Explanation of the services of Holy Week and Easter. Royal Hours, Removal and Burial of the Shroud - Friday services that are important not to miss
Or Week Vai. On these days, the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is served, which means that fasting for the service on these days is postponed (although bodily abstinence is not abolished and is even intensified) and the bells are not lenten, in accordance with the regulations of the days celebrated.
At Matins and Liturgy - the bell sounds on the weekday bell.
K – bells for the twelve holidays, that is, bells and holiday bells.
Starting from , the rules of worship change noticeably. The first three days - on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated, and on Thursday and Saturday - the Liturgy of Basil the Great (there is no liturgy on Friday). At the 3rd, 6th and 9th hour from Monday to Wednesday the Tetroevangelium is read.
These days, changes in the charters of services do not entail changes in the order of bells made. In the Typikon about the bells of the hour there is an indication: “At the hour of the 3rd day the paraecclesiarch strikes the bell, as there is a custom(emphasis mine. – N.Z.), and having gathered in church, we sing the 3rd hour with kathisma and bows.” . The hours on Tuesday and Wednesday follow the same pattern. The ringing here remains the same as during the period of Pentecost, that is, the hourly ringing and the double ringing are performed before Vespers for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.
At the end of the reading of the Tetroevangelium as the final stage, the rite of forgiveness is performed, after which it is served in last time this year is the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and from that moment on, prostrations to the ground are no longer performed in the church. There will be no more Lenten ringings, since from the next morning the festive bells will begin ringing.
Toward morning, “at the 7th hour of the night the paraecclesiarch slanderes.”
In the Charter of the Moscow Kremlin, for this service it was prescribed to ring the “Reut” (at that time it was the Sunday and polyeleos bell), and in the Official of the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral - the large bell. In modern practice, this is the bell of the polyeleos bell.
To the clock in “at the hour of the 3rd day the paraecclesiarch strikes the bell, and we sing the hours together of the 3rd, 6th and 9th...” (the 1st hour is celebrated as part of Matins). For the liturgy in conjunction with Vespers, “at the 8th hour of the day the paraecclesiarch strikes, and having gathered in the church, having blessed the priest, we begin Vespers.”
Currently, the hours, vespers and liturgy are performed together, and it is advisable to ring only before the hours in the form of a bell ringing on a polyeleos bell.
On the same day in the evening, matins is served in churches with the reading of the 12 Gospels. It is called “Following the holy and saving passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Typikon states: “At the 2nd hour of the night the paraecclesiarch slanderes.” Following the example of the Kremlin and Novgorod charters, on this day, before the start of the service, the bell is ringing on a festive bell. In addition, the festive bell is struck before the start of each Gospel reading as many times as readable Gospel: before the first reading - one blow, before the second - two blows, and so on until the twelfth. “After reading the 12th Gospel, after 12 strikes, a ringing sound immediately,” is stated in the Educational Charter of Archpriest Konstantin Nikolsky.
There are no bells ringing at the end of the service, but in many churches there are ringing ringings as worshipers carry the so-called “Thursday fire” to their homes. Whether or not to perform trezvon in this place should be checked with the rector of the temple.
In the Typikon for the royal clock it is prescribed: “The ringing of two is one long.” In the Moscow Kremlin they rang the “Reut” for this service, in Optina Pustyn they rang the polyeleos bell, and in the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral they rang the “prayer service.” In the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, both old and modern, a rare gospel service is performed at the Sunday bell.
In this case, it is also advisable for bell ringers to discuss the type of ringing for the clock with the rector of the temple.
At Vespers, at which the Shroud is taken out, the gospel is announced with a rare ringing of the festive bell. At the moment the Shroud is taken out of the altar, each bell, from large to small, is rung once. Upon placing the Shroud in the middle of the temple, a short peal is rung.
The Typikon states: “At the 10th hour of the day he slanders great things, and having gathered in church, we begin Vespers.” It should be noted here that in the Typikon the removal of the Shroud is described in the rite of Saturday Matins, moreover, there is no talk at all about the chime, therefore we can find instructions regarding the chimes only in more modern rites, where the rite of the removal of the Shroud is performed at Vespers. For example, in the Educational Charter of Archpriest Konstantin Nikolsky it is stated: “Each bell is struck once especially... on Good Friday before the carrying of the Shroud, during the singing of “The One Clotheing You” and at Matins on Holy Saturday during the singing of the Great Doxology before the carrying of the Shroud near the church.”
At the evening service (Matins Holy Saturday), when the burial ceremony is performed, ending with a procession with the Shroud around the church, the bell is also rung before the start of the service in a large bell and then during the procession - ringing once in each bell from large to small. Upon placing the Shroud in the center of the temple, a peal is rung.
From this moment, according to the currently established tradition, no ringing is accepted until the Midnight Office, that is, until the bell ringing for the Easter service - “Let all human flesh be silent...”
Nevertheless, we consider it appropriate to quote from the Typikon regarding ringing.
“To the holy and. At the 7th hour of the night the paraecclesiarch strikes the heavy and great one, and having gathered in church, we sing Matins according to custom.
On Holy and Great Saturday evening. About the hour of the 10th day he slanders great things.”
Before the Midnight Office (actually before the Night Office) Easter service): “And we took the blessing from the abbot, and so it came out and struck the beat.”
Currently, there is a rare ringing of the gospel on the holiday bell.
, (morning and afternoon): The bells are the same as on Lent.
: for matins (actually on Wednesday evening) - the bell rings the polyeleos bell.
: for the hours, vespers and liturgy - the bell rings the polyeleos bell.
To follow the Passion of the Lord, the gospel is sounded on the festive bell; in the Gospels, the festive bell is struck before the beginning of the readings. After reading the 12th Gospel, the ringing bell rings. At the end of the service, the trezvon rings (if the abbot blesses).
: to the royal clock - a rare gospel message on the Sunday bell.
For Vespers (removal of the Shroud) the bell rings with a rare ringing of the festive bell. During the removal of the Shroud, a single stroke of each bell is rung from large to small. Upon placing the Shroud, a short peal will ring.
At matins the big bell rings the bell. During the procession with the Shroud around the church there is a chime (the same as during the day). Upon placing the Shroud, a short peal will ring.
: In the morning and afternoon, according to established tradition, no bells are made.
For the Midnight Office (around 11:00–11:30 p.m.) there is a rare bell ringing.
There is no Liturgy on Good Friday, because on this day the Lord Himself sacrificed Himself, - the Royal Hours are celebrated with special psalms, parimies, reading of the Apostle and GospelI.
8:00 - Royal hours.
There is no Liturgy on Good Friday, because on this day the Lord Himself sacrificed Himself.
14:00 - The rite of removing the Shroud of our Lord Jesus Christ.
16:30 - The rite of burial of our Lord Jesus Christ. Procession of the Cross. Worship of St. Shroud.
On this day:
(1 Cor 1, 18-2,2 2. Matt. 27, 1-38. Luke 23, 39-43. Matt. 27, 39-54. John 19, 31-37. Matt. 27, 55- 61)
Memories of the arrest, trial, beating, desecration, execution and death on the cross of the Savior.
Good Friday is the scariest day in human history. On this day, it seemed, the ultimate triumph of evil, human envy and ingratitude took place: Christ, the incarnate Creator of the world, the Messiah awaited for so many centuries, was rejected by His people, subjected to terrible mockery, unjustly condemned and betrayed to the most painful and shameful thing that has ever been existed, executions.
stills from the film "The Passion of the Christ"
Then, on a hard, rough wooden cross, after many hours of suffering, the incarnate Son of God died in the flesh. Then, from that cross, the disciples, who had previously been secret, but now, in the face of what had happened, opened up without fear, Joseph and Nicodemus took down the body. It was too late for the funeral: the body was taken to a nearby cave in the Garden of Gethsemane, laid on a slab, as was customary then, wrapped in a shroud, covering the face with a scarf, and the entrance to the cave was blocked with a stone - and that was as if that was all. But there was more darkness and horror around this death than we can imagine. The earth shook, the sun darkened, the whole creation was shaken by the death of the Creator. And for the disciples, for the women who were not afraid to stand at a distance during the crucifixion and dying of the Savior, for the Mother of God this day was darker and more terrible than death itself. Then Friday was the last day. Nothing is visible behind this day, the next day was supposed to be the same as the previous one, and therefore the darkness and gloom and horror of this Friday will never be experienced by anyone, will never be comprehended by anyone as they were for the Virgin Mary and for the disciples of Christ . Endless days began.
I can’t convey anything to you if you don’t feel it yourself, if you yourself don’t stand, if you yourself don’t put aside all everyday concerns and listen and participate. Such a grace-filled thing happens in the church with people: when the Gospel is read, the Lord gives those listening real participation in these great holy events.
I just want to read the release, that is, last words the priest, when he bows to his parishioners, such wonderful words
Term "shroud" appeared in Russian liturgical books at the end of the 16th century. The Shroud is an icon depicting the Savior lying in the tomb. Usually this is a large cloth (piece of fabric) on which the image of the Savior laid in the tomb is written or embroidered.Removal of the Shroud and Funeral Rite - these are the two most important services that take place on Good Friday of Holy Week. Good Friday
The Vespers of Good Friday ends the reading of the book of Job. The service of this day is permeated with a kind of contemplative numbness, a deliberate restraint of feelings and images. We don’t ask for anything, we don’t shed tears from ourselves, we don’t lament about our own. Today everything is about Him, everything is His, everything is by Him.
Long-suffering Job, who sued God for his misfortunes, finally received
In the morning the Royal Hours are read. They are so named because at each Hour there is a…
Vespers begins as usual. However, the chants and lyrics we hear seem to burn. In my opinion, there are no more poignant texts in Orthodox worship than the texts of these days. I remember that when I watched the sensational film “The Passion of the Christ” I caught myself thinking: the intensity of the experience
Given over to execution, Christ suffered a lot before execution. The Savior was mocked, beaten and ridiculed by the Roman soldiers who were to accompany Him to the place of execution. Having placed a crown of thorns on the Lord’s head, its thorns digging into the flesh, and giving Him a heavy cross - an instrument of execution, they set out on the path to Golgotha. Golgotha or the place of execution was a hill to the west of Jerusalem, which could be reached through the city's Gate of Judgment. This is the path the Savior took, eventually passing it for all people.
Such executions sometimes lasted several days. To speed it up, the person was not simply tied to the cross, as in most cases, but was nailed. Forged faceted nails were driven between the radial bones of the arm, next to the wrist. On its way, the nail met a nerve ganglion, through which the nerve endings go to the hand and control it. The nail interrupts this nerve node. In itself, touching an exposed nerve is a terrible pain, but here all these nerves are broken
I saw you off today
To Golgotha, to the cross...
She stood quietly under the fig tree -
There were no places nearby.
I tried to touch you
For You to heal.
I came with the Samaritan woman to the well,
So that you can give me something to drink.
I stretched out my dry soul,
May she come to life.
Waiting with Zacchaeus for dinner,
I paid off all my debts.
And now You have given me wounds
Kiss and cry
With the Virgin Mary and John
Stand on Golgotha.
I buried you today -
You let me...
There is nothing more terrible than Your grave
Among all the graves.
All human flesh fell silent -
The Lord himself is silent.
But hope is like a thin candle
It's burning in my heart.
I'll come here early tomorrow
Carrying aromas,
With myrrh-bearing wives
Not fearing, but loving.
You will illuminate me with light
And the sadness will melt away.
I will follow you at dawn -
I don't feel sorry for myself.
You will teach me humility and holy love,
So that we won't be separated again
Never with You.
