimonies.

When she saw your death
then your Mother free from all defilement
cried out, O my Christ, bitterly to you,
‘Life, I beg, do not delay among the dead!’

It is time for the Lord to act; they have thrown your law to the winds.

Hades, death’s dread lord,
shook in fear, he shuddered when he saw you,
Sun of glory, deathless and radiant,
and he gave up all his prisoners in haste.

That is why I have loved your commandments above gold and topaz.

Terrible indeed,
great the sight that now is seen, O Saviour,
He, the cause of life, willing went to death,
wishing life to bring as gift to all mankind.

That is why I have been directed to all your commandments, hated every unjust way.

Lord, your side was pierced,
nails were hammered through your hands, O Saviour,
from your side came healing to heal the wound,
and to cure the greed of our first parents’ hands.

Your testimonies are wonderful; that is why my soul has searched them out.

Once for Rachel’s son
house by house were all set sadly weeping.
With his Mother now, the Disciples’ choir
in its grief mourns and laments the Virgin’s Son.

The expounding of your law enlightens and makes little children understand.

With their hands they gave
a great blow upon the cheek of Jesus,
Christ, who with his hand fashioned all mankind
Christ, who with his hand has crushed the Beast’s foul fangs.

I opened my mouth and drew breath, because I longed for your commandments.

With our hymns, O Christ,
all the faithful bring their adoration,
to your crucifixion and burial;
by your burial we have been freed from death.

Glory.

Great eternal God,
co-eternal Word and Holy Spirit,
look down in your goodness on those who rule,
grant their sceptres strength against the warlike foe.

Both now.

And at once:

Each generation offers,
my Christ, for your entombment
in hymns and songs its praises.

Look upon me and have mercy upon me according to the judgement of those who love your name.

The Noble Joseph takes you
down from the Tree, my Saviour,
and in the tomb he lays you.

Direct my steps according to your word, and do not let iniquity lord it over me.

Myrrh-bearing Woman came then,
providently bringing
to you, O Christ, the sweet myrrh.

Deliver me from the slander of men, and I shall keep your commandments.

Let all Creation join us,
as to the Creator
our farewell hymns we now sing.

Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your statutes.

With myrrh-bearing women
let us, with understanding,
anoint as dead the Living.

My eyes shed streams of water, when I did not keep your law.

O thrice-blessed Joseph,
entomb Messiah’s body,
the corpse of Him who grants life.

You are just, O Lord, and your judgements are upright.

Those he fed with manna
raised their heels against him,
against the Benefactor.

You have commanded justice, your testimonies and absolute truth.

Those he fed with manna
bring vinegar and gall now
to offer to the Saviour..

Your zeal has burned me up, because my enemies have forgotten your words.

O the boundless folly
of those who slew the prophets
and now slay God’s Anointed.

Your word has been thoroughly tried by fire, and your servant has loved it.

Initiate yet traitor,
he, the senseless servant,
sold the Abyss of Wisdom.

I am young and despised; I have not forgotten your statutes.

Judas the deceiver
for silver sold the Saviour,
and thus became a captive.

Your justice is justice forever, and your law is truth.

Solomon declared it:
like a deep-dug pit the mouth
of Law-transgressing Hebrews.

Troubles and constraints have found me, your commandments are my meditation.

Law-transgressing Hebrews
on the crooked paths they tread
face pits and traps and sharp snares.

Your testimonies are justice forever; make me understand, and I shall live.

With Nicodemus, Joseph
buries the Creator
as for the dead is fitting.

I have cried to you with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord, I shall seek out your statutes.

O Life-giving Saviour,
the conqueror of Hades,
to your great might be glory.

I have cried to you; save me, and I shall keep your testimonies.

When the All-Pure saw you
lying limp and dead, Lord,
as mother, Word, she mourned you.

I have risen at dead of night and cried out, I have hoped in your words.

‘O my sweetest springtime,
O my sweetest Offspring,
where has your beauty vanished?’

My eyes have forestalled the dawn, to meditate on your words.

What sad lament she raises,
O Word, your all-pure Mother,
as you lie dead before her.

