HOLY AND GREAT MONDAY

The Midnight Office is read in the Church [and not, as usually on

weekdays, in the Narthex, or Liti] as during Great Lent.

AT MATINS
After the Dismissal of the Midnight Office the Priest, having made
the customary metania to the Superior, or to his stall, enters the
sanctuary and makes three bows before the holy Table. He puts on
the Epitrachelion and, standing in front of the holy Table, intones:
Blessed is our God, always, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

The Priest blesses the incense and begins to cense the sanctuary and
the whole church as usual.

The Reader begins:

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (three
times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins.
Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our
infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen

Our Father, in heaven, may your name be hallowed; your kingdom

come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our
daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And
do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest: For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages
of ages.
Reader: Amen.

Lord, have mercy (x12). Glory. Both now.

Come, let us worship and fall down before the King, our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ the King, our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, the King,
our God.

With three metanias. Then the following two Psalms.

Psalm 19
May the Lord hear you in the day of trouble; may the name of the
God of Jacob shield you. May he send you his help from the holy
place, and support you from Sion. May he remember your every
sacrifice, and accept with favour your whole burnt offering. May the
Lord give you your heart’s desire, and fulfil your every purpose. We
shall rejoice in your salvation, and be magnified in the name of our
the Lord our God. May the Lord fulfil all your petitions. Now I know
that the Lord has saved his Christ. He will hear him from his holy
heaven; in mighty acts is the salvation of his right hand. Some put
their trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will call on the
name of the Lord our God. They were fettered and fell, but we have
risen and been set upright. Lord, save the king, and hear us on the
day we call upon you.

Psalm 20
The king will rejoice in your power, O Lord, he will exult
exceedingly in your salvation. You gave him his heart’s desire; you
did not deny him the request of his lips. For you came to meet him
with blessings of goodness; you placed a crown of precious stones
upon his head. He asked you for life, and you gave him length of
days for age on age. Great is his glory because of your salvation; you
will place on him glory and majesty. For you will give him blessing
for age on age, and make him glad with the joy of your countenance.
For the king puts his hope in the Lord, and through the mercy of the
Most High he will not be shaken. May your hand light upon all your
enemies, and your right hand find out all who hate you. You will
make them like a blazing oven at the time of your presence. The Lord
will confound them in his wrath and fire will devour them. You will
destroy their offspring from the earth, and their seed from among the
children of humankind. Because they intended evils against you, and
devised plans by which they can in no way succeed. For you will put
them to flight; among your remnants you will prepare their presence.
Be exalted, Lord, in your power; we will sing and praise your mighty
acts.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (three

times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins.
Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our
infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen

Our Father, in heaven, may your name be hallowed; your kingdom

come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our
daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And
do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest: For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages
of ages.

The priest must take care that he is standing beneath the Polyeleos to
say this conclusion. He then enters the sanctuary, puts away the
censer and takes his stand in front of the Holy Table.

Reader: Amen.

And the following Troparia:

Lord, save your people, and bless your inheritance, granting your
faithful people victory over their enemies, and guarding your
commonwealth by your Cross.
 Glory.

Lifted up on the Cross of your own will, grant you mercies, Christ
God, to the new commonwealth called by your name. Make your
faithful people glad by your power, giving them victory over their
enemies. May they have your help in battle, a weapon of peace, an
invincible trophy.

Both now. Theotokion.

Dread Champion that cannot be put to shame, do not despise our

petitions, O Good One. All-praised Mother of God establish the
commonwealth of the Orthodox, save your people and give them
victory from heaven, for you gave birth to God, O only blessed one.

Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy. We

pray you, hear and have mercy.

Reader: Lord have mercy (x3).

Priest: For you, O God, are merciful, and love humankind, and to
you we give glory, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now
and for ever and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen. In the name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father.

Priest: Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving and undivided

Trinity, always, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

THE SIX PSALMS

And we begin the Six Psalms, listening with complete silence and
compunction. The Superior, or the designated reader, with devotion
and fear of God says:

Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill among

men (x3).
Lord, you will open my lips: and my mouth will declare your praise
(x2).
Psalm 3
Lord, why have those who afflict me been multiplied? Many rise
against me. Many say to my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in his
God’. But you, Lord, are my helper, my glory, and the one who lifts
up my head. With my voice, I cried to the Lord, and he heard me
from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept; I awoke, because the
Lord will assist me. I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people
who surround me. Rise, Lord, save me, my God; because you have
struck all who are vainly my foes. You have smashed the teeth of
sinners. Salvation is the Lord’s, and your blessing is upon your
people.