(Galina Kremenova, Kherson)
Christ's death on the cross took place according to the Gospel at 9 o'clock (about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, our time). Therefore, in the afternoon in churches, when the troparion is sung: “Blessed Joseph, from the tree I took down Your most pure Body...”, the clergy lift the Shroud (i.e., the image of Christ lying in the tomb) from the Throne, as if from Golgotha, and carry it out her from the altar to the middle of the temple in the presentation of lamps (all those praying stand with lighted candles) and with incense. The shroud is placed on a specially prepared table (tomb), which will be located in the middle of the temple for three (incomplete) days, thereby reminiscent of the three-day stay of Jesus Christ in the tomb.
Then, at the ceremony of removing the Shroud, the canon “Lamentation” is read Mother of God". "Woe is me, my child, woe is me, my dear “those are mine,” the Church mournfully exclaims on behalf of the Most Holy Theotokos, contemplating the horror of Passion Days.
The charter prescribes that it should be done privately, so those who did not get into the service, be sure to read this canon, amazing in depth.
“Eternal life, how do you die?” 
- the Ever-Virgin asks His Son and God in bewilderment. Thousands, thousands of mothers can recognize this cry - but Her cry is more terrible than any cry: She buried not only Her Son, but every hope for the victory of God, every hope for eternal life. Many, probably, looked at Christ, many, probably, were ashamed and afraid and did not look into the face of the Mother. With what horror in our souls should we stand in the face of the Mother, Whom we have deprived by murder... Stand before Her face, stand and look into the eyes of the Virgin Mary!.. Listen, listen to this cry! Say: Mother, I am guilty - albeit among others - of the death of Your Son; I am guilty - You intercede. If You forgive, no one will judge us or destroy us... But if You do not forgive, then Your word will be stronger than any word in our defense...
Then the clergy and all those praying bow before the Shroud and kiss the sores of the Lord depicted on it - His pierced ribs, arms and legs. And in this short remaining time, let us delve into this death with our souls, because all this horror is based on one thing: SIN, and each of us is responsible for this terrible Good Friday. Therefore, when we venerate the sacred Shroud, we will do it with trepidation. He died for you alone: let everyone understand this! - and let us listen to this Cry, the cry of the whole earth, the cry of hope that has been torn, and thank God for the salvation that is given to us so easily and which we pass by so indifferently, while it was given at such a terrible price to God, and the Mother of God, and the disciples .
Every person who truly lives the life of the Church knows the horror and homelessness of this day. This day is also terrible because it mercilessly poses the question to everyone: Where would I be then, on that terrible night? And the answer to it is disappointing: even the apostles, who said that they were ready to die for Christ, and really thought that they would die for Him, all fled, even Peter, the most firm and zealous among them, three times in the face of, if you look at, the most insignificant danger, he denied from your Teacher.
The path to death is terrible for every person, and Jesus was truly a man, but, moreover, for Christ it was especially difficult. We must think about this: it always - or often - seems to us that it was easy for Him to give His life, being God who became man. But our Savior Christ dies as a man: not by His immortal Divinity, but by His human, living, truly human body!”
“The sun saw something it had never seen,” says Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov), “and, unable to bear what it saw, it hid its rays, just as a man closes his eyes at a sight unbearable to him: it was clothed in deep darkness, expressing with darkness a sadness as deep as death is bitter.” The earth shook and shook under the event that took place on it. The Old Testament Church tore its magnificent veil; so the most precious clothes are torn and not spared in an inevitable, decisive disaster. And all the people who came to this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests. "
Then the temple is plunged into darkness. The sounds of repentance grow and engulf those praying. Everyone is presented in this harsh darkness to the judgment of his conscience, left alone with it, and the voice of the repentant lines either condemns what he has done, or bitterly reproaches him for it. All ages of people stand in the dark before God 
eternal life; freezes, suddenly hearing the sounds of eternal truth, youth. The whole church stands and confesses to God in silence, and outside the window, the reflections of the green lights of the lamps go off into the deep darkness of the sky, as if there, in the firmament, they find their firm presence. This is all that was experienced the day before - the repentant singing, and the darkness of the temple, and the green lights trembling outside the window in the darkness of the sky - all this fills with an unprecedented breadth of experiences. There is no liturgy on Good Friday, since on this day the Lord Himself sacrificed Himself, and the Royal Hours are celebrated. This is a special day strict fasting. There is a pious tradition of not eating any food on Good Friday until the end of the rite of removing the Shroud (that is, until approximately three o’clock in the afternoon), and then eating only bread and water. (read 1 Cor 1, 18-2,2 2. Matt. 27, 1-38. Luke 23, 39-43. Matt. 27, 39-54. John 19, 31-37. Matt. 27, 55 -61)
And on Friday evening, Matins of Great Saturday is celebrated (the day according to the church calendar begins in the evening) with the rite of burial of the Shroud. The evening service is of a funeral nature. This is the burial of Christ Himself. Like at a funeral service, everyone in the church stands with lit candles. At the beginning of Matins, the seventeenth kathisma is read - part of the Psalter, which is usually read during funeral services for the dead or at memorial services.
“The original hymn, I will sing a funeral hymn to You; through Your burial I opened the doors of my life, and death and death to the one who put to death,” - this is how the canon of Holy Saturday begins. This is also a lament for the buried Christ, but a new theme is increasingly heard in it - the expectation of the Resurrection, the anticipation of Easter. “Don’t cry for Me, Mother, see me in the grave... I will rise and be glorified,” the choir sings. And they read the Sunday Gospel about the appearance of angels at the burial place of the Crucified Christ, about how the myrrh-bearing women did not find Jesus where he was buried. There is just over a day left until Easter...
Matins of Great Saturday ends with a quiet religious procession with the Shroud and candles. When the procession goes around the temple, everyone sings the funeral song “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us...” And only a few hours separate this procession from the next one, which takes place on Sunday midnight, already Easter.
While singing “Noble Joseph,” the clergy come out to the Shroud. The temple is being censed. All believers stand with lit candles, as if at a funeral.
Troparion, voice 2:
The noble Joseph took down your most pure body from the tree, wrapped a clean shroud around him, and went away. I and put it in a new tomb.
[Noble Joseph, having taken down your most pure body from the tree, wrapped it in clean linen and anointed it with incense, and laid it in a new tomb.]
Glory: When you descended to death, Immortal Life, then you killed hell with the brilliance of the Divine. When you raised those who had died from the underworld, all the Powers of Heaven cried out: O Life-Giver Christ our God, glory to Thee.
[When You descended to death, Immortal Life, then You killed hell with Your Divine Light. When You raised the dead from the underworld, all the Heavenly Powers exclaimed: “Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!”]
And now: To the myrrh-bearing women, standing at the tomb, an angel cried out: Peace dead essence decent, but Christ of corruption appeared alien.
[Presenting the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb, the Angel exclaimed: “The dead require myrrh, but Christ did not undergo corruption.”]
Psalm 118 (Immaculate) is sung. The psalm is divided into three parts, called articles to indicate that one is supposed to stand and listen to them (the word “statia” is from the verb “to stand”). Each verse of the psalm is accompanied by “praises” to the victory of Christ over death. They were compiled by an unknown Greek hymn writer XV-XVI centuries. All of them, emphasizing various aspects of the completed sacrament, never cease to remind that victory is by Christ. already won..
Article one, voice 5
1. Blessed are the blameless ones who walk in the law of the Lord.- Thou hast laid down life in the tomb, O Christ, and the angelic host is terrified, Thy descent is glorifying.
[Blessed are those who are blameless in their ways, who keep the law of the Lord.- You, the Life, Christ, were laid in the tomb, and the Angelic armies were amazed, glorifying Your condescension.]
2. Blessed are those who experience His witness; they will seek Him with all their hearts.- Belly, how are you dying? Why do you dwell in the tomb, but destroy the kingdom of death, and raise the dead from hell?
[Blessed are those who know His revelations; they seek Him with all their hearts.- Life, how do you die? And how do you remain in the grave, but at the same time destroy the kingdom of death, and raise the dead from hell?]
3. For those who do not do iniquity walk in His ways.- We magnify You, Jesus the King, and honor Your burial and suffering, in whose image You saved us from corruption.
[For those who do not commit iniquity walk in His ways.- We glorify You, Jesus the King, and honor Your burial and suffering, with which You saved us from destruction.]
4. Thou hast commanded that Thy commandments should be kept strictly.- Having laid down the measures of the earth, you dwell in small things, Jesus the All-King, this day, raises up the dead from the graves.
[You have commanded that Your commandments be kept firmly.- Having determined the dimensions of the earth, You, Jesus, King over all, remain today in a narrow tomb, resurrecting the dead from their graves.]
5. So that my ways may be corrected, preserve Your justifications.- My Jesus Christ, the King of all, why did you come seeking those in hell? Or cut off the human race?
[So that my paths may be directed to keep Your commandments.- My Jesus Christ, King of all, what did you come down to those in hell in search of? Is it not in order to free the human race?]
6. Then I will not be ashamed, even if I look upon all Your commandments.- The Lord of all is seen to be dead, and is placed in a new grave, Having exhausted the coffins of the dead.
[Then I will not be ashamed, considering all Your commandments.- The Lord of all is seen to be dead, and He who made the tombs of the dead empty is placed in a new tomb.]
7. Let us confess to You the righteousness of our hearts, ever to teach us the destinies of Your righteousness.- Thou art laid in the tomb, O Christ, and by Thy death thou hast destroyed death and consumed the life of the world.
[I will glorify You in the righteousness of my heart when I learn the judgments of Your righteousness.- You, the Life, Christ, were laid in the tomb, and by Your death you destroyed death and poured out life into the world.]
8. I will keep your excuses, do not leave me to the bitter end.- Like a villain, like a villain, Christ, you were imputed, having justified us all from the villainy of the ancient rebel.
[I will keep Your commandments; don't leave me completely.- As a villain, You were numbered among the villains, Christ, justifying us all from the evil deeds of the ancient tempter.]
9. How will the youngest one correct his path? Always keep Your words.- A man who is red with kindness is more than all others, as if he is a sightless dead man, nature is adorning all.
[How can a young man correct his path? By keeping yourself according to Your word.- The most beautiful of all people, you appear like a dead man without form, You who have adorned all nature.]
10. With all my heart I seek You, do not turn me away from Your commandments.- Hell will endure, O Savior, Your coming, and we will be darkened even more painfully, blinded by the brilliance of Your light at the dawn.
[I searched for You with all my heart; do not let me wander from Your commandments.- How will hell bear Your coming, Savior? Wouldn’t he, darkened, rather be crushed, blinded by the radiance of the brilliance of Your light?]
11. I have hidden Your words in my heart, lest I sin against You.- Jesus, my Sweet and saving Light, how did you hide in a dark tomb? O unspeakable and ineffable patience!
[I have kept Your words in my heart, so that I may not sin before You.- Jesus, my sweet and saving light, how did you hide in a dark tomb? Oh, inexpressible and unspeakable patience!]
12. Blessed art thou, Lord: teach me by thy justification.- Both intelligent nature and the incorporeal multitude are perplexed, O Christ, at the mystery of Your unspeakable and ineffable burial.
[Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your laws!- And the spiritual nature and the multitude of the incorporeal do not comprehend, Christ, the mystery of Your inexplicable and ineffable burial.]
13. With my mouth I have declared all the destinies of Your mouth.- Oh strange miracles! About new things! The Giver of my breath rushes about breathless, we bury the hands of Joseph.
[With my mouth I have declared what was spoken by Your mouth.- Oh, incomprehensible miracles! Oh, an unprecedented phenomenon! He who gives me breath remains lifeless, buried in the hands of Joseph.]
14. On the path of Your testimonies we have enjoyed ourselves, as in all riches.- And you went into the grave, and from the depths, Christ, you left the Fathers in no way: this is a strange and glorious thing.
[On the path of Your revelations I rejoice as in great wealth.- Although you entered the grave, Christ, you did not separate from the bosom of the Fatherland: and all this together is extraordinary and glorious.]
