MATINS OF HOLY FRIDAY Twelve Passion Gospels
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 1
Thrice-Holy Prayers Presbyter Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
First Reader Amen. Glory to You, our God. Glory to You.
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth: Who are everywhere present and filling all things; Treasury of blessings and Giver of Life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One!
Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us! O Lord, cleanse us from our sins! O Master, pardon our transgressions! O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
First Reader - Matthew 6: 9-13 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
Presbyter For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory: Of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
First Reader Amen. In the Name of the Lord, father bless!
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 2
Presbyter Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-creating, and undivided Trinity Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages!
Second Reader Amen. Luke 2:15 – Second Reader Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men! (3x)
Psalm 50:17 – Second Reader O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. (2x)
The Six Morning Psalms Psalm 3 – First Reader LORD, why do those who afflict me multiply? Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say to my soul: ‘There is no salvation for him in his God.’
But You, O LORD, are my protector, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill.
I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD will help me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who set themselves against me all around.
Arise, O LORD; And save me, O my God! For You struck all those who were foolishly at enmity with me; You broke the teeth of sinners.
Salvation is of the LORD, And Your blessing is upon Your people. ------Focus Verse I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD will help me. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 3
Psalm 37– First Reader O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your anger.
For Your arrows are fixed in me, And Your hand rests on me.
There is no healing in my flesh because of Your wrath, There is no peace in my bones because of my sins.
For my transgressions rise up over my head; Like a heavy burden they are heavy on me.
My wounds grow foul and fester because of my folly. I suffer misery, and I am utterly bowed down; I go all day long with a sad face.
For my loins are filled with mockeries, And there is no healing in my flesh. I am afflicted and greatly humbled; I roar because of the groaning of my heart.
O Lord, all my desire is before You; And my groaning is not hidden from You.
My heart is troubled, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even this is not with me.
My friends and neighbours draw near and stand against me, And my near of kin stand far off; And those who seek my soul use violence, And those who seek evil for me speak folly; And they meditate on deceit all the day long.
But I like a deaf man do not hear, And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.
I am like a man who does not hear, And who has no reproofs in his mouth.
For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 4 For I said: ‘Let not my enemies rejoice over me, For when my foot was shaken, they boasted against me.’
For I am ready for wounds, And my pain is continually with me.
For I will declare my transgression, And I will be anxious about my sin.
But my enemies live, and are become stronger than I; And those who hate me unjustly are multiplied; Those who repaid me evil for good slandered me, Because I pursue righteousness; And they threw away my love as though it were a stinking corpse.
Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not depart from me; Give heed to help me, O Lord of my salvation. ------Focus Verse Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not depart from me; Give heed to help me, O Lord of my salvation. ------
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 5
Psalm 62 – First Reader O God, my God, I rise early to be with You; My soul thirsts for You.
How often my flesh thirsts for You in a desolate, impassable, and waterless land.
So in the holy place I appear before You, To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your mercy is better than life my lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You in my life; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
May my soul be filled, as if with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall sing praise to You with lips filled with rejoicing.
If I remembered You on my bed I meditated on You at daybreak; For You are my helper, And in the shelter of Your wings I will greatly rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand takes hold of me.
But they seek for my soul in vain; They shall go into the lowest parts of the earth.
They shall be given over to the edge of the sword; They shall be a portion for foxes.
But the king shall be glad in God; All who swear by Him shall be praised, For the mouth that speaks unrighteous things is stopped. ------Focus Verses I meditated on You at daybreak; For You are my helper, And in the shelter of Your wings I will greatly rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand takes hold of me. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 6 ------First Reader Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
Second Reader now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (3x) Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
First Reader now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. ------Psalm 87 – First Reader O Lord God of my salvation, I cry day and night before You.
Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my supplication, O Lord.
For my soul is filled with sorrows, And my soul draws near to Hades; I am counted among those who go down into the pit; I am like a helpless man, free among the dead, Like slain men thrown down and sleeping in a grave, Whom You remember no more, But they are removed from Your hand.
They laid me in the lowest pit, In dark places and in the shadow of death.
Your wrath rested upon me, And You brought all Your billows over me.
You removed my acquaintances far from me; They made me an abomination among themselves; I was betrayed, and did not go forth.
My eyes weakened from poverty; O Lord, I cry to You the whole day long; I spread out my hands to You.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 7 Will You work wonders for the dead? Or will physicians raise them up, and acknowledge You? Shall anyone in the grave describe Your mercy? And Your truth in destruction? Shall Your wonders be known in darkness? And Your righteousness in a forgotten land?
But I cry to You, O Lord, And in the morning my prayer shall come near to You.
Why, O Lord, do You reject my soul and turn away Your face from me?
I am poor and in troubles from my youth; But having been exalted I was humbled and brought into despair.
Your fierce anger passed over me, And Your terrors greatly troubled me; They compassed me like water all the day long; They surrounded me at once.
You removed far from me neighbor and friend and my acquaintances because of my misery. ------Focus Verses O Lord God of my salvation, I cry day and night before You.
Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my supplication, O Lord. ------
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 8
Psalm 102 – First Reader Bless the Lord, O my soul, And everything within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His rewards: Who is merciful to all your transgressions, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from corruption, Who crowns you with mercy and compassion, Who satisfies your desire with good things; And your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord shows mercies and judgment to all who are wronged.
He made known His ways to Moses, The things He willed to the sons of Israel.
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, And abounding in mercy.
He will not become angry to the end, Nor will He be wrathful forever; He did not deal with us according to our sins, Nor reward us according to our transgressions; For according to the height of heaven from earth, So the Lord reigns in mercy over those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So He removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him, For He knows how He formed us; He remembers we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass, As a flower of the field so he flourishes; For the wind passes through it, and it shall not remain; And it shall no longer know its place.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 9 But the mercy of the Lord is from age to age upon those who fear Him, And His righteousness upon children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And remember His commandments, to do them.
The Lord prepared His throne in heaven, And His Kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, all you His angels, Mighty in strength, who do His word, So as to hear the voice of His words.
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, His ministers who do His will; Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion; Bless the Lord, O my soul. ------Focus Verse In all places of His dominion; Bless the Lord, O my soul. ------
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 10
Psalm 142 – First Reader O Lord, hear my prayer; Give ear to my supplication in Your truth; Answer me in Your righteousness; Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For no one living shall become righteous in Your sight.
For the enemy persecuted my soul; He humbled my life to the ground; He caused me to dwell in dark places as one long dead, And my spirit was in anguish within me; My heart was troubled within me.
I remembered the days of old and I meditated on all Your works; I meditated on the works of Your hands.
I spread out my hands to You; My soul thirsts for You like a waterless land.
Hear me speedily, O Lord; My spirit faints within me; Turn not Your face from me lest I become like those who go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning for I hope in You; Make me know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, For to You I flee for refuge.
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness.
For Your name’s sake, O Lord, give me life; In Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction.
