Tuesday
TUESDAY MATINS
(After the 1st reading of the Psalter):
SESSIONAL HYMN (of repentance)
LET US HASTEN TO ENTER THE BRIDAL CHAMBER OF CHRIST
THAT WE MAY HEAR THE BLESSED VOICE OF OUR GOD!
COME, ALL WHO LOVE THE GLORY OF HEAVEN
AND FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE WISE VIRGINS://
LET US MAKE OUR LAMPS SHINE BRIGHTLY WITH FAITH!
Verse: Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger!
REFLECT, MY SOUL, HOW WE STAND BEFORE THE JUDGE IN THAT FEARFUL HOUR
WHEN THE DREAD THRONES ARE SET UP AND THE DEEDS OF EACH PERSON DISCLOSED!
NO ENTREATY THEN WILL SWAY THE JUDGE;
THERE, LIKE AN OVERWHELMING, ANGRY, RAGING SEA,
THE FIRE OF TORMENT IS PREPARED FOR YOU!
REFLECT ON THIS, MY SOUL!//
WEEP AND REPENT BEFORE THE END IS HERE!
GNE... (Theotokion)
TRUE THEOTOKOS,
YOU INTERCEDE WITH THE BOLDNESS OF A MOTHER BEFORE YOUR SON AND OUR GOD,
PRESERVE YOUR FLOCK THAT TURNS TO YOU FOR PROTECTION
AND RECEIVES ITS STRENGTH FROM YOU.//
YOU ARE A WALL AND A HAVEN, THE ONLY GUARDIAN OF MANKIND!
(After the final reading from the Psalter)
SESSIONAL HYMN (to the Baptist)
HOLY BAPTIST, DOVE OF THE WILDERNESS,
PREACHER OF REPENTANCE AND REVEALER OF CHRIST BECOME MAN,
YOU HAVE BECOME THE PROTECTOR OF ALL SINNERS;
THE HELPER FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING FOR ALL TOSSED BY THE STORMS OF LIFE.//
BY HIS PRAYERS, O CHRIST, SAVE YOUR WORLD!
VERSE: Blessed are those whom You have chosen and taken, O Lord!
AS WITH FINE PORPHYRY AND ROYAL PURPLE,
YOUR CHURCH HAS BEEN ADORNED WITH YOUR MARTYRS' BLOOD SHED THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD!
SHE CRIES TO YOU, CHRIST GOD:
SEND DOWN YOUR BOUNTIES ON YOUR PEOPLE,//
GRANT PEACE TO YOUR HABITATION AND GREAT MERCY TO OUR SOULS!
GNE... (Theotokion)
UNDEFILED VIRGIN, YOU HAVE CONCEIVED THE MAKER OF ALL;
YOU ALONE HAVE ADORNED MANKIND THROUGH YOUR CHILDBEARING:
DELIVER ME FROM THE TRAPS OF THE CRAFTY DEVIL,
ESTABLISH ME UPON THE ROCK OF THE PRECEPTS OF CHRIST//
BY YOUR PRAYERS TO HIM WHOM YOU BORE IN THE FLESH.
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!
A STORM OF SINS SURROUNDS ME, SAVIOR;
I CANNOT WITHSTAND THE SURGING WAVES!
I FALL BEFORE YOU, THE ONLY PILOT.
REACH OUT FOR ME AS YOU DID FOR PETER, O LORD,//
AND SAVE ME WITH YOUR HAND OF LOVE FOR MANKIND!
(to the martyrs)
YOU CAME TO SHARE IN THE LIFE OF THE ANGELS, HOLY MARTYRS,
HAVING PREACHED CHRIST BRAVELY IN THE ARENA,
FOR YOU ABANDONED ALL THE PLEASURES OF THE WORLD AS NOTHING,
LAYING HOLD OF THE FAITH AS A STEADFAST ANCHOR.
THEREFORE, HAVING CHASED AWAY ALL FANTASY,
YOU GUSH FORTH HEALING GRACES TO THE FAITHFUL,//
EVER INTERCEDING THAT OUR SOULS MAY BE SAVED!
