_Ode i. Tone vi. Irmos._
Passing as on dry land....
In heavenly palaces the noble martyrs ever pray thee, Christ, Him whom
thou hast remov’d from earth, a faithful one, count worthy to attain
eternal blessedness.
Thou that adornest everything, mid life compound createdst me a man,
lowly and also great. Then, Saviour, rest thy servant’s soul.
_Glory._
A citizen and husbandman of paradise in the beginning thou appointedst
me; but thou didst exile me for breaking thy command. Then, Saviour, rest
thy servant’s soul.
_Both now. Theotokion._
He that aforetime from a rib our protomother Eva form’d, from thy pure
womb assumed flesh, and thereby hath annull’d the might of death, thou
Pure.
_Ode iii. Irmos._
There is none holy like to thee, O Lord....
Thy martyrs suffer’d lawfully, O Giver of life, and with a crown of
victory adorn’d, they ceaselessly bestow on the departed faithful one an
everlasting ransoming.
For me, a wanderer, taught erewhile by signs and wonders many, thou hast
at last thyself made void, as sympathiser, and, seeking, me hast found
and sav’d.
_Glory._
Him that departs to thee from streams of transient mortal life, count
worthy to abide with joy in tabernacles that eternal be, him justifying,
Blessed One, by faith and grace.
_Both now. Theotokion._
There is none undefil’d as thou, God’s Mother thou most pure; for thou
alone didst in the womb conceive the true eternal God, who hath annull’d
the power of death.
_Deacon._ Again and again.... _Vide page 142._
_Kathisma, tone vi._
Verily everything is vain, and life a shadow is, a dream; for vainly
every earth-born one disquieteth himself, as saith the scripture. When
we have gain’d the world, then dwell we in the grave, where kings and
beggars are as one. Therefore, Christ God, as lover of mankind, to thy
departed servant give thou rest.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
All-holy Bringer-forth of God, in my life’s time forsake me not, to human
mediation leave me not; but me thyself defend, and be thou merciful to me.
_Ode iv. Irmos._
Christ is my might, the God and Lord....
Of greatest wisdom shewing sign, and of rewards’ perfectionment, O
gracious Lord, with Angels thou the choirs of martyrs number’d hast.
Of thy narrateless glory count him worthy to participate, who unto thee
translated is, where, Christ, their dwelling is who joy, and where pure
gladness’ voice resounds.
_Glory._
Him that extols thy might divine, whom thou from earth received hast,
do thou accept, creating him a child of light; and cleanse him from the
gloom of sin, O thou Most Merciful.
_Both now. Theotokion._
O tabernacle thou most pure, temple all-undefil’d, all-holy ark, virginal
place of sanctity, of Jacob thou the excellence, the Lord hath chosen
thee.
_Ode v. Irmos._
With thy divine light, O Blessed One....
Like an oblation sacred, and human nature’s first-fruits, the martyrs,
who were offer’d for God’s glorifying, for our salvation ever mediate.
Of heavenly dwelling, of grace’s distribution, thy faithful servant gone
before, count worthy, Lord, and give him ransom from iniquities.
_Glory._
Thou that alone by nature life-effector art, and grace’s trackless
depth, him that is gone, count worthy of thy kingdom, Pitiful, thou sole
immortal one.
_Both now. Theotokion._
The strength, and song, and saving of the lost is he become that to the
world was born of thee, O Queen, delivering them, who thee in faith call
bless’d, from hades’ gates.
_Ode vi. Irmos._
Life’s sea perturb’d....
Nail’d on the cross the choir of martyrs thou hast gather’d to thyself,
them that thy passion imitate, O Blessed One. Therefore, we thee beseech,
Rest him that now betaketh him to thee.
When thou in thy narrateless glory all the world to judge shalt on the
clouds in terror come, Deliverer, be thou pleas’d that he, thy faithful
servant, whom thou from earth received hast, may meet thee shiningly.