And again:

I lay down and slept; I awoke because the Lord will assist me.

Psalm 37
Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, nor chastise me in your wrath.
For your arrows have been stuck fast in me, and you have laid a
heavy hand upon me. There is no healing in my flesh on account of
your wrath, nor peace in my bones on account of my sins. My
iniquities flooded over my head; like a heavy burden they weighed
heavily upon me. My wounds stank and festered on account of my
foolishness. I was wretched and utterly bowed down; I went about
mourning all day long. For my loins were filled with mockings, and
there is no healing in my flesh. I was maltreated and humiliated
exceedingly; I howled from the groaning of my heart. Lord, all my
desire is before you, and my groaning was not hidden from you. My
heart was troubled, my strength failed me; and even the light of my
eyes had gone from me. My friends and my neighbours drew near
and stood against me, and those nearest me stood far away. Those
who sought my life used force, and those who sought evils for me
spoke vanities, and meditated trickeries all day long. But I, like a deaf
man, heard nothing; like one who is dumb, who does not open his
mouth. So I became like one who cannot hear, and in whose mouth
there are no rebukes. For in you, Lord, I have hoped; you will answer
me, O Lord my God. For I said: Let my foes never exult over me.
When my foot slipped they crowed over me. For I am ready for
blows and my pain is with me continually. For I will declare my
iniquity and be troubled at my sin. But my enemies live and have
prevailed over me, and those who hate me unjustly have been
multiplied. Those who repay me with evils in place of good have
slandered me, since I pursued goodness. Do not forsake me, Lord;
my God, do not go far from me. Hasten to help me, Lord of my
salvation.

And again.

Do not forsake me, Lord; my God do not go far from me.

Hasten to help me, Lord of my salvation.

Psalm 62
O God, my God, I watch for you at dawn; my soul has thirsted for
you, my flesh how often in a desert, untrodden and waterless land.
Thus I appeared before you in the holy place, to see your power and
your glory. For your mercy is better than life; my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my
hands. May my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness; my mouth
will praise you with joyful lips. When I remembered you upon my
bed, every dawn I meditated upon you. For you became my helper,
and in the shelter of your wings I shall rejoice. My soul clung to you;
and your right hand upheld me. But those who vainly sought my life
will go down to the deepest parts of the earth, they will be delivered
to the power of the sword, they will be portions for foxes. But the
king will rejoice in God, and all who swear by him will be praised;
for the mouths of those who speak iniquities have been stopped.

And again.

Every dawn I meditated upon you, for you became my helper, and in
the shelter of your wings I shall rejoice.
My soul clung to you; and your right hand upheld me.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God (x3, without

Metanias). Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit. Both now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Psalm 87
Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried by day, and by night also
before you. Let my prayer come into your presence, and turn you ear
to my supplication. For my soul was filled with evils, and my life
drew near to Hell. I was reckoned among those that go down to the
Pit; I became as one that has no help, free among the dead. Like the
slain that sleep in the tomb, whom you remembered no more; and
they were cut off from your power. They placed me in the lowest Pit;
in darkness and in the shadow of death. Your wrath lay heavy upon
me, and you brought all your waves against me. You put my friends
far from me, and made me an abomination to them. I was handed
over and I came out; my eyes grew weak because of my beggary. I
cried to you, Lord, all the day; I stretched out my hands towards you.
Will you work wonders for the dead; or will physicians raise them
up again to praise you? Will any declare your mercy in the tomb, or
your truth in the place of destruction? Will your wonders be known
in the dark, or your justice in a land that has been forgotten? But to
you, Lord, I have cried, and in the morning my prayer will come
before you. Why have you rejected my soul, Lord; why do you turn
away your face from me? I am poor and in toils since my youth;
exalted, I was humbled and brought to despair. Your fierce anger
overwhelmed me, and your terrors appalled me. They surrounded
me like water all day long; they closed in upon me from every side.
Friend and neighbour you have put far from me, and my
companions because of my misery.

And again.

Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried by day; and by night also

before you.
Let my prayer come into your presence, and turn your ear to my
supplication.

