TRIODION GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY BRIDEGROOM MATINS (After the 1st reading of the Psalter): KATHISMA HYMN TONE 3 THE HARLOT CAME TO YOU, LOVER OF MANKIND, POURING MYRRH AND TEARS ON YOUR FEET. AT YOUR COMMAND SHE WAS DELIVERED FROM THE STENCH OF HER EVIL DEEDS, BUT YOUR GRACELESS DISCIPLE, THOUGH BREATHING YOUR GRACE, REJECTED IT AND WALLOWED IN FILTH, SELLING YOU IN HIS LOVE OF MONEY.// GLORY, O CHRIST, TO YOUR COMPASSION! GNE... THE HARLOT CAME TO YOU... (After the 2nd reading of the Psalter): KATHISMA HYMN TONE 4 DECEITFUL JUDAS, BURNING WITH LOVE OF MONEY, DECEITFULLY PLOTTED TO BETRAY YOU, LORD, THE TREASURY OF LIFE. HE DRUNKENLY RUNS TO THE JEWS AND SAYS TO THOSE TRANSGRESSORS: WHAT WILL YOU GIVE ME, AND I SHALL DELIVER HIM TO YOU,// THAT HE MAY BE CRUCIFIED? GNE... DECEITFUL JUDAS... (After the 3rd reading of the Psalter): KATHISMA HYMN TONE 1 IN TEARS THE HARLOT CRIED OUT, COMPASSIONATE ONE, AS SHE FERVENTLY WIPED YOUR MOST PURE FEET WITH THE HAIR OF HER HEAD, AND SHE GROANED FROM THE DEPTHS OF HER SOUL: CAST ME NOT AWAY, NEITHER ABHOR ME, MY GOD, BUT RECEIVE ME IN MY REPENTANCE AND SAVE ME,// FOR YOU ALONE ARE THE LOVER OF MANKIND. GNE... IN TEARS THE HARLOT CRIED OUT... TRIODION GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY BRIDEGROOM MATINS IKOS The woman who was once a profligate suddenly is wise. She hates her shameful deeds and carnal pleasures, remembering the magnitude of her shame and the verdict of condemnation which awaits profligates and harlots. Of these, I am indeed the first, and though in terror, I foolishly remain in my evil ways. But. the harlot, though in terror, hastens to the Deliverer to cry: In Your compassion and love for mankind,// TRIODION GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY BRIDEGROOM MATINS THE PRAISES TONE 1 A HARLOT RECOGNIZED YOU AS GOD, O SON OF THE VIRGIN. WITH TEARS EQUAL TO HER PAST DEEDS, SHE BESOUGHT YOU WEEPING: LOOSE MY DEBT AS I HAVE LOOSED MY HAIR. LOVE THE WOMAN WHO, THOUGH JUSTLY HATED, LOVES YOU. THEN WITH THE PUBLICANS WILL I PROCLAIM YOU,// BENEFACTOR AND LOVER OF MANKIND. THE HARLOT MINGLED PRECIOUS MYRRH WITH HER TEARS. SHE POURED IT ON YOUR MOST PURE FEET AND KISSED THEM. AT ONCE YOU JUSTIFIED HER. YOU SUFFERED FOR OUR SAKES:// FORGIVE US ALSO, AND SAVE US. AS THE SINFUL WOMAN WAS BRINGING HER OFFERING OF MYRRH, THE DISCIPLE WAS SCHEMING WITH LAWLESS MEN. SHE REJOICED IN POURING OUT HER PRECIOUS GIFT. HE HASTENED TO SELL THE PRECIOUS ONE. SHE RECOGNIZED THE MASTER, BUT JUDAS PARTED FROM HIM. SHE WAS SET FREE, BUT JUDAS WAS ENSLAVED TO THE ENEMY. HOW TERRIBLE IS SLOTHFULNESS! HOW GREAT HER REPENTANCE! SAVIOR, YOU SUFFERED FOR OUR SAKES:// GRANT US ALSO REPENTANCE, AND SAVE US. O, THE WRETCHEDNESS OF JUDAS! HE SAW THE HARLOT KISS THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST, BUT DECEITFULLY HE CONTEMPLATED THE KISS OF BETRAYAL. SHE LOOSED HER HAIR WHILE HE BOUND HIMSELF WITH WRATH. HE OFFERED THE STENCH OF WICKEDNESS INSTEAD OF MYRRH, FOR ENVY CANNOT DISTINGUISH VALUE. O, THE WRETCHEDNESS OF JUDAS!