15. I will mock Your commandments, and understand Your ways.- The true King of Heaven and earth, even if you were imprisoned in the smallest tomb, you were known to all creation, Jesus.
[I will meditate on Your commandments and understand Your ways.- True King of heaven and earth, although You were shut up in the tightest tomb, all creation recognized You, Jesus.]
16. I will learn from Your justifications; I will not forget Your words.- For you, the Creator Christ, the foundations of hell were laid in the tomb, and the tombs were opened by man.
[I will learn from Your laws; I will not forget Your words.- Before You, Christ the Creator, laid in the tomb, the foundations of hell shook and the tombs of the buried were opened.]
17. Reward Your servant: live me, and I will keep Your words.- Hold the earth with your hand, mortified by the flesh, now contained under the earth, delivering the dead from the contents of hell.
[Reward Your servant and give me life, and I will keep Your word. - He who holds the earth in his hand, put to death in the flesh, is now held under the earth, delivering the dead from the dominion of hell.]
18. Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Your law.- You have risen from decay, O Belly, my Savior, I will die to You, and come to the dead, and break the beliefs of hell.
[Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Your law.- You, my Savior and Life, having died, came out of the place of corruption and, coming to the dead, crushed the bars of hell.]
19. I am a stranger on earth: do not hide Your commandments from me.- Like light, the Lamp, now the flesh of God, hides under the earth like under a bushel, and drives away the darkness that exists in hell.
[I am a wanderer on earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.- Like a lamp of light, now the flesh of God, hidden under the earth, as if under a bushel, dispels the darkness of hell.]
20. My soul love to desire Your destiny at all times.- Many smart armies flock with Joseph and Nicodemus, burying You in a small tomb.
[It is a joy to my soul to listen to Your judgments at all times.- Many spiritual armies are flocking to bury You, the Inconceivable One, in a tight tomb, together with Joseph and Nicodemus.]
21. Thou hast rebuked the proud: curse them that turn aside from Thy commandments.- Killed by will, and laid underground, My life-giving Jesus, you revived me who was killed by a bitter crime.
[You have tamed the proud; cursed are those who turn away from Your commandments.- Voluntarily killed and laid underground, You, my Jesus, Source of life, revived me, killed by a bitter crime.]
22. Take away from me diarrhea and humiliation, as I have sought Your testimonies.- All creation has been changed by Your passion, everything is because You, the Word, the compassionate One, the Sustainer of You, leading everyone.
[Take away from me reproach and shame, for I have sought Your revelations.- The whole creation changed from Your suffering, for everything had compassion for You, the Word, knowing You, who Contains the whole world.]
23. For the princes are gray and slander me, and Thy servant mocks Thy justifications:- Belly Stone in the belly reception of hell omnivorous vomit, from the beginning even devour the dead.
[For the princes sat and slandered me, and Your servant meditated on Your commandments;- Having received the Stone of Life into its womb, the all-consuming hell spewed out the dead, which it had consumed since eternity.]
24. For Thy testimonies are my teaching, and Thy counsels my justifications.- You were laid in a new tomb, O Christ, and you renewed human nature and rose gracefully from the dead.
[For Your testimonies are for my instruction, and Your commandments are my counselors.- You were laid in a new tomb, O Christ, and you renewed human nature, having solemnly risen from the dead.]
25. My soul cleaves to the earth: live me according to Your word.- You came down to earth to save Adam, and you will not find this on earth, Master, you even descended to hell to seek
[My soul is addicted to earthly things, restore life to me through Your word.- You came down to earth, Lord, to save Adam, but not finding him on earth, you even went down to hell in search of him.]
26. Thou hast declared my ways, and Thou hast heard me: teach me by Thy justification:- Shaking with fear, the Word, the whole earth, and the rays of the morning sun were hidden, to Thy greatest hidden light in the earth.
[I declared my ways to You, and You heard me; teach me Your laws.- The whole earth trembled with fear, O Word, and the morning star hid its rays when You, Greatest Light, was hidden by the earth.]
27. Let me understand the path of Your justifications, and I will mock at Your wonders.- As man then dies by will, O Savior, as God raised mortals from the graves and the depths of sin.
[Let me understand the way of Your commandments, and I will meditate on Your wonders.- As a man, You, the Savior, die voluntarily, but as God raised mortals from the graves and the depths of sin.]
28. My soul slumbers from despondency: strengthen me in Your words.- Tearful sobbing on You, Pure, Motherly, about Jesus, crying out loudly: How can I bury You, Son?
[My soul fell into slumber from despondency, strengthen me in Your words.- With sobbing tears over You, Jesus, shedding maternal tears, the Pure One cried out: “How can I bury You, Son?”]
29. Leave the path of unrighteousness from me, and have mercy on me with Your law.- Like a grain of wheat, having gone into the depths of the earth, you have given the many-fingered class, raising up men, even from Adam.
[Remove from me the path that leads to unrighteousness, and have mercy on me according to Your law.“Like a grain of wheat that sank into the depths of the earth, You brought forth a fertile ear, restoring the mortals descended from Adam.]
30. I have chosen the path of truth, and I have not forgotten Your destiny.- You hid yourself under the earth like the sun now, and through the night you were covered with death, but shine brighter, O Savior.
[I have chosen the path of truth and have not forgotten Your judgments.- You were now hidden underground, like the sun, and embraced by the night of death, but shine even brighter, Savior.]
31. I cleave to Thy testimony, O Lord, do not put me to shame.- Like the circle of the sun, the moon, the Savior, hides, and now the coffin is hidden for You, who died a carnal death.
[I have clung to Your revelations, Lord, do not shame me.- Just as the moon covers the circle of the sun, so the tomb has now hidden You, Savior, having died according to the flesh.]
32. The path of Your commandments flowed when You enlarged my heart.- The belly of death is tasted by Christ, who frees mortals from death, and now gives the belly to everyone.
[I rushed to the path of Your commandments when You delivered my heart from oppression.- Life, having tasted death, Christ freed people from death, and now gives life to everyone.]
33. Lay down for me, O Lord, the way of Your justifications, and I will seek and take away.- Adam was put to death in envy in ancient times; raise him to the belly by Thy mortification, O new Savior, Adam appeared in the flesh.
[Set as a law for me, O Lord, the way of Your commandments, and I will always diligently seek it.- In ancient times, You raise Adam, who was killed out of envy, to life by Your mortification, appearing, O Savior, in the flesh as a new Adam.]
34. Give me understanding, and I will try Your law, and I will keep it with all my heart.- Fix your mind, prostrate dead for our sake, terrified, covered with wings, Savior.
[Give me understanding, that I may know Your law and keep it in my heart.- Seeing You, Savior, stretched out, dead for us, the angelic ranks covered their wings in horror.]
35. Guide me on the path of Your commandments, as I have desired.- Let us take you down, O Word, from the tree, dead; Joseph now lay you in the tomb, but arise and save all, as God.
[Place me on the path of Your commandments, for I have desired it.- Having taken You down, Word, dead from the tree, Joseph has now laid You in the grave, but arise, saving everyone, like God.]
36. Incline my heart to Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.- Angelic, Savior, having been joy, now you were guilty of this sorrow, we see in the flesh, lifeless and dead.
[Incline my heart to Your revelations, and not to self-interest.- Savior, former joy To the angels, now he has appeared as the author of their sorrow, being seen in the flesh as a lifeless dead man.]
37. Turn away my eyes from seeing vanity; live me in Your way.- You ascended on a tree, and you lifted up living people; you were underground, and you resurrected those lying under it.
[Turn away my eyes, so that I do not see vanity; quicken me in Your path.- Ascended on the tree, You lift up living people with You, and once you are underground, You resurrect those lying under it.]
38. Make Thy servant fear Thy word.- Like a lion, the Savior, having fallen asleep in the flesh, like a certain skimen who is dead, rises, having put off old age of the flesh.
[Make me, Your servant, afraid to break Your word.- Like a lion who fell asleep in the flesh, Savior, You, like a certain lion cub, rose from the dead, throwing off the old age of the flesh.]
39. Take away my reproach, the hedgehog of the nepschevah: for Thy fate is good.- You pierced the ribs, you took Adamle’s rib, you created Eve from worthlessness, and you exuded cleansing currents.
[Take away from me my reproach, which I fear, for Your judgments are good.- You, who took the rib of Adam, from which you created Eve, being pierced in the rib, issued purifying streams from it.]
40. Behold, I have desired Your commandments; live me in Your righteousness.- Secretly, since ancient times the Lamb has been devoured, but you were devoured in reality, O Gentle One, you have cleansed all creation, O Savior.
[Behold, I have desired Your commandments; give me life through Your righteousness.- In ancient times, a lamb was secretly sacrificed, but You, the Gentle Savior, sacrificed openly, cleansed all creation.]
41. And may Thy mercy come upon me, O Lord, Thy salvation according to Thy word.- Who will utter a truly new terrible image? Dominion over creation, today passion accepts and dies for our sake.
[And let Thy mercy, O Lord, come upon me, Thy salvation according to Thy word;- Who will explain this terrible phenomenon, truly unprecedented, for He who rules over creation now accepts suffering and dies for our sake.]
42. And I answer those who reproach my word: for I have trusted in Your words.- Belly Treasure, what does the dead look like, the angels cry out in horror? How is God hidden in the tomb?
[And I will give an answer to those who defame me, for I trust in Your words.- How is the Giver of Life contemplated dead? - the Angels exclaimed in amazement. And how is God hidden in the tomb?]
43. And do not take away from my lips the words that are truly true, for I trusted in Your fate.- With a copy pierced, O Savior, from Thy side, thou shalt dig up the belly from the belly of the one who saved me, and live with him.
[And do not take the words of truth completely from my lips, for I have trusted in Your judgments;- From Your side, O Savior, pierced by a spear, life flows from the life of Him who saved me and revives me.]
44. And I will keep Your law forever and ever.- Stretched out on the tree, you gathered people together: you pierced the ribs, you exuded life-giving waste to everyone, Jesus
[And I will preserve Your law forever, for ever.- Prostrate on the Tree, You have gathered mortals to Yourself: pierced in the ribs, You pour out forgiveness that exudes life to everyone, Jesus.]
45. And I walked in breadth, because I sought Your commandments.- The noble Joseph, O Savior, forms a terrible image, and buries You as if dead in a beautiful manner, and is horrified by Your terrible image.
[My heart became spacious, for I sought Your commandments.- Noble Joseph does the incomprehensible, splendidly burying You, Savior, like a dead man, and is horrified by Your awe-inspiring image.]
46. And speak of Thy testimonies before the kings, and do not be ashamed:- Under the earth, by desire, you descended as if dead; raise up those who have fallen from earth to heaven from there, Jesus.
[And I spoke of Your testimonies before kings and was not ashamed;- Having voluntarily descended into the earth, as if dead, You raise those who have fallen from there from earth to heaven, Jesus.]
47. And I learned in Your commandments, which I loved dearly:- Even though you were seen dead, you raised up the fallen as God from earth to heaven from there, Jesus.
[And I learned Your commandments, which I loved;- Although You were seen dead, yet, as God, remaining alive, You raise up those who have fallen from there from earth to heaven, Jesus.]
48a. And I lifted up my hands to Your commandments, which I have loved.- Even though you were seen dead, you are alive like God, you revived slain people, having killed my slayer.
[And I stretched out my hands to Your commandments, which I have loved.- Although you were seen dead, you were alive, like God, you revived the dead people, killing my murderer the devil.]
48b. And they mocked at Your justifications.- About this joy! O many sweets! You also filled them in hell, and in the depths of the dark you shone with light.
[And I meditated on Your commandments.- Oh, with what joys, oh, with what numerous pleasures You filled those in hell, illuminating the dark depths of hell with light!]
