_Ode vii. Irmos._
Narrateless wonder....
As being pitiful, O Christ, deliver him, thy servant, whom thou in faith
received hast, from fearful doom, and from gehenna’s fire, and to thy
servant grant to sing to thee, Blessed art thou, redeemer, God.
Within the land of gentle ones, and in delights of paradise, in glory’s
wondrous dwelling-place, thy servant faithfully asleep esteeming worthy,
God, do thou grant him to sing to thee, Blessed art thou, redeemer, God.
_Glory._
Great is the doom and undescribable the need, O brethren, in gehenna; for
the souls of sinners there are burned with their bodies, and in anguish
weep, unable to exclaim, Blessed art thou, redeemer, God.
_Both now._
Them that undoubtingly thee praise, O Mother of God, thou altogether
undefil’d God-bearing one, when living by thy prayers for ever guard, and
when departed free from bitter torment, that they with thee to Christ may
say, Blessed art thou, redeemer, God.
_Ode viii. Irmos._
Fearingly quake, O heaven....
O what dread hour awaiteth sinners, brethren! O what terror then!
gehenna’s fire consumes, and shall eternally torment. Therefore, O
Christ, compassionate Lord, deliver him departed now from us from fearful
threatening, and snatch him from gehenna’s pains eternally.
Oh, of the just the joy which they receive when comes the judge! for them
the bridal-chamber is prepar’d, and paradise, and all Christ’s kingdom;
and there thy servant, Christ, make manifest rejoicing with the Saints
eternally.
_Glory._
Who shall endure the fearful menace of thy presence, Christ? the heavens
thereat roll’d up shall be as is a scroll in fearful wise, the stars
shall fall, and all creation shake with fear, and changed be the light;
but then, O Word, spare him whom thou removed hast from us.
_Both now. Theotokion._
Him whom thou gavest flesh in supernatural wise, O pure, even the Son, he
is the judge of living and of dead, and judgeth all the earth, and saves
from torment whom he wills, and them especially who in types adore him
lovingly, and thee, God-bearing one, extol eternally.
_Ode ix. Irmos._
Weep not for me, O mother....
O weep ye not, all ye who die in faith; for Christ for us bore flesh, the
cross, and sepulture, and made all them immortal sons that sing to him, O
into judgment with thy servant enter not.
Let us, ye faithful, from the heart pray Christ to stablish in the
dwellings of the saints the brother who in faith and hope of resurrection
sleeps; for there is judgment stern and trial dread, and none can help
himself without good works, and common prayer of faithful ones; and let
us cry, Lord, into judgment with thy servant enter not.
_Glory._
In, Blessed One, thy glory that becomes not old, and in delights of
paradise, place him who now is gone from us, and in the right-belief and
penitence betaketh him to thee in faith; and of thy kingdom him a chosen
partner make.
_Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, we reverently, we, faithful ones, extol thee who art
mother of life in supernatural wise; for we, aforetime dead, being made
immortal, life have found; and, lo, to thee the song we end.
_Deacon._ Again and again.... _Page 142._
_And the prayer_, O God of spirits.... _Page 139._
_Exapostilarion._
Now am I at rest, and much forgiveness have receiv’d; for I have passed
from corruption, and am translated unto life: glory to thee, O Lord.
_And the people the same._
_Verse i._ Man is as grass, his day is as a flower of the field.
_Verse ii._ For his spirit goeth through in him, and he shall not be.
_Verse iii._ And the mercy of the Lord shall endure to ages.
_And to each verse the exapostilarion._
_Then, Glory. Both now._
Now have I chosen the maiden Mother of God, for Christ, redeemer of all,
was born of her: glory to thee, O Lord.
_And straightway_, Praise the Lord from the heavens....[47]
_Then stichera, tone vi._
_Like_, Having despair’d....
Thy godly minister is gone to thee, now deified in the translation by thy
quickening mystery, Christ: take as a bird his soul into thy hand, and
range him in thy courts and in the angelic choirs, and rest him whom thou
hast received by thy command, O Lord, for thy great mercy’s sake.
Strange is the mystery of death; for unacceptably it comes to all, nature
by force is spoil’d; it taketh elders, abbots, scribes, teachers who
vainly strive, bishops, and pastors too. Then let us cry with tears, Him,
whom thou hast receiv’d, O Lord, by thy command, O rest, for thy great
mercy’s sake.