// DELIVER OUR SOULS FROM THIS, O GOD. GLORY... TONE 2 THE SINFUL WOMAN RAN TO BUY THE PRECIOUS MYRRH WITH WHICH TO ANOINT HER SAVIOR. SHE CRIED TO THE MERCHANT: GIVE ME MYRRH,// THAT I MAY ANOINT HIM WHO HAS CLEANSED ALL MY SINS. NOW AND EVER... TONE 6 THE WOMAN WHO WAS ENGULFED IN SIN FOUND YOU A HAVEN OF SALVATION. SHE POURED OUT MYRRH WITH HER TEARS AND CRIED TO YOU: BEHOLD THE ONE WHO BRINGS REPENTANCE TO SINNERS! RESCUE ME FROM THE TEMPEST OF SIN, MASTER,// THROUGH YOUR GREAT MERCY. TRIODION GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY BRIDEGROOM MATINS APOSTIKHA TONE 6 TODAY CHRIST COMES TO THE HOUSE OF THE PHARISEE. A SINFUL WOMAN CRAWLS TO HIS FEET AND CRIES: LOOK AT ME WHO AM ENGULFED IN SIN, IN DESPAIR BECAUSE OF MY EVIL DEEDS. BUT IN YOUR GOODNESS DO NOT DESPISE ME. GRANT ME FORGIVENESS OF MY EVIL DEEDS, LORD,// AND SAVE ME. THE HARLOT SPREAD OUT HER HAIR TO YOU, MASTER; JUDAS SPREAD OUT HIS HANDS TO LAWLESS MEN: SHE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS; HE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE SOME SILVER. WE CRY TO YOU, FOR YOU WERE SOLD FOR US AND YET SET US FREE:// O LORD, GLORY TO YOU! THE CORRUPT AND FILTHY WOMAN DREW NEAR TO YOU, SAVIOR. SHE POURED OUT HER TEARS ON YOUR FEET AND THUS ANNOUNCED YOUR PASSION. HOW CAN I GAZE ON YOU, MASTER? YET YOU CAME TO SAVE THE HARLOT. RAISE ME FROM THE DEPTHS, FOR I AM DEAD IN SIN, AS YOU RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE TOMB AFTER FOUR DAYS. ACCEPT ME IN MY MISERY, LORD,// AND SAVE ME. VERSE: I will thank You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wondrous works! DESPAIRING FOR HER LIFE, AND DESPAIRED OF FOR HER DEEDS, THE WOMAN CAME BEARING MYRRH TO YOU AND CRIED: SON OF THE VIRGIN, THOUGH I AM A HARLOT, DO NOT CAST ME ASIDE. JOY OF THE ANGELS, DO NOT DESPISE MY TEARS. AS YOU DID NOT REJECT ME AS A SINNER,// ACCEPT ME NOW AS A PENITENT, IN YOUR GREAT MERCY. GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY APOSTIKHA (continued) page two GNE... (The Hymn of Cassia) TONE 8 THE WOMAN HAD FALLEN INTO MANY SINS, O LORD, YET WHEN SHE PERCEIVED YOUR DIVINITY, SHE JOINED THE RANKS OF THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN. IN TEARS SHE BROUGHT YOU MYRRH BEFORE YOUR BURIAL. SHE CRIED: WOE IS ME! FOR I LIVE IN THE NIGHT OF LICENTIOUSNESS, SHROUDED IN THE DARK AND MOONLESS LOVE OF SIN. BUT ACCEPT THE FOUNTAIN OF MY TEARS, AS YOU GATHERED THE WATERS OF THE SEA INTO CLOUDS. BOW DOWN YOUR EAR TO THE SIGHING OF MY HEART, AS YOU BOWED THE HEAVENS IN YOUR INEFFABLE CONDESCENSION. ONCE EVE HEARD YOUR FOOTSTEP IN PARADISE IN THE COOL OF THE DAY, AND IN FEAR SHE RAN AND HID HERSELF. BUT NOW I WILL TENDERLY EMBRACE THOSE PURE FEET AND WIPE THEM WITH THE HAIR OF MY HEAD. WHO CAN MEASURE THE MULTITUDE OF MY SINS, OR THE DEPTH OF YOUR JUDGMENTS, SAVIOR OF MY SOUL?