In Your mercy You shall destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all who afflict my soul, For I am Your servant. ------
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 11
Focus Verses Answer me in Your righteousness; Do not enter into judgement with Your servant. (2x)
Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness. ------Second Reader Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (3x) Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. ------
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 12
The Litany of Peace Deacon In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
For this holy house and for those who enter with faith, reverence, and the fear of God let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
For our Metropolitan (name), for our Archbishop (name), for the honourable presbyterate, the deaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
For (name), for this land and all those in seats of authority, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
For this city, for every city and countryside, and for the faithful dwelling in them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
For seasonable weather, for the abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
For travelers by land, sea, and air; for the sick and the suffering; for captives and their salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
That we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace. Lord, have mercy
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 13
Deacon Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed, and glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God. To You, O Lord
Presbyter - The Exclamation For unto You are due all glory, honour, and worship: To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Now and ever and unto the ages of ages!
Chanter(s) Amen
Alleluia Deacon In the Eighth Tone: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! In the night my soul rises early for You, O God, For Your commandments are a light on the earth!
Chanter(s) Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Deacon Learn righteousness, you inhabitants of the earth!
Chanter(s) Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Deacon Jealousy shall grasp an untaught people!
Chanter(s) Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Deacon Bring more evils on them, O Lord, Bring more evils on those who are glorious on the earth!
Chanter(s) Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 14
When the Glorious Disciples Chanter(s) When the glorious disciples were enlightened At the washing of their feet before the supper, Then the impious Judas was darkened, ailing with avarice And to the lawless judges he betrays You the righteous Judge. Behold, O lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself. Flee from the greedy soul which dared such things against the Master. O Lord who are good towards all mankind, glory to You!
Chanter(s) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
Chanter(s) When the glorious disciples were enlightened At the washing of their feet before the supper, Then the impious Judas was darkened, ailing with avarice And to the lawless judges he betrays You the righteous Judge. Behold, O lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself. Flee from the greedy soul which dared such things against the Master. O Lord who are good towards all mankind, glory to You!
Chanter(s) Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) When the glorious disciples were enlightened At the washing of their feet before the supper, Then the impious Judas was darkened, ailing with avarice And to the lawless judges he betrays You the righteous Judge. Behold, O lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself. Flee from the greedy soul which dared such things against the Master. O Lord who are good towards all mankind, glory to You!
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 15
The First Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John (John 13:31-18:1)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter The Lord said to His disciples - When Judas had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. Children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will seek me, and now I tell you just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment: that you love one another! Just as I have loved you, love also one another. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples: if you have love for one another.”
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but later you shall follow me.”
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 16 Peter asked, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!”
Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I tell you; before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”
“Do not let your heart be troubled. Have faith in God! Have faith also in me! In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will return and receive you to myself, so that where I am, you may be there also. You know where I am going, and you know the way.”
Thomas asked him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going! And how can we know the way?”
Jesus replied to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. And from now on, you know him, and you have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us!”
Jesus answered, “I have been with you for such a long time, and still, do you not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father! So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words that I tell you, I do not speak from myself, but the Father who lives in me accomplishes the works. Believe me that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me; or else believe me on account of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I tell you; whoever believes in me will also accomplish the works that I accomplish and will do even greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. Whatever you will ask in my Name is what I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my Name, I will accomplish it. If you love me, keep my commandments!
I will pray to the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive him because it does not see him and does not know him. But you know him, because he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans! I will come to you! Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 17 In a short time, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live! In that day, you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, that person is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love and reveal myself to such a person.”
Judas (not Iscariot) asked him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”
Jesus answered him, “The one who loves me will keep my word; my Father will love him and we shall come to him and make a home in him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. The word which you hear is not mine, but it belongs to the Father who sent me. I have said these things to you while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit which the Father will send in my Name, will teach you all things and remind you of all that I said to you.
Peace I leave with you! My peace I give to you! I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not let it be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I shall return to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for my Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens, you may believe. I will not speak with you much longer because the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in me. But so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father has commanded me.
Arise, let us be on our way!”
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in me. I Am the vine, you are the branches! Whoever remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown out as a branch and is withered. Such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned! If you remain in me and if my words remain in you, ask whatever you desire and it will be done for you.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 18 In this is my Father glorified: that you bear much fruit; and this is how you will be my disciples.
Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you! Remain in my love! If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment: that you love one another, even as I have loved you. No one has a greater love than this: that someone would lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. I no longer call you bondservants, because the bondservant does not know what his lord is doing. Instead, I have called you friends, because everything that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.
You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, so that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. And so, whatever you will ask of the Father in my Name, he will give it to you.
These things I command you, so that you may love one another.
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own! But you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, and so the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A bondservant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you on account of my Name, because they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin! Whoever hates me also hates my Father. If I had not accomplished among them the works which no one else had done before, they would not have had sin. But now, they have seen those things and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this has happened so that the word which was written in their law may be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without reason.’
But when the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me. You also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.”
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 19 “I have told you these things, so that you would not be made to stumble. They will expel you from the synagogues! Yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God! They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me. But I have told you these things, so that when the time arrives, you may remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you. But now, I am going to him who sent me, and none of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart. Yet, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away because if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to my Father and you will not see me any more; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth because he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will tell you of things that are yet to come. He will glorify me by taking from what is mine, and he will declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take of what is mine and will declare it to you. In a little while, you will not see me, and then after a little while you will see me because I go to the Father.”
At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he is saying to us, ‘In a little while, you will no longer see me, and then after a little while you will see me’ and, ‘because I go to the Father?’ ”And so they kept asking, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while?’ We do not understand what he is saying!”
Now Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him about these things, and he said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘In a little while, you will no longer see me, and then after a little while you will see me?’ Amen, amen, I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. And you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy! When a woman gives birth, she has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she does not remember the anguish any more because of the joy that a human being is born into the world. Therefore, you now have sorrow, but I will see you again; and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you! Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 20 In that day you will ask me no more questions. Amen, amen, I tell you; whatever you may ask of the Father in my Name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my Name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete!
I have told you these things in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day, you will ask in my Name. And I do not tell you that I will pray to the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father, and I have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and return to the Father.”
His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you speak plainly, not in figures of speech. Now we know that you know all things and we do not need for anyone to ask questions from you. By this we believe that you came forth from God.”
Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the time is coming, yes, and it has now come, when you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will desert me. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have distress, but rejoice! I have overcome the world.”
Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said:
“Father, the time has come! Glorify your Son, so that your Son may also glorify you, even as you gave him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. This is eternal life: that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you have sent, Jesus Christ.
I have glorified you on the earth! I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do! Now, Father, glorify me with yourself with the glory I had with you before the world existed. I have revealed your Name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me; they have kept your word. Now they have known that all things you have given me are from you. The words you have given me, I have given to them. They have received them and they have known for certain that I came forth from you, and they have believed that you sent me. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 21 I pray for them; I do not pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. I am no longer in the world, but these are still in the world, and I am coming to you.
Holy Father, keep them through your Name which you have given me, so that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them in the world, I protected them in your Name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, so that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you would take them from the world, but that you would protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in your truth; your word is truth! As you sent me into the world, I too have sent them into the world. I sanctify myself for their sake, so that they too may be sanctified in truth.
I do not pray only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you. May they be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, so that they may be one even as we are one; I in them, and you in me. May they be perfected into one, so that the world may know that you sent me, and that you have loved them, even as you have loved me.
Father, I desire that those whom you have given me would be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I knew you; and these have known that you have sent me. I have made your Name known to them, and I will continue to make it known; so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
After speaking these words, Jesus went out with his disciples over the brook called Kidron. A garden was there, and he and his disciples entered.
