TRIODION THIRD WEEK OF LENT THURSDAY MATINS (After the 2nd reading of the Psalter): SESSIONAL HYMN (by Joseph) TONE 6 DISCIPLES OF THE SAVIOR, FIXED AND UNMOVING STARS THAT SHINE UPON THE WORLD, GIVE LIGHT TO MY SOUL, BLINDED BY SIN; GRANT THAT I MAY SHARE IN THE DAY OF THE LORD KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF SALVATION! DELIVER ME FROM HELL'S DARKNESS WHERE NO LIGHT SHINES,// THAT I MAY GIVE YOU GLORY! GLORY... DISCIPLES OF THE SAVIOR... NOW AND EVER... (Theotokion) HOLY LADY, MOTHER OF CHRIST OUR GOD, YOU HAVE INEFFABLY BORNE THE MAKER OF ALL! TOGETHER WITH THE HOLY APOSTLES, PRAY TO HIM AT ALL TIMES, THAT IN HIS LOVE// HE MAY RELEASE US FROM THE PASSIONS AND GRANT US REMISSION OF OUR SINS! (After the 3rd reading of the Psalter): SESSIONAL HYMN (by Theodore) TONE 6 DIVINE APOSTLES, STARS THAT SHINE ON ALL THE WORLD, GIVE LIGHT TO US WHO SING YOUR PRAISES AS WE KEEP THE FAST! WE PRAY THAT WE ALL MAY BE COUNTED WORTHY TO LOOK UPON THE WOOD OF THE LIFE-GIVING CROSS WITH PURE EYES, EMBRACING IT WITH PURE LIPS AND CRYING ALOUD WITH JOY:// O LORD, GLORY TO YOU! GLORY... DIVINE APOSTLES... NOW AND EVER... (Theotokion) VIRGIN THEOTOKOS, GOOD HOPE OF THE WORLD: I ASK ONLY FOR YOUR STRONG PROTECTION! HAVE COMPASSION ON YOUR DEFENCELESS PEOPLE: ONLY BLESSED ONE, PRAY TO THE MERCIFUL GOD// THAT OUR SOULS MAY BE DELIVERED FROM EVERY THREAT. TRIODION THIRD WEEK OF LENT THURSDAY MATINS APOSTIKHA TONE 6 I, THE PRODIGAL, HAVE FALLEN FROM SONSHIP. I HAVE LIVED WITH SWINE AS A SLAVE, EATING FOOD BELOW THEIR FARE! TURNING FROM EVIL TO GOOD, I CRY IN REPENTANCE: FATHER, I HAVE SINNED BEFORE HEAVEN AND BEFORE YOU!// GRANT ME GREAT MERCY AS I RETURN. I, THE PRODIGAL, HAVE FALLEN... OUR GOD HAS SHOWN MARVELLOUS THINGS IN HIS CHOSEN AND SAINTS. REJOICE AND BE GLAD, YOU HIS SERVANTS! HE HAS PREPARED CROWNS AND HIS KINGDOM FOR YOU!// BUT DO NOT FORGET US, WE ENTREAT YOU! GNE... (Theotokion) THEOTOKOS, YOU ARE THE TRUE VINE WHO BLOSSOMED FOR US THE FRUIT OF LIFE: IMPLORE HIM, WE PRAY YOU, LADY, TOGETHER WITH THE APOSTLES AND ALL THE SAINTS,// THAT HE WILL HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS. TRIODION THIRD WEEK OF LENT THURSDAY SIXTH HOUR TROPARION OF THE PROPHECY TONE 3 LOVER OF MANKIND, IF YOU REMEMBER OUR SINS, WHAT IS OUR HOPE OF SALVATION? BUT GRANT US YOUR HELP FROM ON HIGH, LORD,// FOR YOU ARE BOUNTIFUL! PROKEIMENON OF THE PROPHECY TONE 4 SAVE ME, O GOD, BY YOUR NAME * AND JUDGE ME BY YOUR STRENGTH. VERSE: Hear my prayer, O God, and hearken to the words of my mouth. PROPHECY OF ISAIAH 11:10 - 12:2 PROKEIMENON TONE 7 