// DO NOT DESPISE YOUR SERVANT IN YOUR IMMEASURABLE MERCY. TRIODION GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY BRIDEGROOM SIXTH HOUR TROPARION OF THE PROPHECY TONE 8 TODAY, THE EVIL ASSEMBLY HAS GATHERED AND PLOTS AGAINST YOU. TODAY JUDAS RECEIVED CONDEMNATION FROM THE AGREEMENT: CAIAPHAS CONFESSES UNKNOWINGLY. FOR THE SAKE OF ALL YOU WILL ACCEPT DEATH FREELY;// CHRIST GOD, OUR REDEEMER: GLORY TO YOU! PROKEIMENON OF THE PROPHECY TONE 4 THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU FROM ZION * HE WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH. VERSE: Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord! PROPHECY OF EZEKIEL 2:3 - 3:3 PROKEIMENON TONE 6 BLESS THE LORD * YOU WHO FEAR THE LORD. VERSE: Praise the Name of the Lord; servants, praise the Lord! TRIODION GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY THE BRIDEGROOM KONTAKION TONE 4 THOUGH I HAVE TRANSGRESSED MORE THAN THE HARLOT, GOOD ONE, I HAVE NOT OFFERED YOU A FLOOD OF TEARS, BUT PRAYING IN SILENCE I FALL DOWN BEFORE YOU. WITH LOVE I EMBRACE YOUR MOST PURE FEET. AS MASTER, GRANT ME REMISSION OF SINS, WHEN I CRY TO YOU, O SAVIOR:// DELIVER ME FROM THE FILTH OF MY EVIL DEEDS! TRIODION GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY BRIDEGROOM VESPERS LORD I CALL... TONE 1 A HARLOT RECOGNIZED YOU AS GOD, O SON OF THE VIRGIN. WITH TEARS EQUAL TO HER PAST DEEDS, SHE BESOUGHT YOU WEEPING: LOOSE MY DEBT AS I HAVE LOOSED MY HAIR. LOVE THE WOMAN WHO, THOUGH JUSTLY HATED, LOVES YOU. THEN WITH THE PUBLICANS WILL I PROCLAIM YOU,// BENEFACTOR AND LOVER OF MANKIND. THE HARLOT MINGLED PRECIOUS MYRRH WITH HER TEARS. SHE POURED IT ON YOUR MOST PURE FEET AND KISSED THEM. AT ONCE YOU JUSTIFIED HER. YOU SUFFERED FOR OUR SAKES:// FORGIVE US ALSO, AND SAVE US. AS THE SINFUL WOMAN WAS BRINGING HER OFFERING OF MYRRH, THE DISCIPLE WAS SCHEMING WITH LAWLESS MEN. SHE REJOICED IN POURING OUT HER PRECIOUS GIFT. HE HASTENED TO SELL THE PRECIOUS ONE. SHE RECOGNIZED THE MASTER, BUT JUDAS PARTED FROM HIM. SHE WAS SET FREE, BUT JUDAS WAS ENSLAVED TO THE ENEMY. HOW TERRIBLE IS SLOTHFULNESS! HOW GREAT HER REPENTANCE! SAVIOR, YOU SUFFERED FOR OUR SAKES:// GRANT US ALSO REPENTANCE, AND SAVE US. O, THE WRETCHEDNESS OF JUDAS! HE SAW THE HARLOT KISS THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST, BUT DECEITFULLY HE CONTEMPLATED THE KISS OF BETRAYAL. SHE LOOSED HER HAIR WHILE HE BOUND HIMSELF WITH WRATH. HE OFFERED THE STENCH OF WICKEDNESS INSTEAD OF MYRRH, FOR ENVY CANNOT DISTINGUISH VALUE. O, THE WRETCHEDNESS OF JUDAS!