He that in piety hath liv’d, and was thy decorated priest, O Christ, the
celebrant and offerer of thy mysteries divine, is gone, by thy divine
command, from life’s alarms to thee; and him, accepting as a priest, O
Saviour, save, and with the righteous rest, even him whom thou received
hast, for thy great mercy’s sake.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, we have understood the God made flesh from thee, whom
do thou pray to save our souls.
_Then they say_, Glory to God in the highest....
_And after the_ Vouchsafe, O Lord....
_the following stichera idiomela are said,
of Damascene, 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.
_Verse._ The Lord tendeth me, and there is nothing lacking to me.
By deed, my Saviour, thou hast shewn that thou the resurrection art of
all, who didst, O Word, by word raise Lazarus from the dead. Then were
the fetters burst, and shatter’d hades’ gates; then human death declared
was a sleep. Thou, therefore, who didst come thy creature, not to judge,
but save, rest him whom thou received hast, as lover of mankind.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
Thou art made manifest, O Bringer-forth of God, a fervent advocate for
all, for all a shelter, and a might of God for them that hie to thee, an
aid for them that are in need, a quick deliverance for the bound. For
thee against barbarians Christ hath placed as a fence, and barrier, and
assailless wall; and for the weak a strength unovercome; and for our
souls the arbitress of peace.
_Stichera, 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.
_Verse._ When I was in affliction I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
Come, let us all a wonder passing thought behold: he who but yesterday
abode with us now lieth dead. Come, let us know that soon in funeral
swathes we also at an end shall be; and they anointed with the fragrant
myrrh shall lie of odour ill. How is it they adorn’d with gold lie
unadorn’d and void of form? Therefore, my brethren well belov’d, musing
on our brief life, let us of Christ entreat for rest for him who hence
hath gone, and for great mercy for our souls.
_Verse._ O Lord, deliver my soul from unrighteous lips.
Farewell, vain life; farewell, all friends, acquaintances, and children
too; for in a way I go where never have I trod. But come, remembering my
love for you, follow ye me, and give ye to the grave this clay of mine,
and pray ye Christ with tears, who hath to judge my humble soul, that he
may snatch me from the quenchless fire.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
O gate impassable, in mystery seal’d, God-bearing Virgin bless’d; accept
our prayers, and offer them thy Son and God, that he, through thee, may
save our souls.
_Stichera idiomela, tone iii._
Lo, brethren mine belov’d, amid you all I silent lie, bereft of speech;
the mouth is listless, still the tongue, impeded are the lips, the hands
are tied, the feet together bound, the countenance is chang’d, the eyes
are dimm’d and see not them that wail, the hearing takes not in the cry
of them that mourn, the nose the fragrant incense smelleth not; but
in nowise true love becometh dead. Therefore I you beseech, all mine
acquaintances and friends, Remember me before the Lord, that I in day of
doom may mercy find before that fearful judgment-seat.
_Verse._ I have lifted up mine eyes to the hills, whence cometh my help.
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.
_Verse._ The Lord shall keep thy goings-out and thy comings-in from
henceforth and for evermore.
O men, why do we vainly we ourselves disquiet? the course we run is quick
and hard: life is as smoke: soon vapour, dust, and ashes we shall be; and
as a flower shall fade. Therefore let us to the immortal Christ exclaim,
Rest him remov’d from us where is the dwelling-place of all that joy.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, we, we tempest-tost upon life’s sea, thee as
salvation’s haven have. Therefore pray God, who seedlessly from thee
incarnate was, and man became unspeakably, to save our souls.
_Stichera, 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.
_Verse._ I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of
the Lord.
Death as a robber came, like as a thief he came, and laid me low; he
came, and me declar’d as one existing not; he came, and, being earth,
I lie as being not. We verily are a dream, O men, a phantom verily.
But, come ye, let us cry to the immortal King, O Lord, vouchsafe thine
everlasting blessings unto him remov’d from us, him resting in the life
that grows not old.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
O only pure and spotless Virgin, who without seed didst bring forth God,
pray that our souls be sav’d.
_Stichera, 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.
_Verse._ Our feet have stood in thy courts, O Jerusalem.
Thou, Christ, hast said that he in thee believing shall not death behold:
but, as I out of light in light am light, so shall ye also in my glory
be enlightened in me; for I, that am true God, have come to save them
that revere me in true right-belief, me, one Lord God, in dual nature of
deity and flesh, but one in essence. Therefore, thy faithful servant, who
thus confesseth thee, rest in thy countenance’s light among the Saints,
as lover of mankind.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
We thee beseech, as Mother of God, O blessed one, Pray thou for us, that
we be sav’d.