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 22
Antiphonal Hymns I Chanter(s) - Tone 8 The rulers of the people have assembled // Against the Lord and His Christ.
Chanter(s) - Tone 8 A lawless charge is hurled against me. // Lord, O Lord, forsake me not.
Chanter(s) - Tone 8 Let us offer our pure senses to Christ. As his friends let us sacrifice our lives for his sake. Let us not be weighed down by earthly cares like Judas, But let us cry out in the hidden chambers of our heart: // Our father in heaven, deliver us from evil.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) - Tone 8 As a virgin, you gave birth without knowing wedlock, And remained a virgin, O unwedded mother. O Mary, Theotokos: // Pray unto Christ our God, to save us.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 23
Antiphonal Hymns II Chanter(s) - Tone 6 Judas hastened to the lawless scribes, and said: What will you give me to betray him to you? Yet, while they conspired against you, You invisibly stood in their midst. // Spare our souls, as you know the hearts of all.
Chanter(s) - Tone 8 Let us serve God in acts of compassion, Like Mary at the supper. Let us not be possessed by avarice, like Judas,// So that we may always abide with Christ our God.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) - Tone 6 Never cease to pray to the friend of man, Who was ineffably born of you, O virgin, That he may save from dangers, // Those who take refuge in you.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 24
Antiphonal Hymns III Chanter(s) - Tone 2 Because of the raising of Lazarus, O Lord, and lover of mankind, The Hebrew children cried out: ‘Hosanna’, to you, // But Judas, the transgressor, was unwilling to understand.
Chanter(s) - Tone 2 At your supper, O Christ our God, You announced to your disciples: One of you will betray me. // But Judas, the transgressor, was unwilling to understand.
Chanter(s) - Tone 2 When John asked you, O Lord, Who is it that betrays you? You revealed who it was, by means of the morsel of bread, // But Judas, the transgressor, was unwilling to understand.
Chanter(s) - Tone 2 For thirty pieces of silver, And a treacherous kiss, O Lord, The Judeans sought to kill you, // But Judas, the transgressor, was unwilling to understand.
Chanter(s) - Tone 2 At the washing of their feet, O Christ our God, You commanded your disciples: Do as you have seen me do. // But Judas, the transgressor, was unwilling to understand.
Chanter(s) - Tone 2 “Keep watch, and pray, Lest you be tempted,” You said to your disciples, O Christ, // But Judas, the transgressor, was unwilling to understand.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) - Tone 2 O Theotokos: Preserve your servants from dangers, For, after God, we all take refuge in you,// As an invincible bulwark, and protector. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 25 Chanter(s) - Tone 7 When you were feeding your disciples at the supper, You knew Judas' intention to betray you, And you accused him of this, Though recognizing him to be beyond correction. For you desired all to know that you were willingly betrayed, To snatch the world from the grasp of the enemy.// O long-suffering Lord: Glory be to you.
The Second Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John (John 18:1-28)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - Judas, who betrayed him, also knew about the place because Jesus often met there with his disciples. Judas then, having taken a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 26 Jesus, therefore, knowing all that was happening to him, went forward and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”
They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them, “I Am he.”
Judas who betrayed him, was also standing with them. Now when Jesus said to them, “I Am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
Again, Jesus asked them, “Who are you looking for?”
They replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus answered, “I told you that I Am he. Therefore, if you are looking for me, let these my disciples go their way.” He said this so that the word which he had spoken (“Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none”) might be fulfilled.
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus commanded Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
At this, the band of soldiers, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews took hold of Jesus and bound him. They first led him to Annas because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was the high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was better that one man should perish for the entire people.
Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did the other disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest and entered in with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. But Peter was standing at the door outside. So, the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the woman who guarded the door, and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door asked Peter, “Are you also one of this man’s disciples?”
Peter replied, “I am not!”
Now it was cold, and the slaves and officers were standing there, around a charcoal fire they had made. As they were warming themselves, Peter was with them, standing and warming himself. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 27 Meanwhile, the high priest asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret! Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I told them. Behold, these people know what I said.”
When Jesus had said this, one of the officers who was standing by slapped him with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?”
Jesus replied, “If I have spoken evil, testify to the evil; but if I have spoken well, why do you strike me?”
Now Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the ruling high priest.
Now while Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, people said to him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?”
Therefore, he denied it and said, “I am not!”
One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did not I see you in the garden with him?”
At this, Peter denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.
Then Jesus was taken from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early, and the Jews themselves did not enter into the Praetorium in order not to be made ritually impure and to be able to eat the Passover.
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 28
Antiphonal Hymns IV Chanter(s) - Tone 5 Today, Judas forsakes the master, And takes the devil as his friend. He is blinded by the passion of avarice. Darkened, he falls from the light. He sold the sun for thirty pieces of silver. How then, is he able to see? But he, who suffers for the world, has risen as the dawn for us. To him let us cry aloud: // You suffer for us, and with us: Glory be to you.
Chanter(s) - Tone 5 Today, Judas counterfeits piety, And deprives himself of the gift of grace. The disciple becomes a betrayer. In a gesture of friendship, he conceals deceit. He foolishly prefers thirty pieces of silver to the master's love, And becomes a guide for the lawless assembly. // But let us glorify Christ, our salvation.
Chanter(s) - Tone 5 As the family of Christ, let us acquire familial love. Let us not lack sympathy for our neighbour, Lest we, like the unmerciful servant, Be condemned on account of money, // Or like Judas, gain nothing from our regrets.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) - Tone 5 Everywhere, glorious things are spoken of you, O Mary Theotokos, Unwedded, and all-praised, // For you conceived in the flesh the maker of all.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 29
Antiphonal Hymns V Chanter(s) - Tone 6 The disciple agrees upon the price of the master. He sells the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. And with a treacherous kiss, // He betrays him to death at the hands of lawless men.
Chanter(s) - Tone 6 Today, the creator of heaven, and earth, Says to his disciples: “The hour has come, and Judas rushes to betray me. Let no one deny me, when he sees me on the cross, between two thieves. For, as a man, I suffer, // And as the friend of man, I save those who believe in me.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) - Tone 6 O virgin, who in the latter days, Wondrously conceived, and bore your own creator: // Save those who magnify you.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 30
Antiphonal Hymns VI Chanter(s) – Tone 7 Today, Judas looks for a way to betray the Lord, The Saviour of the world before the ages, Who satisfied the multitude with five loaves. Today, the transgressor denies the teacher. Though a disciple, he betrays the master. // He sells for silver him who fed man with manna in the wilderness.
Chanter(s) – Tone 7 Today, his people nail to the cross The Lord, who divided the sea with a rod, and led them in the wilderness. Today, they pierce with a spear, the side of him Who smote Egypt with plagues for their sake. // They give him gall to drink, who rained down manna upon them for food.
Chanter(s) – Tone 7 When you came to your voluntary passion, O Lord, You cried out to your disciples: “If you lack the strength to keep watch with me for a single hour, Why did you promise to die for me? See how Judas does not sleep, But hastens to betray me to the transgressors. Arise, and pray, lest anyone deny me, When he sees me on the cross.” // O long suffering one: Glory be to you.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 7 Rejoice, O Theotokos. You held in your womb him, whom the heavens cannot hold. Rejoice, o virgin, whom the prophets proclaimed. From you, Emmanuel has shone forth on us. // Rejoice, o mother of Christ our god.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 31 Chanter(s) – Tone 7 What caused you to betray the Saviour, O Judas? Did he expel you from the ranks of the Apostles? Did he take from you the gift of healing? Did he send you from the table, while taking supper with the others? Did he wash their feet, and pass you by? How have you forgotten such good things? Your ingratitude is notorious, // But his boundless long-suffering and great mercy are proclaimed to all.
