Wednesday
WEDNESDAY MATINS
(After the 1st reading of the Psalter):
SESSIONAL HYMN (of the Cross)
O LORD, SAVE YOUR PEOPLE,
AND BLESS YOUR INHERITANCE
GRANT VICTORIES TO THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS
OVER THEIR ADVERSARIES.
AND BY VIRTUE OF YOUR CROSS,//
PRESERVE YOUR HABITATION!
Verse: Extol the Lord our God; worship at His footstool for it is holy!
AT YOUR CRUCIFIXION, O CHRIST, THE TYRANT WAS LAID LOW,
AND THE POWER OF THE ENEMY WAS TRAMPLED.
GLORY, TO YOU, FOR NEITHER AN ANGEL NOR A MAN,//
BUT THE LORD HIMSELF HAS SAVED US!
GNE...(Theotokion of the Cross)
WE HAVE OBTAINED A MEDIATOR IN YOU, O MOST PURE ONE,
AND WE ARE RELEASED FROM DANGER BY YOUR SUPPLICATION.
WE ARE GUARDED IN ALL THINGS BY THE CROSS OF YOUR SON://
THEREFORE WE RIGHTLY MAGNIFY YOU!
(After the 2nd reading from the Psalter)
SESSIONAL HYMN (of the Cross)
YOU STRETCHED OUT YOUR HANDS UPON THE CROSS, O MERCIFUL ONE,
GATHERING THOSE FAR FROM YOU TO PRAISE YOUR ABUNDANT GOODNESS.
BEHOLD NOW YOUR INHERITANCE, AND WITH YOUR PRECIOUS CROSS//
DESTROY THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST US!
VERSE: Wonderful is God in His saints; the God of Israel!
WE BESEECH YOU, O LORD OF MANKIND,
TO ACCEPT IN SUPPLICATION
THE SUFFERING WHICH THE SAINTS ENDURED FOR YOUR SAKE, O LORD,//
AND HEAL ALL OUR INFIRMITIES!
GNE... (Theotokion)
WHEN THE SPOTLESS VIRGIN BEHELD THE LAMB AND SHEPHERD LYING DEAD ON THE CROSS,
SHE CRIED OUT IN TEARS, LAMENTING AS A MOTHER:
HOW SHALL I PRAISE YOUR INEFFABLE CONDESCENSION, O MY SON,//
AND YOUR VOLUNTARY PASSION, O GOD MOST GOOD?
APOSTIKHA
(Of the Cross)
YOU WERE NAILED TO THE TREE,
GRANTING LIFE TO US.//
WE EVER HONOR YOU AS SAVIOR AND LORD!
THROUGH YOUR CROSS, O CHRIST,
ANGELS AND MANKIND HAVE BECOME ONE FLOCK AND ONE CHURCH!
HEAVEN AND EARTH REJOICE!//
O LORD, GLORY TO YOU!
(To the Martyrs)
NO TRIBULATION, THREAT OR HUNGER,
PERSECUTION, FIRE, SWORD OR SAVAGE BEAST
COULD SEPARATE THE HOLY MARTYRS FROM GOD!
THEY WERE BOUND BY HIS LOVE AND LIVED AS EXILES IN THIS WORLD!
THEIR SUFFERING HAS WON THEM A GLORIOUS PRIZE:
THEY INHERITED THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM//
WHERE THEY CEASELESSLY PRAY FOR OUR SOULS!
GNE... (Theotokion)
AS SHE STOOD BESIDE YOUR CROSS, O WORD OF GOD,
THE EWE-LAMB, YOUR BLAMELESS MOTHER, SADLY CRIED ALOUD:
HOW CAN YOU DIE ON THE CROSS, O MY SON?
WOE IS ME, MY SWEETEST LIGHT!
WHERE HAS YOUR BEAUTIFUL FORM NOW SET?//
FAIRER STILL THAN ALL MORTALS!
WEDNESDAY VESPERS
LORD I CALL
(Stikhera to the apostles)
GLORIOUS APOSTLES OF CHRIST,
DIVINELY INSPIRED DISCIPLES,
YOU FOUND THE LORD, AND TAUGHT THE UNIVERSE,
BECOMING MEDIATORS BETWEEN GOD AND MANKIND.
YOU WERE UNITED TO JESUS AND PLAINLY PROCLAIMED HIM TO THE WORLD//
AS BOTH GOD AND PERFECT MAN.
MOST WISE APOSTLES OF CHRIST,
DIVINELY INSPIRED DISCIPLES WHO TAUGHT THE UNIVERSE:
STRENGTHEN AND HELP ME BY YOUR PRAYERS AND HOLY TEACHINGS.
HELP ME TO WALK AT ALL TIMES ON THE NARROW WAY,//
THAT I MAY ATTAIN THE GREAT WEALTH OF PARADISE!
I SHALL EXTOL THE COMPANY CHOSEN BY GOD:
PETER, THE FIRST APOSTLE,
PAUL, JAMES, ANDREW AND PHILIP,
SIMON, BARTHOLOMEW AND THOMAS,
AND MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN WHO WROTE THE GOSPELS,
AND WITH THEM, THE REST OF THE SEVENTY,//
FOR THEY WERE EYE-WITNESSES OF THE WORD AND PROCLAIMED HIM!
GNE... (Theotokion)
THE STORMY SEA OF MY TRANSGRESSIONS SURROUNDS ME;
I TURN TO THE CALM SAFETY OF YOUR PRAYERS, O MOTHER OF GOD.//
I CRY OUT: STRETCH OUT YOUR MIGHTY ARM AND SAVE ME, O PURE LADY!
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera to the apostles)
LYRE OF THE APOSTLES,
MANY STRINGS MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT:
YOU DESTROYED THE CULTS OF EVIL DEMONS,
PROCLAIMING THE ONE GOD!
YOU DELIVERED THE PEOPLES FROM THE DELUSION OF IDOLS,//
TEACHING THEM TO WORSHIP THE CONSUBSTANTIAL TRINITY!
LET US WORTHILY PRAISE WITH ONE ACCORD
PETER AND PAUL,
MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN,
ANDREW, THOMAS AND BARTHOLOMEW,
SIMON THE CANAANITE, JAMES AND PHILIP,//
AND THE WHOLE COMPANY OF THE DISCIPLES.
(To the martyrs)
MARTYRS, WORTHY OF PRAISE,
THE EARTH DID NOT COVER YOU,
BUT HEAVEN RECEIVED YOU,
OPENING TO YOU THE GATES OF PARADISE,
WHERE YOU DWELL, DELIGHTING IN THE TREE OF LIFE.//
ENTREAT CHRIST TO GRANT OUR SOULS PEACE AND GREAT MERCY!
GNE... (Theotokion)
REJOICE, VIRGIN, JOY OF THE PATRIARCHS,
DELIGHT OF THE APOSTLES AND MARTYRS,//
AND THE PROTECTION OF US, YOUR SERVANTS.