Wednesday
WEDNESDAY MATINS
(After the 1st reading of the Psalter):
SESSIONAL HYMN (of the Cross)
WORSHIPING YOU, CHRIST OUR GOD,
THE CHURCH, WITH THE CEDAR, PINE AND CYPRESS, CRIES OUT TO YOU:
AT THE PRAYERS OF THE THEOTOKOS,//
GRANT VICTORY TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY AND HAVE MERCY ON US.
Verse: Extol the Lord our God; worship at His footstool for it is holy!
NAILED FOR MY SAKE TO THE CROSS,
IN YOUR LOVE, CHRIST MY GOD//
ACCEPT MY LOVE AND EARLY MORNING RISING!
GNE... (Theotokion)
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, THEOTOKOS,
TO CHRIST OUR GOD WHO WAS CRUCIFIED FOR US
AND HAS DESTROYED THE POWER OF DEATH,//
FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS.
(After the final reading from the Psalter)
SESSIONAL HYMN (of the Cross)
FOR OUR SAKE, YOU SUFFERED THE CURSE OF THE CROSS, CHRIST OUR GOD;//
ACCEPT US AS WE SING OF YOUR PASSION AND SAVE OUR SOULS, O LORD!
VERSE: Wonderful is God in His saints: the God of Israel!
YOU DESPISED THE GODLESS TYRANTS, SAINTS,
AND SCORNING ALL THE PAIN OF TORTURE,
YOU DID NOT DENY YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST!//
THEREFORE PRAY TO GOD, THE LOVER OF MANKIND, FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS.
GNE... (Theotokion)
THEOTOKOS, EVER PRAY TO CHRIST OUR GOD,
WHO WAS CRUCIFIED FOR US, DESTROYING THE POWER OF DEATH,//
THAT HE MAY SAVE OUR SOULS!
APOSTIKHA
(Of the Cross)
AS MASTER, LOVER OF MANKIND,
YOU REDEEMED THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR CROSS!//
LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE, GLORY TO YOU!
THE SUN WAS DARKENED, MERCIFUL ONE,
WHEN YOU WERE VOLUNTARILY CRUCIFIED FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD!//
O LORD, GLORY TO YOU!
YOU WERE LIFTED UP AND REVEALED AS LIGHTS FOR THE UNIVERSE
ALL-LAUDABLE, SUFFERING SAINTS,//
CRYING TO CHRIST: LORD, GLORY TO YOU!
GNE... (Theotokion)
WHEN THE BLAMELESS VIRGIN SAW YOU VOLUNTARILY NAILED TO THE WOOD//
SHE WEPT, SINGING PRAISE TO YOUR MAJESTY!
WEDNESDAY VESPERS
LORD I CALL
(Stikhera to the apostles)
GLORIOUS APOSTLES,
YOU PLOWED THE WHOLE EARTH WITH THE PLOUGH OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD//
MAKING A GREAT HARVEST OF THE FAITHFUL TO GROW!
BLESSED APOSTLES,
DISPERSE THE STORM OF MY PASSIONS,//
AND ENLIGHTEN ME WITH THE RADIANCE OF PURE LIGHT!
AS DISCIPLES OF THE WORD, YOU LED THE ASSEMBLY OF NATIONS//
FROM IGNORANCE TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD.
GNE... (Theotokion)
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY,
WE BESEECH YOU TO PRAY TO YOUR SON AND OUR GOD//
THAT HE MAY HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS.
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera to the apostles)
GLORIOUS APOSTLES,
PILLARS OF THE CHURCH AND PREACHERS OF THE TRUTH,
YOU ARE BRIGHTLY SHINING LAMPS,
CONSUMING EVERY DELUSION WITH THE FIRE OF THE SPIRIT,
AND ENLIGHTENING ALL MANKIND WITH FAITH!
THEREFORE, WE BESEECH YOU,
ENTREAT OUR SAVIOR AND GOD//
THAT HE MAY GRANT PEACE TO THE WORLD, AND SALVATION TO OUR SOULS!
APOSTLES OF CHRIST, AND FELLOW WORKERS OF THE SAVIOR,
YOU TOOK UP YOUR CROSSES UPON YOUR SHOULDERS LIKE PLOUGHS,
AND CLEANSING THE DESOLATE LAND OF THE ERROR OF IDOLATRY,
YOU SOWED THE WORD OF FAITH.//
WE RIGHTLY HONOR YOU, HOLY APOSTLES OF CHRIST!
(To the martyrs)
MARTYRS, WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE:
SHEEP OF CHRIST'S SPIRITUAL FLOCK,
YOU ARE A LIVING OFFERING AND ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE, PLEASING TO THE LORD!
THOUGH THE EARTH DID NOT COVER YOU, HEAVEN RECEIVED YOU!
NOW THAT YOU ARE COMPANIONS WITH THE ANGELS,
WE ENTREAT YOU TO PRAY WITH THEM TO GOD OUR SAVIOR,//
THAT HE MAY GRANT PEACE TO THE WORLD, AND SALVATION TO OUR SOULS!
GNE... (Theotokion)
WE SING THE PRAISES OF THE ONLY WOMAN TO REMAIN VIRGIN AFTER GIVING BIRTH,
FOR SHE IS THE MOTHER OF GOD,//
AND WE CRY OUT: GLORY TO YOU!