The Third Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew (Matthew 26:57-75)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the presbyters were assembled. But Peter followed Jesus from a distance, to the court of the high priest. Having entered in, he sat with the officers to see what would happen in the end. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 32 Now the chief priests, the presbyters, and the whole council were looking for a false witness against Jesus, so that they might put him to death, and they found none. Even though many false witnesses were coming forward, they found none valid.
But at last, two false witnesses came forward, and they said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the sanctuary of God, and to build it in three days.’ ”
The high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Do you not have any answer? What is this that these people testify against you?”
But Jesus remained quiet.
The high priest told him, “I adjure you by the living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Jesus replied, “You have said it! Nevertheless, I tell you that after this, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his vestments and exclaimed, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. What do you think?”
They answered, “He deserves death!”
Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, O Christ! Who hit you?”
As Peter was sitting outside in the court, a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus, the Galilean!”
But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”
When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
Again, Peter denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!”
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 33 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech reveals that you are a Galilean.”
Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!”
Immediately, the rooster crowed.
Then Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
He went out and wept bitterly.
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 34
Antiphonal Hymns VII Chanter(s) – Tone 8 While permitting transgressors to arrest you, You cried out to them, O Lord: “Though you smite the shepherd, and scatter the twelve sheep, my disciples, I am able to surround myself with more than thirty legions of angels. But I forebear, that the secret, and hidden things might be fulfilled, Which were revealed to you by my prophets.” // O Lord: Glory to you.
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 Denying you for the third time, Peter at once recalled your words to him, But he offered you tears of repentance: // O God, have mercy on me, and save me.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 Let us praise the holy virgin, As the gate of salvation, and fair paradise, As a cloud for the eternal light. // To her, let us all say: Rejoice!
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 35
Antiphonal Hymns VIII Chanter(s) – Tone 2 O Judeans: What have you heard from our Saviour? Did he not explain the law, and the teachings of the prophets? Why, then, did you plan to deliver to Pilate, // The Word, God of God, the redeemer of our souls?
Chanter(s) – Tone 2 “Let him be crucified,” Cried those, who had always enjoyed his gracious gifts. Those who killed the righteous, Ask to receive a malefactor, instead of their benefactor. But you, O Christ, endured their heedlessness in silence, // Desiring to suffer, and to save us, in your love for mankind.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 2 We have no boldness, Because of the multitude of our sins, But entreat him, who was born of you, O virgin Theotokos, For the prayer of a mother has great power to win the favour of the master. Do not despise the supplications of sinners, all-pure one, // For he who willed to suffer for us, is merciful, and strong to save.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 36
Antiphonal Hymns IX Chanter(s) – Tone 3 They weighed out the thirty pieces of silver, The price of him, on whom a price had been set by the Judeans. Keep watch, and pray, That you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, // But the flesh is weak; therefore, keep watch.
Chanter(s) – Tone 3 They gave me gall for food, For my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.// But, O Lord, raise me up, that I may rescue them.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 3 We the nations praise you, O pure Theotokos, For you gave birth to Christ our God, // Who, through you, freed mankind from the curse.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 37 Chanter(s) – Tone 8 How could Judas, who was once your disciple, Plan to betray you? That treacherous, and unrighteous man deceitfully ate with You, And went to the priests, and said: “What will you give me, if I deliver to you The one, who abolished the law, and profaned the sabbath?” // O long-suffering Lord: Glory be to you.
The Fourth Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John (John 18:28-19:16)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - Jesus was taken from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early, and the Jews themselves did not enter into the Praetorium in order not to be made ritually impure and to be able to eat the Passover. For this reason, Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 38 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
At this, Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.”
Then the Jews told him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death!” (This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken, by which he had indicated by what kind of death he would die).
So Pilate went back into the Praetorium. Having called Jesus, he asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?
Jesus answered, “Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?”
Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”
Jesus replied, “My Kingdom is not of this world! If my Kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought so that I would not be delivered to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and I have come into the world for this reason: that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is ‘of the truth’ listens to my voice.”
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After saying this, he went out again to the Jews, and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
Then they all shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”
Now Barabbas was a rebel.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 39 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted thorns into a crown, placed it on his head, and dressed him in a purple garment. They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him.
Then Pilate went out again. He said to the Jews, “Behold, I bring him out to you, so that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
When Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment, Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”
But when the chief priests and the officers saw Jesus, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify him!”
Pilate answered, “Take him yourselves, and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.”
The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to our law, he should die, because he made himself the Son-of-God.”
However, when Pilate heard these words, he was even more afraid.
Returning into the Praetorium, he asked Jesus, “Where are you from?”
But Jesus gave him no answer.
Then Pilate asked him, “Are you not speaking to me? Do you not know that I have the power to crucify you, and the power to release you?”
Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore, he who delivered me to you has a greater sin.”
From then on, Pilate tried to release Jesus, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”
When Pilate heard this word, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Pavement,” and in Hebrew, “Gabbatha.”
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 40 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, at about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!”
But they shouted, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!”
Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”
And so, Pilate delivered Jesus to them to be crucified.
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 41
Antiphonal Hymns X Chanter(s) – Tone 6 He, who clothes himself with light, as with a garment, Stood naked for trial. He was struck on the cheek by hands that he himself had formed. All people, the transgressors of the law, Nailed the Lord of glory to the cross. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then the sun was darkened, Unable to bear the sight of God outraged, Before whom all things tremble. // Let us worship him.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 The disciple denied him, But the thief cried out: // “Remember me, O Lord, in your kingdom.”
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 O Lord, who for your servants’ sake, Willed to take flesh from the virgin: Grant peace to the world, // That with one voice, we may glorify you, the lover of mankind.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 42
Antiphonal Hymns XI Chanter(s) – Tone 6 In exchange for the good things that you had done for them, A transgressing assembly condemned you to be crucified, O Christ, And gave you gall, and vinegar to drink. But reward them according to their deeds, O Lord, // For they did not understand your condescension.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 Not content to deliver you up, O Christ, A transgressing assembly wagged their heads, Bringing you mockery and derision. But reward them according to their deeds, O Lord, // For they plotted against you in vain.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 Neither the shaking of the earth, nor the splitting of the rocks, Neither the tearing of the temple's curtain, nor the resurrection, Convinced the transgressing assembly. But reward them according to their deeds, O Lord, // For they plotted against you in vain.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 We know that God took flesh from you, O virgin Theotokos, The only pure, and only blessed one. // Therefore, without ceasing, we praise, and magnify you.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 43
Antiphonal Hymns XII Chanter(s) – Tone 8 Thus says the Lord to the Judeans: “O my people, what have I done to you, Or how have I offended you? To your blind, I gave sight, your lepers I cleansed, The paralytic, I raised from his bed. O my people, what have I done to you, And how have you repaid me? Instead of manna, gall; instead of water, vinegar; Instead of loving me, you nail me to the cross. I can bear no more. I shall now call all nations mine. They shall glorify me, with the Father, and the Spirit, // And I will give them the life of the Age to Come!”