The priest comes from the Altar and reads the morning prayers
quietly.

Psalm 102
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy
name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of his benefits. He
forgives all your iniquities; he heals all your diseases; he redeems
your life from corruption and crowns you with mercy and
compassion; he satisfies your desire with good things; your youth
will be renewed like an eagle’s. The Lord performs deeds of mercy
and judgement for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways
to Moses, his wishes to the children of Israel. The Lord is
compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and full of mercy. He
will not always be wrathful, nor will he be enraged for ever. He has
not dealt with us according to our iniquities, nor rewarded us
according to our sins. For, like the height of heaven above the earth,
the Lord has made his mercy prevail over those that fear him. As far
as the east is from the west, so far has he taken our sins from us. As a
father takes pity on his children the Lord has taken pity on those who
fear him. For he knows of what we are made; has remembered that
we are but dust. As for man, his days are but as grass, he will
blossom like a flower of the field; for when a wind has passed over it,
it will be no more and will know its place no longer. But the mercy of
the Lord is for ever and ever upon those who fear him; and his justice
upon their children’s children, upon those who keep his covenant
and remember his commandments to do them. The Lord has
prepared his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all. Bless
the Lord, all you his Angels, powerful in strength, who perform his
word, and listen to the voice of his words. Bless the Lord, all you his
Powers, his Ministers who do his will. Bless the Lord, all you his
works. In every place of his dominion, bless the Lord, O my soul!

And again.

In every place of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul!

Psalm 142
Lord, hear my prayer: in your truth give ear to my supplication, and
in your justice hear me. Do not enter into judgement with your
servant: for in your sight no one living can be justified. For the
enemy pursued my soul, humbled my life to the ground. Made me
dwell in darkness, like those for ever dead. My spirit grew
despondent within me and my heart within me was troubled. I
remembered days of old, I meditated on all your works: I made the
works of your hands my meditation. I stretched out my hands
towards you: my soul thirsted for you like a waterless land. Hear me
swiftly, O Lord, my spirit has failed. Do not turn your face from me,
or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. Make me hear of your
mercy in the morning, for I have hoped in you. Make known to me
the way in which I should walk, for to you I have lifted up my soul.
Deliver me from my enemies, Lord: I have run to you for shelter.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your good Spirit will
guide me in an upright land. For your name’s sake, O Lord, you will
give me life. In your justice, you will bring my soul out of trouble, in
your mercy slay my enemies, and destroy all those that afflict my
soul, for I am your servant.

And again.

In your justice hear me, O Lord, and do not enter into judgement
with your servant. (x2)

Your good Spirit will guide me in an upright land.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit.

Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Amen. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God (x3).

Metanias (x3)

Then the Litany by the Priest, outside the Sanctuary.

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy. And so after each petition.

For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us
pray to the Lord.
For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy
Churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
For this holy house, and for those who enter it with faith, reverence
and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
For our Archbishop N., for the honoured order of presbyters, for the
diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to
the Lord.
[For our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Family, her
Government, and all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
For our Father and Abbot Priest-monk N. and for all our brotherhood
in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.]
For this city[holy monastery], for every, city, town and village, and
for the faithful who dwell in them, let us pray to the Lord.
For favourable weather, an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and
temperate seasons, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who travel by land, air or water, for the sick, the suffering,
for those in captivity, and for their safety and salvation, let us pray to
the Lord.
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and constraint,
let us pray to the Lord.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by your
grace.
Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady,
Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us
entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our
God.

People: To you, O Lord.

Priest: For to you belong all glory, honour and worship, to the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of
ages.

People: Amen.

We sing Alleluia 3 times in the 8th Tone, saying first one of the
following verses.

Verse 1. From nightfall my spirit is awake for you, O God, for your
commands are light upon the earth.

Verse 2. Learn justice, inhabitants of the earth.

Verse 3. Jealousy will seize an untaught people, and now fire

devours their adversaries.

Verse 4. Bring evils upon them, O Lord, bring evils upon them, the
glorious ones of the earth.

Then the following Troparion is sung solemnly 3 times.

Tone 8

Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and

blessed is that servant whom he finds watching; but unworthy is the
one whom he finds slothful. Take care then, my soul, not to be
overcome with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and be shut out
of the kingdom; but rouse yourself and cry: Holy, holy, holy are you,
O God; through the protection of Bodiless Powers, have mercy on us.