_Glory._
Being life’s fount, O Lord, who, through divine humanity, didst lead the
fetter’d forth; thy servant, who to thee in faith is gone, place thou in
joys of paradise.
_Both now. Theotokion._
We have been turned back to earth for breaking the divine command of
God; but, through thee, Virgin, unto heaven from earth are rais’d again,
shaking off death’s corruption.
_Deacon._ Again and again.... _Vide page 142._
_Condakion, tone viii._
Rest with the Saints, O Christ, thy servant’s soul, where is no pain, nor
grief, nor sighing, but life that endeth not.
_Icos._
Thyself alone immortal art, who madest and didst fashion man; for out of
earth we mortals fashion’d were, and unto that same earth shall go, as
thou who madest me hast given command, and sayest unto me, Earth thou
art, and unto earth shalt thou return. And thither all we mortals go,
making the funeral wail, even the song, the Alleluia.
_And again._
Rest with the Saints, O Christ....
_Ode vii. Irmos._
The angel made the furnace to bedew....
From the primeval fall were sav’d the martyrs by thy blood, and, with
their own blood sprinkled, they clearly thy slaying image forth. Blessed
art thou, our fathers’ God.
O life-originating Word, thou hast slain raging death; and him O now
receive, O Christ, who sleeps in faith, and sings, and says, Blessed art
thou, our fathers’ God.
_Glory._
Divine-originating Lord, who me, a man, with breath divine sufflated
hast; vouchsafe thy kingdom unto him departed hence, who, Saviour, sings
to thee, Blessed art thou, our fathers’ God.
_Both now. Theotokion._
Most undefil’d, conceiving God, who crush’d death’s gates and burst the
bars, thou higher than all creatures art. Therefore, we faithful thee, O
pure, extol as Mother of God.
_Ode viii. Irmos._
From flame thou didst a dew outpour on reverend ones....
Martyrs of Christ, who sufferings bore, who in the strifes were steadfast
prov’d, ye are adorn’d with victory’s crown, crying, O Christ, to ages
thee we set on high.
The faithful ones who life depart in sacred wise, and unto thee, O
Master, go, gently, as loving-kind, receive, that they may rest, and thee
to ages set on high.
_Glory._
Now in the land of gentle ones, Saviour, be pleas’d to stablish all who
fallen have on sleep afore, and who in thee, by faith and grace, are
justified, and thee to ages set on high.
_Both now. Theotokion._
All-blessed one, we thee all bless, who didst bring forth the Word who is
blessed indeed, who for our sake incarnate was, and whom on high to ages
we set up.
_Ode ix. Irmos._
Mortals may not see God....
Hope made the choirs of martyrs strong, and flam’d them ardently towards
thy love, prefiguring unto those to come a rest in verity undisturb’d;
and unto this, O Blessed One, may thy departed faithful one be counted
worthy to attain.
Of thine illumination, Christ, which bright and godlike is, be pleas’d
that he, departed hence in faith, may share, to him, as being merciful,
in Abraham’s bosom giving rest, and granting him eternal blessedness.
_Glory._
O thou that art by nature good and loving-kind, and mercy willest, and a
depth of loving-kindness art, his lot, whom, Saviour, thou from this ill
place removed hast, and from the shades of death, appoint where shines
thy light.
_Both now. Theotokion._
A holy tabernacle thee we own to be, O Pure, an ark likewise, and
breastplate of the law and grace; for pardon is bestow’d, through thee,
on them, All-undefil’d, that have, by his blood justified been, who of
thy womb incarnate was.
_Deacon._ Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord. _Vide page
142._
_We begin the idiomela of John the monk._
_Tone i._
What sweet of life abideth unaccompanied with grief? what glory stayeth
upon earth unchang’d? All is the feeblest shade, all the most cheating
dream: one moment, and death taketh all these things. But in thy face’s
light, O Christ, and in the sweetness of thy beauty, grant rest to him
whom thou hast call’d, as lover of mankind.