HEAR MY PRAYER, O GOD, * AND DO NOT HIDE FROM MY SUPPLICATION! VERSE: Attend to me, and answer me! TRIODION THIRD WEEK OF LENT THURSDAY VESPERS "LORD I CALL..." TONE 5 (By Joseph) SAVIOR, OUR TRUE SWEETNESS! OF OLD, YOU SWEETENED THE BITTER WATERS OF MARA WITH THE WOOD THAT PREFIGURED YOUR DIVINE CROSS. ON IT YOU FREELY WILLED TO BE CRUCIFIED. YOU TASTED GALL, AND YOUR SIDE WAS PIERCED BY A LANCE RELEASING THE WATER OF REDEMPTION FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE MAN OF EARTH! THEREFORE, WE GLORIFY YOUR INEFFABLE POWER. WE BESEECH YOU, LORD: GRANT US THE FEAR OF YOU IN THE FAST,// FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND GREAT MERCY! WORD, CRUCIFIED UPON THE CROSS, GATHERING TOGETHER THOSE WHO HAD DEPARTED FROM YOU: YOU HAVE LIFTED UP MY REASON FROM THE POISONING OF PASSION. ENRICH ME NOW WITH EVERY GOOD WORK, INSTILLING IN MY HEART THE PUREST FEAR OF YOU; IN MY SOUL, PERFECT LOVE FOR YOU. BY ABSTINENCE, PRAYER AND PETITION MAY I PLEASE YOU AHD RECEIVE GREAT MERCY,// BEHOLDING THE DAY OF YOUR RESURRECTION IN JOY! TONE 1 (By Theodore) WE HAVE COMPLETED THE THIRD WEEK OF THE PRECIOUS FAST. ENABLE US, CHRIST THE WORD, TO BEHOLD THE WOOD OF YOUR LIFE-BEARING CROSS, TO BOW BEFORE IT WORTHILY, TO PRAISE AND GLORIFY YOUR MAJESTY, TO EXALT AND MAGNIFY YOUR PASSION, TO ATTAIN IN PURITY THE HOLY, GLORIOUS RESURRECTION THROUGH WHICH ADAM RE-ENTERS PARADISE:// THE MYSTICAL PASCHA! TRIODION THIRD WEEK OF LENT THURSDAY VESPERS PROKEIMENON TONE 6 HAVE MERCY ON ME, O GOD * FOR MEN TRAMPLE UPON ME! VERSE: All day long my foes oppress me! READING FROM GENESIS 7:11 - 8:3 PROKEIMENON TONE 7 BE MERCIFUL TO ME, O GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME, * FOR IN YOU MY SOUL TAKES REFUGE. VERSE: In the shadow of Your wings I will seek refuge! READING FROM PROVERBS 10: 1-22 TRIODION THIRD WEEK OF LENT THURSDAY VESPERS APOSTIKHA TONE 6 THE LIFE OF ALL WAS HUNG ON THE WOOD OF THE CROSS. GIVE LIFE TO MY SOUL, MORTIFIED BY PASSIONS, O CHRIST. DO NOT FORSAKE YOUR LOST SHEEP FOREVER, GRACIOUS SHEPHERD, THOUGH I HAVE FORSAKEN YOUR COMMANDMENTS AND THE RICHES OF SINLESSNESS. I HAVE CORRUPTED MYSELF THROUGH FOOLISH ENDEAVORS.// BUT DRAW ME IN REPENTANCE AND RENEW ME, ONLY MERCIFUL ONE. THE LIFE OF ALL... YOUR MARTYRS, LORD, DID NOT DENY YOU. NOR DID THEY TURN FROM YOUR COMMANDMENTS.// BY THEIR INTERCESSIONS HAVE MERCY ON US. GNE... (Theotokion) WHEN YOUR MOTHER BEHELD YOU CRUCIFIED, O CHRIST, SHE CRIED: WHAT STRANGE MYSTERY DO I SEE, MY SON? HOW ARE YOU DYING UPON THE CROSS?// CRUCIFIED IN THE FLESH? THE GIVER OF LIFE!