Wednesday
WEDNESDAY MATINS
(After the 1st reading of the Psalter):
SESSIONAL HYMN (of the Cross)
THE HOSTS OF ANGELS WERE AMAZED,
BEHOLDING YOUR INFINITE POWER AND SEEING YOUR VOLUNTARY CRUCIFIXION!
HOW WERE YOU, UPON WHOM NONE MAY GAZE,
SCOURGED IN THE FLESH IN YOUR DESIRE TO REDEEM MANKIND FROM CORRUPTION?
THEREFORE WE CRY TO YOU AS THE GIVER OF LIFE://
GLORY TO YOUR KINGDOM, O CHRIST!
Verse: Extol the Lord our God; worship at His footstool for it is holy!
SET UP ON THE EARTH, THE CROSS TOUCHED THE HEAVENS,
NOT BECAUSE THE WOOD COULD REACH SO HIGH,
BUT BECAUSE YOU WERE CRUCIFIED UPON IT//
FILLING ALL THINGS: GLORY TO YOU!
GNE... (Theotokion)
THEOTOKOS, WE HAVE OBTAINED THE CROSS OF YOUR SON
AS A POWERFUL ROD,
TO STRIKE DOWN THE BOASTING OF THE ENEMY://
THEREFORE WE EXALT YOU FOREVER!
After the final reading from the Psalter)
SESSIONAL HYMN (to the Cross)
LORD, YOU ARE HIGHER THAN ALL CREATION,
YET YOU ENDURE THE DISHONOR OF THE CROSS
THAT YOU MAY GRANT HONOR TO ME, THE GREATLY DISHONORED ONE!
YOUR SIDE WAS PIERCED BY THE LANCE, LONG-SUFFERING LORD,
IN YOUR DESIRE TO REDEEM ME FROM CORRUPTION,
FOR I AM THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS.
I SING THE PRAISES OF YOUR GREAT COMPASSION AND GOODNESS, O LOVER OF MANKIND!
VERSE: Wonderful is God in His saints: the God of Israel!
YOU HAVE MAGNIFIED THE MEMORIAL OF YOUR VICTORIOUS MARTYRS
IN YOUR ALMIGHTY POWER, LORD,
FOR YOU STRENGTHENED THEM TO FOLLOW YOU IN YOUR SUFFERINGS!
THEY BRAVELY OVERCAME THE DEVIL'S MIGHT
AND SO RECEIVED THE GIFT OF HEALING!
AT THEIR PRAYERS, GRANT PEACE TO OUR SOULS,//
CHRIST, THE LOVER OF MANKIND!
GNE... (Theotokion)
WHEN SHE SAW YOU LIFTED UPON THE TREE,
YOUR MOTHER, THE UNWEDDED, SPOTLESS AND PURE VIRGIN CRIED OUT TO YOU:
MY SWEETEST SON, HOW HAVE THE LAWLESS PEOPLE CONDEMNED YOU TO THE CROSS,
FOR YOU ARE THE MAKER AND LORD OF ALL?//
I HYMN YOUR INFINITE GOODNESS!
APOSTIKHA
(Of the Cross)
I WAS CAST OUT FROM DELIGHT THROUGH ENVY,
PLUNGING IN A PITEOUS FALL.
YOU WERE NOT NEGLECTING ME, O MASTER:
FOR MY SAKE YOU TOOK UPON YOURSELF WHAT IS MINE AND WERE CRUCIFIED!
YOU ARE SAVING ME AND LEADING ME TO GLORY!//
MY REDEEMER, GLORY TO YOU!
ON THE MOUNTAIN IN THE FORM OF A CROSS,
MOSES STRETCHED OUT HIS HANDS TO THE HEIGHTS AND DEFEATED AMALEK.
BUT WHEN YOU SPREAD OUT YOUR PALMS ON THE PRECIOUS CROSS, O SAVIOR,
YOU TOOK ME IN YOUR EMBRACE,
SAVING ME FROM ENSLAVEMENT TO THE FOE!