Glory.
Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and
blessed is that servant whom he finds watching; but unworthy is the
one whom he finds slothful. Take care then, my soul, not to be
overcome with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and be shut out
of the kingdom; but rouse yourself and cry: Holy, holy, holy are you,
O God; through the prayers of the [here we mention the category of
the Patron of the Church, Apostle, Hierarch, Martyr etc], have mercy
on us.

Both now.

Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and

blessed is that servant whom he finds watching; but unworthy is the
one whom he finds slothful. Take care then, my soul, not to be
overcome with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and be shut out
of the kingdom; but rouse yourself and cry: Holy, holy, holy are you,
O God; through the Mother of God, have mercy on us.

[According to the Russian Typikon the ending is the same each time:
through the Mother of God have mercy on us. The modern Greek
books place a small Litany here, with the ekphonesis, For yours is the
might…]

Then we recite Kathisma 4 [Psalms 24-31] of the Psalter. After the

Psalter the following Kathisma:

Tone 1. The soldiers watching

The present day makes the holy sufferings dawn for the world like
saving lights; for Christ in his goodness is hastening to suffer; he who
holds the universe in the hollow of his hand accepts to be hung upon
a Tree to save humankind.

Glory. Both now.

The present day makes the holy sufferings dawn for the world like
saving lights; for Christ in his goodness is hastening to suffer; he who
holds the universe in the hollow of his hand accepts to be hung upon
a Tree to save humankind.

Then Kathisma 5 [Psalms 32-36] of the Psalter is read, and after it the
following Kathisma to the same melody.
 Tone 1. The soldiers watching

Invisible Judge, how have you been made visible in flesh and are
coming to be slain by lawless men, so condemning our
condemnation by your passion. Therefore with one accord, O Word,
we offer praise, majesty and glory to your authority.

Glory. Both now.

Invisible Judge, how have you been made visible in flesh and are
coming to be slain by lawless men, so condemning our
condemnation by your passion. Therefore with one accord, O Word,
we offer praise, majesty and glory to your authority.

Then Kathisma 6 [Psalms 37-45] of the Psalter is read, and after it the
following Kathisma:

Tone 8. The Wisdom and Word.

The present day is resplendent with the first fruits of the Lord’s
sufferings. Come then, lovers of feasts, let us meet it with songs; for
the Creator is coming to accept Cross, afflictions and scourges, as he
is judged by Pilate; therefore too, struck on the face by a slave, he
endures all that he may save humankind. And so let us cry aloud to
him: Lover of humankind, Christ our God, grant forgiveness of
offences to those who with faith worship your most pure sufferings.

Glory. Both now.

The present day is resplendent with the first fruits of the Lord’s
sufferings. Come then, lovers of feasts, let us meet it with songs; for
the Creator is coming to accept Cross, afflictions and scourges, as he
is judged by Pilate; therefore too, struck on the face by a slave, he
endures all that he may save humankind. And so let us cry aloud to
him: Lover of humankind, Christ God, grant forgiveness of offences
to those who with faith worship your most pure sufferings.

[The Russian Typikon prescribes three readings, one after each

Kathisma, from St John Chrysostom’s commentary on St Matthew’s
Gospel, without specifying the references precisely.]
And at once the Priest says:
And that he would count us worthy to listen to the holy Gospel, let
us pray to the Lord God.

Reader: Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the holy Gospel. Peace
to all.

Reader: And to your Spirit.

Priest: The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Reader: Glory to you, Lord, glory to you!

Priest: Let us attend.

[21:18-43]

