MATINS

Fridy, April 3

 

Great Saturday

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Priest: Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving and undivided Trinity, always, now and for ever and ever.

 

Choir: Amen.

 

Glory to God in the highest, and to His people on earth, His peace and good will. (3x)

 

O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. (2x)

 

Psalm 142 

Lord, listen to my prayer; turn Your ear to my appeal;* You are faithful, You are just; give answer.

 

Do not call Your servant to judgment* for no one is just in Your sight.

 

The enemy pursues my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground;* He has made me dwell in darkness like the dead, long forgotten.

 

Therefore, my spirit fails;* my heart is numb within me.

 

I remember the days that are past: I ponder all Your works;* I muse on what Your hand has wrought and to You I stretch out my hands.

 

Like a parched land my soul thirsts for You;* Lord, make haste and answer; for my spirit fails within me.

 

Do not hide Your face* lest I become like those in the grave.

 

In the morning let me know Your love for I put my trust in You;* make me know the way I should walk;

 

to You I lift up my soul Rescue me, Lord, from my enemies;* I have fled to You for refuge.

 

Teach me to do Your will, for You, O Lord, are my God;* let Your good Spirit guide me in ways that are level and smooth.

 

For Your name's sake, Lord, save my life;* in Your justice save my soul from distress.

 

In Your love make an end of my foes;* destroy all those who oppress me for I am Your servant, O Lord. 

 

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God (3x).

 

Litany of Peace

 

Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

    Choir: Lord, have mercy (and after each petition).

 

Priest: For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For peace throughout the whole world, for the wellbeing of God's holy churches and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For our most holy universal Pontiff, N., Pope of Rome, let us pray to the Lord.For our most blessed Patriarch, N., our most reverend Metropolitan, N., our God-loving Bishop, N., the reverend priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

For our nation under God, for our government, and for all the military, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For this city, for every city and country and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For seafarers and travelers, for the sick and the suffer-ing, for those held captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

 

That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and misfortune, let us pray to the Lord.

 

Help us, save us, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

 

Priest: Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

  

 Choir: To You, O Lord.

 

Priest: For all glory, honor, and worship befit You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

    Choir: Amen.

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Troparion, Tone 2: The noble Joseph* took down from the cross Your most pure body.* Anointing it with spices,* he wrapped it in pure linen* and placed it in

a new tomb.

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Glory be: When You descended to Death, O immortal Life,* You destroyed the Abyss by the radiance of Your divinity.* And when You raised the dead from the depths of the earth,* al the heavenly powers cried out:* O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You.

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Now and for ever: The angel standing by the grave* exclaimed to the myrrh-bearing women:* Spices are meant for the dead,* but Christ reveals Himself as not subject to decay.

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First Station (see notes)

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Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

 

Help us, save us, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

 

Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary together with all the saints, let us commend our- selves and one another and our whole life, to Christ our God.

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Priest: For blessed is Your name and glorified is Your king- dom Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

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Choir: Amen.

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Second Station (see notes)

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Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

 

Help us, save us, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

 

Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary together with all the saints, let us commend our- selves and one another and our whole life, to Christ our God.

 

Priest: For You are holy, O our God, and You sit upon the throne of the cherubim; and we render glory to You, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

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Choir: Amen.

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Third Station (see notes)

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Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

 

Help us, save us, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

 

Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary together with all the saints, let us commend our- selves and one another and our whole life, to Christ our God.

 

Priest:

For You are the King of peace, O Christ our God, and we give glory to You, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. 

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Choir: Amen.

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Sessional Hymn:

 

Joseph went to Pilate and begged for Your body;* he wrapped it in a pure linen cloth,* anointed it with precious spices* and placed it in a new tomb.* Early in the morning, the holy myrrh-bearers cried out:* O Christ, as You foretold, show us Your resurrection.

 

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, God, in Your kindness.* In Your compassion blot out my offense. 

 

O wash me more and more from my guilt* and cleanse me from my sin. 

 

My offenses truly I know them;* my sin is always before me. 

 

Against You, You alone, have I sinned;* what is evil in Your sight I have done. 

 

That You may be justified when You give sentence* and be without reproach when You judge. 

 

O see, in guilt I was born,* a sinner was I conceived. 

 

Indeed, You love truth in the heart;* then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom. 

 

O purify me, then I shall be clean;* O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. 