_Stichera, 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.
_Verse._ Unto thee have I lifted up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in
heaven.
That which thy hands did frame thou with thine image honour’d hast,
O Word; for, in material form inscribing livingly a mental essence’s
similitude, of this me also thou hast made participant, placing me on the
earth to be, of mine own power, creation’s lord. Therefore, thy servant,
Saviour, rest in tract of them that living are, and in the dwellings of
the just.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, we have understood the God made flesh from thee,
whom do thou pray to save our souls.
_Stichera, 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.
_Verse._ How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts.
Death looseth every grief befalling Adam’s nature; for corrupt we have
become, partaking of the food. Then let us learn, form’d out of earth,
we dust and ashes shall become, like as we were before. Therefore let
us with wailing voice our Maker pray pardon and mercy to bestow on him
removed hence.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
Thee, O God-bearing one, we faithful have as an unbroken wall and trust.
Therefore, cease not, O Queen, to pray for them thy servants that in
faith have slept, that in the judgment there may pardon be for them, when
he thy Son and God shall sit; for thou dost nature know, that it with
every sin is now commix’d: so may we bless thee all.
_Stichera, 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
disfigur’d, 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.
Bearing an image incorrupt, and having an immortal soul received by
breath divine, and so become compound, as it is written, why do we fade
away? and why did we God’s bidding overstep? O wonder! why did we leave
the food of life, and eat the fruit that bringeth bitter death? why,
by guile, have we been robb’d of life divine? As for the rest, let us
exclaim to Christ, Him whom thou hast removed hence place in thy courts.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, thy protection is a spiritual healing place; for
thereunto betaking us, we are set free from ailments of the soul.
_Stichera, tone viii. Idiomela._
To them that prodigally live unmeasur’d torment is, gnashing of teeth,
and wailing unconsol’d, gloom unillum’d, and darkness most profound,
the never dying worm, and unavailing tears, and, without mercy, doom.
Therefore let us, before the end, lift up our voice, and say, O Master
Christ, him who thou chosen hast give rest with thine elect.
_Similar._
The trumpet shall give sound, and, as from sleep, the dead shall rise,
desiring to obtain the heavenly life, they who have put their trust in
thee, the Maker and the Lord. Then, O condemn thy servant not; for thou,
immortal one, for our sake mortal didst become. Therefore let us, before
the end, lift up our voice, and say, O Master Christ, him whom thou
chosen hast, give rest with thine elect.
Behold, the elements, the heaven and earth shall be transform’d, and all
creation shall with incorruption clothed be. Corruption shall be done
away, and darkness at thine advent fly; for thou with glory art to come
again, as it is written, to render unto each as he hath done. O Master
Christ, him whom thou chosen hast, give rest with thine elect.
_Glory, tone vi._
O come ye all and see a strange and fearful sight made manifest to
all, the image now beheld, and vex yourselves no more with transient
things. To-day divided from the body is a soul, and is translated to
th’ eternal world; for in a way it goeth wherein never yet it went, and
to the Judge who no respect of persons hath, where stand the Angels’
hosts. My brethren, fearful is that judgment-seat, where naked all of us
shall stand, and some be crown’d and some be sham’d. Then let us to th’
immortal King exclaim, When thou shalt try the secrets of mankind, O
spare thy servant whom thou hast receiv’d, Lord, Lover of mankind.
_Both now. Theotokion._
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_, It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.... _The whole._
Trisagion. _After_ Our Father....
Our Saviour, rest thy servant with the just, and place him in thy
courts, as it is written, as being good despising his iniquities, both
willing ones and those unwilling, and all those done in knowledge and in
ignorance, O lover of mankind.
In thy resting-place, O Lord, where all thy Saints repose, O rest thy
servant’s soul; for thou alone art lover of mankind.
O holy Mother of describeless Light, revering thee with angels’ songs, we
magnify thee piously.
_The deacon saith,_
Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee,
hear and have mercy. _Vide page 139._
_After the exclamation of the prayer the kiss is given, while the choir
singeth the stichera, tone ii._
Come, brethren, let us give the last kiss....
_And the rest, as hath previously been written in the order for laymen._
_Then, Glory, tone vi._ Me, lying voiceless....
_Both now. The theotokion._
_And giving forth to the grave the priests sing the irmi of the great
canon, that is to say,_