Monday
MONDAY MATINS
(After the 1st reading from the Psalter):
SESSIONAL HYMNS (stikhera of repentance)
MY TRANSGRESSIONS HAVE RISEN UP AGAINST ME
LIKE THE WAVES OF THE SEA;
I AM TOSSED AS A BOAT ON THE DEEP
BY THE STORM OF MY MANY SINS!
GUIDE ME THROUGH REPENTANCE TO A CALM HARBOR,//
AND SAVE ME, O LORD!
VERSE: Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your wrath!
LORD, I AM A BARREN TREE,
BEARING NO FRUIT OF CONTRITION.
I FEAR THE AXE AND THE UNQUENCHABLE FIRE.
THEREFORE I PRAY TO YOU:
BEFORE THAT DISTRESS BEFALLS ME,//
TURN ME BACK AND SAVE ME!
GNE... (Theotokion)
YOU ARE A FOUNTAIN OF COMPASSION, THEOTOKOS:
BEHOLD A SINFUL PEOPLE, AND GRANT MERCY TO US!
REVEAL, AS ALWAYS, YOUR MIGHT!
AS WE TRUST IN YOU, WE CRY OUT, REJOICE!//
AS ONCE DID GABRIEL, THE LEADER OF THE HEAVENLY HOSTS!
(After the 2nd reading from the Psalter):
SESSIONAL HYMNS (stikhera to the angels)
WE RUN BENEATH YOUR PROTECTION WITH LOVE
MOST HOLY CHOIRS OF BODILESS ANGELS.
ENTREAT THE GOOD GOD AND MASTER
TO SPARE US IN THE HOUR OF JUDGMENT;
TO DELIVER US FROM THE BITTERNESS OF TORMENT,//
FROM THE DEVILS OF DARK PASSION AND EVERY TEMPTATION.
VERSE: Wonderful is God in His saints; the God of Israel!
THE SAINTS WERE CLOTHED IN YOU
AS YOU CLOTHE THE HEAVENS WITH CLOUDS.
THEY ENDURED THE TORTURES OF TRANSGRESSORS IN THIS WORLD
AND LAID LOW THE ERROR OF IDOLATRY.//
BY THEIR PRAYERS, SAVIOR, SET US FREE FROM THE INVISIBLE ENEMY AND SAVE US!
GNE... (Theotokion)
WHO HAS HEARD OF A MOTHER WHO IS A VIRGIN?
OR A VIRGIN WHO IS A MOTHER?
YOU ARE WONDERFUL IN BOTH WAYS, THEOTOKOS!//
THEREFORE WE MAGNIFY YOU IN FAITH.
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera of repentance)
WHEN I THINK OF MY DETESTABLE AND HORRIBLE DEEDS,
I FLY FOR REFUGE TO YOUR COMPASSION,
IMITATING THE PUBLICAN,
THE WEEPING HARLOT AND THE PRODIGAL SON.
SO I FALL BEFORE YOU, MERCIFUL ONE:
BEFORE YOU CONDEMN ME, MY GOD//
RATHER SPARE ME AND HAVE MERCY ON ME!
OVERLOOK MY TRANSGRESSIONS,
LORD BORN OF THE VIRGIN.
CLEANSE MY HEART, MAKING IT A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!
DO NOT MAKE ME AS NOTHING BEFORE YOUR FACE,//
SINCE YOU HAVE BOUNDLESS MERCY!
(To the martyrs)
SUFFERING FOR CHRIST TO THE POINT OF DEATH,
PASSION-BEARING MARTYRS,
YOU RETAIN YOUR SOULS IN HEAVEN IN THE HAND OF GOD,
WHILE YOUR RELICS ARE WATCHED OVER IN ALL THE EARTH.
PRIESTS AND KINGS AND ALL PEOPLES VENERATE THEM,
AND WE, BEING TAUGHT, CRY OUT ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM://
PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS!
GNE...(Theotokion)
LIKE A FRUITFUL OLIVE TREE,
THE VIRGIN BROUGHT FORTH YOU, THE FRUIT OF LIFE,
TO OFFER AS FRUIT TO ALL THE WORLD//
YOUR GREAT AND RICH MERCY!
MONDAY VESPERS
LORD I CALL
(Stikhera of repentance)
YOU ALONE ARE WITHOUT SIN, O CHRIST,
YOU ALONE ARE FORBEARING.
YOU ALONE ARE A FOUNT OF GOODNESS:
BEHOLD MY AFFLICTION; BEHOLD MY DISTRESS.
ANOINT THE SORES LEFT BY MY WOUNDS
AND IN YOUR MERCY SAVE YOUR SERVANT,
THAT DRIVING AWAY THE CLOUDS OF DESPONDENCY//
I MAY GLORIFY YOU, MY GOOD SAVIOR.
LOOK, MY HUMBLE SOUL: BEHOLD WHAT YOU HAVE DONE;
BEHOLD YOUR BLASPHEMY.
LOOK UPON YOUR NAKEDNESS.
ALAS FOR MY DESOLATION!
YOU WILL BE CUT OFF FROM GOD AND FROM THE ANGELS,
CAST OUT INTO THE ENDLESS TORMENT OF HELL.
BUT BE SOBER, ARISE, MAKE HASTE AND CRY:
SAVIOR, I HAVE SINNED.//
FORGIVE ME, AND SAVE ME!
I HAVE FEARFULLY DEFILED MY BODY;
I HAVE CORRUPTED MY SOUL AND HEART WITH BASE REASONING.
I HAVE WOUNDED ALL MY SENSES,
I HAVE PROFANED MY EYES AND STAINED MY EARS.
MY MOUTH IS POLLUTED WITH SPEAKING.
MY WHOLE BEING IS A COMPLETE REPROACH.
THEREFORE I FALL DOWN BEFORE YOU AND CRY:
CHRIST MY MASTER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU.//
I HAVE SINNED, FORGIVE ME, AND SAVE ME!
MONDAY VESPERS
GNE... (Theotokion)
MY HUMBLE SOUL IS ASSAULTED BY MANY SORROWS, PASSIONS AND TERRIBLE AFFLICTIONS;
I RUN TO YOU, THEOTOKOS!
BE MY PILOT ON THE SEA OF LIFE,
UNWEDDED MAIDEN.
QUIET THE RAGING WATERS WHICH SURROUND ME,
SHELTER ME WITH YOUR PROTECTING VEIL,//
AND GUIDE ME TO THE TRANQUIL HARBOR OF REPENTANCE.
APOSTIKHA
(Stikhera of repentance)
I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU, CHRIST OUR SAVIOR,
LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON.
FATHER, ACCEPT ME IN REPENTANCE.//
HAVE MERCY ON ME, O GOD.
I CRY TO YOU, CHRIST OUR SAVIOR,
WITH THE VOICE OF THE PUBLICAN:
BE MERCIFUL TO ME, AS TO HIM,.//
HAVE MERCY ON ME, O GOD.
(To the martyrs)
BY THE HOLY MARTYRS PRAYING FOR US
AND SINGING THE PRAISES OF CHRIST,
ALL ERROR HAS COME TO AN END,//
AND MANKIND IS BEING SAVED BY FAITH.
GNE... (Theotokion)
I PUT ALL MY TRUST IN YOU, MOTHER OF GOD://
SHELTER ME BENEATH YOUR VEIL.