Monday
MONDAY MATINS
(After the 1st reading of the Psalter):
SESSIONAL HYMN (of repentance)
SINCE REPENTANCE WILL CURE YOU FROM ALL SICKNESS, MY SOUL,
DRAW NEAR TO THIS HOUSE OF HEALING WITH TEARS AND SIGHS!
CRY OUT TO THE PHYSICIAN OF OUR BODIES AND SOULS:
LORD AND LOVER OF MANKIND, FREE ME FROM MY SINS.
NUMBER ME WITH THE HARLOT, THE THIEF AND THE PUBLICAN;//
GRANT ME THE FORGIVENESS OF MY TRANSGRESSIONS, O GOD, AND SAVE ME!
Verse: Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger!
I HAVE NOT EMULATED THE REPENTANCE OF THE PUBLICAN;
I HAVE NOT GAINED THE TEARS OF THE HARLOT.
IN MY BLINDNESS I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW TO AMEND MY LIFE AS THEY DID.//
BUT IN YOUR COMPASSION, O GOD, SAVE ME, AS THE LOVER OF MANKIND!
GNE... (Theotokion)
ALL-HOLY VIRGIN, YOU ARE HIGHER IN HONOR THAN THE GLORIOUS CHERUBIM!
UNABLE TO ENDURE THE DIVINE SPLENDOR,
THEY VEIL THEIR FACES WITH THEIR WINGS TO PERFORM THEIR MINISTRY;
BUT YOU GAZE WITH YOUR OWN EYES UPON THE INCARNATE WORD!//
PRAY TO HIM WITHOUT CEASING FOR OUR SOULS.
(After the final reading from the Psalter)
SESSIONAL HYMN (of repentance)
YOU ACCEPTED THE TEARS OF PETER AND THE HARLOT;
YOU JUSTIFIED THE PUBLICAN WHEN HE GROANED FROM THE DEPTHS OF HIS HEART!
SAVIOR, MY SINS HAVE BROUGHT ME TO DESPAIR://
HAVE MERCY ON ME ALSO AND SAVE ME!
VERSE: Wonderful is God in His saints: the God of Israel!
(to the martyrs)
THE SAINTS, LORD, CONTENDED BRAVELY ON THIS EARTH;
THEY TRAMPLED THE ENEMY AND OVERTHREW THE ERROR OF IDOLATRY!
THEREFORE THEY RECEIVED CROWNS FROM YOU, LOVING MASTER,//
THE GOD OF ALL COMPASSION, WHO GRANTS US GREAT MERCY!
GNE... (Theotokion)
BLESSED THEOTOKOS, YOU ARE HIGHER THAN THE POWERS OF HEAVEN,
FOR YOU BECAME A TEMPLE OF GOD://
YOU HAVE GIVEN BIRTH TO CHRIST, THE SAVIOR OF OUR SOULS!
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera of repentance)
SAVIOR, SINNER THAT I AM,
DO NOT CUT ME DOWN LIKE THE BARREN FIG TREE!
BUT GRANT ME FOR A LONG YEAR FORGIVENESS,
WATERING MY SOUL WITH TEARS OF REPENTANCE,//
THAT I MAY BRING FORTH ACTS OF MERCY AS FRUIT FOR YOU!
SINCE YOU ARE THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
ENLIGHTEN AND GUIDE THE HEARS OF THOSE WHO CRY OUT TO YOU://
O LORD, GLORY TO YOU!
(To the martyrs)
AS WE CELEBRATE THE MEMORY OF YOUR HOLY WINNERS OF VICTORY,
WE SING YOUR PRAISES://
O LORD, GLORY TO YOU!
GNE... (Theotokion)
WE BRING THE GREETING, REJOICE! TO YOU,
FOR YOU WERE REVEALED AS HIGHER THAN THE ANGELS, THEOTOKOS,//
FOR YOU CONCEIVED AND CARRIED GOD IN YOUR WOMB!
MONDAY VESPERS
LORD I CALL
(Stikhera of repentance)
ALL COMPASSIONATE MASTER AND GOD,
ACCORDING TO THE JUDGMENTS YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED,
GRANT THAT YOUR FEAR MAY ABIDE IN MY HEART,
LET ME LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY SOUL!
LET ME DESPISE THE DEEDS OF THE STRANGER,
AND DO YOUR REDEEMING WILL,//
FOR YOU ARE OUR GOD WHO SAID: ASK, AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE!
I HAVE BECOME A LAUGHING STOCK OF THE DEMONS,
A REPROACH TO MANKIND, A SUBJECT OF LAMENT FOR THE JUST,
A SOURCE OF TEARS FOR THE ANGELS,
AN OBJECT POLLUTING THE EARTH, AIR AND WATER,
FOR I HAVE STAINED MY BODY, SOUL AND MIND WITH DECEPTIONS,
AND HAVE BECOME AN ENEMY OF GOD.
WOE IS ME, I HAVE SINNED://
LORD, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU, FORGIVE ME!
I ENTREAT YOU, MASTER, TO BEAR WITH ME IN MY BARRENNESS.
DO NOT CUT ME DOWN WITH A DEATH STROKE
AS THOUGH I WERE A TREE WITHOUT FRUIT,
BANISHING ME TO THE FIRE,
BUT RELENT AND MAKE ME FRUITFUL, LOVER OF MANKIND,
AND GIVE ME TIME TO REPENT THAT I MAY WASH AWAY MY MANY SINS WITH TEARS,//
CHRIST MY SAVIOR.
GNE... (Theotokion)
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, CALM THE STORM OF MY LAZINESS,
THE TEMPEST OF INDIFFERENCE WHICH ENDANGERS MY BOAT ON ITS WAY TO SALVATION.
GUIDE ME, O MOTHER OF GOD,//
TO THE STILL WATERS IN THE HARBOR OF REPENTANCE.
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera of repentance)
LIKE THE PRODIGAL I COME AND FALL BEFORE YOU, O LORD;
ACCEPT ME AS ONE OF YOUR HIRED SERVANTS,//
AND HAVE MERCY ON ME, COMPASSIONATE ONE!
AS THE MAN WHO FELL AMONG THIEVES AND WAS WOUNDED,
I HAVE FALLEN, AND MY SOUL IS BRUISED BY MY MANY SINS.
TO WHOM CAN I, THE GUILTY ONE, RUN,
IF NOT TO YOU, THE ONLY MERCIFUL PHYSICIAN OF OUR SOULS?//
POUR OUT YOUR GREAT MERCY ON ME, O GOD!
(To the martyrs)
HOLY MARTYRS, WHO FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND HAVE RECEIVED YOUR CROWNS,
ENTREAT WITH THE LORD//
THAT HE WILL HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS.
GNE... (Theotokion)
REJOICE, LADY, CLOUD OF THE REASONABLE AND INEFFABLE SUN;
REJOICE, LAMP FILLED WITH LIGHT!
REJOICE, GOLDEN CANDLESTICK,
FOR EVE HAS BEEN DELIVERED FROM THE CURSE BY YOU!
SINCE YOU HAVE BOLDNESS BEFORE YOUR SON AND OUR GOD, MOST PURE ONE,
NEVER CEASE TO PLEAD WITH HIM BY YOUR MATERNAL PRAYERS,//
FOR HE WILL HEAR YOU.