 

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,* that the bones You have crushed may rejoice. 

 

From my sins turn away Your face* and blot out all my guilt. 

 

A pure heart create for me, O God,* put a steadfast spirit within me. 

 

Do not cast me away from Your presence,* nor deprive me of Your Holy Spirit. 

 

Give me again the joy of Your help;* with a spirit of fervor sustain me, 

 

That I may teach transgressors Your ways* and sinners may return to You. 

 

O rescue me, God, my helper,* and my tongue shall ring out Your goodness. 

 

O Lord, open my lips* and my mouth shall declare Your praise. 

 

For in sacrifice You take no delight,* burnt offering from me You would refuse. 

 

My sacrifice, a contrite spirit.* A humbled, contrite heart You will not spurn.

 

 In Your goodness, show favor to Zion:* rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 

 

Then You will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, burnt offerings wholly consumed,* Then You will be offered young bulls on Your altar.

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Priest: Let us greatly extol the Theotokos and the Mother of Light in hymns!

Canon - Ode 9 (see notes)

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Psalm 148 

Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.* Praise the Lord from the heavens; 

 

praise Him in the heights.* To You is due a hymn, O God! 

 

Praise Him, all His angels,* praise Him, all His hosts.

 

Praise Him, sun and moon,* praise Him, shining stars. 

 

Praise Him, highest heavens* and the waters above the heavens. 

 

Let them praise the name of the Lord.* He commanded: they were made. 

 

He fixed them forever;* gave a law which shall not pass away. 

 

Praise the Lord from the earth,* sea creatures and all oceans, 

 

Fire and hail, snow and mist,* stormy winds that obey His word; 

 

All mountains and hills,* all fruit trees and cedars, 

 

Beasts, wild and tame,* reptiles and birds on the wing; 

 

All earth's kings and peoples,* earth's princes and rulers, 

 

Young men and maidens,* old men together with children. 

 

Let them praise the name of the Lord for He alone is exalted.* The splendor of His name reaches beyond heaven and earth. 

 

He exalts the strength of His people.* He is the praise of all His saints, of the children of Israel, of the people to whom He comes close. 

 

Psalm 149 

Sing a new song to the Lord,* His praise in the assembly of the faithful. 

 

Let Israel rejoice in its Maker;* let Zion's sons exalt in their king. 

 

Let them praise His name with dancing* and make music with timbrel and harp. 

 

For the Lord takes delight in His people.* He crowns the poor with salvation take their rest. 

 

Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,* shout for joy and sword in their hand, 

 

Let the praise of God be on their lips* and a two-edged To deal out vengeance to the nations and punishment on all the peoples; 

 

To bind their kings in chains* and their nobles in fetters of iron. 

 

To carry out the sentence pre-ordained* this honor is for all His faithful. 

 

Psalm 150 

Praise God in His Holy place,* praise Him in His mighty heavens. 

 

(Tone 2)

Praise Him for His powerful deeds,* praise His surpassing greatness. 

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Today the One Who holds all creation in His hand* is Himself held in the tomb;* a rock covers the One Who covered the heavens with beauty;* Life has fallen asleep.* Hades is seized with fear,* and Adam is freed from His bonds.* Glory to Your work of salvation;* through it You accomplished the eternal Sabbath rest,* and You grant us the gift of Your holy resurrection.

 

O praise Him with sound of trumpet,* praise Him with lute and harp. 

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What is this sight that we behold!* God rests today;* by His passion, the King of the ages completed His work of salvation,* and He renews the Sabbath in His tomb.* We praise the infinite mercy of God;* arise, O Lord, and judge the earth,* for You reign forever.

 

 Praise Him with timbrel and dance,* praise Him with strings and pipes. 

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Come, let us contemplate our Life placed ni the tomb,* that those who lie in the tombs may live.* Come, let us contemplate today the Lion of Judah;* with the prophet, let us cry out to Him:* You rest and sleep, and who can awaken You, Oour King?* Arise, in Your power, OLord,* Who willingly gave Yourself for us, glory to You.

 

(Tone 6)

O praise Him with resounding cymbals praise Him with clashing of cymbals.* Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.

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Joseph asked for Your most pure body,* and he placed it in His new tomb.* For it is fitting that You come

forth from the tomb as from a bridal chamber.* You have of death, O Christ,* and opened the broken the kingdom gates of paradise to mortals;* O Lord, glory to You.

