Song 1
Irmos: Helper and Protector be my salvation, this is my God, and I will glorify Him, God of my father, and exalt Him: gloriously be glorified.
[The Helper and Protector has appeared to me for salvation, He is my God, and I will glorify Him, the God of my father, and will exalt Him, for He has been solemnly glorified. – Translation by N.I. Cedar] (Exodus 15:1–2)
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Lamb of God, take away the sins of all, take away from me the heavy burden of sin, and as you are gracious, give me tears of compunction.
[Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of all, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, as the Merciful One, grant me tears of tenderness.] (John 1:29)
I bow down to you, Jesus, for those who have sinned, cleanse me, take away the heavy burden of sin from me, and as you are compassionate, give me tears of compunction.
[I fall down to You, Jesus, I have sinned before You, have mercy on me, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, as the Merciful One, grant me tears of tenderness.]
Do not go into court with me, bearing my deeds, seeking words, and correcting aspirations, but in Your bounty, despising my fierce one, save me, O All-Powerful One.
[Do not enter into court with me, weighing my deeds, examining my words and denouncing my aspirations, but through Your bounty, despising my atrocities, save me, O All Mighty.]
The time of repentance has come to You, my Creator, take away from me the heavy burden of sin, and as you are kind, give me tears of compunction.
[Time of repentance: I come to You, my Creator, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, as the Merciful One, grant me tears of tenderness.]
Dependent on spiritual wealth through sin, I am empty of pious virtues, but with joy I cry: mercy to the giver, Lord, save me.
[Having squandered spiritual wealth in sin, I am alien to holy virtues, but, experiencing hunger, I cry out: Source of mercy, Lord, save me.]
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having bowed to Christ’s Divine Law, you approached this, abandoning uncontrollable desires for sweets, and all virtue with all reverence, as if you alone had corrected it.
[Having submitted to the Divine commandments of Christ, you surrendered to Him, leaving unbridled desires for pleasure, and fulfilled all the virtues as one with all reverence.]
Glory, Trinity: Pre-Essential Trinity, worshiped in Unity, take away from me the heavy sinful burden, and as you are gracious, give me tears of tenderness.
[Most-essential Trinity, Whom we worship as One Being, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, as the Merciful One, grant me tears of tenderness.]
And now, Mother of God: Mother of God, Hope and Representation of those who sing to You, take away from me the heavy sinful burden, and as the Pure Lady, repentantly accept me.
[Mother of God, Hope and Help to all who sing Your praises, remove from me the heavy burden of sin and, like the Immaculate Lady, accept me repentant.]
Song 2
Irmos: You see, you see, for I am God, who rained manna and brought forth water from stones of old in the desert by my people, by my one right hand and by my strength.
[See, see that I am God, who in ancient times sent down manna and brought out water from the stone to My people in the wilderness - by My omnipotence alone.] (Ex. 16:14; 17:6)
He killed a man, he said, for my plague, and a young man for a scab, Lamech cried out in tears; You do not tremble, O my soul, having hardened your flesh and defiled your mind.
[I killed the husband, said Lamech, for my wound, and the young man for my wound, he cried, sobbing; But you, my soul, do not tremble, having desecrated your body and darkened your mind.] (Gen. 4:23)
You were wise to create a pillar, O soul, and to set up a foundation for your lusts, lest the Creator withhold your counsels and cast down your devices to the earth.
[You managed, O soul, to build a pillar and erect a stronghold with your lusts, but the Creator curbed your plans and threw your buildings to the ground.] (Gen. 11: 3–4)
Oh how I was jealous of Lamech, the first murderer, my soul like a husband, my mind like a youth, like my brother, killing my body like Cain the murderer, with lustful aspirations.
[Oh, how I became like the ancient murderer Lamech, killing my soul like a husband, my mind like a youth, and like the murderer Cain, my body like a brother, with voluptuous aspirations.]
O Lord, sometimes rain fire from the Lord, because of the wrathful iniquity you burned the Sodomites, but you burned the fire of Gehenna, in whom you imash, O soul, burning.
[The Lord once rained down fire from the Lord, consuming the violent iniquity of the Sodomites; but you, O soul, kindled the fire of Gehenna, in which you must burn.] (Gen. 19:24)
I am wounded, I am wounded, behold the arrows of the enemy that have wounded my soul and body, behold the scabs, the putrefaction, the darkness, the wounds of my self-willed passions cry out.
[I am wounded, exposed; behold, the arrows of the enemy have pierced my soul and body; Here are the wounds, ulcers and scabs crying out for the blows of my spontaneous passions.]
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
You stretched out your hand to the generous God, Mary, immersed in the abyss of evil, and like Peter, in a humane manner, extended the Divine hand, seeking your appeal in every possible way.
[Drowning in the abyss of evil, you, Mary, stretched out your hands to the Merciful God, and He, seeking your conversion in every possible way, lovingly gave you, like Peter, the Divine hand.] (Matthew 14:31)
Glory, Trinity: Beginningless, Uncreated Trinity, Indivisible Unity, accept me when I repent, save me when I have sinned. I am your creation, do not despise, but have mercy, and spare me fiery condemnation.
[Beginningless Uncreated Trinity, Indivisible Unity, accept me the repentant, save the sinner, I am Your creation, do not despise, but have mercy and deliver me from condemnation to fire.]
And now, Mother of God: Most Pure Lady, Mother of God, the hope of those who flow to You, and the refuge of those in the storm, the Merciful and Creator, and Your Son, propitiate me also with Your prayers.
[Most Pure Lady, Mother of God, Hope of those who resort to You and refuge for those caught in the storm, with Your prayers incline the Merciful Creator and Your Son to me.]
TEMPLE OF THE HOLY DUCHESS OLGA IN OSTANKINO
We present to your attention an article that contains an interpretation of some difficult passages from the canon of St. Andrew of Crete for Thursday of the first week of Lent. Here are Old Testament texts, the righteous and sinners of which are mentioned by St. Andrey in the songs of the canon.
Song 2
He killed a snake, he says, as a sore for me, and a young man as a scab, Lamech cried out in tears; You do not tremble, O my soul, having hardened your flesh and defiled your mind. […]
About the jealousy of Lamech, the first murderer, the soul like a husband, the mind like a youth, but killing my body like Cain the murderer, with lustful desires.
[I killed the husband, said Lamech, for my wound, and the young man for my wound, he cried, sobbing; But you, my soul, do not tremble, having desecrated your body and darkened your mind.] […] [Oh, how I became like the ancient murderer Lamech, killing my soul like a husband, my mind like a youth, and like the murderer Cain, my body like a brother , voluptuous aspirations.]
Life 4:19, 23-24: “And Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the second was Zillah [Sella]. And Lamech said to his wives: Ada and Zillah! listen to my voice; the wives of Lamech! listen to my words: I killed a man for my wound and a boy for my wound; If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech is avenged seventy times seven.”
Lamech was the second murderer after Cain. He told his two wives that he had killed a man and a young man, “to hurt himself and to hurt himself.” The Holy Fathers saw in these words a confession that mitigated guilt, and an acknowledgment that the murder of another person wounds the murderer himself. St. Andrew compares himself to Lamech and Cain, saying that he killed his own body, mind and soul with voluptuous aspirations.
Song 3
And the gar of old, the soul of the Egyptians, became like you, enslaved by will, and giving birth to a new Ismail, contempt.