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 Today, the curtain of the temple is torn in two, To convict the transgressors, And even the sun hides his rays, // Seeing the Master crucified.
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 The choir of the Apostles cries out to you, O lawgivers of Israel, scribes, and pharisees: “Behold the temple, which you destroyed. Behold the lamb, whom you crucified. You delivered him to the tomb, but by his own power he arose. Do not be deceived, O Assembly. He it is that saved you in the sea, and fed you in the Wilderness. // He is the life, the light, and the peace of the World.”
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 Rejoice, O gate of the King of Glory, Through which the most high alone has entered, and again left sealed, For the salvation of our souls.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 44 Chanter(s) – Tone 8 O God, you stood before Caiaphas. O judge, you were given over to Pilate. Then the heavenly powers shook with fear. Although sinless, you were numbered among the transgressors, Lifted up on the wood between two thieves in order to save Mankind. O patient Lord: Glory to you.
The Fifth Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew (Matthew 27:3-32)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time – when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and presbyters, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
But they answered, “What is that to us? You see to it.” Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 45 He threw the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He then went away and hanged himself. The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.” They took counsel and bought the potter’s field with the money, as a place to bury strangers. Therefore, that field was called “The Field of Blood” even to this day. Thus, what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
They took the thirty pieces of silver, The price of him upon whom a price had been set, Whom some of the children of Israel priced, And they gave them for the potter’s field, As the Lord commanded me.”
Now Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “So you say.”
But when he was accused by the chief priests and the presbyters, he answered nothing. Pilate then said to him, “Do you not hear how many charges they present against you?”
Jesus gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor was astonished.
Now on the occasion of the feast, the governor had the custom to release one prisoner to the crowd, whoever they desired. At that time, they had a notable prisoner called Barabbas. When they were gathered, Pilate asked them, “Who do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?” For he perceived that it was because of envy that they had arrested him.
While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a note to him that said, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man! Today, I have suffered many things in a dream because of him.”
Now the chief priests and the presbyters convinced the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus done away with. But the governor asked them, “Which one of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!” Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 46 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all replied, “Let him be crucified!”
The governor asked, “Why? What evil has he done?”
But they cried out loudly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
And so, when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man. You see to it.”
All the people answered, “May his blood be on us, and on our children!”
At this, Pilate released Barabbas to them, but had Jesus flogged and delivered to be crucified.
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole garrison against him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. They knelt down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They also spat on him, took the reed and struck him on the head. When they had mocked him, they removed the robe from him, put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
As they were coming out, the soldiers found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them and to carry the cross.
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 47
Antiphonal Hymns XIII Chanter(s) – Tone 6 The crowds, O Lord, Asked Pilate to crucify you, And though he found no guilt in you, He freed Barabbas, who indeed was guilty; The mob condemned you, the righteous one, And made the charge of murder their inheritance. But show them your victory, O Lord,// For they plotted against you in vain.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 To Christ, the wisdom and power of God, Who makes all things fear and tremble, To whom all tongues give praise, The priests gave gall, and slapped. Yet, he consented to suffer all things, Desiring to save us from our transgressions by his blood, // For he loves mankind.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 O Mother of God, Who, by a word beyond all words, Have borne your own creator: // Entreat him to save our souls.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 48
Antiphonal Hymns XIV Chanter(s) – Tone 8 The thief, whose hands were defiled with blood, You accepted as your fellow-traveller. With him, number us also, O Lord, // For you are good, and the lover of mankind.
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 The thief on the cross uttered a small cry, But he found great faith. In a single moment, he was saved, And became the first to enter paradise when its gates were opened. // O Lord, who accepted his repentance: Glory be to you.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 Rejoice, for through an angel, you received the joy of the world. Rejoice, for you have borne your creator, and Lord. // Rejoice, for you were found worthy to become the mother of Christ, our God.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 49
Antiphonal Hymns XV Solo Voice – Tone 6 Today, he who hung the earth upon the waters, is hung on the tree. The king of the angels is decked with a crown of thorns. He, who wraps the heavens in clouds, is wrapped in the purple of mockery. He, who freed Adam in the Jordan, is slapped on the face. The bridegroom of the church is affixed to the cross with nails. The son of the virgin is pierced by a spear. We worship your passion, O Christ. We worship your passion, O Christ. We worship your passion, O Christ. // Show us also your glorious resurrection.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 Let us not keep the feast like the Assembly, For our Passover, Christ God, has been slain for us. But, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement, And with sincerity, let us entreat him: // Arise, O Lord, and save us, for you are the lover of mankind.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 Your cross, O Lord, Is life, and resurrection for your people. Trusting in it, we praise you, our crucified God.// Have mercy on us.
First Reader Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the holy spirit, Now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 When she, who conceived you, O Christ, Saw you hanging on the cross, she cried out: “What strange mystery do I behold, O my son? O giver of life: How do you die, // Nailed on the wood in the flesh?
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 50 Chanter(s) – Tone 4 By your precious blood, You have redeemed us from the curse of the law. By being nailed to the cross and pierced by a spear, You have poured forth immortality for all.// O our saviour: Glory to you.
The Sixth Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Mark (Mark 15:16-32)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - The soldiers led Jesus away inside the courtyard which is called the Praetorium, and they called together the whole cohort. They clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on his head. They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat on him, and bowing their knees, expressed adoration to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own garments on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 51 Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was then returning from the countryside and passing by. The soldiers compelled him to go with them so that he might carry Jesus’ cross.
And they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means, “The place of a skull.” They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he did not take it.
Then they crucified him and shared his garments among them, casting lots for them to see what each one would take.
It was the third hour when they crucified him.
The inscription of his accusation was written above him:
“THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
With him, they also crucified two rebels; one on his right hand, and one on his left. The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “He was numbered with transgressors.”
Those who passed by blasphemed him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who would destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save yourself now and come down from the cross!”
In the same way, the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others! He cannot save himself! Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe him.”
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 52 The Blessings Third Reader: In Your Kingdom remember us, O Lord, When You come in Your Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
First Reader: Through a tree Adam lost his home in paradise, but through the tree of the cross the thief came there to dwell. By tasting of the fruit, the first broke the Creator’s commandment, but he who was crucified with You confessed You, the hidden God. Remember us also, O Saviour, in Your kingdom!
Third Reader: Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Second Reader: Lawless men bought the Creator of the law from a disciple and brought Him before the judgement seat of Pilate as a transgressor. Though He had given them manna in the wilderness, they cried out: Crucify Him! But we, imitating the righteous thief, cry out in faith: Remember us also, O Saviour, in Your kingdom!
Third Reader: Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
First Reader: The swarm of those who would kill God, the lawless nation of the Jews, cried out in fury to Pilate: Crucify Him! Christ, the innocent One. And they sought instead the release of Barabbas. But with the wise thief we lift up our voices: Remember us also, O Saviour, in Your kingdom!
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 53 Third Reader: Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Second Reader: From Your life-bearing side, O Christ, a fountain flows forth as from Eden, giving drink to Your Church as to a living paradise. From there it divided to become the four rivers of the Gospels, watering the world, gladdening creation, and teaching the nations to worship Your kingdom in faith.