Hear my voice, O Lord, according to your mercy, according to your judgement give me life.

Women with sweet myrrh came
to anoint with myrrh Christ,
who is himself Divine Myrrh.

Those who persecute me have drawn near iniquity, they have gone far from your law.

Death itself, O Saviour,
by death you put to death, Lord
my God, by your divine might.

You are near, Lord, and all your ways are truth.

Deceived is the deceiver,
the once deceived redeemed now
my God and by your Wisdom.

I have known your testimonies from of old, because you have founded them for ever.

Behold the traitor cast down,
to Hades’ depths abysmal,
the deep pit of destruction.

See my humiliation and rescue me, because I have not forgotten your law.

Traps and pits and sharp snares-
these are the ways of Judas,
the madman and thrice-wretched.

Judge my cause and deliver me; for the sake of your law give me life.

All those who crucified you
will be destroyed together,
God’s Word and Son, the Great King.

Salvation is far from sinners, because they have not sought out your statutes.

All the men of blood now
will be destroyed together
within destruction’s deep pit.

Your mercies, Lord, are many; according to judgement give me life.

Son of God, All-Sovereign,
my God and my Creator,
why did you will to suffer?

Those who pursue me and trouble me are many; I have not swerved from your testimonies.

The heifer, when she saw him,
her calf, hanged on the dread Tree,
raised up a cry of great grief.

I have seen the senseless, and I burned, for they have not kept your law.

See, noble Joseph buries
the one life-bearing Body,
and Nicodemus helps him.

See I have loved your commandments; O Lord, in your mercy give me life.

The weeping Maiden cried out,
and from her eyes hot tears pour,
as to the heart she is pierced.

The beginning of your words is truth; and all the judgements of your justice are for ever.

‘O Light that gives my eyes light,
my gentle Son, my sweet Child,
why does the tomb now hide you?’

Rulers have persecuted me for no reason, and my heart has been in awe of your words.

‘To free both Eve and Adam,
Mother, this I suffer.
Come, do not grieve and sorrow.’

I shall rejoice over your words, like one who has found much spoil.

‘The depth of your compassion,
I glorify my dear Son,
which makes you suffer these things.’

Injustice I hated and abhorred, but I loved your law.

They gave you gall to drink, Lord,
and vinegar, Most Loving:
the apple’s taste now passes.

Seven times a day I praised you for the judgements of your justice.

To a post they nailed you,
who once your people sheltered
below a cloudy pillar.

There is much peace for those who love your law, and there is no stumbling for them.

I looked for your salvation, O Lord, and I loved your commandments.

Arise, O Lord of mercy,
and from the depths of Hades
now raise us all up with you.

My soul has kept your testimonies, because all your ways are before me, O Lord.

Through her tears, your Mother,
who gave you birth now cries out
‘Arise, O Giver of life.’

I have kept your commandments and your testimonies; for all my ways are before you, O Lord.

Make haste to rise again, Word,
abolish now her grieving,
the all pure Maid, who bore you.

Let my prayer enter your presence, O Lord; make me understand in accordance with your word.

Heavens awesome powers
stood amazed in terror,
to see you lying lifeless.

Let my request come into your presence, O Lord; deliver me in accordance with your word.

To those who love and fear you,
and honour your dread Passion,
now give release from all faults.

Let my lips burst into song, whenever you teach me your statutes.

A dread and most strange sight, this,
O Word of God now tell us,
how can earth cover you, Lord?

Let my tongue utter your words, because your commandments are justice.

One Joseph bore you, Saviour
with him in flight, a second,
to burial now bears you.

May your hand be there to save me, because I have chosen your commandments.

Your all-pure Mother, Saviour,
with tears and lamentation
now mourns for you, who lie slain.

I have longed for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my meditation.

All Heaven’s angels tremble
Creator of the Cosmos,
at your strange, dread entombment.

My soul will live and praise you, and your judgements will help me.

Myrrh-bearers came and sprinkled
sweet myrrh upon your tomb, Lord,
at early dawn they come now.
[In Greek use sung three times, while the Priest sprinkles the Shroud with sweet fragrances and flowers]

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, because I have not forgotten your commandments.