_Tone ii._
Woe unto me, what agony hath the soul when it is from the body torn!
alas, then how it weeps, and none is merciful to it! To Angels lifting
eyes, without effect it prays; to men extending hands, it findeth none to
help. Therefore, my brethren lov’d, musing on our brief life, let us for
the departed ask for rest from Christ, and for great mercy for our souls.
_Tone iii._
All human things are vanity which last not after death: riches abide not,
nor doth glory stay; for when death cometh, these all disappear. Then let
us cry to the immortal Christ, O rest him who is gone away from us where
is the dwelling-place of all that joy.
_Tone iv._
Where is the predilection of the world? where their imaginings who
fade? where is the silver and the gold? where servants’ multitude and
noise? All dust, all ashes, all a shade. But, come ye, let us say to
the immortal King, O Lord, him, who hath been remov’d from us, of thine
eternal blessings worthy count, him resting in thine ageless happiness.
_Tone v._
I remember’d what the prophet said, I am earth, and I am dust; and again
I meditated in the graves, and saw the naked bones, and said, Who now is
king, or warrior who, or who is rich, or who is poor, or who the just, or
he that sinn’d? But, with the just, thy servant rest, O Lord.
_Tone vi._
To me thy life-effecting bidding was substance and origin; for, willing
me to form a living one from nature that unseen is and is seen, my body
thou didst make of earth, and, by thy breathing life-creating and divine,
me gavest soul. Therefore, O Christ, thy servant rest in tract of them
that living are, and in the dwellings of the just.
_Tone vii._
After thine image and resemblance in the beginning making man, in
paradise thou him didst place to be of thy creation lord; but, by the
devil’s enviousness beguil’d, he ate the fruit, transgressing thy
commands. Therefore, again to earth, whence he was taken, thou hast
doom’d him to return, O Lord, and beg for rest.
_Tone viii._
I weep and I lament when I reflect on death, and see the comeliness,
according to God’s image, that was shap’d for us lying in the graves
disfigured, and bereft of glory and of form. O wonder! what is this
mystery concerning us? how to corruption have we been assign’d? how unto
death conjoin’d? Verily by God’s command, as it is written, who giveth
the departed rest.
_The beatitudes, tone vi._
When in thy kingdom thou shalt come, O Lord, remember us.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they
shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Christ, who, aforetime, for his penitence, didst make the thief a citizen
of paradise when on the cross to thee he cried, Remember me, of this even
me, unworthy, worthy count.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Thou who dominion hast o’er life and death, rest in the courts of saints
him whom from things of time thou taken hast; and think on me, when in
thy kingdom thou shalt come.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Thou who o’er souls and bodies lordship hast, thou in whose hand is held
our breath, who mourners’ consolation art; rest in the land of righteous
ones thy servant whom thou hast removed hence.
Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake....
Christ rest thee in the land of living ones, and open paradise’s gates to
thee, and of the kingdom thee declare a citizen, and give thee pardon of
those things wherein in life thou sinned hast, O thou of Christ belov’d.
Blessed are ye when men shall revile you....
Let us go forth and muse among the graves; for man is naked bones, the
food of worms, and of an odour ill; and let us learn what riches are,
yea, beauty, strength, and comeliness.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad....
Let us give ear to what the Almighty saith, Woe unto them that seek to
see the Lord’s most fearful day! for it is one of gloom: for everything
with fire shall be tried.
_Glory._
By the unbeginningness, and the begetting, and the proceeding, I bow me
to the Father who begat, the Son begotten I extol, I sing the Holy Ghost,
co-shining with the Father and the Son.
_Both now. Theotokion._
How, Virgin, from thy breast flow’d milk? how didst thou nurture him,
creation’s nurturer? It was as was the springing forth of water from the
rock, as streams of waters for a thirsty folk, as hath been written.
_After this the deacon saith_, Let us attend.
_Priest._ Peace to all.
