Monday
MONDAY MATINS
(After the 1st reading of the Psalter):
SESSIONAL HYMN (of repentance)
I, THE PRODIGAL, WAS CONCEIVED IN SIN
AND DARE NOT GAZE UPON THE HEIGHT OF HEAVEN.
BUT WITH DARING, IN THE FACE OF YOUR LOVE FOR MANKIND, I CRY://
O GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME AND SAVE ME!
Verse: Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger!
IF THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS SCARCELY SAVED,
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME, A SINNER?
I HAVE NOT BORNE THE BURDEN OR THE HEAT OF THE DAY!//
COUNT ME WITH THOSE WHO CAME AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, O GOD, AND SAVE ME!
GNE.. (Theotokion)
ALL SPOTLESS THEOTOKOS, BLEST BY THE HEAVENS AND GLORIFIED ON EARTH://
REJOICE, UNWEDDED BRIDE!
(After the final reading from the Psalter)
SESSIONAL HYMN (of repentance and the angels)
I HAVE WANDERED FAR FROM YOU IN FOLLY, MOST MERCIFUL ONE,
WASTING MY LIFE LIKE THE PRODIGAL, SUBJECT TO UNREASONING PASSIONS.
BUT AT THE INTERCESSIONS OF THE ANGELS, COMPASSIONATE FATHER,//
I ENTREAT YOU, RECEIVE ME AS THE PRODIGAL SON AND SAVE ME!
VERSE: Wonderful is God in His saints: the God of Israel!
CLOTHING THEMSELVES IN YOU, LORD, THE MOST GLORIOUS MARTYRS
WERE THE PRIDE OF THE ARENA OF SUFFERING AND COUNTED WORTHY OF CROWNS!
BY THEIR STEADFASTNESS, THEY PUT TO FLIGHT THE TYRANTS WHO TORTURED THEM,
RECEIVING VICTORY THROUGH DIVINE POWER FROM HEAVEN!
BY THEIR PRAYERS, SET ME FREE FROM THE INVISIBLE ENEMY,//
AND SAVE ME, O SAVIOR!
GNE... (Theotokion)
MAIDEN HIGHER THAN THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN
AND THE SPIRITUAL ARMIES,
YOU, O MOST PURE VIRGIN,
ARE THE ONLY ONE TO RECEIVE PRAISE RIGHTLY FROM THEM!
JOIN WITH THEM TO INTERCEDE WITH YOUR SON//
TO DELIVER ME, THE ONLY ONE RIGHTLY CONDEMNED, FROM THE TYRANNY OF PASSIONS!
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera of repentance)
ANOTHER WORLD AWAITS YOU, MY SOUL:
A JUDGE WILL SOON REVEAL YOUR SECRET AND TERRIBLE THOUGHTS AND DEEDS!
DO NOT LINGER, THEN, AMONG THE THINGS THAT ARE HERE.
ANTICIPATE THE JUDGMENT AND CRY OUT TO THE JUDGE://
BE MERCIFUL TO ME, O GOD, AND SAVE ME!
DO NOT REJECT ME AT THE TESTING, MY SAVIOR,
THOUGH I AM HELD FAST BY THE LAZINESS OF SIN.
AROUSE MY THOUGHTS TO REPENTANCE;
MAKE ME A PROVEN WORKER OF YOUR VINEYARD://
GRANT ME THE WAGES OF THE ELEVENTH HOUR AND GREAT MERCY!
(To the martyrs)
COME, O PEOPLE!
LET US HONOR CHRIST'S SAINTS WITH SONGS AND SPIRITUAL HYMNS.
THEY WERE LIGHTS FOR THE WORLD AND PREACHERS OF THE FAITH;
EVER-FLOWING FOUNTAINS,
RELEASING STREAMS OF HEALING FOR BELIEVERS.
BY THEIR PRAYERS, CHRIST OUR GOD,//
GRANT PEACE TO YOUR WORLD, AND TO OUR SOULS, GREAT MERCY!