[You have become like the ancient Egyptian Hagar, a soul enslaved by your own tyranny and having given birth to a new Ishmael—insolence.]
(Gen.16:15-16): Hagar bore Abram a son; And [Abram] called the name of his son, born of Hagar, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to Abram Ishmael.
Hagar is the slave of Sarah, the wife of the Old Testament patriarch Abraham. The law of that time provided that if there was no heir in the family, the elder of the family could enter the slave of his wife. The child born from her, after being placed on the knees of the patriarch's wife, was considered the legal heir. If the spouses subsequently had children of their own, the slave’s son still inherited part of the patriarch’s property. This law was used by Abraham, whose wife Sarah was barren. Hagar gave birth to a son, Ishmael. For disrespect towards Abraham and Sarah and insulting their son Isaac, Ishmael, together with Hagar, was expelled into the desert, where he became the founder of the Arab tribes (Gen. 16 and 21: 1-21).
Thou didst mean Jacob's ladder, my soul, which is revealed from earth to heaven: why didst thou not have the rise of firmness and piety.
[You know, my soul, about the ladder from earth to heaven, shown to Jacob; Why didn’t you choose the safe sunrise - piety?
Life 28:10-12: And Jacob left Beersheba and went to Haran, and came to a certain place, and stayed there to spend the night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place, and put it at his head, and lay down in that place. And I saw in a dream: behold, a ladder stands on the ground, and its top touches the sky; and behold, the angels of God ascend and descend on it.
Jacob is the Old Testament patriarch, the grandson of the righteous Abraham and the son of Isaac. He bought from his brother Esau the birthright and his father's blessing, which Esau did not value at all and sold for lentil stew. But Esau, thinking that in addition to the blessing, he had also lost material wealth, decided to take revenge on Jacob. Fleeing, Jacob stopped for the night in a field. There, in a dream, he saw a heavenly ladder along which angels ascended and descended (Gen. 28:10-22).
The priest of God and the king is alone, imitate the likeness of Christ in the world of life.
[Imitate the priest of God and the lonely king Melchizedek, the way of life of Christ among the people of the world.]
Gen. 14:14-20: When Abram heard that [Lot] his kinsman was taken captive, he armed his servants who were born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued the enemies as far as Dan; and, dividing himself, he attacked them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is on the left side of Damascus; and he returned all the property and Lot his kinsman, and he returned his property, and also the women and the people. When he was returning after the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh, which is now the royal valley; and Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine - he was a priest of the Most High God - and blessed him, and said: Blessed is Abram of the Most High God, Lord of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thy enemies into thy hand. [Abram] gave him a tenth of everything.
Heb. 7:1-3: For Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, he who met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from the defeat of the kings, to whom Abraham divided tithes of all things - first, by the sign of the name king of righteousness, and then the king of Salim, that is, the king of the world, without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither the beginning of days nor the end of life, being like the Son of God, remains a priest forever.
We are talking about Melchizedek (“king of righteousness”), king and priest of the Most High God from the city of Salem (“city of peace,” presumably the ancient name of Jerusalem) around the twentieth century BC, which is mentioned in the book of Genesis (Genesis 14: 14-20). When righteous Abraham was returning after defeating one of the local leaders, Chedorlaomer, the king and priest Melchizedek greeted Abraham and blessed him, offering bread and wine. Unlike other Old Testament righteous people, the book of Genesis does not give the genealogy of Melchizedek, nor does it say when he was born.
Melchizedek and Abraham
In Psalm 109, the psalmist David calls Christ a priest in the order of Melchizedek: “The Lord has sworn and will not repent: You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 109:4).
This comparison is explained by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews: “For Melchizedek king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, he who met Abraham and blessed him as he returned after the defeat of the kings, to whom Abraham also divided the tithes of all things, first, according to sign [name] the king of righteousness, and then the king of Salem, that is, the king of the world, without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, being likened to the Son of God, remains a priest forever” (Heb. 7: 1-3).
Do not wake up the glorious pillar, when your soul returns, let the image of Sodom frighten you, save yourself from grief in Zoar.
[Do not turn back, O soul, into a pillar of salt; let the example of the Sodomites frighten you; escape to the mountain in Zoar.]
Gen. 19:19-23; 19:26: And when they had brought them out, one of them said, Save thy life; do not look back and do not stop anywhere in this vicinity; escape to the mountain so that you do not die. But Lot said to them: No, Master! Behold, Thy servant has found favor in Thy sight, and great is Thy mercy which Thou hast done to me, that Thou hast saved my life; but I cannot escape to the mountain, lest misfortune overtakes me and I die; Now, it’s closer to run to this city, it’s small; I’ll run there - he’s small; and my life will be preserved [for Your sake]. And he said to him: Behold, to please you I will do this also: I will not overthrow the city of which you speak; hasten and escape there, for I cannot do any work until you get there. That is why this city is named Zoar. The sun rose over the earth, and Lot came to Zoar. Lotov's wife looked behind him and became a pillar of salt.
Pillar of Salt “Lot’s Wife” on the shores of the Dead Sea
I remember the story of Lot's wife. During the flight of Lot's family from the city of Sodom, on which the Lord poured fire and brimstone, Lot's wife disobeyed the orders of the Angels of God not to look back. She looked back out of simple curiosity to look at the death of thousands of people, and perhaps regretting the abandonment of the depraved Sodom that she loved. Both of these testified to her sinfulness. Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt.
Zoar (“small”) was a city-state that was part of the coalition of five cities along with Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim. He was spared by the Lord, and Lot hid in it.
Song 4
Royal dignity, a crown and scarlet garments, a man of many names and a righteous man, boiling with wealth and flocks, suddenly riches, the glory of the kingdom, having become impoverished, deprived.
If he were righteous and blameless above all others, and would not escape the snare of the flatterer and the snare; But you, sin-loving being, damned soul, what will you do if something happens to you from the unknown?
[A man, clothed with royal dignity, a crown and a scarlet robe, who had much and was righteous, abounding in wealth and herds, suddenly became poor and lost his wealth, glory and kingdom.]
[If he, being righteous and impeccable more than anyone else, did not escape the snares and snares of the deceiving devil, then what will you do, sin-loving unfortunate soul, if something unexpected befalls you?]
Job 1:1-22: There was a man in the land of Uz, his name was Job; and this man was blameless, just and God-fearing and shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. He had property: seven thousand small cattle, three thousand camels, five hundred pairs of oxen and five hundred donkeys and a lot of servants; and this man was more famous than all the sons of the East. His sons came together, each making feasts in his own house on his own day, and they sent and invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the circle of feast days was completed, Job sent for them and sanctified them and, rising early in the morning, offered burnt offerings according to the number of all of them [and one bull for the sin of their souls]. For Job said: Perhaps my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts. This is what Job did on all such days.