_And the choir singeth, prokimenon, tone vi,_
Blessed is the way wherein thou goest to-day, O soul, because a place of
rest hath been prepared for thee.
_Verse._ Unto thee have I cried, O Lord.
_Deacon._ Wisdom.
_Reader. The epistle to the Thessalonians, section cclxx._
Brethren, I would not have you to be ignorant ... _ending_, be ever with
the Lord.[31]
_Priest._ Peace to thee. _Alleluia._
_Tone vi._
Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and received, O Lord.
_The gospel from John, section xvi._
The Lord spake unto the Jews that came unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto you ... _ending_, the Father which hath sent me.[32]
_Deacon._
Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee,
hear, and have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, _thrice_.
Furthermore let us pray for the repose of the soul of the servant of God,
_name_, who hath fallen asleep, and that to him may be remitted every
transgression, voluntary and involuntary.
Lord, have mercy, _thrice_.
That the Lord God may place his soul where the righteous rest.
Lord, have mercy, _thrice_.
The mercy of God, the kingdom of heaven, and the forgiveness of his sins
let us ask of Christ, our immortal King and God.
Vouchsafe, O Lord.
_Deacon._ Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
_And after the conclusion of this the first of the priests, or the
archpriest, if one happen to be there, saith the prayer_, O God of
spirits.... _with a loud voice, standing nigh unto the dead._
_And in like manner all the priests that be present._
_And be it known that as many times as the petition is said by the
deacon, while the petition is being said by him, each of the priests in
his order saith the above mentioned prayer in a low voice nigh unto the
dead, and exclaimeth,_
For thou art the resurrection....
_And now by the first priest, or by the archpriest, the prayer_, O God
of spirits.... _is said with a loud voice, as is mentioned above._
_And, after the exclamation, the kiss is given._
_And we sing the present stichera of similar rhythm._
When from the tree....
_Tone ii._
Come, brethren, let us give the last kiss to the dead, and render thanks
to God; for he hath left his kinsfolk, and hasteneth to the grave: to
him there is no care concerning vanities and carnal toil. Where now are
kinsfolk and where friends? Lo, we are parted from him, whom, Lord, we
pray thee to give rest.
What, O ye brethren, is this parting? what this weeping? what this
wailing in the present hour? Come, kiss ye then him whom but lately
was with us; for he is given to the grave, is cover’d with a stone, in
darkness dwelleth, is buried with the dead, and now is parted from all
kinsfolk and from friends; and him, O Lord, we pray thee to give rest.
Now is life’s evil boast of vanity destroy’d; for from its dwelling-place
the soul is gone, the clay is ashen, the casket broken, it voiceless is,
no feeling hath, is dead and motionless. And him consigning to the grave,
let us beseech the Lord to give him everlasting rest.
What is our life? a flower, a smoke, and, verily, a morning dew. O come
ye then, let us, with open eyes, regard the graves. Where is the beauty
of the body? where youth? where eyes, and carnal form? All are consum’d
as grass, all vanish’d. Come, fall we down to Christ in tears.
Great is the weeping and the wailing, great is the sighing and the need
at parting from the soul. Hades and destruction wait; and transitory life
appears a fleeting shade, a dream of error; and the toil of earthly life
unseemly phantasy. Far let us fly from every worldly sin, that heaven may
be our heritage.
Gazing on him that lieth dead, O take we all a likeness of our final
hour; for he is pass’d as vapour from the earth, is wither’d as a flower,
as grass cut down, wrapp’d in a winding-sheet, and hid in earth. And,
leaving him unseen, let us pray Christ to give him everlasting rest.
Adam’s descendants, come ye, let us see laid low in earth a likeness of
ourselves, which hath all beauty lost, is in the grave’s decay dissolv’d,
in darkness is by worms consum’d, and in the earth is hid. And, leaving
him unseen, let us pray Christ to give him everlasting rest.