GNE... (Theotokion)
THEOTOKOS AND QUEEN OF ALL,
BOAST OF THE ORTHODOX,
PUT TO SHAME THE INSOLENCE AND PRIDE OF HERETICS
WHO DO NOT VENERATE OR HONOR YOUR VENERABLE ICON,//
ALL PURE ONE!
TUESDAY VESPERS
LORD I CALL
(Stikhera to the Cross)
LIFTED UPON THE CROSS,
YOUR SIDE PIERCED WITH A LANCE, AND YOUR FINGERS RUNNING WITH BLOOD,
YOU SIGNED OUR LIBERATION, MOST KIND MASTER,
TEARING UP THE RECORD OF DEBT OF OUR FIRST FATHER ADAM.
YOU HAVE SET HUMAN NATURE FREE!
THEREFORE WE SING THE PRAISES OF YOUR GOODNESS THAT IS PAST UNDERSTANDING,//
O COMPASSIONATE LORD!
WE SING THE PRAISES OF YOUR SUFFERINGS, JESUS OUR MASTER:
OF THE CROSS, THE LANCE, THE REED, THE SPONGE AND THE NAILS,
OF THE SCOURGING, THE PURPLE, AND THE CROWN OF THORNS,
OF THE SPITTING AND THE MOCKERY,
THAT YOU ENDURED OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL.
I MAGNIFY YOUR FORBEARANCE, ONLY GIVER OF LIFE
IN WHOM THERE IS NO EVIL,//
AND I GLORIFY YOU IN FAITH, O LOVER OF MANKIND.
I VENERATE AND KISS YOUR PRECIOUS CROSS WITH LOVE, O GOOD ONE,
AND I GLORIFY YOUR DESCENT TO HELL THAT IS MORE THAN THE MIND CAN GRASP,
AND YOUR INEFFABLE AND TENDER MERCIES,
THE WEALTH OF YOUR GOODNESS FOR WHICH YOU HAVE SAVED MANKIND
HELD IN THE DARKNESS OF TRANSGRESSION.//
GLORY TO YOUR CRUCIFIXION, O CHRIST!
GNE... (Theotokion)
DO NOT MOURN OR LAMENT FOR ME, MOTHER,
FOR ALTHOUGH I HANG UPON THE CROSS,
I AM GOD AND HAVE CREATED THE WORLD!
I CREATED ALL THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE!
I SHALL RISE AGAIN AND BE GLORIFIED!
I GO TO DESTROY THE FORTRESS OF SATAN,
CRUSHING HIS POWER AND FREEING THOSE BOUND BY HIM,//
FOR I AM COMING WITH MY FATHER AND THE GLORY OF THE HOLY TRINITY!
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera to the Cross)
YOU HAVE GIVEN US AN INVINCIBLE WEAPON IN YOUR CROSS, O CHRIST!//
WITH IT WE VANQUISH THE ASSAULTS OF THE STRANGER.
HAVING YOUR CROSS AT ALL TIMES AS OUR HELP, O CHRIST,//
WE EASILY BREAK THE SNARES OF THE ENEMY!
(To the martyrs)
SINCE YOU HAVE BOLDNESS BEFORE THE SAVIOR, SAINTS,
PRAY UNCEASINGLY FOR US SINNERS,
ENTREATING REMISSION FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS,//
AND GREAT MERCY FOR OUR SOULS!
GNE... (Theotokion)
WHEN THE ALL-PURE VIRGIN SAW YOU CRUCIFIED,
LOVER OF MANKIND,
SHE LAMENTED AND CRIED: WHAT IS THIS MY SON?
WHAT REWARD HAVE THE GODLESS PEOPLE GIVEN YOU
FOR ALL THE GOOD YOU HAVE DONE TO THEM?
AND WHY, MY WELL-BELOVED
DO THEY HASTEN TO MAKE ME CHILDLESS?//
I MARVEL AT YOUR VOLUNTARY CRUCIFIXION, COMPASSIONATE LORD!