Peace unto your Church, Lord,
salvation to your people,
grant by your Resurrection.

Glory.

Father, Son and Spirit,
O Trinity, my One God,
have mercy on the whole world.

Both now.

And at once the Evlogitaria in Tone 5.

The company of the Angels was amazed, seeing you numbered among the dead, yet destroying the power of death, O Saviour, raising Adam with yourself and freeing all from Hell.

‘Why do you mingle sweet spices with your tears, O women disciples?’ the dazzling Angel in the tomb said to the women bearing myrrh, ‘Behold the tomb, and understand: for the Saviour has risen from the grave’.

Early in the morning the women bearing myrrh hastened, lamenting, to your grave; but the Angel stood before them and said, ‘The time for lamentation has passed. Do not weep; but tell the Apostles of the Resurrection’.

The women bearing spices coming to your grave, O Saviour, heard an Angel saying to them, ‘Why do you number the living with the dead? For as God he has risen from the grave’.

We worship the Father, and his Son, and the Holy Spirit: the holy consubstantial Trinity, as we cry with the Seraphim, ‘Holy, holy, holy are you, O Lord!’

O Virgin, by giving birth you redeemed Adam from sin, and you brought Eve joy instead of sorrow. He who was incarnate from you, who is both God and man, has guided back to life those who had fallen from life.

And at once:

Then we sing the following Kathismata.
Tone 1.

Joseph begged your revered Body of Pilate and anointing it with sweet-smelling spices placed it in pure linen in a new grave. Wherefore at dawn the myrrh-bearing women cried out, ‘Show us, O Christ, as you foretold, your Resurrection’.

Glory.

Joseph begged your revered Body of Pilate and anointing it with sweet-smelling spices placed it in pure linen in a new grave. Wherefore at dawn the myrrh-bearing women cried out, ‘Show us, O Christ, as you foretold, your Resurrection’.

Both now.

The choirs of Angels were amazed as they saw how he, who is seated in the bosom of the Father, is placed in a tomb as one dead, though he is Immortal; whom the ranks of Angels, with the dead in Hell, surround and glorify as Creator and Lord.

We sing the Irmi twice and the Troparia to make 14. Then the Irmos again as Katavasia.

Lord, my God, I will sing a song for your departure, a funeral hymn for you who by your burial opened up for me the entrances to life, and by your death put Death and Hell to death.

All things above the world and all below the earth quaked with fear at your death, as they saw you on the throne above and below in a tomb; for beyond understanding you appeared as a one dead, you the source of life.

Multiplying visions, you revealed symbols of your burial, while now, as God and man, you have also made clear your secrets, Master, to those in Hell, who cry, ‘None is holy but you, O Lord’.

You opened out your palms and united things that before were separated, while by being closed in a shroud and a grave, O Saviour, you loosed those who were fettered. None is holy but you, O Lord.

Then we sing the following Kathismata.
Tone 1. Model Melody.

The soldiers watching your tomb became as dead men at the lightning flash of the Angel who appeared and proclaimed the Resurrection to the women. We glorify you, who destroy corruption; we fall down before you, who rose from the tomb and alone are our God.

Glory. Both now.

You sanctified the seventh day, which of old you blessed by resting from your works; for you bring all things into being and make them new, as you keep the Sabbath rest, O Saviour, and restore your strength.

By your greater strength you gained the victory; your soul was parted from your body, shattering the bonds of both Death and Hell, O Word, by your might.

Becoming a creature formed of dust, our Fashioner, you make new those born of earth, and the shroud and the tomb point to the mystery within you, O Word; for the noble counsellor fulfils the counsel of your Begetter, who in you gloriously makes me new.

Through death you transform mortality, through burial corruption; for in a manner fitting God you make incorruptible the nature you took on and make it immortal. For your flesh did not know corruption, Master, nor was your soul, like a stranger, abandoned in Hell.

You were torn, but not torn away, O Word, from the flesh you had taken. For though your temple was destroyed at the moment of the passion, you were still one person in your Godhead and your flesh; for in both you are one Son, Word of God, God and man.