And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord; Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan: Where did you come from? And Satan answered the Lord and said: I walked on the earth and walked around it. And the Lord said to Satan: Have you paid attention to my servant Job? for there is no one like him on earth: a blameless, just, fearing God and shunning evil. And Satan answered the Lord and said: Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven't you surrounded him and his house and all that he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his flocks are spread over the earth; But stretch out Your hand and touch everything that he has, will he bless You? And the Lord said to Satan: Behold, all that he has is in your hand; just don’t stretch out your hand on him. And Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their firstborn brother. And so, a messenger comes to Job and says: the oxen were screaming, and the donkeys were grazing near them, when the Sabeans attacked and took them, and struck the youths with the edge of the sword; and I alone was saved to tell you. While he was still speaking, another came and said: the fire of God fell from heaven and scorched the sheep and the youths and devoured them; and I alone was saved to tell you. While he was still speaking, another came and said: The Chaldeans settled down in three detachments and rushed at the camels and took them, and struck the youths with the edge of the sword; and I alone was saved to tell you. While this one was speaking, another comes and says: Your sons and your daughters ate and drank wine in the house of their firstborn brother; and behold, a great wind came from the desert and swept through the four corners of the house, and the house fell on the youths, and they died; and I alone was saved to tell you. Then Job stood up and tore his outer garment, shaved his head and fell to the ground and bowed down and said: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I will return. The Lord gave, the Lord also took away; [as the Lord pleased, so it was done;] blessed be the name of the Lord! In all this, Job did not sin and did not say anything unreasonable about God.
We are talking about Job, the Old Testament patriarch, who, due to the action of the devil, lost his children, his property and suffered from an incurable disease - leprosy. Righteous Job showed strong faith in God in trials. The Lord restored Job to health and gave him more children. The story of righteous Job, who the Church calls long-suffering, is described in the Old Testament book of the same name.
Song 3
Irmos: Establish, O Lord, my moving heart on the rock of Your commandments, for You and the Lord alone are Holy.
[Solidate, O Lord, my wavering heart on the rock of Your commandments, for You alone are Holy and Lord.]
Hagar of old, the soul of the Egyptians, became like you, having enslaved your will, and having given birth to the new Ishmael, contempt.
[You have become like the ancient Egyptian Hagar, a soul enslaved by your own tyranny and having given birth to a new Ishmael—insolence.] (Gen. 16:16)
I meant Jacob’s ladder, O my soul, which appears from earth to heaven, why did you not have the rise of firmness and piety?
[You know, my soul, about the ladder from earth to heaven, shown to Jacob; Why didn’t you choose the safe sunrise - piety? (Gen.28:12)
The priest of God and the king of solitude, imitate the likeness of Christ in the world of life.
[Imitate the priest of God and the lonely king Melchizedek, the way of life of Christ among the people of the world.] (Gen. 14:18. Heb. 7:1-3)
Turn, lament, the damned soul, before the end of life will not even accept the triumph, before even the door of the Lord will not close the palace.
[Turn and sigh, unfortunate soul, before the triumph of life ends, before the Lord closes the door of the bridal chamber.]
Do not wake up the glorious pillar, O soul, when you return back: let the image of Sodom frighten you; woe to Zoar, save yourself.
[Do not turn back, O soul, into a pillar of salt; let the example of the Sodomites frighten you; escape to the mountain in Zoar.] (Genesis 19:19–23; 19:26)
Prayers, Master, do not turn away those who sing to You, but be gracious, O Lover of mankind, and grant forgiveness by faith to those who ask.
[Do not reject, O Lord, the prayers of those who sing Your praises, but be merciful, O Lover of Mankind, and grant forgiveness to those who ask with faith.]
Glory, Trinity: Trinity Simple, Uncreated, Beginning Nature, in the Trinity sung by the Hypostases, saved by faith who worship Your power.
[Trinity Uncompounded, Uncreated, Being Without Beginning, glorified in the Trinity of Persons, save us, who with faith worship Your power.]
And now, the Mother of God: From the Father, without flight, in the summer, to the Mother of God, you unskillfully gave birth to a strange miracle, the Virgin remained milking.
[You, Mother of God, without having experienced a husband, in time gave birth to a Son from the Father outside of time and - a wondrous miracle: feeding on milk, you remained a Virgin.]
Quarters of the Great Canon. Orthodox calendar for April 11
Main church holidays, days of remembrance of saints and Orthodox shrines of today
April 11 (March 29 according to the “old style” - the church Julian calendar). Thursday of the 5th week of Lent . According to the Church Charter, today at meals food with vegetable oil . The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Thursday of the Great Canon . Next, we will briefly talk about today, and also mention the shrine and saints whose memory is celebrated on April 11.
* * *
Quarters of the Great Canon . According to the Church Charter, on the eve of Thursday of the fifth week of Great Lent, since the time of the VI Ecumenical Council, a very strict and long service has been performed - “Standing of Mary” - at which the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete and the Life of the Venerable Mary of Egypt are read in full with many bows to the ground. As it says in the ancient church book called “Synaxarion”:
This was established with the aim that, in view of the approaching end of the Holy Lent (that is, Great Lent), people who have shown themselves to be lazy towards spiritual achievements would not fall into careless oblivion and would not cease to be chaste altogether: that is, for the sake of arousing in people a feeling of repentance and encouraging them to correct both by numerous examples from the entire biblical history, from Adam to the apostolic sermon, taking place in the Canon, and by the example of one life, “which first revealed the abyss of sin and then the height of virtue”...
Photo: pravoslavie.ru
More details about the Life of the Venerable Mary of Egypt will be told in our Orthodox calendar on the coming Sunday, when the Russian Church separately celebrates the memory of this great saint, who for centuries, through her personal example, showed the power of sincere repentance to all Orthodox Christians.
* * *
Hieromartyr Mark, Bishop of Arethusia, Cyril the Deacon and many others . Holy sufferers who died for loyalty to Christ in the last year of the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate, who reigned in the Roman Empire in 361-363 from the Nativity of Christ. Let us remember that this Roman emperor betrayed the great cause of his holy uncle, Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine the Great, and tried to revive paganism, simultaneously destroying many faithful Christians.
Hieromartyr Mark, Bishop of Arethusia. Photo: pravoslavie.ru
Venerable John the Hermit . Saint of the 4th century , who performed his monastic spiritual deeds at the bottom of a well. Having suffered many attacks from demons, this great ascetic was able to overcome them with the power of unceasing prayer.
Saint Eustathius the Confessor, Bishop of Bithynia . Christian ascetic of the 9th century , archpastor of the Church of Christ, who suffered from heretical iconoclasts for his firm defense of the Orthodox veneration of holy icons. He died in exile in deprivation, poverty and hunger, which Saint Eustathius humbly endured for the sake of Christ.
Organizers of the Pskov-Pechersk: April 11 - memory of the Venerables Mark, Jonah and Vassa of the Pskov-Pechersk
Venerable Mark and Jonah of Pskov-Pechersk . Russian saints the 15th century . They are revered as one of the founders of the famous Pskov-Pechersk monastic monastery.
Council of the Reverend Fathers who labored on the Divine Mount Sinai.
Priest confessor Mikhail Viktorov, presbyter . An Orthodox priest who suffered during the years of atheistic persecution and went to the Lord in 1933 . Glorified among the many thousands of new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church.
Kasperovskaya icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Photo: pravoslavie.ru
Kasperovskaya icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary . protected Odessa from the invasion of enemy troops during the Crimean War ( 1853-1855 Archbishop of Kherson and Tauride Innocent (Borisov) personally decided “to make this event unforgettable as a lesson to posterity,” to celebrate the day of this icon, but even earlier, after considering a number of miracles and healings, the Holy Synod recognized it as miraculous, glorifying it in 1840 . The icon received its name from the landowner Juliania Ioannovna Kasperova, who kept this image of the Most Holy Theotokos as a family shrine.