49. Remember Your words to Your servant, whose hope You have given me.- I bow to passion, I sing of burial, I magnify Your power, Lover of mankind, in the image of freed corruptive passions.
[Remember Your word to Your servant, in which You commanded me to trust.- I worship suffering, I sing the funeral, I magnify Your power, O Lover of Mankind, by which we are freed from destructive passions.]
50. Comfort me in my humility, for Your word lives on me.- The sword is drawn against Thee, O Christ, and the sword of the mighty is dulled, and the sword of Eden turns back.
[It will comfort me in my distress, for Your word gives me life.“The sword is drawn against You, O Christ, and now the weapon of the mighty is dulled, and the sword that guards Eden is withdrawn.]
51. Pride is a lawbreaker to the extreme: but I have not deviated from Your law.- The Lamb saw the Lamb in the slaughter, pierced by the point, weeping, causing the flock to cry out.
[The proud have boldly trampled the law, but I have not turned aside from Your law.- The Lamb, seeing the Lamb slain and pierced with a spear, wept, causing the flock to cry out.]
52. I have remembered Your destiny from all eternity, O Lord, and have been comforted.- Even if you are buried in a tomb, even if you go to hell: but you have exhausted the graves, and you have exposed hell, O Christ.
[I remembered Your judgments from time immemorial, O Lord, and was comforted.- Although You, Christ, are buried in the grave and go to hell, You have emptied the graves and destroyed hell.]
53. I have received sorrow from sinners who forsake Thy law.- By your will, O Savior, you descended into the earth, you revived slain people, and you raised them up in the glory of the Father.
[Sadness takes possession of me at the sight of sinners who reject Your law.- Having voluntarily descended underground, You, Savior, revived the dead people and raised them to the glory of the Father.]
54. Peta bahhu your justification for me, in the place of my coming.- The Trinity is One in the flesh for our sake, endured a blasphemous death, the sun is horrified, and the earth trembles.
[Your commandments were my songs in the place of my wanderings.- One of the Trinity in the flesh suffered a shameful death for our sake: the sun trembles and the earth trembles.]
55. I have remembered Your name in the night, O Lord, and kept Your law.- As from a bitter spring, Judah placed the tribe of fiends in the ditch, the feeder of the mandator Jesus.
[In the night I remembered Your name, O Lord, and kept Your law.- As coming from a bitter spring, the offspring of the tribe of Judah laid Jesus, the Nourisher and Giver of manna, in a ditch.]
56. This came to me, as I sought justification for Your demands.- The judge was judged before Pilate, and stood before him, and was condemned to an unrighteous death, by the tree of the cross.
[He became mine, for I sought Your commandments.- The judge, as a judge, appeared before Judge Pilate and was unjustly condemned to death on the cross.]
57. Thou art my part, O Lord, to preserve Thy law.- Proud of Israel, murderous people who suffered, freed Barabbas, and betrayed the Savior to the Cross.
[My destiny, Lord, I said, is to keep Your law.- Puffy Israel, a people thirsting for murder, why are you offended that you gave Barabbas freedom and betrayed the Savior to the Cross.]
58. I prayed to Your face with all my heart: have mercy on me according to Your word.- By Your hand you created Adam from the earth, for this reason You were by nature Man, and You were crucified by Your will.
[I prayed to You with all my heart: have mercy on me according to Your word.- He who created Adam with His own hand from the earth, for his sake accepted human nature and voluntary crucifixion.]
59. I have thought about Your ways, and returned my nose to Your witness.- Having listened to the Word of Your Father, You descended even to hell, and You resurrected the human race.
[I meditated on Your ways and turned my steps to Your revelations.- Having listened to Your Father, You, the Word, even descended to terrible hell and resurrected the human race.]
60. Let us prepare ourselves and not be dismayed to keep Your commandments.- Alas for me, Light of the world, alas for me, My Light, my longed-for Jesus, crying Virgin, weeping bitterly.
[I prepared myself and was not embarrassed to keep Your commandments.- “Woe is Me, Light of the world, woe is Me, My Light, My longed-for Jesus!” - the Virgin cried with a bitter sob.]
61. The sinner has already committed himself to me, and has not forgotten Your law.- Let the envious, murderous and proud people be ashamed of the shroud and Master Samago, the risen Christ.
[The snares of sinners have entangled me, but I have not forgotten Your law.- Envious, thirsty for murder and proud people, at least they were ashamed of His shroud and tomb after the resurrection of Christ.]
62. At midnight I rose to confess to You about the destinies of Your righteousness.“Come now, you vile murderer of a disciple, and show me the character of your malice, who you were a traitor to Christ.”
[At midnight I rose to praise You for Your righteous judgments.- Come, vile disciple-murderer, and show me your evil disposition, which prompted you to become a traitor to Christ.]
63. I am a partaker of all those who fear You and keep Your commandments.- As if someone who loves humanity is pretending to be false, and is blindly all-destructive, unfaithful, peacefully selling at a price.
[I am a fellow member of all who fear You and keep Your commandments.- You pretend to be humane, but you are mad and most destructively blind, unfaithful, valuing peace with money.]
64. Fill the earth with Thy mercy, O Lord: teach me by Thy justification.- What price did you have for the heavenly world? You have accepted something that is not worthy; You, the most damned Satan, have become furious.
[The earth is full of Your mercy, O Lord; teach me Your commandments.- What price did you receive for the priceless heavenly myrrh? What did you accept as equivalent? You have gained madness, damned Satan.]
65. Thou hast done kindness to Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word.- Even if you are a beggar-lover, and you are sad about the world that is being exhausted for the cleansing of your soul, how can you sell the radiance on gold?
[Thou hast done good to Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word.- If you are a beggar-lover and regret the peace poured out for the purification of the soul, then how do you sell the Luminous One for gold?]
66. Teach me kindness, punishment and reason, as in Your commandments of faith.- Oh, God's Word! Oh, my joy! How will I endure Your three-day burial? Now I am tormented motherly in my womb.
[Teach me mercy, knowledge and understanding, for I have believed Your commandments.- Oh, God's Word! Oh, My Joy! How will I endure Your three-day burial? Now I’m tormented by my mother’s heart.]
67. Before I even humble myself, I have sinned: for this reason I have preserved Your word.- Who will give Me water and springs of tears, the Virgin of God, cry out to you: let me weep for sweet Me Jesus.
[Before my suffering I was mistaken, but now I keep Your word.- “Who will give Me water and sources of tears,” exclaimed the Virgin of God, “to mourn My Sweet Jesus?”]
68. Thou art good, O Lord, and by Thy goodness teach me by Thy justification.- O mountains and hills, and multitudes of people, weep, and all of you weep with Me for your God, the Matter.
[You are good, O Lord, and according to Your goodness teach me Your commandments.- Oh, mountains and hills, and multitudes of people, weep and all weep with Me, your Mother God.]
69. The iniquity of the proud has multiplied against me, but with all my heart I will test Your commandments.- When I see You, Savior, flightless Light, the joy and sweetness of my heart? The virgin cried bitterly.
[The unrighteousness of proud people has multiplied and risen up against me, but with all my heart I will seek Your commandments.- “When will I see You, Savior, Eternal Light, the joy and delight of My heart?” - the Virgin cried sadly.]
70. Their hearts became as if they were milky, but they learned Thy law.- Even as a stone, Savior, cut-edge, You received the cut, but You emitted a living stream, like the Source of life.
[Their hearts grew fat; I have learned Your law.- Although, like a hewn stone, You took the cut, O Savior, but you gave forth a living stream, being the Source of life.]
71. It is good for me, for Thou hast humbled me, that I may learn by Thy justification.- As from one source, through Thy river pouring forth, we acquire immortal life.
[It is good for me that You humbled me so that I could learn Your commandments.- From Your side, as from one source flowing with a double river, we quench our thirst and acquire immortal life.]
72. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.- Thou didst appear by will, O Word, dead in the tomb, but living, and men, as Thou didst foretell, rise up by Thy resurrection, O my Savior.
[The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.- Voluntarily dwelling dead in the tomb, the Word, but even being alive, You, my Savior, also raise mortals, as you predicted, by Your resurrection.]
We sing praises to You, the Word, all of God, with the Father and Your Holy Spirit, and glorify Your Divine burial.
[We sing praise to You, O Word, God of all, with the Father and Your Holy Spirit and glorify Your Divine burial.]
And now, and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
We bless You, Pure Mother of God, and honor the three-day burial of Your Son and our faithful God.
[We exalt You, Pure Mother of God, and with faith we honor the three-day burial of Your Son and our God.]
Then again the first troparion, small litany, small incense and begin the second article.
Article two
It is worthy to magnify You, the Giver of Life, who stretched out your hand on the Cross and crushed the power of the enemy.
[It is worthy to glorify You, the Giver of life, who on the Cross stretched out your arms and crushed the power of the enemy.]
73. Thy hands made me, and ye created me: give me understanding, and I will learn Thy commandment.- It is worthy to magnify You, the Creator of all: Through Your suffering the imams are dispassionate, freed from corruption.
[Thy hands created me and formed me; Give me understanding, and I will learn Your commandments.- It is worthy to glorify You, the Creator of all, for through Your suffering we were delivered from eternal suffering, freed from death.]
74. Those who fear You will see me and rejoice, because they trust in Your words.- The earth was terrified, and the sun, the Savior, hid itself, You, the Everlasting Light, Christ, went into the grave carnally.
[Those who fear You will see me and rejoice that I trusted in Your words.- The earth shook, O Savior, and the sun disappeared when You, Christ, the Unfading Light, entered the grave in Your flesh.]
75. I understood, Lord, that Thy destiny is true, and Thou hast truly humbled me.- You fell asleep, Christ, in a natural animal sleep in the tomb, and from the heavy sleep of sin you raised up the human race.
[I understood, Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, and You punished me justly.- You, Christ, fell asleep in a life-giving sleep in the tomb and awakened the human race from the heavy sleep of sin.]
76. Be Thy mercy, that Thy servant may comfort me according to Thy word.- I have given birth to the only wives besides illnesses, You, Child, but now I endure illnesses through Your unbearable passion, as the verb is Pure.
[May Thy mercy be a comfort to me, according to Thy word to Thy servant.“I am the only woman who gave birth to You without suffering, Child,” said the Most Pure One, “but now with Your suffering I endure unbearable torment.”]
77. May Thy compassions come to me, and I will live, for Thy law is my teaching.- Woe is Thee, Savior, who exists inseparably from the Father, but as long as she lies dead on the earth, they are horrified by the sight of the seraphim.
[May Thy mercy come upon me, and I will live, for Thy law guides me.- Contemplating You, Savior, inseparable from the Father abiding on high, and below dead, prostrate on the earth, the Seraphim are horrified.]
78. Let pride be ashamed, for I have committed unrighteousness against me; but I will scoff at Your commandments.- The church veil is torn apart by Your crucifix, the luminaries are covered, the Word, the light, You hide the sun under the ground.
[Let the proud be put to shame, for they oppress me innocently; I will meditate on Your commandments.- The veil of the temple is torn at the crucifixion of Your Word; the luminaries hide their light when You, the Sun, hid underground.]
79. Let those who fear You and those who know Your testimonies convert me.- The earth from the beginning is united by mania, erecting a circle, lifeless, like a man going underground: horrified by the vision of the sky.
[May those who fear You and know Your revelations guide me on Your path.- Having established the earthly circle with one wave at the beginning, he went lifeless, like a man, underground. Tremble at this sight, heaven!]
80. May my heart be blameless in Your justifications, so that I will not be ashamed.- You went underground, creating man with Your hand, and erected the cathedrals of man from the fall with an omnipotent power.
[May my heart be blameless in Your commandments, so that I will not be put to shame.- You went underground, having created man with Your hand, in order to restore many people from the fall with omnipotent power.]