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Glory be and for ever: (Tone 6): Today the mystical word of the Moses is fulfilled:* And God blessed the seventh prophet day.* For behold, this is the blessed day of the Sabbath,* behold, this is the day of rest,* on which the only Son of God rested from all His work.* In His bodily death which He endured for our salvation,* He returns to the glory from which He came;* and by His resurrection, He grants eternal life* in His goodness and love for mankind.

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The Great Doxology 

 

Glory to God in the highest, and to His people on earth, peace and good will. 

 

Lord God, Heavenly King, Almighty God and Father,* with the Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, and the Holy Spirit. 

 

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You,* we glorify You, we thank You for Your great glory. 

 

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,* You take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

 

 You take away the sins of the world,* hear our prayer. 

 

You are seated at the right hand of the Father,* have mercy on us. 

 

For You alone are holy, You alone are the Lord, Jesus Christ,* for the glory of God the Father. Amen. 

 

I will bless You day after day,* and praise Your name forever. 

 

Count us worthy, O Lord,* of passing this day without sin. 

 

Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our Fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen. 

 

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* because we have set our hope in You. 

 

Blessed are You, O Lord,* teach me Your commandments. 

 

Blessed are You, O Master,* make me understand Your commandments. 

 

Blessed are You, O Holy One,* enlighten me with Your laws. 

 

O Lord, You have been our refuge* from one generation to the next. 

 

I said: Lord, have mercy on me,* heal my soul, for I have sinned against You. 

 

O Lord, I have fled to You, teach me to do Your will,* for You, O Lord, are my God. 

 

In You is the source of life* and in Your light we see light. 

 

Keep on loving those* who know You. 

 

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x) 

 

Glory be: Now and for ever: 

 

Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. 

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Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. 

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(Tone 5): Come and let us bless the memory of Joseph of Arimathea,* who went to Pilate by night to beg for the One Who is our Life:* Give me the body of this pilgrim Who has no place to lay His head:* give me the body of my Lord and Master,* Who was led to death by a wicked disciple;* give me the body of the only Son,* Whose Mother saw Him hanging on the cross,* weeping and sighing as she cried out in a motherly lament:* Alas, O my beloved Son!* Alas, O Light of my eyes,* O Treasure of my heart and soul;* today the prophecy of Simeon in the Temple is fulfilled:* for a sword has pierced my heart;* but You shall change my grief into the joy of Your resurrection.* We bow before Your passion, O Christ:* we bow before Your passion, O Christ;* we bow before Your pas- sion, O Christ;* and we adore Your holy resurrection. Deacon: Let us be attentive!

 

Priest: Peace be with all.

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us be attentive!

 

The choir sings the following troparia:

(Tone 2:) The noble Joseph* took down your most pure body from the cross.* He wrapped it in a clean shroud,* and with fragrant spices laid it in burial in a new tomb. But You arose in three days, O Lord,* bestowing great mercy upon the world.

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O Christ, Who holds fast the ends of the earth,* You have accepted to be held fast within the tomb,* You have conferred upon us immortality and life.

 

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

 

Priest: Peace be with all.

 

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us be attentive! Prokimenon:

 

Ps 43 (Tone 4)

Stand up and come to our help! Redeem us because of Your love.

 

Verse: We heard with our own ears, O God, our forebears have told us the story.

 

Deacon: Wisdom!

 

Lector: A reading from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel.

 

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

 

The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he led me out in the spirit of the LORD and set me in the center of the plain, which was now filled with bones. He made me walk among them in every direction so that I saw how many they were on the surface of the plain. How dry they were! He asked me: Son of man, can these bones come to life? "Lord God," I answered, "you alone know that." Then he said to me: Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GoD to these bones: See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life. I will put sinews upon you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin; and put spirit in you so that you may come to life and know that I am the LORD. I prophesied as I had been told, and even as I was prophesying I heard a noise; it was a rattling as the bones came together, bone joining bone. I saw the sinews and the flesh come upon them, and the skin cover them, but there was no spirit in them. Then he said to me, Prophesy to the spirit, son of man, and say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord GoD: From the four winds come, O spirit, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as he told me, and the spirit came into them; they came alive and stood upright, a vast army. Then he said to me: son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They have been saying, "Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off?" Therefore, prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

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Immediately, the prokimenon is sung according to matinal tone 7.