When from the body parted is the soul by force by Angels dread, all
kinsfolk and acquaintance it forgets, and is impress’d concerning
standing at the judgment-seat to come, that shall decide the things of
vanity and carnal toil. Then, praying to the judge, let us all beg the
Lord to pardon him what he hath done.
Come, brethren, let us within the grave behold the ashes and the dust
whereof we formed were. Where go we now? and what become? what is the
poor, or what the rich? or what the lord, and what the free? Are not all
dust? The beauty of the countenance is gone, and death hath wasted all
the flower of youth.
Verily vain and perishing are all the things of life, seeming, and
gloriousless; for we all go away, all die, kings and princes, judges and
them that mighty be, the rich and poor, and every mortal man; for now
they that aforetime liv’d are cast into the grave, whom that the Lord may
rest we pray.
Now all the organs of the body idle are beheld, which active were but
late, all without motion, without feeling, dead; for closed are the eyes,
the feet are bound, the hands are listless, and with them the ears; the
tongue is clos’d in silence, consigned to the grave: all human things are
vanity indeed.
Save them that put their trust in thee, O Mother of the Sun that setteth
not, thou Bringer-forth of God: with thine entreaties, we beseech thee,
pray the most good God to rest him now departed hence where rest the
righteous souls; him of divine good things declare thou heir in halls of
righteous ones, unto remembrance everlasting, thou all undefil’d.
_Glory. Tone vi._
Me, lying voiceless and depriv’d of breath, beholding, bewail ye me,
O brethren and O friends, O kinsfolk and acquaintances; for yesterday
I spake with you, and suddenly on me came the dread hour of death.
But, come ye, all that love me, and kiss me with the final kiss; for
never shall I go with you again, or further converse hold with you. For
I depart unto the judge, where no respect of persons is, where slave
and lord together stand, the king and warrior, rich and poor, in equal
worthiness; for each, according to his deeds, is glorified or sham’d.
But I beg all, and all entreat unceasingly to pray Christ God for me,
that, for my sins, I be not bidden unto torment’s place, but that he may
appoint my lot where is the light of life.
_Both now. Theotokion, the same tone._
Through her entreaties who to thee gave birth, O Christ, and those of thy
forerunner, and of apostles, prophets, hierarchs, venerables, and just,
and of all Saints, unto thy sleeping servant give thou rest.
_Then_, Trisagion. O most holy Trinity.... Our Father....
_Priest._ For thine is the kingdom....
_Then_, With the spirits of the righteous.... _and the rest_.
_The petition by the deacon_, Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy
great mercy....
_Vide page 142. And after the exclamation, Glory. Both now. And the
dismissal._
He that arose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the prayers of
his most pure Mother, of the holy glorious and all-praised apostles, of
our venerable and God-bearing fathers, and of all the Saints, place the
soul of his servant, _name_, departed from us, in the tabernacles of the
just, rest it in the bosom of Abraham, and number it with the righteous,
and have mercy upon us, as being good and the lover of mankind. Amen.
_And the archpriest, or the principal priest, saith himself this thrice._
Thy remembrance is everlasting, O our deservedly blessed and ever
remembered brother.
_Thrice._
_Then the singers sing thrice,_
Everlasting remembrance.
_And straightway the archpriest, if he happen to be there, or the priest,
readeth the prayer of absolution with a loud voice._
The Lord Jesus Christ our God, who gave divine commandments unto his
holy disciples and apostles to bind and loose the sins of the fallen,
and from whom we have again received authority to do the like, forgive
thee, O spiritual child, whatever thou hast done in the life that now is,
voluntarily or involuntarily, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
_And so, taking up the remains, we go forth to the grave, followed by all
the people, and preceded by the priests, and singing_, Holy God.... O
most holy Trinity.... Our Father.... _and the rest_.
_And they lay the remains in the grave; and the archpriest, or the
priest, taking earth upon a shovel, casteth it crosswise over the
remains, saying,_
The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof, the world and all they
that dwell therein.