81. Disappears to the rescue Your soul mine, I have trusted in Your words.“Come, let us sing the sacred lament to the deceased Christ, like the Myrrh-Bearing Woman of old, and let us hear Rejoice with them.”
[My soul faints for Your salvation; I have trusted in Your words.- Come, let us sing sacred lament to the deceased Christ, as in ancient times the myrrh-bearing wife, so that “Rejoice!” us to hear with them.]
82. My eyes have disappeared into Your word, saying: When will You comfort me?- Thou art truly myrrh, O Word, inexhaustible: and the same peace is offered unto thee, as to the living dead, to the myrrh-bearing wife.
[My eyes are faint in anticipation of Your word: when will You console me?“You, O Word, are truly an inexhaustible myrrh; that is why the myrrh-bearing wives brought you myrrh to the living, as to the dead.]
83. I was like fur on my face: I have not forgotten Your justifications.- For the kingdoms of hell are buried, O Christ, you crush, with death you put to death, and you free the earthly creatures from corruption.
[For I became like a fur bound by frost, but I did not forget Your commandments.- Buried, you, Christ, crush the kingdom of hell; By death you kill death and deliver from corruption those born on earth.]
84. How many are the days of Your servant; when you bring judgment upon me from those who persecute me;- God’s Wisdom, which sheds the currents of life and enters the grave, gives life to beings in the inaccessible places of hell.
[How many days is the life of Your servant? When will You judge between me and my persecutors?- Pouring out the sources of life, God’s Wisdom, having descended into the tomb, revives those who are in the inaccessible depths of hell.]
85. The lawbreakers told me mockery, but not like Your law, O Lord.- May I renew the broken nature of man, I am wounded by death even in the flesh, My Mother, do not be tormented by sobs.
[The wicked have told me their devices, but not as Thy law, O Lord.- In order to renew damaged human nature, I am, by My will, wounded by death in the flesh, My Mother, do not be tormented by sobs.]
86. All Your commandments are true: having persecuted me unrighteously, help me.- You went underground, the Light-Bearer of Truth, and you raised up the dead as if from sleep, driving away all the darkness that exists in hell.
[All Your commandments are truth; They persecute me unfairly, help me.- You went underground, Dawn of Truth, and, as if you awakened the dead from sleep, dispelling all the darkness of hell.]
87. I have not yet passed away on earth; I have not forsaken Your commandments.- The two-branched grain, naturally vital, is sown in the sides of the earth with tears today: but when it is frozen, it will joyfully create the world.
[They almost destroyed me on earth, but I did not forsake Your commandments.- The two-natural, life-giving grain is sown into the bowels of the earth with tears on this day, but, having grown, it will fill the world with joy.]
88. Live for me according to Thy mercy, and I will preserve the testimonies of Thy mouth.- Adam feared God when he went to heaven, but he rejoices when he descended to hell; having fallen before, we now rise up.
[By Thy mercy restore my life, and I will keep the testimonies of Thy mouth.- Adam feared God, who walked in paradise, but, having fallen in ancient times, rejoices in the hell of the One who came, now raised up.]
89. For ever, O Lord, Your word abides in Heaven.- She who gave birth to You, Christ, laid her flesh in the tomb, is devouring tearful sacrifices for You, crying out: Arise, Child, as You foretold.
[Forever, O Lord, Your word is established in Heaven.- The One who gave birth to You, Christ, who lies in flesh in the tomb, brings tearful sacrifices to You, crying out: “Rise up, Child, as You predicted!”]
90. To generation and generation Thy truth. You founded the earth and it remains.- In the tomb, Joseph reverently hides You, sings the original beautiful songs to You, mixed with sobs, Savior.
[From generation to generation Your truth remains unchanged; You founded the earth, and it exists.- Reverently burying You in a new tomb, Joseph sings the hymns worthy of God with sobs to You, the Savior.]
91. The day endures through Your teaching, for all kinds of work are done by You.- You are nailed to the cross with nails, Your Mother, the Word, behold, pierces the bitter sorrow with nails, and the soul with arrows.
[The day is made by Your command, for everything in the world is subject to You.- Seeing You nailed to the Cross with nails, Your Mother, the Word, pierces Her soul with nails of bitter sorrow and arrows.]
92. If it were not for Your law, my teaching had been, then I would have perished in my humility.- You see everyone’s Pleasure Mother, you are drunk with bitter drinks, your face is wetted by the tears of the mountaineer.
[If the law had not been Your teaching, I would have perished in my misfortune.- Seeing You, the Delight of all, drunk with bitter drink, Your Mother wets her face with bitter tears.]
93. I will never forget Your justifications, for You have revived me in them.“I am wounded by the fierceness, and I am torn to pieces by the womb, the Word, beholding Your unrighteous slaughter,” the Most Pure One said with tears.
[I will never forget Your commandments, for through them You revive me.- “I am cruelly wounded and tormented in my heart, O Word, seeing Your unrighteous slaughter,” cried the Most Pure One with tears.]
94. I am Thine, save me, for I seek the justification of Thy demands.- Sweet eye, and I will seal Your lips with the Word. How can I bury you deathly? I am horrified, Joseph crying.
[I am yours, save me; for I have sought Your commandments.- “I am terrified,” Joseph exclaimed, “how will I close your sweet eyes and your lips, O Word? How will I bury you in the image of the dead?”]
95. Waiting for a sinner to destroy me, I understood Your testimonies.- Joseph and Nicodemus sing funeral hymns to Christ, who has now died, and the seraphim sing with them.
[The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I have delved into Your revelations.- Joseph and Nicodemus and together with them the Seraphim sing funeral hymns to the now deceased Christ.]
96. I have seen the end of every death; Your commandment is great.- Come underground, Savior, Sun of Truth: in the same way, the Moon that gave birth to You becomes impoverished with sorrows, and is deprived of Your sight.
[I saw that everything comes to an end, but Your commandment is immensely broad.- You go underground, O Savior, the Sun of Truth; that is why the Moon that gave birth to You is eclipsed by sorrows, deprived of Your vision.]
97. Since I have loved Your law, O Lord, I have my teaching all day long.- Hell is terrified, O Savior, in vain You are the Giver of Life, who exercises the wealth of You, and even restores the dead from time immemorial.
[How I have loved Your law, O Lord, it instructs me every day.- Hell was horrified, seeing You, Savior, Giver of Life, plundering its wealth and resurrecting the dead from time immemorial.]
98. Thou hast made me wiser than my enemy, according to Thy commandment, even as I am in my age.- The sun shines light at night, the Word, and You have risen, shining after death clearly, as if from a palace.
[You have made me wiser than all my enemies by Your commandment, for it is always with me.- The sun emits light after the night, and You, the Word, having risen, shine brightly after death, as if from a palace.]
99. More than all those who taught me, I understood that Your testimonies are my teaching.- The earth of You, the Creator, was received into the depths, contained with trembling, Savior, shaking, having fallen asleep with the shaking of the dead.
[I have become more intelligent than all my teachers, for Your revelations instruct me.- The earth, having received You, Creator, into its depths, shakes, possessed by fear, O Savior, awakening the dead with its shaking.]
100. Moreover, the elder understood that I have sought Your commandments.- The worlds of Thee, Christ, Nicodemus and Joseph the Noble, now with a new anointing, the whole earth was horrified, crying out.
[I have become more knowledgeable than the elders, for I have sought Your commandments.- Nicodemus and the noble Joseph now anointed You with incense, O Christ, in a new way, crying out: “Shudder, all the earth!”]
101. I have forbidden my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Thy words.- Thou hast come, O Light-Creator, and with Thee the light of the sun will go: with trembling the creation is kept, all preaching Thee to the Creator.
[I have kept my feet from every path of sin, to keep Your word.- You have come, Creator of lights, and with You the light of the sun has gone; the creation is seized with fear, proclaiming You as the Creator of everything.]
102. I have not deviated from Your judgments, as You have laid down laws for me.- The cornerstone covers the stone, but mortal man, like God is mortal, now covers the tomb: be horrified, the earth.
[I have not shied away from Your judgments, for You teach me.- The cut stone covers the corner stone, and mortal man, like a mortal, now closes in the tomb of God: be terrified, the earth!]
103. If Your words are sweeter to my throat than honey to my mouth.- See the disciple whom you loved, and Your Mother, Child, and give the sweetest message to your crying Pure One.
[How sweet are Your words in my throat, better than honey to my lips.- “Look at the disciple whom You loved, and at Your Mother, Child, and say Your sweetest word,” the Pure One cried with tears.]
104. I understood from Your commandments, and for this reason I hated every way of unrighteousness.- You, the Word, like the giver of life to the Jews, who stood on the cross, did not put them to death, but raised these dead too.
[I understood Your commandments, therefore I hated every way of lies.- You, as the true Giver of life, the Word, crucified on the Cross, did not kill the Jews, but raised their dead too.]
105. The lamp of my feet is Your law, and the light of my paths.- You did not have kindness, the Word, before, you had a lower form, when you suffered: but you rose again and brightened, fertilizing people with Divine dawns.
[Your law is a lamp for my steps, and its light is on my paths.- You had neither beauty nor appearance before, O Word, during Your suffering; having risen, he shone, adorning people with Divine dawns.]
106. I swore and vowed to preserve the fate of Your righteousness.- You entered in flesh into the earth, the Never-Evening Light-Bearer, and not being able to bear to see the darker sun, I still exist at noon.
[I swore and fulfilled to keep Your righteous judgments.- You entered the earth in flesh, Eternal Bearer of Light, and the sun, being unable to see it, darkened at noon.]
107. I humble myself to the core, Lord, live according to Your word.- The sun and the moon have grown dark, O Savior, I have been formed into a prudent slave, who will clothe himself in black robes.
[I have completely humbled myself, Lord, revive me according to Your word.- The sun and moon darkened together, O Savior, like prudent slaves who put on mourning clothes.]
108. Be pleased with the freedom of my lips, O Lord, and teach me Your destinies.- Seeing You, God, the centurion, even if you were killed, as if You were, my God, I will touch my hands; I am horrified, Joseph crying.
[Deign, O Lord, to accept the voluntary sacrifice of my lips, and teach me Your judgments.“The centurion recognized God in You, although You died, how can I, my God, touch You with my hands?” Joseph cried with horror.]
109. I will take my soul into Your hand, and I will not forget Your law.- Adam will fall asleep, but death will come from his ribs: You have now fallen asleep, O Word of God, flowing from Your ribs the life of the world.
[My soul is always in Your hand, and I have not forgotten Your law.- Adam, having fallen asleep, brings death out of his ribs, but You, now asleep, the Word of God, pour out life from Your ribs to the world.]
110. Sinners have laid a net for me, and from Your commandments I have not gone astray.- You fell asleep for a little while, and you revived the dead, and you rose again, you raised up those who had slept from eternity, O Good One.
[The wicked have laid snares for me, but I have not strayed from Your commandments.- Having fallen asleep for a short time, You revived the dead and, having risen, You raised up those who had slept from eternity, O Good One.]
111. I have inherited Your testimonies forever, for the joy of my heart is the essence.- Thou art taken from the earth, but thou hast poured out the wine of salvation, the life-giving vine: I glorify passion and the cross.
[I have accepted Your revelations forever, for they are the joy of my heart;- The vine exuding life, plucked from the earth, exuded the wine of salvation: I glorify Your suffering and the Cross.]
112. I bow my heart to create Your justifications forever for reward.- How can the intelligent bureaucracy of Thee, Savior, sing, naked, bloodied, condemned, enduring the insolence of the crucifiers?
[I have inclined my heart to fulfill Your commandments always, may You reward me.- How do the angelic ranks glorify You, Savior, naked, bloodied, condemned, enduring the insolence of the crucifiers?]
113. I have hated those who break the law, but I have loved Your law.- Betrothed, the most obstinate Jewish race, you were in charge of the erection of the temple, why did you condemn Christ?
