We bow down in reverence before thy holy Image, 0 Good One, entreating forgiveness for our transgressions, O Christ our God; for of thine own good will thou didst graciously deign to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that thou mightest deliver from the works of the enemy those whom thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore we cry aloud unto thee in thanksgiving: With joy thou didst fill all things, 0 our Saviour, when thou didst come to save the world. And then immediately, on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. HYMN TO THE BlRTH-GIVER OF GOD (Bogoroditz/im). Vouchsafe unto us thy mercy, O Birth-giver of God, thou who art a Fount of tender compassion. Look upon the people who have sinned; manifest, as always, thy power. For trusting in thee we cry unto thee: Hail! as did aforetime Gabriel, Chief of the Bodiless Powers. On Wednesday and Friday: Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. CROSS-HYMN TO THE BIRTH~GIVER OF GOD (Kreslobogoréditt/lm). Exceedingly blessed art thou, 0 Virgin Birth-giver of God, and we sing thy praise: for by the Cross of thy Son was Hell overthrown and Death was slain; and we who were dead have risen again, and have mercifully been deemed worthy of life, and have received Paradise, which was our delight of old. For which cause, with thanksgiving we magnify Christ our God, in that he is mighty and in that he alone loveth mankind. Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.) Lent. Thou who, at all times and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified, O Christ our God, long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and compassion; who lovest the just and showest mercy to those who are hardened in sin; who callest all men to repentance through the promise of good things to come: Do thou, the same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present time, and direct our lives according to thy commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set aright our minds; and deliver us from all ca‘ lamity, wrath and distress. Compass us round about with thy holy Angels; that, guided and guarded by their host, we may attain unto the unity of the faith, and unto the comprehension of thine ineffable. glory. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Forty times.) G10ry to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee. In the Name of the Lord, bless, Father. Priest. Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, 0 Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us. And if it he a Fast, we make three great reverences to the very earth and say the prescribed PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN. O Lord and Master of my life, grant not unto me a spirit of slothfulness, of discouragement, of lust of power, of vain babbling. (Keverence.) But vouchsafe unto thy servant the spirit of continence, of meekness, of patience, and of love. (Reverence.) Yea, O Lord and King, grant that I may perceive my own transgressions, and judge not my brother. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (Reverence. Then twelve lesser reverences, saying at each: O God, cleanse thou me, a sinner. Then the whole Prayer is repeated; with one great reverence in conclusion.) 771m this PRAYER OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT. Lent. O God and Lord of hosts, and Maker of all things created, who through the tender-hearted compassion of thine incomparable mercy didst send down thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the redemption of our race, and by his precious Cross didst destroy the handwriting of our sins, and didst thereby triumph over the Origin and Powers of darkness: D0 thou, the same Lord, who lovest mankind, accept also these thanksgivings and fervent prayers of us sinners. And deliver us from every harmful and gloomy transgression, and from all enemies, both visible and invisible, who seek after us to destroy us. Nail our flesh to the fear of thee, and incline not our hearts to words or thoughts of guile: but wound our souls with the love of thee; that looking ever unto thee, and guided by thee in the light, beholding thee, the Light Ineffable and Everlasting, we may ascribe unto thee ceaseless praise and thanksgiving: unto the Father who hath no beginning, together with thine Only-begotten Son, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Generally the DIVINE LITURGY heginneth here. But if it be the Great Fast (Lent), after this is read the NINTH HOUR; and the Nm'rn HOUR. when it followeth the SIXTH HOUR, beginncth thus: O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice.) O all-holy Trinity, . . . 71m 7 THE NINTH HOUR* Priest. Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. And We. Amen. Glory to thee, 0 our God; glory to thee. O heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art in all places, and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life; Come, and take up thine abode in us, and cleanse us from every stain; and save our souls, 0 Good One. O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice.) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. 0 Lord, wash away our sins. 0 Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from the Evil One: Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Reader. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Twelm’ times.) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Three reverences.) PSALM LXXXIV. 0 how amiable are thy dwellings, thou Lord of hosts! My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young; even thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they that * See Appendix B, III. dwell in thy house; they will be alway praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are thy ways. Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well; and the pools are filled with water. They will go from strength to strength, and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; hearken, O God of Jacob. Behold, O God our defender, and look upon the face of thine Anointed. For one day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness. For the Lord God is a light and defence; the Lord will give grace and worship; and no good thing shall he withhold from them that live a godly life. O Lord God of hosts, blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee. PSALM LXXXV. Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land; thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people, and covered all their sins. Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure, and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation. Turn us then, 0 God our Saviour, and let thine anger cease from us. Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever? and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another? Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us, that thy people may rejoice in thee? Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me; for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again. For his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall flourish out of the earth, and righteousness hath looked down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall show loving-kindness; and our land shall give her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and he shall direct his going in the way. PSALM LXXXVI. Bow down thine ear, 0 Lord, and hear me; for I am poor, and in misery. Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord; for I will call daily upon thee. Comfort the soul of thy servant; for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good and gracious, and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, Lord, unto my prayer, and ponder the voice of my humble desires. In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee; for thou hearest me. Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; there is not one that can do as thou doest. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy Name. For thou art great and doest wondrous things; thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, 0 Lord, and I will walk in thy truth: 0 knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name. I will thank thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; and will praise thy Name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me; and thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell. 0 God, the proud are risen against me: and the congregations of naughty men have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before their eyes. But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion. and mercy, long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth. 0 turn. thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me: give thy strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid. Show some token upon me for good; that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed, because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me. And again: Show some token upon me for good; that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed, because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; glory to thee, O God. (Thrice.) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. And we read the Hymn for the Day (Trapdr).* But if it be the Great Fast (Lent), this Hymn, in Tone Vlll., i: used: O thou who, at the Ninth Hour, for our sake didst taste of death in the flesh Mortify thou the presumption of our flesh, and save us, 0 Christ our God. Verse (Stihh) 1: Let my complaint come before thee, O Lord : give me understanding, according to thy word. Verse 2: Let my supplication come before thee, O Lord: deliver me according to thy word. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. HYMN TO THE BIRTH~GIVER or GOD. Lent. Thou who for our sake wast born of a Virgin, and didst suffer crucifixion, 0 Good One, and didst despoil Death through death, and as God didst reveal Resurrection: Despise not those whom thou hast created with thine own hand; show forth thy love for mankind, O Merciful One; accept the Birth-giver of God who bare thee, and who entreateth thee for us; and save thy despairing people, 0 our Saviour. Forsake us not utterly, for thy holy Name’s sake, and destroy not thy covenant; and take not thy mercies from us, for the sake of Abraham whom thou lovedst, and for the sake of Isaac thy servant, and of Israel, thy Holy One. 0 Holy God, Holy Mighty, ... (as at the beginning bf the Hour) ‘ For Hymns in the Eight Tones, see Appendix A ; for the Great Feasts, see the Special Services. |