YOU GAVE ME THE SIGN OF LIFE,
TO FLEE FROM THE BOW OF MY ENEMIES!//
THEREFORE, WORD, I BOW DOWN IN WORSHIP TO YOUR PRECIOUS CROSS!
(To the martyrs)
EVEN AFTER DEATH YOU SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD,
HAVING FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, HOLY MARTYRS!
THEREFORE YOU NOW HAVE BOLDNESS BEFORE CHRIST://
ENTREAT HIM TO HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS!
GNE... (Theotokion)
WHEN THE BLAMELESS VIRGIN BEHELD YOU HANGING ON THE TREE,
SHE CRIED OUT AS A MOTHER, ALL-GRACIOUS CHRIST:
MY BELOVED SON,//
HOW HAS THE ASSEMBLY OF EVIL-DOERS RAISED YOU UPON THE CROSS?
WEDNESDAY VESPERS
LORD I CALL
(Stikhera to the apostles)
THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF YOUR HONORABLE AND HOLY APOSTLES,
ONLY MERCIFUL ONE,
GRANT PEACE TO YOUR SERVANTS, LOVER OF MANKIND.
SAVE FROM ALL HARM THOSE WHO SING PRAISES TO YOU,//
EVER WORSHIPING YOU IN FAITH.
WHEN YOU WILL SIT UPON THE TWELVE THRONES WITH THE JUDGE OF ALL
IN JUDGMENT OF THE ENTIRE CREATION,
DO NOT REVEAL ME AS ONE CONDEMNED
HOLY APOSTLES, MY BENEFACTORS,//
BUT DELIVER ME FROM ALL TORMENT AND DARKNESS.
I BESEECH YOU, HOLY APOSTLES,
TO PROTECT ME FROM THE ARROWS OF THE EVIL ONE.
GUIDE ME TO THE PATH OF SALVATION, WONDERWORKERS,//
AND SPRINKLE ME WITH SPIRITUAL DEW.
GNE... (Theotokion)
GREAT IS THE MIGHT OF YOUR WONDERS, PURE ONE,
FOR BY IT YOU DELIVER US FROM HARM AND DEATH,
PROTECTING US FROM ATTACKS BY THE DEVIL.
YOU SET US FREE FROM ALL AFFLICTION,//
AND TAKE AWAY THE TRANSGRESSIONS OF MANKIND.
WEDNESDAY VESPERS
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera to the Apostles)
YOUR PROCLAMATION HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH,
HOLY APOSTLES!
BY PREACHING THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD,
YOU VANQUISHED THE DELUSION OF IDOLS.
THIS COMMENDABLE DEED WAS YOURS, BLESSED ONES,//
THEREFORE WE SING AND GLORIFY YOUR MEMORY!
YOU ARE THE BRANCHES OF THE LIFE-BEARING VINE,
GLORIOUS APOSTLES!
YOU BROUGHT FORTH TO GOD THE FRUIT OF PIETY.
SINCE YOU HAVE GREAT BOLDNESS BEFORE HIM,//
BESEECH HIM TO GRANT PEACE AND GREAT MERCY TO OUR SOULS.
(To the martyrs)
YOUR MARTYRS, LORD,
WERE CONFIRMED BY FAITH AND STRENGTHENED BY HOPE.
SPIRITUALLY UNITED BY LOVE OF YOUR CROSS,
THEY OVERCAME THE TYRANNY OF THE ENEMY.
THEY HAVE OBTAINED CROWNS OF GLORY,//
AND TOGETHER WITH THE ANGELS, THEY PRAY FOR OUR SOULS!
GNE... (Theotokion)
MAIDEN, MY SINS ARE MANY,
BUT BY YOUR GREAT INTERCESSION RESCUE ME FROM THE DREADFUL FIRE.
BY YOUR PRAYERS AS A MOTHER, PURE ONE,//
CORRECT AND GUIDE ME ON THE PATHS OF SALVATION!