[I have hated iniquity, but I have loved Your law.- The betrothed, but most corrupted Jewish race knew about the restoration of the temple, why did you condemn Christ?]
114. You are my Helper and My Protector, I trust in Your words.“Thou shalt clothe the heavens with the robe of reproach, the beautifier of all, and the earth wondrously beautified.”
[You are my Helper and my Protector, I trust in Your words.“You clothe the Creator of the world, who established heaven and earth and wonderfully adorned it, in the garment of reproach.”
115. Turn away from me, you wicked ones, and I will test the commandments of my God.- Like a tawny owl wounded in Thy side, O Word, Thy dead youths Thou didst revive, having dredged up the animal currents for them.
[Depart from me, you wicked ones, and I will obey the commandments of my God.- Like a night bird wounded in Your ribs, O Word, You revived Your dead children, pouring out life-giving streams upon them.]
116. Protect me according to Your word, and I will live; Do not disgrace me in my hope.- First set the sun, Jesus, foreigners: You hid yourself, overthrowing the ruler of darkness.
[Strengthen me according to Your word, and I will live; and do not disgrace me in my hope.- In ancient times, Joshua stopped the sun, defeating foreigners, but now You Yourself have hidden yourself, overthrowing the ruler of darkness.]
117. Help me, and I will be saved, and I will learn from Your justifications.- You abided in the depths of your fathers, you were generous, and you were pleased to be a man, and you descended into hell, O Christ.
[Help me, and I will find salvation, and I will always learn Your commandments.- Constantly remaining in the Fatherly bosom, You, the Merciful, deigned to become a man and descend into hell.]
118. Thou hast brought to naught all those who depart from Thy justifications, for their thoughts are unrighteous.- They are taken up crucified, who hanged the earth on the waters, and as if they are now lying in it lifeless: they cannot bear the shaking fierceness.
[You have brought down all who violate Your commandments, for their thoughts are unrighteous.- The Crucified One was lifted up, hanging the earth on the waters, and, as if lifeless, now lies in it: unable to bear this, it shakes violently.]
119. All the sinners of the earth who transgress, for this reason I have loved Your witness.- Woe is Me, O Son! The inexperienced one sobs, saying: For whom I hoped for a king, I now see myself condemned on the cross.
[I recognized all sinners on earth as violators of Your will, therefore I loved Your revelations.- “Woe is Me, O My Son, Whom they hoped to see as king, now I see condemned on the Cross,” cried the One who did not know her husband with a sob.]
120. Nail my flesh with Thy fear, for I am afraid of Thy judgments.- This is what Gabriel will proclaim to me, when you come together, who say the eternal kingdom, my Son Jesus.
[Bridle my flesh with Thy fear, so that I may fear Thy judgments.- This was announced to Me by Gabriel, who appeared and said that the kingdom of My Son Jesus will be eternal.]
121. Having created justice and righteousness, do not betray me to those who offend me.- Alas, Simeon’s prophecy has come true: Your sword has passed through My heart, Emmanuel.
[I reasoned and acted truthfully; do not deliver me over to my persecutors.- Alas, Simeon’s prophecy was fulfilled, for Your sword passed through My heart, Emmanuel!]
122. Consider Your servant for good, so that pride does not slander me.- Be ashamed of those who exist from the dead, O Jew! Raise up the Life-Giver, whom you will kill with envy.
[Accept Your servant for his good, so that the proud do not slander me.- At least you were ashamed of those, O Jews, whom the Giver of life raised from the dead, whom you killed out of envy.]
123. My eyes disappear for Thy salvation, and for the word of Thy righteousness.- You were horrified to see the Invisible Light, You, my Christ, are hidden in the tomb, lifeless, and the light of the sun is darkened.
[My eyes fail, waiting for Your salvation and the word of Your righteousness;- The sun was horrified when it saw the invisible Light, - You, My Christ, were laid in the grave and lifeless, and it darkened its light.]
124. Do unto Thy servant according to Thy mercy, and teach me Thy justification.“Your Immaculate Mother, O Word, wept bitterly when You saw the ineffable and beginningless God in the grave.”
[Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, and teach me Your commandments.- Your Immaculate Mother, O Word, wept bitterly when she saw You in the tomb, the Incomprehensible and Beginningless God.]
125. I am Your servant: give me understanding, and I will hear Your testimony.- Thy deadness, imperishable, O Christ, Thy Mother, behold, speak bitterly to Thee: do not touch, O Belly, in the dead.
[I am Your servant; Give me understanding, and I will understand Your testimonies.- Your incorruptible Mother, seeing Your death, Christ, bitterly cried out to You: “Do not linger, Life, among the dead.”
126. Time to do to the Lord: I have destroyed Your law.- Hell is a fierce trembling, when you see the sun of glory, Immortal, and the enemies carefully publish.
[It is time for the Lord to act: they have trampled down Your law.- The terrible hell trembled when it saw You, the Immortal Sun of Glory, and hastily released the prisoners.]
127. For this reason I have loved Your commandments more than gold and topaz.- A great and terrible vision is now being seen, the one who is guilty, death has been lifted, although everyone can be revived.
[But I have loved Your commandments more than gold and precious stones.- A great and wonderful vision is being contemplated now: the True Author of life accepted death, wanting to revive everyone.]
128. For this reason I was guided by all Your commandments, and I hated every path of unrighteousness.- You are pierced in the ribs, and you are nailed, O Lord, with your hands, you heal the ulcer from the ribs, and the intemperance of the hands of the forefather.
[Therefore, I strove for all Your commandments; I hated every path of unrighteousness.- You are pierced in the ribs and nailed with your hands, Master, healing the ulcer from Your side, and the intemperance of the hands of the forefathers.]
129. Wonderful is Your testimony, for this purpose I am trying my soul.- Before Rachel’s son, everyone in the house wept, and the Virgin’s son wept with his disciples face to face with Matter.
[Your revelations are wondrous, therefore my soul preserves them.- Before the whole race mourned the son of Rachel, now a host of disciples with the Mother weep for the Son of the Virgin]
130. The manifestation of Your words enlightens and instructs little ones.- The emphasis of the hands on the cheek of Christ, who created man with his hand, and crushed the jaws of the beast.
[The revelation of Your words enlightens and admonishes little children.- A blow was struck by the hand on the face of Christ, who with His hand created man and crushed the jaws of the devil.]
131. My mouth was opened, and my spirit was drawn, because I desired Thy commandments.- With Thy songs, O Christ, now the crucifixion and burial, we celebrate all the faithful, having been delivered from death by Thy burial.
[I opened my mouth in prayer and took heart, for I desired Your commandments.- With hymns now the crucifixion and Your burial, O Christ, we all, the faithful, glorify, having been delivered from death by Your burial.]
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Beginningless God, co-essential with the Word and Holy Soul, strengthen us in the military, for we are good.
[Beginless God, co-eternal Word and Holy Spirit, strengthen by Your goodness the power of Orthodox Christians against their enemies.]
And now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Who gave birth to life, Immaculate Pure Virgin, quench the temptations of the church, and grant the world as good.
[Most Immaculate, Most Pure Virgin, who gave birth to Life, in Your goodness, stop the temptations of the Church and grant peace.]
Then again the first troparion, small litany, small incense and begin the third article.
Article three
Give birth to all the songs of Thy burial, my Christ.
[All nations bring a song to Your burial, O my Christ]
132. Look upon me and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of those who love Your name.- We take down from the tree the same from Arimathea, wrapping the shroud in the coffin, burying Thee.
[Look upon me and have mercy on me, as You have been merciful to loving name Yours.- Having taken you down from the Tree and wrapped yourself in a shroud, the Arimathean buries You in a tomb.]
133. Direct my steps according to Your word, and let no iniquity possess me.- The myrrh-bearers brought peace to You, my Christ, who wear it wisely.
[Strengthen my steps with Your word, and do not let any iniquity take possession of me.- The myrrh-bearers have come, carrying myrrh for You wisely, my Christ.]
134. Deliver me from human slander, and I will keep Your commandments.- Come, all creatures, let us bring the original songs to the Creator.
[Deliver me from human slander, and I will keep Your commandments.- Come, all creation, let us offer funeral hymns to the Creator.]
135. Your face give light to Thy servant, and teach me by Thy justification.- As if the dead were alive, we will anoint them all with myrrh-bearing wisdom.
[Shine upon Thy servant the light of Thy countenance, and teach me Thy commandments.- Let us anoint everything with myrrh prudently, together with the myrrh-bearers, living as if they were dead.]
136. My eyes have seen the coming of the waters, but I have not kept Your law.- Blessed Joseph, bury the body of Christ the Giver of Life.
[Streams of tears flow from my eyes because I have not kept Your law.- Blessed Joseph, bury the body of the Life-Giver Christ.]
137. Thou art righteous, O Lord, and Thy judges rule.- They were raised with manna, raising their heels against the Benefactor.
[You are righteous, O Lord, and Your judgments are just.- Those whom He fed with manna raised their heels against the Benefactor.]
138. Thou hast commanded the truth of Thy testimony and the truth greatly.- They were raised with manna, they bring the Savior bile and ocet.
[You have commanded the truth in Your revelations and the fullness of Your truth.- Those whom He fed with manna bring bile to the Savior along with vinegar.]
139. Thy jealousy has consumed me, as though Thy words have been forgotten and I have been attacked.- Oh, the madness and Christ-killing of the prophet-killers!
[My jealousy eats me up, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.- Oh, the madness of the murder of the prophets!]
140. Thy word is kindled with great heat, and Thy servant loveth it.- Like a mad servant, the disciple betrayed the Abyss of Wisdom.
[Thy word is fiery, and Thy servant has loved it.- Like a mad servant, the disciple betrayed the Abyss of Wisdom.]
141. I am the youngest and humbled, I have not forgotten Your justifications.- Leaving the Deliverer, the flattering Judas remained a captive.
[I am small and despised, but I have not forgotten Your commandments.- Having sold the Deliverer, the treacherous Judas became a prisoner.]
142. Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and your law is truth.- According to Solomon, the ditch is deep, the mouth of the lawless Jew.
[Your righteousness is eternal righteousness, and Your law is truth.- According to Solomon, a deep ditch is the mouth of the lawless Jews.]
143. Sorrows and needs have found me, Your commandments are my teaching.- In the obstinate processions of lawless Jews, thistles and nets.
[Sorrows and troubles have befallen me, but Your commandments are for my instruction.- On the crooked paths of the lawless Jews there are thorns and snares.]
144. The truth of Your testimony endures forever; give me understanding, and I will live.- Joseph buries with Nicodemus, the death-like Creator.
[The truth of Your revelations is eternal: give me understanding and I will live.- In the image of the dead, Joseph and Nicodemus bury the Creator.]
145. I cried with all my heart, hear me, O Lord, I will seek Your justification.- Life-giver, Savior, glory to Your power, which has destroyed hell.
[I cried with all my heart, hear me, O Lord, I seek Your commandments.- Savior, Giver of life, glory to Your power, who has destroyed hell.]
146. I called upon You, save me, and I will preserve Your testimonies.- Lying You, the Most Pure One, seeing the Word, weeping motherly.
[I called to You, save me, and I will preserve Your revelations.- Looking at You, the Lying Word, the Most Pure One cried motherly.]
147. I preceded in hopelessness and cried out, trusting in Your words.- O My sweetest Spring, My sweetest Child, where does Your kindness go?
[I anticipated the dawn and called to You, I trusted in Your word.- “Oh, My sweetest Spring, My sweetest Child, where has Your beauty gone?”]
148. Prepare my eyes for the morning, to learn from Your words.- Weeping from Your All-Pure Mother, I will die to You, the Word.
[My eyes anticipate the morning, so that I may learn Your words.- Your Most Pure Mother aroused crying for You, the Word, who died.]