At that time, as Jesus was going back to the city, he was hungry. And
seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it, and found nothing on
it, but only leaves. And he said to it, ‘May fruit no longer come from
you for ever.’ And at once the fig tree was withered. When they saw
it, the disciples marvelled and said, ‘How was the fig tree withered at
once?’ But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you, if
you have faith and do not hesitate, not only will you do this to the fig
tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and cast into
the sea’, it will be done. And everything you ask for in prayer with
faith you will receive.’ And when he came to the temple precinct the
chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching
and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who
gave you this authority?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I shall
also ask you one question, and if you answer me, I shall also tell you
by what authority I do these things. John’s baptism, where was it
from, from heaven or from humans?’ They discussed this among
themselves and said, ‘If we say ‘from heaven’, he will say to us,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’. But if we same ‘from humans’,
we are afraid of the crowd, for all hold John to be a prophet.’ So they
answered Jesus and said, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them,
‘Nor shall I tell you by what authority I do these things. What is your
opinion? A man had two sons, and he approached the first and said
to him, ‘My son, go and work in my vineyard today’. He answered, ‘I
do not wish to’. But later he changed his mind and went. And he
approached the second and said the same to him. But he answered,
‘Yes, sir’. And he did not go. Which of the two did the will father’s
will?’ They said to him, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, I say to
you. The publicans and harlots are going ahead of you into the
kingdom of God. For John came to you in the way of justice, and you
did not believe him. But the publicans and harlots believed him. But
even when you saw, you did not later change your minds and
believe him. Hear this parable. There was a landowner who planted
a vineyard and put a hedge round it and dug a wine press in it and
built a tower. Then he let it out to tenant farmers and went abroad.
When the time of the vintage drew near, his sent his slaves to the
farmers to collect his produce. But the farmers seized his slaves and
one they flogged, one they killed and one they stoned. Once again he
sent other slaves, more than at first, and they treated them the same
way. Afterwards he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect
my son’. But when the farmers saw the son they said among
themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and obtain his
inheritance’. And they took him and cast him outside the vineyard
and killed him. So when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he
do to those farmers?’ They said to him, ‘He will bring those evil men
to an evil end. And he will hire out the vineyard to other farmers,
who will return his produce to him at the proper times.’ Jesus said to
them, ‘Did you never read in the scriptures, ‘The stone that the
builders rejected has become the head of the corner. This is the
Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you,
the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a
nation that will produce its fruits’.

Reader: Glory to you, Lord, glory to you!

And at once:
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, in accordance with your great mercy.
According to the multitude of your compassion blot out my offence.
Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my
sin. For I acknowledge my wickedness, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you alone I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
that you may be justified in your words and win when you are
judged. For see, in wickedness I was conceived and in sin my mother
bore me. For see, you have loved truth; you have shown me the
hidden and secret things of your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with
hyssop and I shall be cleansed. You will wash me and I shall be made
whiter than snow. You will make me hear of joy and gladness; the
bones which have been humbled will rejoice. Turn away your face
from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create a clean heart in
me, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me. Do not cast me out
from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Give
me back the joy of your salvation, and establish me with your
sovereign Spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners
will turn to you again. O God, the God of my salvation, deliver me
from bloodshed and my tongue will rejoice at your justice. Lord, you
will open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. For if
you had wanted a sacrifice, I would have given it. You will not take
pleasure in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a
broken and a humbled heart God will not despise. Do good to Sion,
Lord, in your good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt.
Then you will be well pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness,
oblation and whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer calves upon
your altar.

We begin the Canon by St Kosmas, of which the Acrostic is:

On Monday

In each Ode the Irmos is sung twice, and the troparia are repeated to
make 12. The Irmos is repeated as Katavasia.

Ode 1. Tone 2. Irmos.

‘Let us sing to the Lord, who by his divine command dried up the
pathless, raging sea, and through it guided the people of Israel to
march on foot, for he has been greatly glorified.’

Troparia

Ineffable the condescension of God’s Word, for Christ himself, being

both God and man, and not considering his being God as something
to be grasped, showed this to his disciples by being formed as a
slave; for he has been greatly glorified.

Myself rich in godhead, I have come to serve Adam who has become
poor, whose form I, the Creator, have willingly put on, and to lay
down my life as a ransom for his, I who am impassible in my
godhead.

Katavasia

Let us sing to the Lord, who by his divine command dried up the
pathless, raging sea, and through it guided the people of Israel to
march on foot, for he has been greatly glorified.

Priest: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by
your grace.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most

blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary,
with all the Saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our
whole life to Christ our God.

Reader: To you, O Lord.

Priest: For you are the King of peace and the Saviour of our souls,
and to you we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for
ever and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

After the small litany the Kontakion

Tone 8.

Jacob lamented the loss of Joseph, yet the noble one was seated in a
chariot, honoured like a king; for as he had not been slave to the
pleasures of the Egyptian woman, he was glorified in return by the
one who sees the hearts of men, and bestows an incorruptible crown.