* * *
We congratulate Orthodox Christians on the day of this shrine, the Fourth of the Great Canon and the memory of all the saints of God, whose memory is celebrated on April 11. Through their prayers, Lord, save and have mercy on us!
Song 4
Irmos: The prophet heard Your coming, O Lord, and feared, because you wanted to be born of a virgin and appear as a man, and said: I heard Your hearing and feared, glory to Your power, Ho Godspeed.
[The prophet heard about Your coming, O Lord, and was afraid that You would be born of a Virgin and appear to people, and said: I heard the news about You and was afraid; glory to your power, O Lord.]
The time of my life is short, and it is filled with illnesses and wickedness, but in repentance, accept me, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor cruel to strangers, O Savior, be generous to me.
[The time of my life is short and full of sorrows and vices, but accept me in repentance and call me to the knowledge of the truth, so as not to become the prey and food of the enemy, Savior, have mercy on me.] (Gen. 47:9)
With royal dignity, with a crown and scarlet robes, a man of many names and a righteous man with boiling wealth and flocks, suddenly he became poor and lost his wealth, the glory of the kingdom.
[A man clothed with royal dignity, a crown and a scarlet robe, who had much and was righteous, abounding in wealth and flocks, suddenly became poor and lost wealth, glory and kingdom.] (Job 1:1-22)
Even if he were righteous and blameless above all others, and would not escape the snare of the flatterer and the net, you are a sin-loving creature, damned soul, what would you do if something unknown happened to you?
[If he, being righteous and impeccable more than anyone else, did not escape the snares and snares of the deceiving devil, then what will you do, sin-loving unfortunate soul, if something unexpected befalls you?]
Today I am lofty-spoken, but cruel in heart, in vain and in vain, so that you do not condemn me with the Pharisee, but rather grant me the humility of a publican, alone Generosity, Justice, and to this number me.
[I am now arrogant in words, insolent in heart, in vain and in vain; do not judge me with the Pharisee, but grant me the humility of a publican and number me with him, O One Merciful and Just.]
I have sinned, having offended the vessel of my flesh, I am generous, but accept me in repentance, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor cruel to strangers, O Savior, be generous to me.
[I know, O Merciful One, I have sinned by desecrating the vessel of my flesh, but accept me in repentance and call me to the knowledge of the truth, so as not to become the prey and food of the enemy; You Yourself, Savior, have mercy on me.]
I was self-immolated by passions, harming my soul, Generous, but in repentance accept me, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor cruel to a stranger, Savior, be generous to me.
[I made myself an idol, distorting my soul with passions, O Merciful One; but accept me in repentance and call me to the knowledge of the truth, so as not to become the prey and food of the enemy; You Yourself, Savior, have mercy on me.]
I did not listen to Your voice, I disobeyed Your scripture, the Lawgiver, but in repentance, accept me, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor covetous to strangers, O Savior, be generous to me.
[I have not listened to Your voice, I have broken Your Scripture, O Lawgiver; but accept me in repentance and call me to the knowledge of the truth, so as not to become the prey and food of the enemy; You Yourself, Savior, have mercy on me.]
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having descended into the depths of great misery, you were uncontrollable, but you rose up with a better thought, to the extreme reality of virtue, gloriously, angelic nature, surprising Mary.
[Having been carried away into the depths of great vices, you, Mary, did not wallow in it, but with a higher thought, through activity, you clearly rose to perfect virtue, marvelously amazing the angelic nature.]
Glory, Trinity: Inseparable Being, unfused Persons, I theologize Thee, the One Trinity Divinity, as the Only King and Co-Altar, I cry out to Thee a great song, in the highest, most hymn-worthy.
[Undivided in essence, unmerged in Persons, I theologically confess You, Trinity One Deity, Co-Royal and Co-Throne; I proclaim to You a great song, sung three times in the heavenly mansions.] (Is. 6:1-3)
And now, the Mother of God: And you give birth, and you are virgins, and you remain in both the nature of the Virgin: When you are born, you renew the laws of nature, but the womb does not give birth. Whatever God wants, the order of nature is overcome, and He creates whatever He wants.
[And You give birth and remain a Virgin, in both cases preserving virginity by nature. He who is born of You renews the laws of nature, and gives birth to the virgin womb; when God wants, the order of nature is disrupted, for He creates what He wants.]
Canon on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. Remembering the Last Supper
The beginning of the canon
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, souls ours.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy (three times). Glory, and now:
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, as it is in Heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Troparion, tone 8:
When the glory of the disciple / is enlightened at the supper, / then the evil Judas / is darkened by the love of money, / and betrays You, the Righteous Judge, to the lawless judges. / See, the stench of wealth, / used strangulation for these sake! / Flee unsatisfied souls, / Such a daring teacher. / For all good things, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Lord have mercy, (12 times). Glory, and now:
Come, let us worship the King our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God.
Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God.
Psalm to David, 22
1The Lord feeds me and deprives me of nothing. 2 In a green place, there you will settle me, on the water you will raise me in peace. 3 Convert my soul, guide me in the paths of righteousness, for your name’s sake. 4Even though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your club, that will comfort me. 5 Thou hast prepared a table before me against those who were cold, Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy cup makes me drunken, like a mighty power. 6 And Your mercy will marry me all the days of my life, and make me dwell in the house of the Lord for many days.
Canon. Voice 6
Song 1.
Irmos: The Red Sea is cut, it is cut, / the wave-fed depth is dried up, / it can be passed through by the unarmed, / and the coffin is fully armed. / The song of God is sung: / Gloriously glorified is Christ our God.
The all-guilty and bestowing life, / the immeasurable wisdom of God, / created a temple for yourself from the Pure, Unartful Mother. / in the temple put on your body, / Christ our God is gloriously glorified.
He guides His secrets, / prepares a soul-nourishing Table, / the immortality of the truly wisdom of God dissolves the Cup for the faithful. / Let us approach piously and cry: / Gloriously be glorified Christ our God.
Let us hear, all the truths, / convening with sublime preaching, / the uncreated and natural wisdom of God, / crying out: you have tasted and understood, as Christ I am, cry out: / gloriously glorified is Christ, God ours.
Song 3.
Irmos: The Lord of all and the Creator God, / united the impoverished passionless creation with Himself, / and Easter, for which you wanted to die, / He Himself, He, devoured Himself: / eat, crying out, My Body, / and established it in faith enjoy.
The deliverer of the whole human race, / Thy, O Good One, Thy disciples gave the Cup of joy to drink, filling it, / For Thyself performed sacred acts, / Drink, crying out, My Blood, / And strengthened by faith enjoy.
The foolish man who is a traitor in you, / who you prophesied as your disciple, the gentle one, / will not understand these, / and he is foolish not to understand. / Abide in Me, / and be strengthened by faith.
Sedalen, voice 1.
He created Ezera and springs and seas, / punishing us with a fair amount of humility, / girding us with ribbon, washing the disciples’ feet, / humbled by the abundance of benevolence, / and lifting us up from the abysses of malice, / One Man darling.
Glory, voice 3.
Humbled for the sake of well-being, / you washed the feet of your disciples, / and you directed them to this Divine stream, / disobeying Peter, washed himself, / he obeyed the Divine command, / we wash ourselves, and I pray diligently to you, / grant us great mercy.
And now, tone 4.
Poisonous Master with Your disciples, / You have mysteriously revealed Your all-holy slaughter, / from which we will be delivered from aphids, / Your honorable ones who honor your suffering.
