At Psalm 140
In Tone 8
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O faithful, while fasting bodily,* let us also fast in spirit.* Let us loosen every bond of injustice;* let us tear apart the strong chains of violence;* let us rip up all unjust assertions;* let us give bread to the hungry* and welcome the poor and homeless to our houses,** that we may receive from Christ our God, His great mercy.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O faithful, while fasting bodily,* let us also fast in spirit.* Let us loosen every bond of injustice;* let us tear apart the strong chains of violence;* let us rip up all unjust assertions;* let us give bread to the hungry* and welcome the poor and homeless to our houses,** that we may receive from Christ our God, His great mercy.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
What honour and praise can fittingly be ascribed to the saints?* They bowed their necks under the sword for You,* the One who left the heavens and came down.* They shed their blood for You,* the One who took the form of a servant.* By emulating Your poverty* they humbled themselves unto death.* By their prayers, have mercy on us, O Lord,** according to Your compassion.
In Tone 2
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Jesus, the true spiritual Sun,* sent you as lightning through all the world,* to overcome the darkness of error* by the brightness of your divine teachings;* O holy apostles, who have seen the Lord,** beseech Him to send His light and His mercy on us.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Elijah ascended in the divine chariot of his virtues,* and by his fasting he was carried to the heights of heaven in glory.* Strive, O my humble soul, as he did,* fast and shed all evil, malice, envy, and corrupting luxury* so that you may be delivered from all eternal pain of death* and cry out to Christ:** O Lord, glory be to You!
In Tone 5
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O divine apostles,* fervent intercessors for the world and defenders of the faithful.* You received from Christ our God the boldness to intercede for us.* We beseech you that we may pass this solemn time of the Fast untroubled* and receive the grace of the consubstantial Trinity.** O great and glorious preachers, pray for our souls.
In Tone 4
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Most richly blessed one,* with pious thought, purity and holiness of mind,* by restraining the passions and observing the commands of Christ,* you strove to preserve the dignity of the image* that was fashioned in the beginning** according to the image and likeness of God!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Most richly blessed one,* with pious thought, purity and holiness of mind,* by restraining the passions and observing the commands of Christ,* you strove to preserve the dignity of the image* that was fashioned in the beginning** according to the image and likeness of God!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You undertook ascetic endeavour,* followed by suffering in a godly manner.* In both you were well-pleasing to the Creator* Who alone requires of us purity and nobility of soul.* Glorifying His incarnation,** you venerated the holy image of His divine Humanity!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
You denounced, venerable one,* those who wickedly rejected the incarnation of the Word!* You perfected the truth, upholding it by enduring wounds* and all kinds of affliction in your bonds and imprisonment.* Therefore you became an heir to the kingdom of Christ:** To ineffable joy and everlasting radiance!
In Tone 4, Glory… Now…
O Mother of Christ our God,* you who gave birth to the Maker of all,* deliver us from every danger,* so that we may cry out to you with one accord:** Rejoice, O only intercessor for our souls!
Prokeimenon I, Tone 5
You, O Lord, will guard us, and will keep us,* from this generation, and forever!
verse: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer left a just man.
Reading I
Genesis 1:24-2:3
Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
Look at me and answer me* O Lord my God!
verse: How long, O Lord, will You forget me? How long will You hide Your face from me?
Reading II
Proverbs 2:1-22