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ON HOLY AND GREAT THURSDAY The Midnight Office is read in the Church [and not, as usually on weekdays, in the Narthex, or Liti] as during Great Lent.AT MATINS After the Dismissal of the Midnight Office the Priest, having made the customary metania to the Superior, or to his stall, enters the sanctuary and makes three bows before the holy Table. He puts on the Epitrachelion and, standing in front of the holy Table, intones: Blessed is our God, always, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Reader: Amen.The Priest blesses the incense and begins to cense the sanctuary and the whole church as usual. The Reader begins: Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us ( three times)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 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.Lord, have mercy ( x12). Glory. Both now.Come, let us worship and fall down before the King, our God. With three metanias; then the following two psalms. Psalm 19 Psalm 20 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. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us ( three times)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 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.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. Reader: Amen.And the following Troparia: 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. Both now. Theotokion.Dread Champion that cannot be put to shame, do not despise our petitions, O Good One. All-praised Mother of God establish the commonwealth of the Orthodox, save your people and give them victory from heaven, for you gave birth to God, O only blessed one. Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy. We pray you, hear and have mercy.Reader: Lord have mercy (x3).Priest: For you, O God, are merciful, and love humankind, and to you we give glory, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to the ages of ages.Reader: Amen. In the name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father.Priest: Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving and undivided Trinity, always, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.Reader: Amen.THE SIX PSALMS And we begin the Six Psalms, listening with complete silence and compunction. The Superior, or the designated reader, with devotion and fear of God says: Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill among men ( x3).Lord, you will open my lips: and my mouth will declare your praise ( x2).Psalm 3 And again: I lay down and slept; I awoke because the Lord will assist me. Psalm 37 And again. Do not forsake me, Lord; my God do not go far from me. Hasten to help me, Lord of my salvation. Psalm 62 And again. 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. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God ( x3, without Metanias). 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. Psalm 87 And again. 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. Psalm 102 And again. In every place of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 142 And again. In your justice hear me, O Lord, and do not enter into judgement with your servant. ( x2)Your good Spirit will guide me in an upright land. 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. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God ( x3). Metanias (x3)Then the Litany by the Priest, outside the Sanctuary. In peace, let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. And so after each petition.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 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 Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Family, her Government, and all in authority, let us pray to the Lord. For our Father and Abbot N. and for all our brotherhood in Christ, 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. 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.We sing Alleluia 3 times in the 8th Tone, saying first one of the following verses.Verse 1 . From nightfall my spirit is awake for you, O God, for your commands are light upon the earth.Verse 2. Learn justice, inhabitants of the earth.Verse 3. Jealousy will seize an untaught people, and now fire devours their adversaries.Verse 4. Bring evils upon them, O Lord, bring evils upon them, the glorious ones of the earth.Then the following Troparion is sung solemnly 3 times. When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of the feet, then Judas the ungodly was stricken and darkened with the love of money; and to lawless judges he delivered you, the just judge. O lover of money, look upon him who for its sake hanged himself; flee from the insatiable soul, which dared such things against the Teacher. O you who are good to all, Lord, glory to you. Glory. When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of the feet, then Judas the ungodly was stricken and darkened with the love of money; and to lawless judges he delivered you, the just judge. O lover of money, look upon him who for its sake hanged himself; flee from the insatiable soul, which dared such things against the Teacher. O you who are good to all, Lord, glory to you. Both now. When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of the feet, then Judas the ungodly was stricken and darkened with the love of money; and to lawless judges he delivered you, the just judge. O lover of money, look upon him who for its sake hanged himself; flee from the insatiable soul, which dared such things against the Teacher. O you who are good to all, Lord, glory to you. [ The modern Greek books place a small Litany here, with the ekphonesis, For yours is the might…][ The Russian Typikon prescribes three readings, one after each Kathisma, from St John Chrysostom’s commentary on St Matthew’s Gospel, without specifying the references precisely.]And at once the Priest says: And that he would count us worthy to listen to the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God. Reader: Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.