149. Hear my voice, O Lord, according to Thy mercy: live me according to Thy destiny.- The women from the world came to anoint Christ, the Divine world.
[Hear my call, O Lord, by Thy mercy, revive me by Thy righteous judgment.- Women with incense came to anoint Christ, the Divine Myrrh, with myrrh.]
150. Having drawn near those who persecute me with iniquity, I have departed from Thy law.- You kill death by death, my God, By divine power Yours.
[My lawless persecutors have drawn near; they have turned away from Your law.- You kill death by death, My God, with Your Divine power.]
151. Thou art near, O Lord, and all Thy ways are the truth.“The deceiver is deceived; he who is deceived is delivered by Thy wisdom, O my God.”
[You are near, O Lord, and all Your ways are truth.- The deceiver is deceived, and the deceived is delivered by Your Wisdom, my God.]
152. From the beginning I knew from Your testimonies that I founded the age.- The traitor was quickly relegated to the bottom of hell, to the treasure of incorruption.
[From a long time ago I learned from Your revelations that You have established them forever.- The traitor was brought down to the bottom of hell, into the well of destruction.]
153. See my humility and forgive me, for I have not forgotten Your law.- Thistles and nets are the path of the three-repentant mad Judas.
[Look at my misfortune and protect me, for I have not forgotten Your law.- Thorns and snares on the path of the thrice-unfortunate mad Judas.]
154. Judge my judgment and deliver me, for Your word live me.- Everyone bends Your crucifixion, the Word, the Son of God, the All-Tsar.
[Judge my case and deliver me; revive me according to Your word.- Thy crucifiers perish all together, O Word, Son of God, King of all.]
155. Salvation is far from the sinner, for I have not sought Your justifications.- In the treasure trove of decay, all men of blood perish.
[Salvation is far from sinners, for they do not seek Your commandments.- In the well of destruction, all bloodthirsty people perish together.]
156. Thy bounty is many, O Lord, live me according to Thy destiny.- Son of God, All-Tsar, my God, my Creator, what passion have you raised?
[Great are Thy mercies, O Lord, according to Thy judgment grant me life.- Son of God, King of all, my God, my Creator, how did you accept suffering?]
157. The many who drive me out and afflict me do not turn away from Your testimonies.- A young calf was hanged on a tree crying out to the eyes.
[I have many persecutors and enemies, but I have not abandoned Your revelations.- The young girl, seeing Taurus hanging on the Tree, cried out.]
158. I have seen those who do not understand and have fallen away, because I have not kept Your words.- Joseph buries the life-giving body with Nicodemus.
[I saw the foolish and was distressed, for they did not keep Your words.- Joseph buries the Life-Giving Body with Nicodemus.]
159. See that I have loved Your commandments, O Lord, live for me according to Your mercy.- The Youth calls out for warmth, sharpening tears, perforated by the womb.
[See how I have loved Your commandments, O Lord; according to Your mercy, revive me.- The maiden, pierced in the heart, shed hot tears, crying out.]
160. The beginning of Thy words is truth, and the whole destiny of Thy righteousness endures forever.- Light in My eyes, My sweetest Child, how are you now covering yourself in the grave?
[The foundation of Your words is truth, and the ways of Your righteousness are eternal.- “Light of My eyes, My sweetest Child, how are You now hiding in the grave?”]
161. The princes have driven me into obscurity, and my heart has feared because of Your words.- Free Adam and Eve, Mother, don’t cry, I’m suffering.
[Princes persecute me innocently, but my heart fears Your words.- “Don’t cry, Mother, I am enduring this to free Adam and Eve.]
162. I will rejoice in Your words, for I have gained much gain.- I glorify Your, My Son, extreme compassion, for whose sake you are suffering.
[I rejoice in Your words, as one who has received great wealth.- “I praise, My Son, Your greatest mercy, for the sake of which You suffer so much.”]
163. I have hated and detested injustice, but I have loved Your law.- You were drunk with the fruit and gall, generously, allowing the ancient to eat.
[I have hated and despised unrighteousness, but I have loved Your law.- You were drunk with vinegar and gall, Generous One, destroying the sin of ancient eating.]
164. By day of the seven days we praise Thee about the destinies of Thy righteousness.“Thou art nailed to the cross, Thy people of old were covered with a pillar of cloud.”
[Seven times a day I praised You for Your righteous judgments.- You were nailed to the Cross, who in ancient times covered Your people with a pillar of cloud.]
165. There is peace for many who love Your law, and there is no temptation for them.- Myrrh-bearers, O Savior, who came to the tomb, brought peace to You.
[Great is the peace of those who love Your law, and temptations are not terrible for them.- The myrrh-bearers who came to the tomb brought incense to You, Savior.]
166. I have loved Your salvation, O Lord, and Your commandments.- Rise, Generous, raise us from the abysses of hell.
[I trusted in Your salvation, O Lord, and loved Your commandments.- Arise, O Merciful One, who delivers us from the abysses of hell.]
167. Preserve my soul Your testimonies and love me dearly.- Resurrect, Life-Giver, who gave birth to Tya Mati, wearying tears, says.
[My soul keeps Thy revelations, and loves them deeply.- “Rise up, Giver of life,” says the Mother who gave birth to You, shedding tears]
168. I have kept Your commandments and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You, O Lord.- Trying to resurrect, resolving sorrow, the Word, which purely gave birth to You.
[I keep Your commandments and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You, O Lord.- “Hurry to rise, O Word, destroying the sorrow of the One who immaculately gave birth to You.”]
169. May my prayer come closer to You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.- The heavenly powers are terrified with fear, You are dead in sight.
[May my prayer ascend to You, O Lord, give me understanding according to Your word.- The Heavenly Powers were amazed in fear, contemplating You dead.]
170. May my petition come before You, O Lord; deliver me according to Your word.- To those who honor Thy passion with love and fear, grant permission for sins.
[May my petition ascend to You, O Lord, according to Your word, deliver me.- Grant forgiveness of sins to all who honor Your suffering with love and reverence.]
171. My lips will burst out singing, when Thou teachest me by Thy righteousness.- About a terrible and strange vision, the Word of God! How does the earth cover You?
[My lips will proclaim praise when You teach me Your commandments.- Oh, a terrible and extraordinary sight! How does the earth accept You, the Word of God?]
172. My tongue proclaims Your word, for all Your commandments are true.- Carrying You of old, O Savior, Joseph runs, and now someone else buries You.
[My tongue will proclaim Your words, for all Your commandments are righteous.- First Joseph fled to Egypt, carrying You, O Savior, and now another Joseph buries You.]
173. May Thy hand be to save me, as I have willed Thy commandments.- Thy Most Pure Mother, my Savior, is crying and sobbing.
[Let Your hand be to help me, for I have chosen Your commandments.- With sobs weep for Your death, My Savior, Your Most Pure Mother.]
174. I have desired Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my teaching.- The minds of the strange and terrible burial of You, the Creator of all, are terrified.
[I desired that You would save me, O Lord, and Your law teaches me.- Minds are amazed at the extraordinary and awe-inspiring burial of You, the Creator of everything.]
175. My soul will live and praise You, and Your destinies will help me.- She poured out on the tomb of the Myrrh-Bearer of Peace, who came very early.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me by thy justification.- The Council of Angels was surprised, in vain you interfered with the dead, but the mortal fortress, Savior, was destroyed, and raised Adam with You, and was freed from hell.
[Blessed are You, Lord! Teach me Your laws.- The host of Angels were amazed to see You, Savior, numbered among the dead, but who crushed the power of death and resurrected Adam with You and freed everyone from hell.]
Blessed are you, Lord...- Why do you dissolve the world with merciful tears, O disciples? The angel shining in the tomb spoke to the myrrh-bearing women: you see the tomb and understand, for the Savior is risen from the tomb.
[Blessed are you, Lord!..- “Why do you, O disciples, mix myrrh with tears of compassion?” - this is how the luminous Angel in the tomb spoke to the myrrh-bearers. - “Examine the tomb and make sure that the Savior has risen from the grave.”]
Blessed are you, Lord...- Very early the myrrh-bearing woman went to Thy tomb, weeping, but an angel appeared to them and said: weeping is the time of the end, do not cry, but cry out the resurrection to the apostles.
[Blessed are you, Lord!..- Very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearing women ran to Your tomb weeping, but an Angel appeared before them and said: “The time for tears is over, do not cry, but go and tell the Apostles about the resurrection.”]
Blessed are you, Lord...- The myrrh-bearing women, who came from the world to Your tomb, O Savior, wept, and the angel spoke to them, saying: Why do you think with the living dead? For God has risen from the grave.
[Blessed are you, Lord!..- The myrrh-bearing women who came in peace to Your tomb, Savior, wept, but the Angel said to them: “Why do you count the living among the dead? After all, like God, He rose from the grave.”]
Glory. Let us worship the Father, and His Sons, and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity in one being, calling from the seraphim: holy, holy, holy art thou, Lord.
[Let us adore the Father, and His Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity in one being, with the Seraphim exclaiming together: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord!]
And now. Having given birth to sin, the Virgin, Thou didst deliver Adam, and Thou didst give joy to Eve in sorrow; and having fallen from life to this, Thou didst direct from Thee the incarnate God and Man.
[Having given birth to the Giver of life, You, Virgin, delivered Adam from sin, and gave Eve joy instead of sorrow; God and Man incarnate directed those who had fallen away from life to true life from You.]
Irmos of the canon, tone 6
1. The wave of the sea hid the persecutor of old, the tormentor, under the earth the shelter of the saved youths; but we, like maidens, sing to the Lord, so that we may be glorified.
[The One who once drowned the pursuing tormentor in the waves, the descendants of those saved by Him hid under the ground; but we, like the young virgins then, will sing to the Lord, for He was solemnly glorified.]
3. You hung the whole earth uncontrollably on the waters, seeing the creature hanging on its forehead, shuddering with horror to many, it is not Holy that they cry out to You, Lord.
[You, who hung the whole earth on the waters without support, the creature, seeing you hanging on the place of execution, trembled in inexpressible horror, exclaiming: “There is no Holy One except You, Lord!”]
4. On the cross, seeing Your Divine exhaustion, Habakkuk was horrified, crying out: You have thwarted the mighty power, O Good One, you have communed with those in hell, as you are Omnipotent.
[Seeing Your Divine humiliation on the Cross, Habakkuk cried out in amazement: “You, Good One, have overthrown the power of the rulers of darkness, descending to those in hell as the All-Powerful.”]
5. Thy Epiphany, O Christ, which mercifully came to us, Isaiah, having seen the light of the evening, having risen from the night, cried out: the dead will rise again, and those who are in their graves will rise, and all earthly creatures will rejoice
[Seeing the unfading light of Your Epiphany, which happened in Your mercy to us, Christ, Isaiah rose in the very early morning and exclaimed: “The dead will rise again, and those who are in the graves will rise, and all who live on earth will rejoice!”]
6. I was born, but was not kept in the breasts of Jonah, who bore your image, who suffered and was given burial, as if he came from the palace from the beast, inviting the custodians: those who guard vain and false, left this mercy to nature.
[Ion was swallowed up, but not kept in the belly of the whale, for, representing You, Christ, who suffered and was given over to burial, he came out of the beast as from a palace, and cried out to the guards at Your tomb: “You, who hold on to vain and false things, have lost most Grace."]
Kontakion, tone 6
Having enclosed the abyss, he is seen to be dead, and wrapped in myrrh and shroud, he is laid in the grave like a mortal, the Immortal; The women came to anoint Him with myrrh, weeping bitterly and crying: this is the most blessed Saturday, in which Christ, having fallen asleep, will rise again for three days.
[He who bounded the abyss lies dead before us; An immortal, like a mortal, entwined in a shroud with myrrh, is placed in a tomb; the wives came to anoint Him with myrrh, weeping bitterly and crying: “This Saturday is most blessed, because Christ, who fell asleep on this day, will rise on the third day.”]