The Ikos

Let us now add a lament to his lament and let us shed tears, with
Jacob weeping for the revered and temperate Joseph, who though
enslaved in body, guarded his soul unenslaved, and became lord of
all Egypt; for God grants to his servants an incorruptible crown.

The Menologion of the day and then the following notice:

On holy and great Monday we commemorate the blessed and most

virtuous Joseph, and the fig tree which was cursed by the Lord and
withered.

Verses on the most virtuous Joseph.

Chaste Joseph a just ruler was revealed,
And furnisher of corn: O wealth of virtues!

Others on the withered fig-tree.

A fig tree to the Hebrews’ congregation
Devoid of spiritual fruits Christ here compares,
And cursing withers: let us flee its passion.

At the prayers of the all-virtuous Joseph, Christ God, have mercy on

us. Amen.

Ode 8. The Irmos.

‘The unwearied fire, fed with unlimited fuel, shuddered at the bodies
of the shining youths, like their souls undefiled; while as the ever-
living flame withered away, an everlasting hymn was sung: All you
his works, praise the Lord and highly exalt him to all the ages.’

Troparia

‘Then all will know that you are my disciples, if you keep my
commandments’, says the Saviour to his friends, as he goes to his
passion. ‘Be at peace with one another and with all; think humble
thoughts and so be exalted; and, acknowledging me as Lord, praise
and highly exalt me to all the ages’.

‘Let might over your fellows be for you the opposite of the order of
the nations; their self-chosen will is not my lot, but tyranny. The one
among you then who wishes to be leader of the rest, let him be the
last of all; and acknowledging me as Lord, praise and highly exalt me
to all the ages’.

Katavasia
The unwearied fire, fed with unlimited fuel, shuddered at the bodies
of the shining youths, like their souls undefiled; while as the ever-
living flame withered away, an everlasting hymn was sung: All you
his works, praise the Lord and highly exalt him to all the ages.

The Magnificat is not sung, but instead the 9th Ode.

Ode 9. The Irmos.

‘Christ, our Fashioner, you magnified the Mother of God who gave
you birth, from whom you put on a body with passions like ours, the
atonement of our faults of ignorance; as we call her blessed, all we
generations magnify you.’

Troparia

Wisdom of all, you said to your Apostles, ‘Casting off every stain of
passion, take up a prudent intent, worthy of the divine kingdom. By
this you will be glorified, shining more brilliantly than the sun’.

You said, Lord, to your own disciples, ‘Looking to me alone, do not

have lofty thoughts, but live with humble. Drink the very cup which
I drink, and you shall be glorified in my Father’s kingdom’.

Katavasia

Christ, our Fashioner, you magnified the Mother of God who gave
you birth, from whom you put on a body with passions like ours, the
atonement of our faults of ignorance; as we call her blessed, all we
generations magnify you.

Priest: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by
your grace.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most

blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary,
with all the Saints, let us entrust ourselves and one another and our
whole life to Christ our God.

Reader: To you, O Lord.

Priest: For all the Powers of heaven praise you, and to you we give
glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and to the ages
of ages.

Reader: Amen.

After the small litany, the Exapostilarion sung slowly and solemnly:
Tone 3. Model Melody.

Your bridal chamber, O my Saviour, I see all adorned, but I have no

garment so that I may enter it. Make bright the mantle of my soul, O
Giver of light, and save me! (x3)

At Lauds we insert 4 Idiomel Stichera, doubling them.

Tone 1

Psalm 148
[A] Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord
from the heavens; praise him in the highest. To you praise is due, O
God.

[B] Praise him, all his angels: Praise him, all his Powers. To you
praise is due, O God.

[A] Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you stars and light.

[B] Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters that are above
the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord.

[A] For he spoke and they came into being; he commanded and they
were created.

[B] He established them for ever and ever; he made an ordinance,

and it shall not pass away.

[A] Praise the Lord from the earth; praise him, you sea-monsters and
all deeps;
[B] Fire and hail, snow and ice and storm-wind; things that do his
word.

[A] Mountains and all hills, fruiting trees and all cedars;

[B] Beasts of the wild, and all cattle, creeping things and winged
birds;

[A] Kings of the earth and all peoples, rulers and all judges of the
earth;

[B] Young men and maidens: old men and youths together, let them
praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone has been exalted.