Adam’s fall slew mortals but not God, for though your substance of dust suffered, yet your Godhead remained impassible. That which was corruptible in you, you have transformed to incorruption, and you have revealed a source of incorruptible life from your resurrection.

Hell has been wounded, having received in its heart the One whose side was pierced by a lance, and consumed by divine fire groans aloud at the salvation of us who sing, ‘God, our Redeemer, blessed are you!’

O happy tomb! For having received in itself the Creator as one asleep, it has been revealed as a treasure house of life for the salvation of us who sing, ‘God, our Redeemer, blessed are you!’

The life of all things accepts being laid in the tomb, according to the law of those who die, and he shows it to be a source of rising for the salvation of us who sing, ‘God, our Redeemer, blessed are you!’

The immaculate temple has been destroyed, but raises up the fallen tabernacle; for the second Adam, who dwells in the highest, has come down to the first as far as the storehouses of Hell; Youths bless him, priests praise him, people highly exalt him to all the ages.

The Magnificat is not sung, but instead the 9th Ode.

‘At your strange birth, my Son without beginning, beyond nature I escaped the pangs and was made blessed; but now, my God, as I see you dead, I am pierced terribly by the sword of sorrow; but arise, that I may be magnified.’

‘Earth covers me by my own will, but the gatekeepers of Hell shudder as they see me clothed in the blood-stained robe of vengeance, Mother; for having trampled on my enemies by the Cross, I shall arise again and magnify you.’

At Lauds we insert 4 idiomel Stichera.
Tone 6

Today a tomb hold him who holds all creation in his palm. A stone covers him who covered the heavens with glory. Life sleeps and Hell trembles and Adam is being released from his bonds. Glory to your dispensation, through which you have accomplished all things and granted us an eternal Sabbath rest, your resurrection from the dead!

What is this sight that is seen? What is this present rest? The king of the ages, having accomplished his dispensation through suffering, takes his Sabbath rest in a tomb, granting us a new Sabbath rest. To him let us cry, ‘Arise, O God, judge the earth, for you are king for ever, and without measure is your great mercy.

Come, let us see our life lying in a tomb, that he may give life to all those who lie in the tombs. Come today, as we contemplate the Sleeping one from Juda, let us prophetically cry out to him, ‘Taking your rest, you lay down like a lion. Who will rouse you, O King? But arise by your own will, who gave yourself willingly for us. Lord, glory to you!

Joseph asked for the body of Jesus, and laid it in his new grave; for it was right that he should come forth from a tomb as from a bridal chamber. You smashed the might of death and opened the gates of Paradise for humankind; glory to you!

Great Moses mystically prefigured this present day when he said, ‘And God blessed the seventh day’. For this is the blessed Sabbath, this the day of rest on which the only-begotten Son of God rested from all his works. Through the dispensation in accordance with death, he kept the Sabbath in the flesh, and, returning once again to what he was, through the Resurrection he has granted us eternal life, for he alone is good and loves humankind.

You are most blessed, O Virgin Mother of God, for through him who took flesh from you, Hell has been captured, Adam recalled, the curse slain, Eve set free, death put to death, and we given life. Therefore in praise we cry: Blessed are you, Christ our God, who have been thus well-pleased, glory to you.

When you went down to death, O immortal life, then you slew Hell with the lightning flash of your Godhead; but when from the depths below the earth you raised the dead, all the Powers beyond the heavens cried out: Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to you!

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.

Christ, who hold fast the ends of the earth, you accepted to be held fast in a tomb, that you might ransom humanity from the maw of Hell, * and as immortal God you have given us life and immortality.

Glory.

And as immortal God you have given us life and immortality.

Both now.

The Reading from the Prophecy of Ezekiel.

The Reading from the 1st Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians.

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
[27:62-66]

[Also we pray for our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, the royal family, her government and all in authority.]

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

Pardon and forgiveness of our sins and offences, let us ask of the Lord.

Things good, and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

That we may live out the rest of our days in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.

A Christian end to our life, painless, unashamed and peaceful, and a good defence before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us ask.