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 Luke.Reader: Glory to you, Lord, glory to you!Priest: Let us attend.[ 22:1-39]At that time the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the number of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them. They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present. Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover had to be sacrificed. So he sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us that we may eat it.’ They asked him, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations?’ He said to them, ‘See, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the master of the house, ‘The teacher says to you, ‘Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’’ He will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.’ So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the twelve apostles with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not of eat it any longer until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took the cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood that is poured out for you. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the nations lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Simon, see! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow today, until you have denied three times that you know me.’ He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘Nothing.’ He said to them, ‘But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.’ They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ He replied, ‘It is enough.’ He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. Reader: Glory to you, Lord, glory to you!And at once: Lord, have mercy ( x3). Glory. Both now.Psalm 50 We begin the Canon by St Kosmas, of which the Acrostic is: In each Ode the Irmos is sung twice, and the troparia are repeated to make 12. The Irmos is repeated as Katavasia. Ode 1. Tone 6. Irmos ‘The Red Sea by a cut staff is cut, the deep, source of waves, grows dry, itself becomes pathway for the unarmed and a tomb for the fully armed. A song pleasing to God was raised, ‘Christ our God has been greatly glorified’.’ Troparia The cause of all and source of life, the infinite Wisdom of God, has built himself a house from a pure mother who did not know man; for putting on the temple of his body Christ our God has been greatly glorified. Instructing his friends in the mysteries, the true Wisdom of God prepares a table to nourish souls, mixes the bowl of immortality for believers. Let us draw near with reverence and let us cry, ‘Christ our God has been greatly glorified’. All we believers, let us listen as with loud proclamation the uncreated, natural Wisdom of God invites us, for he cries, ‘Taste and know that I am good. Shout aloud, ‘Christ our God has been greatly glorified’’. Katavasia The Red Sea by a cut staff is cut, the deep, source of waves, grows dry, itself becomes a pathway for the unarmed and a tomb for the fully armed. A song pleasing to God was raised, ‘Christ our God has been greatly glorified’. Ode 3. Irmos ‘Though Lord and creator of all, O God, you, the impassible, becoming poor, united the created to yourself; and being the Passover, you offered yourself to those for whom you were about to die, crying, ‘Eat my body, and you will be established by faith’.’ Troparia Filling your own cup of gladness, pledge of all the mortal race, you gave it to your disciples to drink, loving Lord; for you offer yourself in sacrifice, crying, ‘Drink my blood, and you will be established by faith’. ‘Foolish the man who is the traitor among you’, you declared, forbearing Lord, to your own disciples, ‘He will not know, and being without understanding, will not understand these things; but abide in me, and you will be established by faith’. Katavasia Though Lord and creator of all, O God, you, the impassible, becoming poor, united the created to yourself; and being the Passover, you offered yourself to those for whom you were about to die, crying, ‘Eat my body, and you will be established by faith.’ Priest: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.Reader: Lord, have mercy.Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by your grace.Reader: Lord, have mercy.Priest: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most 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.Reader: To you, O Lord.Priest: For you are our God, and to you we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to the ages of ages.Reader: Amen.After the small litany, Kathisma. Tone 1. The soldiers watching. The One who made lakes and springs and seas, instructing us in surpassing humility, girding himself with a towel, washed his disciples’ feet, humbling himself in the abundance of his compassion and exalting us from the depths of wickedness, he who alone loves humankind. Another. Tone 3. Humbling yourself through compassion, you washed your disciples’ feet, set them straight on the course of God. Peter, though he refused to be washed, submitted in turn to the divine command, was washed and begged you insistently to grant us your great mercy. Another. Tone 4. Today you have appeared. As you ate with your disciples, Master, you mystically revealed your all-holy slaughter, through which we, who honour your revered sufferings, were rescued from corruption. Ode 4. Irmos ‘The Prophet, foreseeing your ineffable mystery, O Christ, proclaimed beforehand, ‘You revealed the mighty love of your strength, merciful Father; for you sent the Only-Begotten, O Good One, to the world as atonement’.’ Troparia As you went to your passion, the source of dispassion for all the descendants of Adam, you said to your friends, O Christ, ‘I have desired to share this Passover with you, since the Father has sent me, the Only-Begotten, to the world as atonement’. As you partook of the cup with the Disciples, O Immortal, you cried, ‘Now I drink no more of the fruit of the vine with you in this life; since the Father has sent me, the Only-Begotten, to the world as atonement’. O Christ, you said to your friends, ‘I say that in my kingdom I am drinking a new drink beyond understanding; for I shall be with you, God as among gods; for the Father has sent me, the Only-Begotten, to the world as atonement. Katavasia The Prophet, foreseeing your ineffable mystery, O Christ, proclaimed beforehand, ‘You revealed the mighty love of your strength, merciful Father; for you sent the Only-Begotten, O Good One, to the world as atonement’. Ode 5. Irmos ‘Bound with the bond of love, the Apostles offered themselves to Christ the Master of all things; when their beautiful feet had been washed clean, they bring good tidings of peace to all.’ Troparia The Wisdom of God who restrains the ungovernable upper water in the air, bridles the deeps and holds back the sea, pours water in a basin; the Master washes the feet of servants. The Master shows his Disciples a model of humility; he who wraps the sky in clouds and whose his hand is the breath of all that is, girds himself with a towel and bends the knee to wash the feet of servants;. Katavasia Bound with the bond of love, the Apostles offered themselves to Christ the Master of all things; when their beautiful feet had been washed clean they bring good tidings of peace to all. Ode 6. Irmos ‘The lowest deep of sins has closed round me, and no longer able to endure its tempest, like Jonas I cry out to you, Master, ‘Bring me up from corruption’.’ Troparia ‘You call me Lord and Teacher, my disciples, for so I am’, you cried, O Saviour. ‘And so imitate the example, the way you have seen in me’. ‘One who has no stain does not need his feet washed. You, my disciples, are clean, but not all; for the inclination of one of you is to insane folly’. Katavasia The lowest deep of sins has closed round me, and no longer able to endure its tempest, like Jonas I cry out to you, Master, ‘Bring me up from corruption’. Priest: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.Reader: Lord, have mercy.Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by your grace.Reader: Lord, have mercy.Priest: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most 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.Reader: To you, O Lord.Priest: For you are the King of peace and the Saviour of our souls, and to you we give glory, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.Reader: Amen.After the small litany the Kontakion Tone 2. By Romanos the Melodist. After taking the bread into his hands the traitor secretly stretches them out and takes the price of the One who fashioned humankind with his own hands; and he remained unrepentant, Judas the slave and deceiver. The Ikos. As we all draw near with fear to the mystic table, let us receive the Bread with pure souls, remaining beside the Master that we may see how he washes the feet of the Disciples and dries them with the towel, and let us do as we have seen, being subject to one another and washing one another’s feet; for Christ himself so ordered his disciples, as he declared; but he did not listen, Judas the slave and deceiver. The Menologion of the day and then the following notice: On holy and great Thursday the godlike Fathers have arranged all things well and have handed on to us that we should celebrate in turn four events from the godlike Apostles and sacred Gospels: the sacred Washing, the mystical Supper (that is the handing on for us of the dread Mysteries), the transcendent Prayer and the Betrayal itself. Verses for the sacred Washing At evening God washed the Disciples’ feet, Whose foot once walked in Eden before dusk. For the Mystical Supper Double the Supper that Law’s Pascha brings And Pascha new: the Master’s Body, Blood. For the transcendent Prayer Prayer; and great terror, drops of blood, O Christ, drop from your face, as pleading to Escape from death, by this you cheat the foe. For the Betrayal What need of swords, of staves, O erring folk, ‘Gainst one who longs to die for world’s release? In your ineffable compassion, Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen. Ode 7. Irmos ‘The Youths in Babylon did not tremble at the flame of the furnace, but when cast into the midst of the flame, refreshed with dew they sang: Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.’ Troparia Shaking his head Judas foresaw and set in motion evils, seeking an opportunity to betray to condemnation the Judge, who is Lord of all and God of our fathers. To you, his friends, Christ cried, ‘One will betray me.’ Forgetting gladness, they were gripped by grief and anguish. ‘Who is it?’ they said, ‘Tell us, God of our fathers’. ‘The one who audaciously puts his hand in the dish with me, it were better for him that he had never passed through the gates of life’. This is the one he showed it to be, he the God of our fathers. Katavasia The Youths in Babylon did not tremble at the flame of the furnace, but when cast into the midst of the flame, refreshed with dew they sang: Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers. Ode 8. Irmos. ‘The blessed young men in Babylon, accepting danger for the sake of their ancestral laws, spat on the irrational order of the king; and united in the fire which did not smelt them, they raised a hymn worthy of the Mighty One: You his works praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages.’ Troparia The blessed banqueters in Sion, remaining faithful to the Word, the Apostles followed the Shepherd like sheep, and united to Christ, from whom they were not parted, being nourished with the divine Word, with thanksgiving they cried: You his works praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages. The hateful Iscariot intentionally forgetting the law of friendship, made ready for betrayal the feet that he had washed. And having eaten your bread, your divine Body, he lifted up his heel against you, O Christ, and knew not how to cry: You his works praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages. The one without conscience received the Body, release from sin, and the divine Blood, poured out on behalf of the world. He did not flinch from drinking what he had sold for a price, he was not angered by evil and he knew not how to cry: You works praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages. Katavasia The blessed young men in Babylon, accepting danger for the sake of their ancestral laws, spat on the irrational order of the king; and united in the fire which did not smelt them, they raised a hymn worthy of the Mighty One: You works praise the Lord, and highly exalt him to all the ages. The Magnificat is not sung, but instead the 9th Ode. Ode 9. Irmos ‘Come believers, let us enjoy the Master’s welcome and the immortal table in the upper place, with minds raised high, having learnt a transcendent word from the Word, whom we magnify.’ Troparia ‘Go’, said the Word to the Disciples, prepare for those whom I initiate the Passover in an upper place, in which the mind is established, with the unleavened word of truth; magnify the strength of grace’. The Father before the ages begets the creative Wisdom, the beginning of his ways. He created me for the works which are now being mystically accomplished; for I the Word, being by nature uncreated, make my own the speech of that which I have assumed. As I am man in reality and not in mere appearance, so the nature united to me by way of exchange is God; and so recognise me to be one single Christ who saves the things from which and in which I have come to be. Katavasia Come believers, let us enjoy the Master’s welcome and the immortal table in the upper place, with minds raised high, having learnt a transcendent word from the Word whom we magnify. Priest: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.Reader: Lord, have mercy.Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by your grace.Reader: Lord, have mercy.Priest: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most 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.Reader: To you, O Lord.Priest: For all the Powers of heaven praise you, and to you we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to the ages of ages.Reader: Amen.After the small litany, the Exapostilarion sung slowly and solemnly: Your bridal chamber, O my Saviour, I see all adorned, but I have no garment so that I may enter it. Make bright the mantle of my soul, O Giver of light, and save me! ( x3)At Lauds we insert 4 Idiomel Stichera. Psalm 148 [ B] Praise him, all his angels: Praise him, all his Powers. To you praise is due, O God.[ A] Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you stars and light.[ B] Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord.[ A] For he spoke and they came into being; he commanded and they were created.[ B] He established them for ever and ever; he made an ordinance, and it shall not pass away.[ A] Praise the Lord from the earth; praise him, you sea-monsters and all deeps;[ B] Fire and hail, snow and ice and storm-wind; things that do his word.[ A] Mountains and all hills, fruiting trees and all cedars;[ B] Beasts of the wild, and all cattle, creeping things and winged birds;[ A] Kings of the earth and all peoples, rulers and all judges of the earth;[ B] Young men and maidens: old men and youths together, let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone has been exalted.[ A] His praise is above earth and heaven, and he will exalt the horn of his people.