[A] His praise is above earth and heaven, and he will exalt the horn
of his people.

[B] A hymn for all his holy ones; for the children of Israel, a people
that draws near him.

Psalm 149
[A] Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the Church of the holy
ones.

[B] Let Israel rejoice in him that made him, let the children of Sion be
joyful in their king.

[A] Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing his praise
with timbrel and with harp.

[B] For the Lord is well-pleased with his people; he will exalt the
meek with salvation.

[A] His holy ones will exult in glory, and rejoice upon their beds.

[B] The high praises of God in their mouths, and two-edged swords
in their hands,

[A] To exact vengeance among the nations, punishments among the

peoples.

[B] To bind their kings in fetters; and their nobles in shackles of iron.
[A] To execute upon them the judgement that is decreed; such glory
will be for all his holy ones.

Psalm 150
[B] Praise God in his saints; praise him in the firmament of his
power.

[A] Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him according to the
greatness of his majesty.

By Monk Kosmas. Tone 1

As the Lord was coming to his voluntary passion, he said to his

Apostles on the road, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son
of man will be betrayed, as it is written of him’. Come then, let us too,
with minds made pure, journey with him, and let us be crucified
with him, and for his sake become dead to the pleasures of life, that
we may live with him and hear him as he cries, ‘I am no longer going
up the earthly Jerusalem to suffer, but to my Father and your Father,
and to my God and your God. And I shall raise you up with me to
the Jerusalem above, in the kingdom of heaven’.

[B] Praise him in the blast of the trumpet: praise him upon the lute
and harp.

As the Lord was coming to his voluntary passion, he said to his

Apostles on the road, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son
of man will be betrayed, as it is written of him’. Come then, let us too,
with minds made pure, journey with him, and let us be crucified
with him, and for his sake become dead to the pleasures of life, that
we may live with him and hear him as he cries, ‘I am no longer going
up the earthly Jerusalem to suffer, but to my Father and your Father,
and to my God and your God. And I shall raise you up with me to
the Jerusalem above, in the kingdom of heaven’.

[A] Praise him with the timbrel and dances: praise him upon the
strings and pipe.

By the same. Tone 5

Believers, having reached the saving passion of Christ our God, let us
glorify his ineffable forbearance; so that in his compassion he may,
with himself, also raise us up, who have been slain by sin, as he is
good and loves humankind.

[B] Praise him on fine-sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of

gladness. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Believers, having reached the saving passion of Christ our God, let us
glorify his ineffable forbearance; so that in his compassion he may,
with himself, also raise us up, who have been slain by sin, as he is
good and loves humankind.

[A] Glory. Both now. By the same. Tone 5

Lord, as you were coming to your passion, you strengthened your

disciples, taking them aside and saying, ‘How have you not
remembered my words, which I spoke to you of old, ‘Is it not written
no prophet may be killed but in Jerusalem’? Now the moment has
come of which I spoke to you. For see, I am being handed over to be
mocked by the hands of sinners, who, when they have nailed me to a
cross and handed me over for burial, will reckon me a loathsome
corpse. Nevertheless, take courage, for on the third day I arise, for
the joy of believers and eternal life’.

Then the Superior says:

To you glory is due, O Lord, our God, and to you we give glory, to
the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever
and to ages of ages. Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among

men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you,
we thank you for your great glory. O Lord, heavenly King, God the
almighty Father. O Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ and the
Holy Spirit. Lord God, lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes
away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us, who takes away the
sins of the world. Receive our prayer, you who sit on the right hand
of the Father and have mercy upon us. For you alone are holy, you
alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day I will bless you, and praise your name for ever and ever. I
said, Lord, have mercy upon me; heal my soul, for I have sinned
against you. Lord, I have run to you for refuge; teach me to do your
will for you are my God. For with you is the source of life, and in
your light we shall see light. O continue your merciful kindness
toward those who know you.

Grant, Lord, this day to keep us without sin. Blessed are you, Lord,
the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name for to
the ages. Amen. May your mercy, Lord, be upon us, as we have
hoped in you. Blessed are you, Lord, teach me your statutes. Blessed
are you, Master, make me understand your statutes. Blessed are you,
Holy One, enlighten me with your statutes. Lord, your mercy is for
ever; do not scorn the work of your hands. To you praise is due, to
you song is due, to you glory is due, to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.
Amen.

Priest: Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.