GNE... (Theotokion)
MORE HOLY THAN THE HOLY POWERS, LADY THEOTOKOS,
MORE PRECIOUS THAN ALL CREATION,
YOU BORE THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!
BY YOUR INTERCESSIONS, SINCE YOU ARE GOOD,//
SAVE US FROM ALL ERROR AND DANGER!
MONDAY VESPERS
LORD I CALL
(Stikhera of repentance)
MISERABLE WRETCH THAT I AM,
I HAVE SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE IN SHAME THAT CONDEMNS ME, O LORD,
AND LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON I HUMBLY CRY OUT TO YOU:
HEAVENLY FATHER, I HAVE SINNED.
CLEANSE ME AND SAVE ME;
DO NOT REJECT ME, THOUGH I FREELY DEPARTED FROM YOU,//
POOR AND NEEDY BECAUSE OF MY FRUITLESS DEEDS.
YOU ACCEPTED POVERTY, O CHRIST,
ENRICHING MANKIND WITH IMMORTALITY AND PURITY.
YET I HAVE BEEN MADE POOR BY INDULGING IN THE PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE.
GRANT ME THE WEALTH OF VIRTUE!
NUMBER ME WITH POOR LAZARUS,
AND DELIVER ME FROM THE TORMENTS OF HELL//
WHICH NOW AWAIT ME AMONG THE RICH.
I HAVE BECOME EXCEEDINGLY RICH IN EVIL.
I HAVE LOVED GOOD FARE.
IN MY LIFETIME I HAVE RECEIVED THE GOOD THINGS:
I AM CONDEMNED TO HELL, O LORD.
I HAVE DESPISED MY HUNGRY MIND AS IF IT WERE LAZARUS,
LAID BEFORE THE GATES OF YOUR DIVINE DISPENSATION.//
LORD, TAKE PITY ON ME!
GNE... (Theotokion)
THE LAMB WHO TOOK AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD
WAS PREACHED BY THE GREAT FORERUNNER.
JOIN WITH HIM, VIRGIN, IN PRAYING FOR ME,
THAT IN THE HOUR OF JUDGMENT,
ALTHOUGH I AM UNWORTHY, I MAY NOT BE FOUND AMONG THE GOATS,
BUT ACCEPTED AT THE LORD'S RIGHT HAND AS HIS RIGHTEOUS SHEEP.
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera of repentance)
SAVIOR, I HAVE FALLEN INTO A GREAT ABYSS BECAUSE OF MY SINS,
AND MY TRANSGRESSIONS WEIGH ME DOWN.
STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND TO ME AS YOU DID TO PETER, LORD.//
SAVE ME, O GOD, AND HAVE MERCY ON ME.
MY THOUGHTS AND DEEDS CONDEMN ME, SAVIOR.
GIVE ME THE THOUGHT OF TURNING BACK,
THAT I MAY CRY OUT TO YOU://
SAVE ME, O GOD, AND HAVE MERCY ON ME!
(To the martyrs)
IN YOUR CONFESSION OF FAITH IN THE ARENAS, O SAINTS,
YOU SPAT UPON THE STRENGTH OF DEMONS
AND FREED ALL MANKIND FROM DELUSION!
AND WHEN YOU WERE BEHEADED, YOU CRIED:
MAY OUR SACRIFICE BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT, O LORD,
FOR IN OUR LOVE FOR YOU, LOVER OF MANKIND,//
WE HAVE DESPISED THIS TEMPORAL LIFE!
GNE... (Theotokion)
VIRGIN, WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE,
MOSES, WITH PROPHETIC EYES
BEHELD THE MYSTERY THAT WAS TO TAKE PLACE IN YOU,
AS HE SAW THE BUSH THAT BURNED, YET WAS NOT CONSUMED.
FOR THE FIRE OF DIVINITY DID NOT CONSUME YOUR WOMB, O PURE ONE.
THEREFORE WE PRAY TO YOU AS THE MOTHER OF GOD,//
TO ASK PEACE AND GREAT MERCY FOR THE WORLD.