Song 4.
Irmos: Having seen the prophet / Thy ineffable mystery, O Christ, proclaimed: / Thou hast laid down steadfast love for strength, O Generous Father, / for the Only Begotten Son, O Good One, / the purification of the ambassador into the world You are.
In response to the passion of all beings from Adam, which exuded dispassion, / Christ, who is come, you declared to your friends: / I wished to partake of the Passover with you: / for my only begotten purification the Father sent into the world.
Communing the Chalice, / you cried out as a disciple, Immortal: / I drink no fruit from the vine, while I live with you, / for my only begotten purification the Father sent into the world to eat.
A new drink more than words, / I say, in My Kingdom, Christ as a friend, I drink, / as God will be gods with you, you say: / because the Father sent Me into the world to purify me.
Song 5.
Irmos: The apostles are united by the union of love, / they have laid the dominion over all upon Christ, / they have cleansed their red feet, / they have preached peace to all.
Holding the uncontained, / and the highest water in the air, / bridling the abysses, / and the contending seas of God’s Wisdom, / pours water into the laver, / and the Lord washes the feet of the servants.
The disciple shows the image of humility of the Lord, / the clouds cover the sky, he girds himself with ribbon, / and bends his knees, a slave to wash his feet, / in His hand is the breath of all things.
Song 6.
Irmos: The last abyss of sins has passed through me, / and no one can bear the troubles, / like Jonah, the Lady, I cry to Thee: / raise me up from aphids.
Lord, you proclaim Me, O disciple, and Teacher: / I am, O Savior, you cried. / In the same way, imitate the image that you see in Me.
Anyone who does not have filth does not need to wash his feet, / clean, O you disciples, but not all of them, / for a moment, only one will go berserk from you.
Kontakion, tone 2.
The traitor receives the bread in his hand, / he extends it in secret, / and accepts the price of the hand of man who created his own, / and his existence is uncorrected / Judas, the slave and the flatterer.
Ikos:
At the secret meal, as we all approach in fear, / with pure souls let us accept bread, O Lord, / let us see how he washes the feet of the disciples, / and let us do, as we see, / punish each other existing, and washing each other’s noses, / Christ therefore commanded His disciple, / predicted to do this, / but Judas the servant and flatterer did not hear.
Song 7.
Irmos: The young men in Babylon / were not afraid of the fire of the cave, / but in the midst of the flames they were cast down, watered around their waists: / blessed art thou, O Lord, God our father.
Anointing the head of Judas, the evil one foresaw the movement, / the time was right to hand over the Judge to condemnation, / Who is the Lord of all and God our father.
Christ cried out to you as a friend: / He alone will betray Me, / having forgotten joy, sorrow and fear, I have overcome: / who is this, say, in the words, God our father?
He who with me puts his hand in the salt with insolence, / it would be good for him to never pass through the gates of life, / he who is a traitor, who is God our father.
Song 8.
Irmos: For the laws of the fathers / beatitudes in Babylon, the youths, who were foreshadowed, / spat upon the reigning foolish command, / and copulated, without being cooked by fire, / To the ruler a song worthy of singing : / Sing to the Lord, O works, / and exalt to all ages.
Companions of blessedness, / in Zion, the apostles who followed the Shepherd endured the word, / like lambs, and the union of Christ, who was not separated, / feeding on the divine word, giving thanks to the cry: / Lord Let us sing of your deeds and exalt them to all ages.
The ill-named Iscariot willfully forgot the lawful friendships, / prepared even our minds for tradition, / and Your poisonous Bread, the Divine Body, / erected forges on You Christ, and cried out without understanding: / Lord sing about the deeds and exalt them to all ages.
Accepting the decisive sin of the Body without conscience, / and the Blood poured out for the Divine world, / but drinking without shame, even selling at a price, / but you are not indignant about malice, and cry out without understanding: / Sing to the Lord’s deeds, and exalt in all the eyelids.
Song 9.
Irmos: Wanderings, Master, / and immortal Meals / in a high place with high minds, / faithful, come, let us enjoy, / having ascended the Word, / having learned from the Word, Whom we magnify.
Go, disciples of the word, / Easter in the maid’s place, where the mind is strengthened, / and prepare this secretly, / with unleavened true word, / magnify steadfast grace.
The co-creator, the Father, before the ages, gave birth to Me, the beginning of the ways, / created now in secret, / the Word, for it is uncreated by nature, / I appropriate the voices, which I have now received.
As man is a being, not a dream, / God is the nature of reward, the nature united to me. / Christ alone know Me, / from below, in below, even as I am, saving.
Exapostilary.
I see Your palace, my Savior, adorned, / and I have no clothes, but let me go into it, / enlighten the robe of my soul, / Giver of light, and save me.
Prayer.
Thy secret supper this day, O Son of God, receive me as a partaker; I will not tell your enemies a secret, nor give you a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess to you: remember me, O Lord, in your kingdom.
End of canon
It is worthy to eat as you truly bless Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. The most honorable Cherub / and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, / who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, / the real Mother of God, we magnify Thee.
Lord have mercy, (three times.) Glory, and now:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Song 5
Irmos: From the morning night, O Lover of mankind, enlighten, I pray, and guide me in Thy commandments, and teach me, O Savior, to do Thy will.
[From the waking night, enlighten me, I pray, O Lover of Mankind, guide me in Your commandments and teach me, O Savior, to do Your will.] (Ps. 62:2; 119:35)
Imitate below, O soul, come, fall at the feet of Jesus, that He may correct you, and may you walk in the right path of the Lord.
[Imitate, O soul, the crouched woman, come and fall at the feet of Jesus, so that He may correct you and you may walk straight in the paths of the Lord.] (Luke 13:11-13)
Even though you are a deep well, Master, let flow forth water from your most pure veins, and like the Samaritan woman, no one drinks thirst, for life flows forth in streams.
[If You are also a deep well, Master, then pour out streams for me from Your most pure ribs, so that, like the Samaritan woman, having drunk, I will no longer thirst, for You pour out streams of life.] (John 4:11-15)
Siloam may my tears be mine, Lord Lord, may I wash the apple of my heart and see You, the Eternal One of Light.
[Let my tears be Siloam to me, Master Lord, so that I too may wash the eyes of my heart and mentally contemplate You, Eternal Light.] (John 9:7)
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
With an incomparable desire, O all-rich One, having desired to worship the Animal Tree, you were granted the desire to grant me the highest glory.
[Having wished to bow to the Tree of Life with pure love, O all-blessed one, you have received what you desired; honor me too to achieve the highest glory.]
Glory, Trinity: We glorify You, Trinity, One God, Holy, Holy, Holy, Father, Son and Soul, Simple Being, Ever Worshiped Unity.
[We glorify You, Most Holy Trinity, for the One God: Holy, Holy, Holy Father, Son and Spirit, Simple Being, Ever Worshiped Unit.]
And now, the Mother of God: From You, put on my mixture, the incorruptible, husbandless Mother of the Virgin, God who created the eyelids, and unite to Yourself human nature.
[In You, Imperishable, Virgin Mother, who did not know a husband, God, who created the world, clothed himself in my composition and united human nature with Himself.]
Song 6
Irmos: I cried out with all my heart to the generous God, and heard me from hell, and raised my life from aphids.
[With all my heart I cried out to the merciful God, and He heard me from the underworld and called my life from destruction.]