Reader: Lord, have mercy.

Help us, save, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by your grace.
That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us
ask the Lord.

Reader: Grant this, O Lord.

Priest: An Angel of peace, a faithful guide and guardian of our souls

and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Pardon and forgiveness of our sins and offences, let us ask of the
Lord.
Things good, and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world,
let us ask of the Lord.
That we may live out the rest of our days in peace and repentance, let
us ask of the Lord.
A Christian end to our life, painless, unashamed and peaceful, and a
good defence before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us ask.
Commemorating our all-holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady,
Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us
entrust ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our
God.

Reader: To you, O Lord.

Priest: For you are a God of mercies and of pity, and to you we give
glory, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever,
and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

Priest: Peace to all.

Reader: And to your spirit.

Priest: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

Reader: To you, O Lord.

Priest: For yours it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and
to you we give glory, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

After the Litany and the Prayer at the Bowing down of heads, the
Aposticha:
By Monk Kosmas. Tone 5

O Lord, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, not understanding the

ineffable mystery of your dispensation, asked you to grant her own
children the honour of a temporary kingdom; but instead of this you
promised your friends that they would drink cup of death; a cup
which you said you would drink before them, a cleansing from sins.
And so we cry to you: O Salvation of our souls, glory to you!

Verse 1. We were filled in the morning with your mercy, O Lord, and
we rejoiced and were glad. In all our days, let us be glad, for all the
days you have afflicted us, for the years we have suffered adversity.
Look upon your servants and your works, and guide their children.

By the Same.

O Lord, instructing your own disciples to think thoughts of

perfection, you said, ‘Do not to be like the nations, so as to rule over
the least strong. It shall not be so with you, my disciples, because my
wish is to be poor. The first among you, then, let him be the servant
of all; the ruler as the ruled, the leader as the last. For I have come to
serve Adam who became poor, and to give my life as a ransom for
many, those who cry to me: Glory to you!’

Verse 2. And may the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us.
Direct the work of our hands, O direct the work of our hands.

Fearing the punishment of the withered fig tree, because of its lack of
fruit, brethren, let us offer fruits worthy of repentance to Christ, who
grants us his great mercy.

Glory. Both now. By the same. Tone 8.

The serpent, having found in the Egyptian woman a second Eve,

hastened by flatteries to trip up Joseph; but he, abandoning his tunic,
fled from sin, and though naked was not ashamed, like the first
formed before his disobedience. At his entreaties, O Christ, have
mercy on us.

Then the Superior says:

How good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O
Most High. To declare your love in the morning, and your truth
every night.

Reader: Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us

(three times).

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins.
Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our
infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now
and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen

Our Father, in heaven, may your name be hallowed, your kingdom

come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our
daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and
do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Priest: For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages
of ages.

Reader: Amen.

After the Our Father, we say the following Apolytikion:

Standing in the temple of your glory, we think we stand in heaven, O

Mother of God. O gate of heaven, open to us the door of your mercy.

[The modern Greek books replace this with the Kontakion of the day:
Jacob lamented the loss of Joseph, and the noble one was seated in a
chariot, honoured like a king; for as he had not been slave to the
pleasures of the Egyptian woman, he was glorified in return by the
one who sees the hearts of men, and bestows an incorruptible
crown.]

Then Lord have mercy (x40). Greater in honour than the Cherubim,
and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without
corruption you gave birth to God the Word, truly the Mother of God
we magnify you. In the name of the Lord, bless, Father.

Priest: Blessed be he who is.

The Superior: Heavenly King, establish our rulers: strengthen the

faith: calm the nations: make the world peaceful: guard well this holy
church [monastery]: assign our fathers and brothers who have gone
before us to the tents of the just, and accept us in repentance and
confession, as you are good and love humankind.

Then the prayer of St Ephrem with 4 full and 12 small metanias

Lord and Master of my life, do not give me a spirit of sloth, idle

curiosity, love of power and useless chatter. (Prostration)

Rather accord to me, your servant, a spirit of chastity, humility,

patience and love. (Prostration)

Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults, and not to
condemn my brother; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.
(Prostration)
We then make 12 small metanias, then one further great metania as
we repeat the last line of the prayer.

Then at once Come let us worship, and the First Hour, during which
we do not add a Kathisma of the Psalter, nor at the Ninth Hour.