Arise then, Lord, lift up Your hand! O God, do not for- get the poor!

 

Verse: I wil praise You, Lord, with al my heart: I wil recount all Your wonders.

 

Deacon: Wisdom!

 

Lector: A reading from the first epistle of St. Corinthians.

 

Deacon: Let us be attentive!

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Brethren: your boasting is not appropriate. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb,  Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wicked- ness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for ti is written, "Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree," that the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

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Alleluia! (Tone 5)

Verse (Ps 67): Let God arise and let His enemies be scat- tered, and let those who hate Him flee from before His face.

Verse: As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish as melts before a fire.

Verse: So let the wicked perish at the presence of God, and let the righteous ones rejoice.

 

The deacon, having incensed the holy shroud, the priests, and the people, intones:

Wisdom! Let us stand and listen to the holy Gospel!

 

Priest: Peace be with al. Choir: And with your spirit.

 

Deacon: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

 

Choir: Glory to Your passion, O Lord!

 

Gospel: Mt 27:62-66. The priest himself reads the Gospel.

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The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore, order the sepulchre to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, `He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the sepulchre secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

 

Choir: Glory to Your long-suffering, O Lord!

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Then the deacon says the litany: 

 

Have mercy on us, O God, in the greatness of Your compassion, we pray You, hear us and have mercy. 

 

Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

 

 We also pray for our most holy universal Pontiff, N., Pope of Rome; for our most blessed Patriarch, N.; our most reverend Metropolitan, N.; our God-loving Bishop, N., for those who serve and have served in this holy church, for our spiritual fathers, and for all our brethren in Christ.

 

 We also pray for our nation under God, for our government, and for all the military. 

 

We also pray for the people here present who await Your great and bountiful mercies, for those who have been kind to us, and for all orthodox Christians. 

 

Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and we give glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. 

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Choir: Amen.

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Litany

 

 Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord. 

 

Choir: Lord, have mercy. 

 

Help and save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace. 

 

Choir: Lord, have mercy. 

 

That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord. 

 

Choir: Grant this, O Lord (after each petition). 

 

For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord. 

 

For the forgiveness and remission of our sins and offenses, let us ask the Lord. 

 

For all that is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord. 

 

That we may spend the rest of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord. 

 

For a Christian end to our lives, one that is painless, unashamed, and peaceful; and for a good defense at the awesome tribunal of Christ, let us ask the Lord. 

 

Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God. 

 

Choir: To You, O Lord. 

 

Priest: For You are a merciful, gracious and loving God, and we give glory to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. 

 

Choir: Amen. 

 

Priest: Peace be with all. 

 

Choir: And with Your spirit. 

 

Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord. 

 

Choir: To You, O Lord. 

 

Priest (quietly): Holy Lord, You live on high and yet stoop to look down upon the earth, and with Your divine eyes You see all creatures. Before You we bow down in spirit and body, and we pray You, O Holy of Holies, stretch forth Your invisible hand from Your holy dwelling and bless us. If we have sinned in any way, either deliberately or through human frailty, forgive us, for You are good; You give us earthly and heavenly blessings, and You alone love all.

 

Exclamation: For it is You alone Who have mercy and save us, and we glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. 

 

Choir: Amen 

 

Deacon: Wisdom! 

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Choir: Give the blessing. 

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Priest: Blessed be Christ our God, always, now and for ever and ever.

 

Choir: Amen. O God, strengthen the holy orthodox faith, for ever and ever.

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Priest: O most holy Mother of God, save us.

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Choir: More honorable than the cherubim* and by far more glorious than the seraphim;* ever a virgin, you gave birth to God the Word,* O true Mother of God, we magnify you.

 

Priest: Glory be to You, O Christ our God, our hope, glory be to You.

 

Choir: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen. Lord, have mercy (3x). Give the blessing.

 

Priest:  Christ our true God, Who for us and our salvation endured in the flesh the dread Passion, the Life-giving Cross and voluntary burial, by the prayers His most pure Mother, those of all the holy and illustrious apostles, and by the prayers of all the Saints, will have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind.

    

Choir: Amen.

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The noble Joseph* took down your most pure body from the cross.* He wrapped it in a clean shroud,* and with fragrant spices laid it in burial in a new tomb.