TRIODION SECOND WEEK OF LENT FRIDAY MATINS (After the 2nd reading of the Psalter): SESSIONAL HYMN TONE 4 LET US EXALT THE LORD WHO WAS EXALTED ON THE CROSS, RAISING UP THE WORLD AS WE ARE RAISED ABOVE THE PASSIONS THAT CREEP ON THE EARTH THROUGH OUR FASTING. WITH FULL AWARENESS LET US DRINK THE CUP OF CONTRITION; LET US CALL TO MIND THE DAY AND HOUR// WHEN WE SHALL STAND BEFORE THE ETERNAL JUDGE! GLORY... LET US EXALT THE LORD... NOW AND EVER... (Theotokion) WHEN SHE BEHELD YOU HANGING ON THE CROSS, YOUR VIRGIN MOTHER LAMENTED BITTERLY AND CRIED TO YOU: WHAT IS THIS NEW AND STRANGE WONDER, MY SON? HOW HAS THE LAWLESS PEOPLE NAILED YOU TO THE CROSS,// LIFE OF ALL, MY SWEETEST LIGHT? (After the 3rd reading of the Psalter): SESSIONAL HYMN TONE 8 THE GRACE OF YOUR CROSS SHINES, O LORD, AS LIGHTNING UPON ALL THE INHABITED EARTH! IT UTTERLY DESTROYS THE POWER OF DEVILS!// IN ITS STRENGTH WE SHALL COMPLETE THE FAST WITH EASE! GLORY... THE GRACE OF YOUR CROSS SHINES, O LORD... NOW AND EVER... (Theotokion) WHEN THE MOTHER WHO BORE YOU WITHOUT THE PAIN OF TRAVAIL BEHELD YOU LIFTED ON THE CROSS, SHE WEPT WITH LAMENTATION AND CRIED: WOE IS ME, MY SWEETEST SON! NOW I AM WOUNDED TO THE HEART SEEING YOU AS AN EVILDOER BETWEEN TWO CRIMINALS// NAILED UPON THE CROSS! TRIODION SECOND WEEK OF LENT FRIDAY MATINS APOSTIKHA TONE 8 THE FAST, WHICH KILLS PASSIONS PROMISES TO HEAL US WHO HAVE BEEN STRUCK WITH SIN. LET US HONOR IT AS A GOD-GIVEN HELP WRITTEN BY GOD ON TABLETS WHICH MOSES RECEIVED. LET US NOT PREFER THE INTEMPERANCE OF THE HEBREWS; LET US NOT IMITATE THOSE WHOSE BODIES FELL IN THE WILDERNESS! INSTEAD, LET US BE ENLIGHTENED, AS BEFITS THE CHURCH. LET US NOT BE HYPOCRITICAL LIKE THE PHARISEES, BUT LET US BE JOYFUL, AS THE GOSPEL PROCLAIMS// BY REJOICING IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER OF OUR SOULS! THE FAST... WHAT SHALL WE CALL YOU, SAINTS? CHERUBIM, FOR CHRIST RESTED ON YOU? OR SERAPHIM, SINCE YOU GLORIFY HIM CEASELESSLY? ANGELS, FOR YOU RENOUNCED THE FLESH? OR POWERS, SINCE YOU PERFORM MIRACLES? MANY ARE YOUR NAMES, AND GREAT ARE YOUR GIFTS!// PRAY THAT OUR SOULS MAY BE SAVED! GNE... (Theotokion) THE VIRGIN MOTHER CRIED TO THE LORD: WHAT IS THIS BEAUTY AND WONDER? THE PAINS I DID NOT ENDURE IN BEARING YOU NOW PIERCE MY HEART! I CANNOT BEAR SEEING YOU NAILED TO THE CROSS MY SON, THE LIGHT OF MY EYES. HASTEN, THEN, TO RISE AGAIN// SO THAT I, WITH THE WORLD MIGHT GLORIFY YOUR FEARFUL DISPENSATION! TRIODION SECOND WEEK OF LENT FRIDAY SIXTH HOUR TROPARION OF THE PROPHECY TONE 1 IN THE NIGHT AND IN THE DAY, O LORD, WE FALL BEFORE YOU, ASKING REMISSION OF SIN FOR OUR SOULS SO THAT IN PEACE WE MIGHT GLORIFY AND WORSHIP YOU// LOVER OF MANKIND. PROKEIMENON OF THE PROPHECY TONE 4 LORD, REBUKE ME NOT IN YOUR ANGER * NOR CHASTEN HE IN YOUR WRATH! VERSE: For Your arrows have sunk into me. PROPHECY OF ISAIAH: 7:1-14 PROKEIMENON TONE 6 HEAR MY PRAYERS, O LORD; * GIVE EAR TO MY CRY! VERSE: I said: I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue. TRIODION SECOND WEEK OF LENT FRIDAY VESPERS "LORD I CALL..." TONE 4 NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME! NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION! VISIT MY SOUL IN THE ABUNDANCE OF YOUR MERCY; TAKE AWAY THE HEAVY BURDEN OF MY TRANSGRESSIONS// ONLY LOVER OF MANKIND! TRIODION SECOND WEEK OF LENT FRIDAY VESPERS PROKEIMENON TONE 4 LET YOUR MERCY AND YOUR LOVE * PRESERVE ME FOREVER. VERSE: I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry! Reading from GENESIS 5:32 - 6:8 PROKEIMENON TONE 6 I SAID: LORD, HAVE MERCY ON ME; * HEAL MY SOUL. VERSE: Blessed is he who considers the poor! Reading from PROVERBS 6:20 - 7:1