Third Reader: Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called the sons of God.
First Reader: You were crucified for my sake, in order to pour forth forgiveness for me. Your side was pierced so that streams of life might flow for me. Your hands were transfixed by nails so that, convinced of the height of Your power by the depth of Your sufferings, I might cry out to You, O Christ, giver of life: Glory to Your cross and to Your Passion, O Saviour!
Third Reader: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Second Reader: When it beheld You crucified, O Christ, all creation trembled. The foundations of the earth shook for fear of Your might. The lights of heaven hid themselves, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. The mountains quaked, and the rocks were split, and with us the believing thief cried out to You, O Saviour: Remember me in Your kingdom!
Third Reader: Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, And shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 54 First Reader: On the cross You destroyed the legal bond against us, O Lord. You were reckoned with the dead and there did bind the tyrant, delivering all from the bonds of death by Your Resurrection. By it we have been illumined, O Lord who loves mankind, and we cry out to You: Remember us also, O Saviour, in Your kingdom!
Third Reader: Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, For great is your reward in heaven.
Second Reader: You were lifted up upon the cross, O Lord. You destroyed the power of death, and as God You cancelled the legal bond against us. Grant the repentance of the thief also unto us who worship You in faith, O only lover of mankind, and who cry out to You, O Christ our God: Remember us also, O Saviour in Your kingdom!
Third Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
First Reader: Let us, the faithful, all pray that with one voice we may worthily glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: One God existing in three persons yet remaining unconfused, simple, undivided, and unapproachable; by Whom we escape the flames of punishment.
Third Reader: Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Second Reader: We offer to You as an intercessor, O Christ, Your mother who bore You in the flesh without seed, the true virgin who after giving birth remained incorrupt. Through her intercessions, O most merciful Master, grant forgiveness of sins to us who cry unceasingly: Remember us also, O Saviour, in Your kingdom!
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 55
The Prelude Verse First Reader The Prelude Verse is in the Fourth Tone: They divided My garments among them, And for My raiment they cast lots.
Chanter(s) – Psalm 21:18 They divided My garments among them, And for My raiment they cast lots.
First Reader – Psalm 21:1 My God, my God, look upon me! Why have you forsaken me?
Chanter(s) – Psalm 21:18 They divided My garments among them, And for My raiment they cast lots.
First Reader – Psalm 21:18 They divided My garments among them…
Chanter(s) …And for My raiment they cast lots. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 56
The Seventh Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew (Matthew 27: 33-54)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - They arrived at a place called “Golgotha,” which means, “The place of a skull.” They gave him sour wine mixed with gall to drink, but having tasted it, he would not drink.
After crucifying him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots.’ Then the soldiers sat and watched him. They placed above his head the accusation against him in these words:
“THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Two rebels were also crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left. Those who passed by blasphemed him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 57 Likewise the chief priests also mocked him, with the scribes, the presbyters and the Pharisees, saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him! He trusts in God! Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” The rebels who were crucified with him reviled him as well and in the same way.
From the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
About the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Some of those who stood there heard it and said, “This man is calling Elijah!”
Immediately, one of them ran to take a sponge; he filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Let him be. Let us see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
Behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and came out of the tombs after his resurrection. (They entered into the holy city and appeared to many).
Now when the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus saw the earthquake and the things that were taking place, they became extremely fearful and said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 58
Psalm 50 – First Reader Have mercy on me, O God, According to Your great mercy; And according to the abundance of Your compassion, Blot out my transgression.
Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness, And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my lawlessness, And my sin is always before me.
Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; That You may be justified in Your words, And overcome when You are judged.
For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, And in sins my mother bore me.
Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom.
You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow.
You shall make me hear joy and gladness; My bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice.
Turn Your face from my sins, And blot out all my transgressions.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me with Your guiding Spirit.
I will teach transgressors Your ways, And the ungodly shall turn back to You.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 59 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, And my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness.
O Lord, You shall open my lips, And my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings.
A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, A broken and humbled heart God will not despise.
Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, And let the walls of Jerusalem be built; Then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, With offerings and whole burnt offerings; Then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 60
The Eighth Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke (Luke 23:32-49)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - There were also others, two criminals, who were led with him to be put to death.
When they arrived at the place which is called “The Skull”, the soldiers crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Dividing his garments among them, the soldiers began to cast lots. The people stood by, watching, and with them the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others! Let him save himself, if this is the anointed one, the chosen of God!” Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 61 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up to him, offering him vinegar, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:
“THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
One of the criminals who hanged there began to insult Jesus, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us as well!”
But the other spoke up and rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? We indeed are punished justly, because we are receiving the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” He then said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come in your Kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Amen, I tell you: today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
It was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun’s light failed. And the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two. Crying with a loud voice, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
Having said this, he breathed his last.
When the centurion saw what had taken place, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly, this was a righteous man.”
And all the multitudes that had come together to this sight, seeing what had happened, returned home beating their breasts. But all those who knew Jesus and the women who had followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 62
The Canon of Holy Friday Ode 5 – The Song of Isaiah Chanter(s) Early will I seek You, O Word of God, Who without change emptied Yourself in Your compassion for fallen man. Who, without suffering, bowed down to suffering. Grant peace to me, O You who love mankind.
Third Reader Glory to You, our God, glory to You!
First Reader With their feet washed, and themselves purified by their participation in the Divine Mystery, Your servants, O Christ, now ascend from Zion to the great Mount of Olives, praising You Who love mankind.
Third Reader Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Second Reader You said, “See that you are not alarmed, O friends. For the hour is now at hand for me to be seized and slain at the hands of lawless men. All of you will be scattered, forsaking me. But I shall gather you to proclaim me, who love mankind.”
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 63
The Canon of Holy Friday The Kontakion Chanter(s) – Tone 8 - Resurrectional Come, let us all sing the praises of Him who was crucified for us, For Mary said when she beheld Him upon the tree: Though You endured the cross, You are my Son and my God.”
First Reader - Solemnly Beholding her own lamb led to the slaughter, Mary followed with the other women, in distress and crying out:
“Where do You go, my child? Why do You run so swift a course? Surely there is not another wedding in Cana to which You now hasten to change water into wine? Shall I come with You, my child? Or shall I wait for You? Give me a word, O Word, You who kept me pure, for…
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 …You are my Son and my God.”
The Canon of Holy Friday Ode 8 – The Song of the Three Holy Youths Chanter(s) The Godly youths exposed a monument of godless wickedness, But the lawless assembly is enraged and takes vain council against Christ. They plan to kill Him who holds life in the palm of His hand, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies throughout all ages.
Third Reader Glory to You, our God, glory to You!
First Reader “O my disciples, now shake off sleep from your eyelids,” said Christ. “Keep watch, I pray, that you may not fall into temptation; And I speak particularly to Simon, since the test is greatest for the strongest. O Peter, acknowledge me, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies throughout all ages.”
Third Reader Glory to You, our God, glory to You!
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 64 Second Reader “O Master, a profane word shall never pass my lips,” cried Peter. “Even if all deny You, I shall die with You as a loyal friend. For not flesh and blood, but Your Father has revealed to me You Whom all creation blesses and glorifies throughout all ages.”