I am, O Savior, I have already destroyed the ancient royal coin, but I have burned the lamp of Your Forerunner, the Word, seek and find Your image.
[I am that drachma with the royal image, which has been lost to You since ancient times, Savior, but, having illuminated the lamp - Your Forerunner, the Word, look and find Your image.]
Arise and overcome, like Jesus, Amalek, carnal passions, and the Gibeonites, flattering thoughts, ever victorious.
[Arise and overthrow the passions of the flesh, like Jesus Amalek, always conquering the Gibeonites - seductive thoughts.] (Ex. 17:8. Josh. 8:21)
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
May you extinguish the flame of passions, may you ever shed drops of tears, Mary, whose soul is inflamed, and grant grace to me, your servant.
[To extinguish the flame of passions, you, Mary, blazing with your soul, constantly shed streams of tears, the abundance of which grant to me, your servant.]
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
You have acquired heavenly dispassion through your life on earth, mother. Also, those who sing to you, get rid of passions through your prayers, pray.
[By the most exalted way of life on earth, you, mother, have acquired heavenly dispassion; Therefore, intercede that those who sing your praises will be delivered from passions through your prayers.]
Glory, Trinity: The Trinity is Simple, Indivisible, separate and Personal, and the Unity is united by nature, the Father is the speaker, the Son, and the Divine Spirit.
[I am a Trinity Incomposite, Indivisible, separate in Persons, and a Unit united in essence; Father, Son and Divine Spirit testify.]
And now, the Mother of God: Thy womb of God has given birth to us, imagined after us: pray to Him, as the Creator of all, O Theotokos, that through Thy prayers we may be justified.
[Thy womb gave birth to us God, who took our image; Pray to Him, as the Creator of the whole world, Mother of God, so that through Your prayers we may be justified.
Lord, have mercy (three times). Glory, and now:
Kontakion, tone 6:
My soul, my soul, arise, why are you sleeping? The end is approaching, and you will be embarrassed: rise up, may Christ God, who is everywhere and fulfills all things, have mercy on you.
[My soul, my soul, arise, why are you sleeping? The end is approaching and you will be confused; Awake, so that Christ God, Omnipresent and filling everything, will have mercy on you.]
Song 7
Irmos: A sinner, a transgressor, an untruthful person before You, a lower observant, a lower co-creator, as You commanded us; but do not betray us to the end, Father God.
[We have sinned, we have lived lawlessly, we have acted unjustly before You, we have not kept, we have not fulfilled what You commanded us; but do not forsake us to the end, O God of the fathers.] (Dan.9:5–6)
My days have perished, like the sleep of one who rises, and like Hezekiah, I climb down onto my bed, to be kissed in the summer of my belly. But which Isaiah will appear to you, O soul, if He is not the God of all?
[My days passed like the dream of one awakening; therefore, like Hezekiah, I weep on my bed so that the years of my life may be prolonged; but what kind of Isaiah will visit you, O soul, if not the God of all?] (2 Kings 20:3. Isaiah 38:2–6)
I fall down to Thee and bring to You, like my tears, my words: I have sinned, as the harlot has not sinned, and I am wicked, like no one else on earth, but be gracious, O Master, to Your creation, and call upon me .
[I fall to You and bring You my words with tears: I have sinned as the harlot has not sinned, and I have lived in iniquities like no one else on earth; but have mercy, O Lord, on Your creation and restore me.]
I have buried Your image and corrupted Your commandment, all goodness has been darkened, and passions have extinguished, O Savior, light, but rewarded me generously, as David sings, joy.
[I have darkened Your image and broken Your commandment; all beauty darkened in me, and the lamp went out from passions; but have mercy, O Savior, and restore to me, as David sings, joy.] (Ps. 50:14)
Turn, repent, open the hidden, say to God who knows everything, You weigh my secret, you alone are the Savior, but have mercy on me, as David sings in Your mercy.
[Turn, repent, reveal your secrets, say to God the Omniscient: Savior, You alone know my secrets, but You Yourself have mercy on me, as David sings, according to Your mercy.] (Ps. 51:3)
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having cried out to the Most Pure Mother of God, you first rejected the fury of the passions that need to be cold, and you put to shame your enemy, but now give me, your servant, help from grief.
[Having appealed to the Most Pure Mother of God, you curbed the fury of passions that had previously raged cruelly, and put to shame the seducing enemy; Grant now help in sorrow to me, your servant.] (Ps. 59:13)
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Whom you loved, Whom you desired, Whom you exhausted the flesh for, O venerable One, now pray to Christ for His servants: for having been merciful to all of us, He will grant a state of peace to those who worship Him.
[Whom you loved, Whom you chose, for Whom your flesh exhausted you, Reverend One, now pray to Christ for your servants, that He, by His mercy to all, may grant a peaceful state to those who worship Him.]
Glory, Trinity: Trinity Simple, Indivisible, Consubstantial, and One Nature, Light and Light, and Holy Three, and One Holy God Trinity is sung; but sing, glorify, Belly and Belly, soul, all of God.
[Trinity Simple, Indivisible, Consubstantial, and One Divinity, Lights and Light, Three Holy Ones and One Holy Person, God the Trinity, sung in chants; sing also, O soul, glorify Life and Lives - the God of all.]
And now, Mother of God: We sing to Thee, let us bless Thee, we worship Thee, the Mother of God, for Thou hast given birth to the inseparable Trinity of the one Christ God, and Thou hast Herself opened to us who are on heavenly earth.
[We praise You, bless You, worship You, Mother of God, for You gave birth to One of the Indivisible Trinity, Christ God, and You Yourself opened the heavenly abodes for us living on earth.]
Great Canon of Andrew of Crete
The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, read on Thursday of the first week of Great Lent.
Song 1
Irmos: Helper and Patron be my salvation;
This is my God, and I will glorify Him, O God of my father, and I will exalt Him: gloriously shall I be glorified (2). Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Lamb of God, take away the sins of all, take away from me the heavy burden of sin and, as you are gracious, give me tears of tenderness.
I bow down to you, Jesus, those who have sinned, cleanse me, take away the heavy burden of sin from me and, as you are compassionate, give me tears of tenderness.
Do not go into court with me, bearing my deeds, seeking words, and correcting aspirations; but in Thy bounties, despising my fierce one, save me, O All-Powerful One.
The time of repentance, I come to You, my Creator, take away the heavy burden of sin from me and, as you are gracious, give me tears of tenderness.
My wealth, O Savior, having been exhausted in fornication, I am empty of the fruits of the pious, but I am greedy, calling: Father of generosity, you have given me bounty beforehand.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having bowed to the Divine Law of Christ, you began to do this, abandoning uncontrollable desires for sweets, and all virtue with all reverence, as if you alone corrected it.
Glory: Most Essential Trinity, worshiped in Unity, take away from me the heavy burden of sin and, as the Compassionate One, give me tears of tenderness.
And now: Mother of God, who sing of hope and intercession to You, take away from me the heavy burden of sin and, like the Pure Lady, repentant, accept me.
Song 2
Irmos: You see, you see, for I am God, who rained down manna and poured out water from stones of old in the desert by My people, by My one right hand and My strength.
He killed a husband, he says, as a wound to me, and a young man as a scab, Lamech cried out in tears; You do not tremble, O my soul, having hardened your flesh and defiled your mind.