_And after this he poureth over the remains oil from the lamp, or
scattereth ashes out of the censer, and so they fill up the grave as
customarily, meantime singing the troparia_, With the spirits of the
righteous.... _and all the rest. Vide page 138._
_And the dismissal._
[Illustration]
_Chapter XVII._
THE ORDINANCE THAT IS OBSERVED CONCERNING THE CARRYING FORTH OF THEM THAT
FALL ASLEEP IN HOLY PASCHA, AND IN ALL THE BRIGHT WEEK.
It behoveth to know that if any pass away on holy pascha, or on any day
whatever of the bright week until the sunday of Thomas, somewhat less of
the customary song for them that have fallen asleep is sung, because of
the majesty and honour of the joyful festival of the resurrection; for
it is a festival of joy and gladness, and not of lamentation. And since
all who die in hope of resurrection and eternal life are through the
resurrection of Christ, removed from the griefs of this world to things
that are joyful and glad, the church at the time when Christ is risen
proclaimeth this by the resurrection song over them that have fallen
asleep; and, by somewhat less song, ectenias and prayer for them that
have fallen asleep, we are assured that he that dieth in penitence, if
he have not yet made satisfaction concerning his iniquities, these are
remitted to him by the prayers of the church, and that he is freed from
their bond.
_The priest then having come, with his clerks, to the house in which
the body of the dead lieth, and put on him the epitrachelion and the
phelonion, and censed the remains, beginneth as customarily,_
Blessed be our God.... _And the clerk singeth_, Christ is risen.... _in
tone v. And the priest saith the customary verses, that is to say,_ Let
God arise.... _and all the rest_.
_And while these are being sung, the priest sprinkleth the body of the
dead with sanctified water, and his coffin without and within, and
straightway they lay him therein. And, the song being ended, the deacon
saith the customary ectenias for them that have fallen asleep. And the
priest in a low voice readeth the prayer, that is to say_, O God of
Spirits.... _Vide page 139. And after the exclamation they read,_
Having seen the resurrection of Christ....
_And taking up the remains of him that hath fallen asleep, they go forth
to the church, the priests, deacons, and every clerk going before, and
the lay people following; and, as they go, the clerks and singers sing
the paschal canon, that is to say_, It is the day of resurrection....
_This in order until they come even unto the church. And in the church,
having put down the remains, they conclude the canon that hath been
begun, while the priests cense according to the customary rite. And at
the fourth ode, the customary diaconals for them that have fallen asleep,
with the prayer._
_And he exclaimeth,_
For thou art the resurrection, and the life....
_Then_, Preventing the dawn....
_And after this the ivth ode is sung in order._
_And after the sixth ode, the customary diaconals for them that have
fallen asleep with the prayer._
_And he exclaimeth_, For thou art the resurrection and the life....
_Then the condakion_, Rest with the saints.
_And the icos_, Thyself alone immortal art.... _Vide page 149._
_And, instead of the trisagion,_
As many as have been baptized into Christ....
_The epistle in the Acts for the day being.[33] Alleluia in tone ii._
_The first resurrection gospel._[34]
_And after this_, Having seen the resurrection of Christ, we adore....
_And the other odes of the canon._
_And after the conclusion of the canon is read or sung the
exapostilarion_, Asleep in flesh.... _twice_.
_After these we sing_, Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thy statutes.
The angelic council was amaz’d....
_Then the stichera of pascha, with their verses._
_Glory. Both now._
It is the day of resurrection.... and Christ is risen.... _thrice_.
_And these stichera having been sung, the customary kiss of him that hath
fallen asleep taketh place, saying,_
Christ is risen.
_And after the stichera the customary diaconals for them that have
fallen asleep with the prayer, which is read with a loud voice by the
archpriest, or the priest, nigh unto the remains._
_And he exclaimeth,_
For thou art the resurrection and the life....
_And the customary dismissal is made._
_Then the prayer of absolution._