[ B] A hymn for all his holy ones; for the children of Israel, a people that draws near him.Psalm 149 [ B] Let Israel rejoice in him that made him, let the children of Sion be joyful in their king.[ A] Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing his praise with timbrel and with harp.[ B] For the Lord is well-pleased with his people; he will exalt the meek with salvation.[ A] His holy ones will exult in glory, and rejoice upon their beds.[ B] The high praises of God in their mouths, and two-edged swords in their hands,[ A] To exact vengeance among the nations, punishments among the peoples.[ B] To bind their kings in fetters; and their nobles in shackles of iron.[ A] To execute upon them the judgement that is decreed; such glory will be for all his holy ones.Psalm 150 [ A] Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him according to the greatness of his majesty.By Monk Kosmas. Tone 2 The Sanhedrin of the Jews now hurries together that it may hand over to Pilate the Creator and Fashioner of all things. Oh, the transgressors! Oh, the faithless! Because they are making ready for judgement the One who is coming to judge the living and the dead; they are preparing for the passion the One who cures the passions. Long-suffering Lord, great is your mercy. Glory to you! [ B] Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with lute and harp.By Monk John. Same Tone. Judas the transgressor, Lord, having dipped his hand with you in the dish at the supper, stretched out his hands to take the silver pieces; and having reckoned up the price of the myrrh, he did not flinch from selling you, who are beyond price; the one who stretched out his feet to be washed, deceitfully kissed the Master to betray him to the transgressors; cast from the choir of Apostles, and having cast down the thirty silver pieces, he did not see your Resurrection on the third day. Through it have mercy on us. [ A] Praise him with the timbrel and dances: praise him on the strings and pipe.By Monk John. Same Tone. Judas the deceitful traitor handed over the Saviour and Lord with a deceitful kiss; he sold to the transgressors like a slave the Master of all things; and like a sheep to the slaughter, so the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father, followed. [ B] Praise him on fine-sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of gladness. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.By Monk John. Same Tone. Judas the slave and deceiver, the disciple and plotter, the friend and accuser, was revealed by his deeds; for he followed the Teacher and inwardly he plotted the betrayal; he said to himself, ‘I shall hand him over and gain the money that has been contracted’; he wanted the myrrh to be sold and Jesus to be taken by guile; he gave a kiss; he handed over Christ; and like a sheep to the slaughter so he followed, the only compassionate lover of humankind. [ A] Glory. Both now. Tone 2The Lamb which Isaias proclaimed is coming willingly to the slaughter, and gives his back to scourges, his cheeks to blows; he did not turn away his face from the shame of spittings; he is being condemned to a disgraceful death; the Sinless accepts all things willingly, that he may grant to all the resurrection from the dead. Then the Superior says: To you glory is due, O Lord, our God, and to you we give glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to ages of ages. Amen. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we thank you for your great glory. O Lord, heavenly King, God the almighty Father. O Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Lord God, lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us, who takes away the sins of the world. Receive our prayer, you who sit on the right hand of the Father and have mercy upon us. For you alone are holy, you alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day I will bless you, and praise your name for ever and ever. I said, Lord, have mercy upon me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Lord, I have run to you for refuge; teach me to do your will for you are my God. For with you is the source of life, and in your light we shall see light. O continue your merciful kindness toward those who know you. Grant, Lord, this day to keep us without sin. Blessed are you, Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name for to the ages. Amen. May your mercy, Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in you. Blessed are you, Lord, teach me your statutes. Blessed are you, Master, make me understand your statutes. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me with your statutes. Lord, your mercy is for ever; do not scorn the work of your hands. To you praise is due, to you song is due, to you glory is due, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Priest: Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.Reader: Lord, have mercy.Help us, save, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by your grace. That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask the Lord. Reader: Grant this, O Lord.Priest: An Angel of peace, a faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.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. 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. Reader: To you, O Lord.Priest: For you are a God of mercies and of pity, and to you we give glory, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.Reader: Amen.Priest: Peace to all.Reader: And to your spirit.Priest: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.Reader: To you, O Lord.Priest: For yours it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and to you we give glory, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.Reader: Amen.After the Litany and the Prayer at the Bowing down of heads, the