Third Reader Let us bless the Father, and to the Son, And to the Holy Spirit: the Lord
First Reader “You have not sought out the depth of divine wisdom and knowledge,” said the Lord. “You have not comprehended the abyss of My judgements, O man. Do not boast, for you are flesh, and three times will you deny Me, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies throughout all ages.”
Third Reader Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Second Reader “You will deny your convictions as soon as the question is put to you, O Simon Peter, and the sudden approach of a servant girl will terrify you,” said the Lord. “But after weeping bitterly you will have mercy from Me, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies throughout all ages.”
People Sing: We praise, bless, and worship the Lord, Singing and exulting Him throughout all ages.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 65
The Canon of Holy Friday Ode 9 – The Song of Mary Chanter(s) More honourable than the cherubim, And more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, Without defilement you gave birth to God the Word; True Theotokos we magnify you.
Third Reader Glory to You, our God, glory to You!
First Reader A destructive band of God-forsaken, wicked murderers of God, the Synagogue, attacked You, O Christ, and dragged You away as an evildoer— the Creator of all, Whom we magnify.
Third Reader Glory to You, our God, glory to You!
Second Reader Impious men, ignorant of the law and hearing the voice of the prophets to no avail, dragged You away as a sheep to be unjustly slaughtered— the Master of all, Whom we magnify.
Third Reader Glory to You, our God, glory to You!
First Reader The priests and scribes caused the life that had been betrayed to the Gentiles to be destroyed, striking in their jealous wickedness Him Who by nature is the Giver of life, Whom we magnify.
Third Reader Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Second Reader Like a pack of dogs they surrounded You, O King, smiting You on the cheek with their hands. They questioned You and bore false witness against You, yet by enduring all things You have saved all.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 66
The Song of Light Chanter(s) O Lord, who made the wise thief worthy of Paradise In a single moment. By the wood of Your cross illumine me, And save me.
First Reader Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Chanter(s) O Lord, who made the wise thief worthy of Paradise In a single moment. By the wood of Your cross illumine me, And save me.
First Reader Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) O Lord, who made the wise thief worthy of Paradise In a single moment. By the wood of Your cross illumine me, And save me.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 67
The Ninth Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John (John 19:25-37)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - There were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister (Mary the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own home.
After this, perceiving that all things were now accomplished, and so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” Now a vessel full of sour wine had been placed there; so the soldiers filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick of hyssop, and held it at his mouth.
Then, after Jesus received the sour wine, he said, “It is accomplished!” And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 68 Because it was the Day of Preparation, in order that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a great day), the Jews asked Pilate that the legs of those crucified might be broken, and that they might be removed. Therefore, the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first who had been crucified with Jesus, then the legs of the other. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately, blood and water came out. He who has seen this has borne witness, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, so that you may believe. For these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not one of his bones will be broken.” Again, another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they pierced.”
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 69
The Praises Psalm 148 – First Reader Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the highest.
Praise Him, all you His angels; Praise Him, all you His hosts.
Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars and light.
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the Lord’s name, For He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created.
He established them forever and unto ages of ages; He set forth His ordinance, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth, You dragons and all the deeps, Fire and hail, Snow and ice, Stormy wind, which perform His word, Mountains and all the hills, Fruitful trees and all cedars, Wild animals and all cattle, Creeping things and flying birds,
Kings of the earth and all peoples, Princes and all judges of the earth, Young men and maidens, Elders with younger, Let them praise the Lord’s name, For His name alone is exalted; His thanksgiving is in earth and heaven.
And He shall exalt the horn of His people, A hymn for all His saints, For the children of Israel, A people who draw near to Him. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 70
Psalm 149 – Second Reader Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His holy ones.
Let Israel be glad in Him who made him, And let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King.
Let them praise His name with dance; With tambourine and harp let them sing to Him; For the Lord is pleased with His people, And He shall exalt the gentle with salvation.
The holy ones shall boast in glory, And they shall greatly rejoice on their beds; The high praise of God shall be in their mouth And a two-edged sword in their hand, To deal retribution to the nations, Reproving among the peoples, To shackle their kings with chains And their nobles with fetters of iron, To fulfill among them the written judgment: This glory have all His holy ones.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 71
First Reader – Psalm 150:1-3 Praise God in His saints; Praise Him in the firmament of His power; Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness.
Praise God with trumpet sound, Praise Him with lute and harp!
Chanter(s) – Tone 3 “Israel, My first-born son, Has committed two evil deeds. He abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, And dug for himself a broken well. He crucified Me upon the wood And asked for Barabbas and released him. Heaven was amazed at this, And the sun hid his rays But you, O Israel, were not ashamed But delivered Me to death. Forgive them, O holy Father, For they know not what they do!”
First Reader – Psalm 150:4-5 Praise Him with timbrel and dance; Praise Him with strings and pipe!
Praise Him with sounding cymbals; Praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!
Chanter(s) – Tone 3 Every member of Your holy flesh endured dishonour for us. You head – the thorns, Your face – the spitting, Your cheeks – the buffeting, Your mouth – the taste of vinegar mingled with gall, Your ears – the impious blasphemies, Your back – the scourge, You hand – the reed, Your whole body – the extension upon the wood, Your joints – the nails, Your side – the spear. By Your sufferings You have set us free from suffering. In Your love for man You stooped down to raise us up. O Almighty Saviour, have mercy on us!
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 72
First Reader – Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Chanter(s) – Tone 3 Beholding You crucified, O Christ, The whole creation trembled. The foundations of the earth shook for fear of Your might, For by Your lifting up today the Hebrew religion perished. The curtain of the temple was torn in two. The tombs were opened and the dead arose from their graves. The centurion shuddered when he saw the wonder. Your mother stood by and cried out with a motherly lamentation: “How shall I not weep and beat my breast, Seeing You naked and hanging upon the cross as one condemned?” O Lord, crucified and buried and risen from the dead, glory to You!
First Reader Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 “They have stripped Me of My garments And clothed Me in a scarlet robe. They have set upon My head a crown of thorns And have given Me a reed in My right hand That I might dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
First Reader Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen
Chanter(s) – Tone 6 “I gave my back to scourgings. I did not turn My face from spitting. I stood before the judgement seat of Pilate And endured the cross For the salvation of the world!” Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 73
The Tenth Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Mark (Mark 15:43-47)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - Joseph of Arimathea (a prominent council member who was also looking for the Kingdom of God), came forward. He boldly went in to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate wondered if Jesus was already dead. Calling the centurion, he asked him whether Jesus had been dead for a long time. Having been assured of this by the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
Accordingly, Joseph bought fine linen, took Jesus down and wrapped him in the linen cloth. Having placed him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock, he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where Jesus had been laid.
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 74
The Small Doxology Presbyter Glory to You who have shown us the Light!
First Reader Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men! We praise You! We bless You! We worship You! We glorify You! We give thanks to You for Your great glory!
O Lord, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty! O Lord, the Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit!
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us!
You, Who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer! You, Who sit on the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us!
For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, To the glory of God the Father! Amen!
Everyday will I bless You, And I will praise Your name forever, yea, for ever and ever. Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation! I said: ‘O Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You!’
Lord, unto You have I fled for refuge; Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.
For in You is the fountain of Life; In Your light shall we see light.
O continue Your mercy unto them that know You.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 75 Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, And praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen.