// DELIVER OUR SOULS FROM THIS, O GOD. THE SINFUL WOMAN RAN TO BUY THE PRECIOUS MYRRH WITH WHICH TO ANOINT HER SAVIOR. SHE CRIED TO THE MERCHANT: GIVE ME MYRRH,// THAT I MAY ANOINT HIM WHO HAS CLEANSED ALL MY SINS. THE WOMAN WHO WAS ENGULFED IN SIN FOUND YOU A HAVEN OF SALVATION. SHE POURED OUT MYRRH WITH HER TEARS AND CRIED TO YOU: BEHOLD THE ONE WHO BRINGS REPENTANCE TO SINNERS! RESCUE ME FROM THE TEMPEST OF SIN, MASTER,// THROUGH YOUR GREAT MERCY. HOLY WEDNESDAY VESPERS (continued) page two TONE 6 TODAY CHRIST COMES TO THE HOUSE OF THE PHARISEE. A SINFUL WOMAN CRAWLS TO HIS FEET AND CRIES: LOOK AT ME WHO AM ENGULFED IN SIN, IN DESPAIR BECAUSE OF MY EVIL DEEDS. BUT IN YOUR GOODNESS DO NOT DESPISE ME. GRANT ME FORGIVENESS OF MY EVIL DEEDS, LORD,// AND SAVE ME. THE HARLOT SPREAD OUT HER HAIR TO YOU, MASTER; JUDAS SPREAD OUT HIS HANDS TO LAWLESS MEN: SHE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS; HE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE SOME SILVER. WE CRY TO YOU, FOR YOU WERE SOLD FOR US AND YET SET US FREE:// O LORD, GLORY TO YOU! THE CORRUPT AND FILTHY WOMAN DREW NEAR TO YOU, SAVIOR. SHE POURED OUT HER TEARS ON YOUR FEET AND THUS ANNOUNCED YOUR PASSION. HOW CAN I GAZE ON YOU, MASTER? YET YOU CAME TO SAVE THE HARLOT. RAISE ME FROM THE DEPTHS, FOR I AM DEAD IN SIN, AS YOU RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE TOMB AFTER FOUR DAYS. ACCEPT ME IN MY MISERY, LORD,// AND SAVE ME. DESPAIRING FOR HER LIFE, AND DESPAIRED OF FOR HER DEEDS, THE WOMAN CAME BEARING MYRRH TO YOU AND CRIED: SON OF THE VIRGIN, THOUGH I AM A HARLOT, DO NOT CAST ME ASIDE. JOY OF THE ANGELS, DO NOT DESPISE MY TEARS. AS YOU DID NOT REJECT ME AS A SINNER,// ACCEPT ME NOW AS A PENITENT, IN YOUR GREAT MERCY. GNE... (The Hymn of Cassia) TONE 8 THE WOMAN HAD FALLEN INTO MANY SINS, O LORD, YET WHEN SHE PERCEIVED YOUR DIVINITY, SHE JOINED THE RANKS OF THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN. IN TEARS SHE BROUGHT YOU MYRRH BEFORE YOUR BURIAL. SHE CRIED: WOE IS ME! FOR I LIVE IN THE NIGHT OF LICENTIOUSNESS, SHROUDED IN THE DARK AND MOONLESS LOVE OF SIN. BUT ACCEPT THE FOUNTAIN OF MY TEARS, AS YOU GATHERED THE WATERS OF THE SEA INTO CLOUDS. BOW DOWN YOUR EAR TO THE SIGHING OF MY HEART, AS YOU BOWED THE HEAVENS IN YOUR INEFFABLE CONDESCENSION. ONCE EVE HEARD YOUR FOOTSTEP IN PARADISE IN THE COOL OF THE DAY, AND IN FEAR SHE RAN AND HID HERSELF. BUT NOW I WILL TENDERLY EMBRACE THOSE PURE FEET AND WIPE THEM WITH THE HAIR OF MY HEAD. WHO CAN MEASURE THE MULTITUDE OF MY SINS, OR THE DEPTH OF YOUR JUDGMENTS, SAVIOR OF MY SOUL?// DO NOT DESPISE YOUR SERVANT IN YOUR IMMEASURABLE MERCY.