TRIODION                               
FIFTH WEEK OF LENT                                   THURSDAY MATINS


(On this day, only kathisma section 8 is read and the sessional hymn 
to the apostles is sung from the Octoechos.) 
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FIFTH WEEK OF LENT                                   THURSDAY MATINS

                              APOSTIKHA                               

                TONE 8

YOU HAVE FALLEN INTO THIEVING WAYS, MY SOUL,
BADLY WOUNDED BECAUSE OF YOUR SINS,
GIVEN OVER TO SENSELESS ENEMIES.
BUT CRY OUT, SINCE YOU HAVE TIME FOR COMPUNCTION:
HOPE OF THE HOPELESS, LIFE OF THOSE IN DESPAIR,//
RAISE ME UP AND SAVE ME, O SAVIOR!

YOU HAVE FALLEN...

DRESSED IN THE ARMOR OF FAITH,
ARMED WITH THE SIGN OF THE CROSS,
YOU WERE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WORTHY OF GOD.
MANFULLY YOU OPPOSED THE TORTURERS,
CRUSHING THE DEVIL'S DECEITS.
YOU WERE VICTORS, MADE WORTHY OF CROWNS.//
PRAY TO CHRIST FOR US TO SAVE OUR SOULS.

                GNE... (Theotokion)

ACCEPT  THE PRAYERS OF YOUR SERVANTS,
VIRGIN THEOTOKOS.//
PRAY UNCEASINGLY FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS!
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FIFTH WEEK OF LENT                                THURSDAY SIXTH HOUR



                TROPARION OF THE PROPHECY            TONE 6

COMPASSIONATE, FOREBEARING, AND ALL POWERFUL LORD,//

SEND DOWN YOUR MERCY ON YOUR PEOPLE.



                PROKEIMENON OF THE PROPHECY          TONE 6

THE LORD IS KING,  *  LET THE EARTH REJOICE!

                VERSE:  Let the many coastlands be glad!

                READING FROM THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH 42: 5-16


                PROKEIMENON                          TONE 6

SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG, FOR HE HAS DONE MARVELOUS THINGS;  *  
                HIS RIGHT ARM HAS BROUGHT HIM VICTORY!

                VERSE:  All the ends of the earth have seen the 
                        salvation of our God!
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FIFTH WEEK OF LENT                                   THURSDAY VESPERS

                           "LORD I CALL..."                           

                TONE 8

I HAVE FORSAKEN THE SPLENDOR OF VIRTUES 
BY MY OWN WILL THROUGH MY FIRST SIN.
BUT BY YOUR CONDESCENSION, WORD OF GOD,
I AM NOW CLOTHED IN THAT SPLENDOR AGAIN!
YOU DID NOT DESPISE ME,
EVEN WHEN I WAS WOUNDED BY EVIL PASSIONS,
AND TRAMPLED ON THE WAY AS A TRANSGRESSOR.
YOU KEPT ME SAFE BY YOUR MIGHTY STRENGTH;//
YOU HAVE GRANTED ME YOUR PROTECTION, MERCIFUL LORD.

MARTYRS OF THE LORD,
YOU SANCTIFY EVERY PLACE AND HEAL EVERY ILL,
AND NOW WE ENTREAT YOU//
TO DELIVER OUR SOULS FROM THE SNARES OF THE ENEMY.

                TONE 1 (By Joseph)

LORD, YOU DESTROYED THE CURSE ON ADAM
BY YOUR CRUCIFIXION.
WORD, DESTROY MY BONDS, THAT I MAY OFFER YOU A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE,
IN JOY AND FAITH DURING THIS ACCEPTABLE TIME OF FASTING,//
WHICH YOU HAVE REVEALED FOR THE SALVATION OF ALL.

WHEN MOSES SHONE WITH THE GRACE OF FASTING,
HE BEHELD THE GLORY OF GOD.
EMULATE HIM, MY HUMBLE SOUL, IN PRAYER AND ABSTINENCE,
FOR THE ONE WHO GRACIOUSLY STRETCHED OUT HIS HANDS ON THE CROSS.//
DO THIS TO RECEIVE DIVINE ENJOYMENT!

                TONE 6  (By Theodore)

VENERATING YOUR LIFE-CREATING CROSS,
GRANTED US BY YOUR BOUNDLESS GOODNESS,
WITH ENLIGHTENED SOULS WE ALWAYS SING YOUR PRAISE, O CHRIST.
ENABLE US TO COMPLETE THE COURSE OF THE FAST WITH JOY,
IN WHOLENESS OF HEART,
SO THAT WE MAY SING THE PRAISES OF YOUR PASSION,//
BY WHICH YOU HAVE SAVED US.
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FIFTH WEEK OF LENT                                   THURSDAY VESPERS


                PROKEIMENON                          TONE 7

EXTOL THE LORD OUR GOD,  *   WORSHIP AT HIS FOOTSTOOL, FOR HE IS HOLY!

                VERSE:  The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!

                READING FROM GENESIS 18: 20-33



                PROKEIMENON        TONE 6

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE LORD  *  ALL THE LANDS.

                VERSE:  Serve the Lord with gladness!

                READING FROM PROVERBS 16: 17  -  17: 17




(And the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Divine Gifts.)