You were wise to create a pillar, O soul, and establish a stronghold with your lusts; If only the Creator had not kept your advice and cast down your tricks to the earth.
About the jealousy of Lamech, the first murderer, the soul like a husband, the mind like a youth, but killing my body like Cain the murderer, with lustful desires.
The Lord sometimes caused fire from the Lord to burn the people of Sodom in response to iniquity; You have kindled the fire of Gehenna, in it imash, about the soul, burning.
Vulnered, wounded, behold the arrows of the enemy, which wounded my soul and body; These are the scabs of rot, the darkness that is crying out, the wounds of my self-willed passions.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
You stretched out your hands to the generous God, Mary, plunging into the abyss of evil; and just as Peter generously extended the Divine hand, your conversion is sought in every possible way.
Glory: Beginningless, uncreated Trinity, indivisible Unity, accept me when I repent, save me when I have sinned: I am your creation, do not despise me, but have mercy and deliver me from my fiery condemnation.
And now: Most Pure Lady, Mother of God, the hope of those who flow to You, and the refuge of those in the storm, the Merciful and Creator and Your Son, propitiate me with Your prayers.
Song 3
Irmos: Establish, O Lord, my moving heart on the rock of Your commandments, for You alone are Holy and Lord.
Hagar of old, the soul of the Egyptians, you became like, enslaved by will, and giving birth to the new Ismail, contempt.
Thou didst mean Jacob's ladder, my soul, which appears from earth to Heaven; Why did you not have the rise of firmness and piety?
The priest of God and the king is alone, imitate the likeness of Christ in the world of life.
Turn, lament, the damned soul, before the end of life will not even accept the triumph, before even the door of the palace will not be closed by the Lord.
Do not wake up the glorious pillar, my soul, by returning back; Let the image of Sodom frighten you, and save yourself from grief in Zoar.
Prayers, Master, do not turn away those who sing to You; but be generous, O Lover of Mankind, and grant by faith to those who ask for forgiveness.
Glory: To the Trinity, simple, uncreated, Originless nature, sung in the Trinity by the Hypostases, save us, who worship Thy power by faith.
And now: From the flightless Father, in summer, to the Mother of God, you gave birth to the Mother of God, a strange miracle, the Virgin remained milking.
Song 4
Irmos: When the prophet heard Thy coming, O Lord, and feared, for Thou wouldst be born of a virgin, and appear as a man, and said: I heard Thy hearing and feared, glory to Thy power, O Lord (2).
The time of my belly is short and full of illness and deceit; but accept me in repentance, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor rude to a stranger, O Savior, be generous to me.
Royal dignity, a crown and scarlet robes, a man of many names and a righteous man, boiling with wealth and flocks, suddenly deprived of wealth, glory, and the kingdom.
If he were righteous and blameless above all others, and would not escape the snare of the flatterer and the snare; You are a sin-loving being, a damned soul, what will you do if something happens to you from the unknown?
Now I am lofty in speech, but cruel in heart and in vain, so that you do not condemn me with the Pharisee; Moreover, grant me the publican’s humility, the One Generous Justice, and count me with this.
Having sinned, having annoyed the vessel of my flesh, we are generous; but accept me in repentance, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor rude to a stranger, O Savior, be generous to me.
I became a self-image, harming my soul with passions, Generously; but accept me in repentance, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor rude to a stranger, O Savior, be generous to me.
I did not listen to Your voice, I disobeyed Your Scripture, the Lawgiver; but accept me in repentance, and call me to reason, so that I will not be covetous, nor rude to a stranger, O Savior, be generous to me.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having descended into the depths of great voids, you were unpossessed; but you rose with the best thoughts to the extreme actions of virtue, gloriously, angelic nature, surprising Mary.
Glory: Inseparable in being, unfused in Person, the theologian Thee, the Trinity is One Divinity, as One-King and Co-Throne; I cry out to You a great song, hymned in the Highest.
And now: And you bear fruit, and you remain virgins, and you remain both by the nature of a Virgin; Being born renews the laws of nature, but the womb that does not give birth gives birth. Wherever God wills, the order of nature is overcome: He creates whatever He wills.
Song 5
Irmos: From the morning night, O Lover of mankind, enlighten me, I pray, and instruct me in Thy commandments, and teach me, O Savior, to do Thy will (2).
Imitate the lower one, O soul, come, fall at the feet of Jesus, that He may correct you, and may you walk in the right paths of the Lord.
Even if you are a deep well, Master, let us pour out water from your most pure veins, so that, like the Samaritan, you drink the thirst of no one, for you flow out streams of life.
Siloam may my tears be mine, Lord Lord, may I wash the apple of my heart and see You intelligently, Eternal Light.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Rich in incomparable desire, having desired to worship the animal tree, you have been honored with desire; grant me, too, the highest glory.
Glory: Thee, Trinity, we glorify the One God: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, Father, Son and Soul, simple Being, ever worshiped One.
And now: From You put on my mixture, imperishable, husbandless Mother of the Virgin, God who created the ages, and united to Yourself human nature.
Song 6
Irmos: I cried out with all my heart to the generous God, and heard me from the underworld, and raised my belly from aphids (2).
I am, Savior, who destroyed the ancient royal drachma, but burned the lamp of Your Forerunner, the Word, seek and find Your image.
Arise and overcome, like Jesus Amalek, carnal passions, and the Gibeonites, flattering thoughts are ever victorious.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
May you extinguish the flame of passions, may you ever shed drops of tears, Mary, whose soul is inflamed, grant their grace to me, your servant.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
You acquired heavenly dispassion through your extreme life on earth, mother; In the same way, pray for those who sing passions to be delivered by your prayers.
Glory: The Trinity is simple, indivisible, separate and personal, and the Unity is united by nature, the Father speaks, and the Son, and the Divine Spirit.
And now: Thy womb of God give birth to us, imagined for us, Him, as the Creator of all, pray, Mother of God, that we may be justified by Thy prayers.
Lord, have mercy (3).
Slava: And now:
Kontakion, tone 6
My soul, my soul, arise, what are you writing off? The end is approaching, and Imashi will be embarrassed; Arise, then, that Christ God, who is everywhere and fulfills all things, may have mercy on you.
Song 7
Irmos: We have sinned, we have sinned, we have acted untruthfully before You, we are inferior to observance, inferior to those who have done what You commanded us; but do not betray us to the end, O fathers God (2).
My days have perished, like the sleep of one who rises, and like Hezekiah I will fall down on my bed; but which Isaiah will appear to you, O soul, if He is not the God of all?
I fall down to Thee and bring to You, like tears, my words: those who have sinned, as the harlot has not sinned, and those who are lawless, like no one else on earth; but have mercy, O Master, on Thy creation and call upon me.
I have buried Your image, and corrupted Your commandment, all kindness has been darkened, and the light has been extinguished by passions, O Savior; but reward me generously, as David sings, joy.
Turn, repent, open your secret, say to God who knows everything: You weigh my secret, You alone are the Savior, but have mercy on me, as David sings, according to Your mercy.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having cried out to the Most Pure Mother of God, you first rejected the fury of the passions that must be chilling, and you put to shame your enemy; but now give me, your servant, help from sorrow.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Whom you loved, Whom you desired, Whom you exhausted your flesh for, O Reverend One, now pray to Christ for His servants, so that He, being merciful to all of us, will grant a peaceful state to those who worship Him.
