Monday
MONDAY MATINS
(After the 1st reading of the Psalter):
SESSIONAL HYMN (of repentance)
LORD, MAKE MY HUMILIATED SOUL TURN BACK,
FOR I HAVE WASTED ALL MY LIFE IN SIN.//
RECEIVE ME AS THE HARLOT AND SAVE ME!
Verse: Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger!
AS I SAIL ACROSS THE SEA OF THIS PRESENT LIFE,
I LAY TO HEART THE DEPTHS OF MY MANY SINS.
I LACK SPIRITUAL WISDOM TO GUIDE ME ON MY COURSE
AND LIKE PETER I CRY TO YOU://
SAVE ME, CHRIST MY GOD, SAVE ME IN YOUR LOVE FOR MANKIND!
GNE... (Theotokion)
THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL BROUGHT GREETINGS FROM HEAVEN
TO YOU, CLOTHED WITH FAITH AND WISDOM AND BLAMELESS VIRGINITY,
BROUGHT UP IN THE TEMPLE, WITHIN THE HOLY OF HOLIES!
HE CRIED: REJOICE, ALL BLESSED ONE!//
REJOICE, ALL-GLORIFIED ONE, THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
(After the final reading from the Psalter)
SESSIONAL HYMN (to the angels)
TRANSCENDENT TRINITY,
THE CHOIRS OF BODILESS ANGELS WITH INCORPOREAL MOUTHS,
SING YOUR PRAISES WITHOUT CEASING!
STANDING BY IN FEAR, THEY SHOUT:
HOLY ARE YOU, NATURE THREE IN ONE!
BY THEIR PRAYERS HAVE MERCY ON THE MEMBERS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD, THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS,//
FOR YOU ALONE ARE THE LOVER OF MANKIND!
VERSE: Blessed are those whom You have chosen and taken, O Lord!
THE ANGELIC HOSTS ARE PRESENT TODAY
AT THE MEMORIAL OF THE HOLY MARTYRS!
THEY ENLIGHTEN THE MINDS OF THE FAITHFUL,
MAKING THE WHOLE WORLD BRIGHT WITH GRACE!//
ACCEPT THEIR INTERCESSIONS, O GOD, AND GRANT US YOUR GREAT MERCY!
GNE... (Theotokion)
WITHIN THE HOLY OF HOLIES,
THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL CAME TO YOU,
BROUGHT UP IN THE TEMPLE AND CLOTHED WITH FAITH,
WITH WISDOM AND MEASURELESS VIRGINITY.
HE BROUGHT THE SALUTATION FROM HEAVEN AND GREETED YOU SAYING:
REJOICE, BLESSED ONE!//
REJOICE, GLORIFIED ONE; THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera of repentance)
I FLEE FOR REFUGE TO YOU, THE GOOD SHEPHERD;
I AM A SHEEP OF YOUR RATIONAL FLOCK!
O GOD, I HAVE GONE ASTRAY;//
SEEK ME, AND HAVE MERCY ON ME!
SAVIOR, WASH ME IN MY TEARS,
FOR I AM DEFILED BY MANY SINS.
THEREFORE I FALL BEFORE YOU://
I HAVE SINNED; HAVE MERCY ON ME, O GOD!
(to the martyrs)
WHO WILL NOT WONDER AT YOUR STRUGGLE, HOLY MARTYRS?
HOW IN THE FLESH YOU DEFEATED THE BODILESS ENEMY!
YOU CONFESSED CHRIST, BEING ARMED WITH THE CROSS,
TRULY DRIVING THE DEMONS AWAY,
DEFEATING THE EVIL ONE!//
PRAY UNCEASINGLY THAT OUR SOULS MAY BE SAVED!
GNE...(Theotokion)
PROTECT YOUR SERVANTS FROM EVERY KIND OF DANGER,
BLESSED THEOTOKOS,//
THAT WE MAY GLORIFY YOU, THE HOPE OF OUR SOULS!
MONDAY VESPERS
LORD I CALL
(Stikhera of repentance)
EMULATE THE WOMAN OF CANAAN, MY SOUL:
CLEAVE TO CHRIST, AND CRY OUT OFTEN:
HAVE MERCY ON ME, MASTER!
THE CHILD I HAVE IS MY UNRULY FLESH POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL.
DRIVE OUT ITS FEVER, AND CALM ITS FRENZIED MOVEMENTS.
MORTIFY IT IN THE FEAR OF YOU
THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF THE ALL-PURE ONE
WHO CONCEIVED AND GAVE BIRTH TO YOU, O CHRIST,
AND THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF ALL THE SAINTS,//
MOST MERCIFUL BENEFACTOR.
ONCE YOU SENT THE PROPHET JONAH
TO PREACH TO THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH WHO HAD SINNED
WHEN THEY REPENTED THE WRATH OF GOD CHANGED TO PITY,
AND THEY WERE DELIVERED FROM FURIOUS DESTRUCTION.
SEND YOUR POWERFUL HELP TO ME, LOVER OF MANKIND,
ALTHOUGH I AM UNWORTHY,
THAT I MAY TURN AWAY FROM MY COUNTLESS SINS,
SO THAT I MAY BE LED ONTO THE PATH OF REPENTANCE.
THEN I WILL LAMENT WITH BITTER TEARS//
AND BE DELIVERED FROM MY MANY TRANSGRESSIONS BY YOUR MERCY.
YOU CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE THOSE WHO SIN
AND TO CALL THEM TO REPENTANCE AS THE COMPASSIONATE ONE:
HAVE PITY ON ME, ALTHOUGH I HAVE ANGERED YOU MORE THAN THEM ALL.
SAVE ME FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR GOODNESS, AND LEAD ME TO REPENTANCE.
GIVE ME THOUGHTS OF CONTRITION.
MAKE MY HEART HUMBLE BY YOUR GRACE,
SINGLE IN PURPOSE, GENTLE AND WITHOUT GUILE,//
AS THE COMPASSIONATE ONE.
GNE... (Theotokion)
THEOTOKOS, MAKE ME TO WEEP WITH ALL MY HEART,
TO REPENT SINCERELY OF MY MANY SINS.
HELP ME TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE IN REPENTANCE,//
REASSURED THAT YOU WILL KEEP ME FROM ALL EVIL.
APOSTIKHA
LORD, I LONG TO WASH AWAY WITH TEARS
THE RECORD OF ALL MY SINS,
AND TO SPEND THE REMAINING DAYS OF MY LIFE
PLEASING YOU THROUGH REPENTANCE,
BUT THE DEVIL CONTINUALLY DECEIVES ME!
HE WAGES WAR AGAINST MY SOUL!//
SAVE ME, BEFORE I UTTERLY PERISH, O LORD!
WHO, WHEN BESTORMED, IF HE RUNS TO THIS HAVEN IS NOT SAVED?
OR WHO THAT IS SICK, IF HE RUNS TO THIS HEALING, IS NOT MADE WHOLE?
LORD, THE MAKER OF ALL AND PHYSICIAN OF THE SICK, //
SAVE ME, BEFORE I UTTERLY PERISH, O LORD!
AS YOU ACCEPTED THE PATIENCE OF THE HOLY MARTYRS,
ACCEPT OUR SONG, LOVER OF MANKIND,//
GRANTING US BY THEIR SUPPLICATIONS GREAT MERCY.
GNE... (Theotokion)
DELIVER US FROM DANGER,
MOTHER OF CHRIST OUR GOD,
WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THE CREATOR OF ALL,
THAT WE MAY ALL CRY TO YOU://
REJOICE, ONLY ADVOCATE OF OUR SOULS!