Let Your mercy be upon us, O Lord, Even as we have set our hope on You.
Blessed are You, O Lord, Teach me Your statutes. Blessed are You, O Master, Make me to understand Your commandments Blessed are You, O Holy One, Enlighten me with Your precepts.
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever: O despise not the work of Your hands.
To You is due worship, To You is due praise. To You is due glory; To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirt, Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 76
The Litany of Supplication Deacon Let us complete our prayer to the Lord. Lord, have mercy
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace. Lord, have mercy
That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord. Grant this, O Lord
An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord. Grant this, O Lord
Pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord. Grant this, O Lord
All things that are good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord. Grant this, O Lord That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord. Grant this, O Lord
A Christian ending to our life: painless, blameless, and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask. Grant this, O Lord
Commemorating our most holy, most pure, most blessed, glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God. To You, O Lord.
Presbyter For You are a good God, and the Lover of Mankind, and to You we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages! Amen
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 77
Presbyter Peace be with you all.
Chanter(S) And to your spirit.
Deacon Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
Chanter(S) To You, O Lord.
Presbyter O holy Lord, Who dwell on high and look down upon the humble, and Who with Your all-seeing eye look down upon all creation: unto You have we bowed the neck of our soul and body, and we pray You, O Holy of Holies, stretch forth Your invisible hand from Your holy dwelling place and bless us all. And if in any way we have sinned, either willingly or unwillingly, pardon us, inasmuch as You are good and love mankind, granting us Your good things in this world and beyond this world. For Yours it is to have mercy on us and to save us, O our God, and unto You we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chanter(S) Amen
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 78
The Eleventh Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John (John 19: 38-42)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - Joseph of Arimathaea (who was a disciple of Jesus but secretly for fear of the Jews) asked Pilate for permission to take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, and so Joseph came and took away his body. And Nicodemus (who earlier had come to Jesus by night) also came and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds. Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.
Now there was a garden at the place where Jesus had been crucified. In the garden, there was a new tomb in which no one had ever yet been laid. Then, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord. Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 79
The Inter-Psalm Stanzas of Holy Friday Aposticha Chanter(s) – Tone 1 All creation was changed by fear When it saw You hanging upon the cross, O Christ. The sun was darkened, And the foundations of the earth were shaken. All things suffered with the Creator of all. O Lord, Who willingly endured this for us, glory to You.
First Reader – Psalm 21:18 They divide My garments among them, And for My raiment, they cast lots.
Chanter(s) – Tone 2 An impious and transgressing people Why do they imagine vain things? Why do they condemn to death the Life of all? O great wonder! The Creator of the world is betrayed into the hands of lawless men. He Who loves mankind is lifted up upon the wood, That He might free those bound in Hades, who cry: O Long-suffering Lord, glory to You!
First Reader – Psalm 68:21 They gave Me gall for food, And for My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.
Chanter(s) – Tone 2 Today the blameless Virgin Saw You suspended upon the cross, O Word. She mourned within herself and was sorely pierced in her heart. She groaned in agony from the depth of her soul. Exhausted from tearing her hair and cheeks and beating her breast, She cried out lamenting: “Woe is me, O my divine Child! Woe is me, O Light of the world! Why have You departed from my eyes, O Lamb of God?” Then the bodiless hosts were seized with trembling and cried: “O incomprehensible Lord, glory to You!”
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 80
First Reader – Psalm 73:12 God is our King before the ages, He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth!
Chanter(s) – Tone 2 When she who bore You without seed, Saw You suspended upon the tree, O Christ, the Creator and God of all, She cried bitterly: “Where is the beauty of Your form, O my Son?” I cannot bear to see You unjustly crucified. Hasten and arise That I too may see Your Resurrection from the dead on the third day.
First Reader Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 When You ascended the cross, O Lord, Fear and trembling fell upon creation, Yet You forbade the earth to swallow up those who crucified You. And You commanded Hades to send up its captives For the regeneration of mortals. O Judge of the living and the dead You have come to grant life, not death. /// O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
First Reader Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 8 Now the unjust judges dip the pen of judgement. Jesus is tried and sentenced to the cross. All creation suffers as it beholds the Lord on the cross. O Good Lord, Who in Your human nature suffered for me, glory to You!
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 81
The Twelfth Gospel Reading Deacon That we may be accounted worthy of listening to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Chanter(s) Lord have mercy (x3)
Deacon Wisdom! Let us Attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel!
Presbyter Peace be unto all!
Chanter(s) And to your spirit.
Presbyter The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew (Matthew 27:62-66)
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Passion, O Lord.
Deacon Let us attend!
Presbyter At that time - On the next day (which was the day after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate and said, “Lord, we remember what that deceiver said when he was still alive: ‘After three days, I will rise again.’ Therefore, give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day, for fear that his disciples may come at night, steal him away, and then tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead!’ This last deception would be worse than the first.”
Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.” And so, they went off in order to make the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting a watch.
Chanter(s) Glory to Your Long-suffering, O Lord.
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 82
First Reader – Psalm 91:1-2 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, To sing praises to Your name, O Most-High, To declare Your steadfast love in the morning, And Your truth by night.
Thrice-Holy Prayers Second Reader Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us! O Lord, cleanse us from our sins! O Master, pardon our transgressions! O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Second Reader - Matthew 6: 9-13 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
Presbyter For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory: Of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Second Reader Amen.
Chanter(s) – Tone 4 By your precious blood, You have redeemed us from the curse of the law. By being nailed to the cross and pierced by a spear, You have poured forth immortality for all.// O our saviour: Glory to you! Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 83
The Litany of Fervent Supplication Deacon Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great goodness, We pray You, hear us and have mercy. Lord, have mercy (3x)
Again we pray for our Metropolitan (name), for our Archbishop (name), for presbyters, deacons, and all other clergy; and for all our brethren in Christ. Lord, have mercy (3x)
Again we pray for (name), for this land and all those in seats of authority. Lord, have mercy (3x)
Again, we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy house; and for all our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, the Orthodox departed this life before us, especially for (names), who here and in all the world lie asleep in the Lord. Lord, have mercy (3x)
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and visitation for the servants of God (names), and for the pardon and remission of their sins. Lord, have mercy (3x)
Again we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable house; for those who labour and those who sing; and for all the people here present, who await Your great and rich mercy. Lord, have mercy (3x)
Presbyter For You are a merciful and man-befriending God, and unto You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages! Amen
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 84
The Dismissal Deacon Wisdom!
Chanter(s) Father, bless!
Presbyter Blessed is He who is, Christ our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Chanter(s) Amen Establish, O God, the holy Orthodox Faith and Orthodox Christians, unto ages of ages.
Presbyter Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Chanter(s) More honorable than the Cherubim And more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, Without corruption you gave birth to God the Word, True Theotokos, we magnify You.
Presbyter Glory to You, O Christ, our hope, glory to You!
Chanter(s) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord have mercy (3x) Father, bless
Thursday Evening Matins of Holy Friday 85
The Final Blessing Presbyter May He Who endured spitting and scourging, the cross and death, for the salvation of the world, Christ our true God -
Through the prayers: Of His most pure Mother; Of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; Of (name(s)), whose memory we keep this day; Of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; And of all the saints
- Have mercy on us and save us, For He is good and the friend of man.
Chanter(s) Amen. END