Glory: To the Trinity, simple, indivisible, Consubstantial, and One Nature, Light and Light, and Holy Three, and One Holy, God the Trinity is sung; but sing, glorify the Belly and Belly, the soul, all of God.
And now: We sing to Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, the Mother of God, for Thou didst give birth to the indivisible Trinity of the One Christ God, and Thou Shest opened the heavenly One to us who are on earth.
Song 8
Irmos: Whom the armies of Heaven praise, and the Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, every breath and creature, sing, bless and exalt to all ages (2).
The glass of tears, Savior, as if draining myrrh on the head, I call You, like a harlot seeking mercy, I bring a prayer and ask for forgiveness.
Even if no one, like I, has sinned against You, yet accept me too, O Compassionate Savior, repenting with fear and calling with love: those who have sinned against You alone, have mercy on me, O Most Merciful One.
Spare, O Savior, Your creation, and seek as a Shepherd the lost, anticipate the erring one, snatch me away from the wolf, make me a sheep to pasture Your sheep.
When, O Judge, you sat down like the Compassionate One, and showed Your terrible glory, O Savior, what fear then, of the burning cave, to all those who fear Your unbearable judgment.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having enlightened Mother with the never-ending light, freed you from the darkness of passions; Having also entered into spiritual grace, enlighten, Mary, those who faithfully praise you.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having seen a new miracle, you were truly horrified by the divine in you, mother, Zosima: you saw an angel in the flesh, and were filled with horror, singing Christ forever.
Glory: Father without beginning, Son without beginning, Good Comforter, Righteous Soul; Words of God to the Parent, the Father without Beginning, the Word, the Living and Creator of the Soul, the Trinity Unit, have mercy on me.
And now: As from the turning of the scarlet, O most pure, intelligent scarlet of Immanuel, the flesh was consumed within in Thy womb; Likewise, we truly honor Theotokos.
Song 9
Irmos: The unspeakable Christmas of the seedless conception, the imperishable Mother of the husbandless Fruit: God's Birth renews natures; In the same way, we all give birth to You, as the Blessed Mother of God, we Orthodoxy magnify (2).
Have mercy, save me, Son of David, have mercy on those who are furious with a word, healing, and with a gracious voice, like a thief, you say to me: Amen, I say to you, you will be with Me in Paradise when I come in My glory.
The robber theologized Thea, the robber theologized Thea, both hung on the cross; but, O Compassionate Mother, as unto Thy faithful thief, who has come to know Thee as God, open the door of Thy glorious Kingdom to me.
The trembling creature crucified seeing You, the mountains and stones disintegrating with fear, and the earth shaking, and hell being exposed, and the light darkening in the days, in vain You, Jesus, were nailed to the Cross.
Do not extract fruits worthy of repentance from me, for my strength within me is diminished; Grant me an ever-contrite heart, and spiritual poverty, so that I may offer this to You, like a pleasant sacrifice, the One Savior.
My Judge and My Master, though you may again come with the angels to judge the world, with Your merciful eye then seeing me, have mercy and mercy on me, O Jesus, having sinned more than any other human nature.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
You surprised everyone with your strange life, the ranks of angels and human cathedrals, having lived immaterially, and having passed on nature, which, like an immaterial foot, entered Mary, you passed on the Jordan.
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Appease the Creator for those who praise you, reverend mother, get rid of bitterness and sorrows around those who attack; May we, having freed ourselves from adversity, constantly glorify the Lord who glorified you.
Chorus: Reverend Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
Honest Andrew and most blessed father, Shepherd of Crete, do not cease praying for those who sing your praises; May we get rid of all anger, and sorrow, and corruption, and immeasurable sins, honoring your memory faithfully.
Glory: We will glorify the Father, we will exalt the Son, we will faithfully worship the Divine Spirit, the inseparable Trinity, the Unity in essence, as Light and Light, and Life and Life, Life-giving and Enlightening of ends.
And now: Preserve Your City, Most Pure Mother of God; in You, this one reigns faithfully, in You he is established, and through You he conquers, he overcomes every temptation, and captivates warriors, and obedience passes.
Irmos: The unspeakable Christmas of the seedless conception, the imperishable Mother of the husbandless Fruit: God's Birth renews natures; In the same way, we all give birth to You, like the Blessed Mother of God.
Song 8
Irmos: Whom the armies of Heaven praise, and the Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, every breath and creature, sing, bless and exalt to all ages.
[Whom the armies of heaven glorify and before whom Cherubim and Seraphim tremble, Him, all beings and creatures, sing, bless and extol in all ages.]
Tearful, Savior, glass, like the ointment that drains the head, I call you like a harlot seeking mercy, I bring a prayer, and I ask you to accept your abandonment.
[Pouring a vessel of tears like ointment onto my head, Savior, I appeal to You, like a harlot seeking mercy, offering prayer and asking for forgiveness.] (Matthew 26:6–7. Mark 14:3. Luke 7: 37–38)
And no one else, even as I have sinned against You, but accept me both, O Compassionate Savior, repenting with fear and calling out to love: I have sinned against You alone, have mercy on me, O Most Merciful.
[Although no one has sinned before You like I have, but, Merciful Savior, accept me, repentant with fear and crying out with love: I have sinned before You Alone, have mercy on me, O Merciful One!
Have mercy, O Savior, Your creation, and seek, as the Shepherd, the lost, before the one who went astray was caught from the wolf, make me a sheep to pasture Your sheep.
[Spare, O Savior, Your creation and, like a Shepherd, seek out the lost, bring back the lost, take me away from the wolf and make me a lamb in the pasture of Your sheep.] (Ps. 119:176)
When, O Judge, you sat down, as if you were blessed, and showed your terrible glory, O Savior, oh what fear then! The burning furnace, to all who fear Your unbearable judgment.
[When You, the Merciful, sit as a Judge and reveal Your terrible greatness, Savior, oh, what horror then: the furnace will burn, and everyone will tremble before Your inexorable judgment.] (Matthew 25:31, 41, 46)
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Light of the never-setting Mother, having enlightened you, freed you from the darkness of passions. Having also entered into spiritual grace, enlighten, Mary, those who faithfully praise you.
[The Mother of the never-ending Light – Christ, having enlightened you, freed you from the darkness of passions; Therefore, having received the grace of the Spirit, enlighten, Mary, those who sincerely glorify you.)
Chorus: Reverend Mother Mary, pray to God for us.
Having seen a new miracle, I was truly terrified of the divine in you, mother, Zosima, for I saw an angel in the flesh, and was filled with horror, girding Christ forever.
[Seeing in you, mother, truly a new miracle, Saint Zosima was surprised, for he saw an Angel in the flesh, and was filled with amazement, chanting Christ forever.]
Glory, Trinity: Father without beginning, Son without origin, Good Comforter, Righteous Soul, Word of God to the Parent, Father without beginning to the Word, Living and Creator Soul, Trinity Unity, have mercy th me.
[Beginless Father, Co-originating Son, Good Comforter, Right Spirit, Parent of the Word of God, Beginningless Word of the Father, Life-Giving and Creating Spirit, One Trinity, have mercy on me.]
And now, the Mother of God: As from the turning of the scarlet, the most pure, intelligent scarlet of Immanuel, the flesh was worn out inwardly in Your womb. Moreover, we truly honor Theotokos.
[Mental purple - the flesh of Immanuel is woven inside Your womb. Most pure, as if made of a purple substance; therefore we honor You, the True Mother of God.]