Aposticha: Today the wicked Sanhedrin against Christ has assembled, and devised vain things against him, to hand the innocent over to Pilate for death. Today Judas places round his neck the noose of money, and is deprived of both this transient life and of life divine. To-day Caiaphas involuntarily prophesies, saying, ‘It is expedient that one man perish for the people’; for he has come to suffer for our sins, that he may free us from the slavery of the enemy, as he is good and loves humankind. Verse 1. He who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me.Today Judas conceals his pretence of love for the poor, and reveals the form of his greed; no longer does he care for the needy, no longer does he sell the myrrh of the sinful woman, but the heavenly Myrrh, and from it purloins the pieces of silver; he runs to the Jews, says to the transgressors, ‘What are you willing to give me, and I will hand him over to you?’ O avarice of the traitor! He concludes the sale to be profitable; in accordance with the intention of the purchasers he concludes the business of the One being sold; he does not haggle over the price, but sells him like a runaway slave; for it is the custom of thieves to cast away what is valuable; now the disciple throws what is holy to the dogs; for the rage of avarice made him rave against the Master; let us flee his enterprise, as we cry, ‘Long-suffering Lord, glory to you!’ Verse 2. He went out and spoke. All my enemies whispered against me; against me they devised evils for me.Your manner is full of deceit, lawless Judas, for sick with avarice, you have acquired hatred for humankind. If you loved wealth, why did you frequent the One who taught of poverty? But if you loved him, why did you sell the One who is beyond price, betraying him to be murdered? Tremble sun, earth groan, and quaking cry aloud, ‘Long-suffering Lord, glory to you!’ Verse 3: They spoke a lawless word against me, ‘Now that he sleeps, will he rise again?’Let no one who is uninitiated, O believers, let no one draw near deceitfully to the table of the Master’s supper, like Judas; for he, having received the morsel, turned against the Bread; in appearance a disciple, but in reality present as a murderer, rejoicing with the Jews, while supping with the Apostles; hating he kissed, kissing he sold the One who redeemed us from the curse, the God and Saviour of our souls. Glory. Your manner is full of deceit, lawless Judas, for sick with avarice, you have acquired hatred for humankind. If you loved wealth, why did you frequent the One who taught of poverty? But if you loved him, why did you sell the One who is beyond price, betraying him to be murdered? Tremble sun, earth groan, and quaking cry aloud, ‘Long-suffering Lord, glory to you!’ Both now. Tone 5.Initiating your disciples, Lord, you taught them, saying, ‘My friends, see that no fear separates you from me. For though I suffer, yet it is for the sake of the world. Do not then be scandalized because of me; for I did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for the world. If then you are my friends, imitate me. The one who wishes to be first, let him be last; the master like the servant. Abide in me, that you may bear a cluster of grapes, for I am the Vine of life. Then the Superior says: It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High. To declare your love in the morning, and your truth every night. Reader: Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (three times).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 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.After the Our Father, we say the following the Apolytikion of the day.When the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of the feet, then Judas the ungodly was stricken and darkened with the love of money; and to lawless judges he delivered you, the just judge. O lover of money, look upon him who for its sake hanged himself; flee from the insatiable soul, which dared such things against the Teacher. O you who are good to all, Lord, glory to you. [ Modern Greek books often place here the Troparion of the Prophecy, Prokeimenon and Prophecy from the First Hour.]The litany by the Priest: 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 our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, the royal family, her government and all in authority.] 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 brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest before us, and who lie asleep here in the true faith; and for the Orthodox everywhere[, 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. People: Lord, have mercy. [Note, this last in Athonite custom is said only once.]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.Priest: Wisdom.Reader: Bless.Priest: Blessed be he who is, Christ our God, always, now and for ever and to the ages of ages.Reader: 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.And at once he begins the First Hour. |
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