Contain all of you on the cross, ascended, and all creation weeps, Him hanging naked on a tree, the sun's rays were hidden and the stars put aside their light, the earth shook with much fear, and the sea ran and the stone disintegrated, the graves of many were opened, and the bodies of holy men arose . Hell groans below, and the Jews are advised to slander Christ's resurrection. The women cry out: this is the most blessed Saturday, in which Christ, having fallen asleep, will rise again on three days.
[He who holds everything in His power was lifted up to the Cross, and, seeing Him naked and hanging on the Tree, the whole creation began to weep. The sun hid its rays and the stars lost their shine. The earth shook in great fear, the sea was agitated, and the stones disintegrated, many coffins were opened and the bodies of holy men rose up. Hell is groaning below, and the Jews are plotting to slander Christ’s resurrection, but the myrrh-bearing women cry out: “This Saturday is most blessed, because Christ, who fell asleep on this day, will rise on the third day.”]
7. An indescribable miracle, in the cave delivering the venerable youths from the flames, in the tomb dead, lifeless, singing for the salvation of us: God the Deliverer, blessed art thou.
[Unspeakable miracle! He who preserved the pious youths from the fire is now placed in the tomb lifeless and dead to save us, singing: “God the Redeemer, blessed are You!”]
8. Be terrified, be afraid, O heaven, and let the foundations of the earth move: behold, the dead are counted among the living ones on high, and the little ones are accepted strangely into the grave. Bless the youths, sing to the priests, extol the people forever
[Shudder with fear the heavens and let the foundations of the earth shake, for behold, He who dwells in heaven is numbered among the dead and placed in a tight tomb, whom the youths bless, the priests praise, the nations exalt throughout all ages.]
9. Do not weep for Me, Mother, seeing in the tomb, Whom You conceived in your womb without seed, the Son: for I will arise and be glorified and exalt with glory unceasingly as God, magnifying You with faith and love.
[Do not weep over Me, Mother, seeing in the tomb the Son, conceived by You in your womb without seed, for I will rise and be glorified and, like God, will exalt in glory those who constantly glorify You with faith and love.]
Stichera on praise
Today it contains the coffin of the creature that contains the hand, it covers the stone that covered the heavens with virtue; The Belly sleeps, and hell trembles, and Adam is released from his bonds. Glory to Your providence, having accomplished all eternal rest, You have granted to us, O God, Your all-holy resurrection from the dead.
[Today the tomb holds the One who holds all creation in His power; the stone covers the One who covered the heavens with beauty. Life sleeps, and hell trembles, and Adam is freed from his bonds. Glory to Your Providence, according to which, having fulfilled everything for eternal peace, You have granted us, O God, Your all-holy resurrection from the dead.]
After the great doxology, while singing “Holy God...”, a procession of the cross takes place around the temple with the shroud and the Gospel.
After entering the temple, the prophecy of Ezekiel, the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians and the Gospel of Matthew are read. Then, to the singing of the stichera “Come, let us bless Joseph of blessed memory,” the shroud is kissed again.
Stichera, tone 5
Come, let us please the ever-memorable Joseph, who came to Pilate in the night and asked for the life of everyone: give me this strange thing, who has nowhere to bow his head; give me this strange thing, whose evil disciple gave him over to death; Give me this strange thing, His Mother, who saw him hanging on the cross, crying out in tears, and exclaiming motherly: Alas for Me, My Child! alas for Me, My Light and My beloved womb! Simeon foretold in the church today will happen: My heart has passed through the weapon; but turn your weeping into the joy of Your resurrection. We worship with Your passion, O Christ, we worship with Your passion, O Christ, we worship with Your passion, Christ, and the holy resurrection.
[Come, let us honor Joseph, forever remembered, who came to Pilate at night and asked for the Life of everything: “Give me this Stranger, Who has no place to lay his head; give me this Stranger, Whom the treacherous disciple delivered to death; give me this Stranger, Whom The Mother, seeing him hanging on the Cross, cried out with sobs and exclaimed like a mother: “Alas for Me, My Child! Alas for Me, My Light and My Beloved Life! For now what was predicted in the temple by Simeon has come true: A sword pierced my heart, but turn the cry into joy at Your Resurrection!" We worship Your sufferings, Christ. We worship Your sufferings, Christ. We worship Your sufferings, Christ, and the Holy Resurrection!]
On Monday evening Great Compline is celebrated. The Three Song of the Saint is sung, with which we ascend with Christ to the Mount of Olives. Let us go with Christ to the Mount of Olives, and secretly let us join Him with the Apostles. Trembling envelops the soul and the chants become more and more trembling: Understand, my humble heart... Prepare yourself, O my soul, for the outcome: the coming of the inexorable Judge is approaching. The human heart, prepared by prayers and previous conversations and parables of Christ, has already, as it were, begun to see clearly and in the image of Him coming to free death sees the mysterious and terrible King of kings and Lord of lords, the Judge coming to judge the world.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul already definitely refers to Christ as “our” Easter, saying: “Our Easter is Christ” ().
Thus the aspirations were fulfilled, the prophecies were fulfilled, and the secret Easter, the mysterious Easter, was openly revealed to people.
The 4th chorus is the Archangel's greeting to the Mother of God: The angel cried out with grace: Pure Virgin, rejoice, and again the river, rejoice: Your Son is risen three days from the grave; and raised up the dead; people have fun.
Song 9
The Mother of God is the new Jerusalem, the New Testament Zion, the glory of the Church, and the irmos of the 9th canto unites Her image with the image of the glorified Church of Christ:
Irmos: Shine, shine, new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you: rejoice now and be glad, O Zion: But you, Pure One, rejoice in the Mother of God for the rise of Your Nativity.
In the troparia of the 9th canto, Paschal rejoicing reaches its highest intensity. The soul is filled to the brim like a full cup and can no longer find words to express its bliss.
Troparion: Oh, how divine, oh, how kind, oh, how sweet is Your voice, O Christ...
O great and most sacred Easter, Christ! O Wisdom, Word of God and Power! Grant us to commune with You more perfectly in the eternal (unsetting) light of Your Kingdom.
The following chant, in clear and strong words, again tells us about the unity of Easter of the Cross and Easter of the Resurrection.
The path to resurrection lies through death and the image of this path was given to us by Christ.
Having fallen asleep in the flesh as if dead, Thou art the King and Lord, who rose for three days, raised Adam from aphids and abolished death: Easter is incorruptible, the salvation of the world.
At the end of Matins, the solemn Easter stichera are sung.
Stichera: ch. 5th
Verse: May God rise again and His enemies be scattered.
The sacred Easter has appeared to us today: the new holy Easter: the mysterious Easter: the all-honorable Easter: the Easter of Christ the Redeemer: the immaculate Easter: the great Easter: the Easter of the faithful: the Easter that opens the doors of heaven to us: the Easter that sanctifies all the faithful.
Verse: As smoke disappears, let them disappear.
Come from the vision of the wife of the gospel, and cry to Zion: receive from us the joy of the annunciation, the resurrection of Christ: rejoice, rejoice, and rejoice in Jerusalem, having seen the King Christ from the tomb, like a bridegroom coming.
Verse: So let sinners perish from the presence of God, and let righteous women rejoice.
The myrrh-bearing woman, in the deep morning, appeared at the tomb of the Life-Giver, found an Angel sitting on a stone, and having told them, she said: Why are you looking for the Living One with the dead? that you cry the imperishable into aphids; Go and preach as His disciple.
Verse: This day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.
Red Easter, Easter, the Lord's Easter, the all-honorable Easter for us. Easter, let us embrace each other with joy. Oh Easter! Deliverance of sorrow, for from the grave today, as Christ has risen from the palace, fill the women with joy, saying: Preach as an Apostle.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Resurrection day, and let us be enlightened by triumph, and embrace each other. Rtsem: brothers! and to those who hate us, we forgive all by the resurrection, and thus we cry: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and giving life to those in the tombs.
After the last stichera, the rite of Christening takes place, which is described in the Colored Triodion (which includes the divine service Easter weeks before Trinity) it is said: “We sing Christ is Risen, until the brethren kiss each other.”
The custom of greeting each other with a brotherly kiss is very ancient. IN ancient church it was performed at every Liturgy, and now what remains of it is the fraternal kiss of the clergy at every Liturgy before the start of the Eucharistic canon. At the same time, the clergy greets each other with the words: Christ is in our midst. - And there is and there will be.
During Easter Matins, believers first come up to share Christ with the clergy, and then kiss each other three times. The words Christ is Risen - He is Truly Risen do not fall silent in the church throughout the entire Easter Matins. Between all the songs of the canon, the clergy walks around the temple and, passing through the rows of worshipers, joyfully greets them with an Easter exclamation. Truly He is Risen, hundreds of voices thunder in response to them, and these
the joyful cries of the people merge with the jubilant singing of the choir.
Matins ends with the solemn reading of the word of the saint.
Catechetical word
on the Holy and Luminous Day of the Glorious and Saving Christ our God of the Resurrection (Alone among the saints of our father John the Third)
Let those who are pious and God-loving enjoy this beautiful and bright celebration. Let anyone who is a prudent servant enter rejoicing into the joy of his Lord. Whoever has exhausted himself with fasting, let him receive a denarius today. Whoever worked from the first hour, let him today accept a fair wage. Whoever came after the third hour, let him begin to celebrate with gratitude. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him not doubt it at all, for he has nothing to lose. Whoever is late even for the ninth hour, let him proceed without any hesitation. If anyone came only at eleven o'clock, let him not be afraid that he was late, for the Lord, being generous, accepts the latter as well as the first. Provides shelter for rest for those who come at the eleventh hour, as well as for those who have been working since the first. And he has mercy on the last and cares for the first, and gives to him, and bestows gifts on him, and accepts deeds and welcomes intentions, and appreciates action and praises desire. Therefore, enter, all of you, into the joy of your Lord - both first and second, enjoy the reward. Rich and poor, rejoice together. Temperate and lazy, honor this day. Those who have fasted and those who have not fasted, rejoice today. The meal is complete, enjoy it all. Taurus is great, let no one leave hungry. All enjoy the feast of faith; You will all taste the wealth of goodness. Let no one weep over his poverty, for the kingdom has come for all. Let no one grieve over sins, because forgiveness has shined from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the death of the Savior freed us: He Whom it held in His power extinguished it. Triumphed over hell He who descended into hell. Hell had a bitter time when he tasted His flesh. And, having seen this, Isaiah exclaimed: “Hell had a bitter time when it met You in the underworld. It was bitter because it was abolished; bitter, because he was reproached; bitter, for he was killed; bitter, for it is destroyed; bitterly, for he was imprisoned in chains. Took on a body and (suddenly) encountered God; accepted the earth, but met Heaven; accepted what he saw and fell for what he did not see. Death, where is your sting? hell, where is your victory? Christ has risen, and you are defeated. Christ has risen and the demons have fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ has risen and life has come. Christ has risen - and not a single dead person is in the tomb. For Christ, having risen from the dead, became the (resurrected) Firstborn of those who slept. To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Easter Liturgy
The hours are replaced at the Easter Liturgy by the joyful singing of selected stichera from the Easter Canon. There is no reading at all - everything is sung. The Royal Doors, both the northern and southern doors of the altar, remain open all the time as a sign that heaven is now open to us. The Royal Doors are closed only on Saturday of Easter week after the Liturgy.
The Easter Liturgy, celebrated in the rite of the saint, is entirely imbued with the joy of the Resurrection, as evidenced by the frequent repetition of the Resurrection Troparion and other Easter chants. Instead of the Trisagion, the verse is sung again: The Elites were baptized into Christ, - they put on Christ, but here this putting on Christ means not only co-crucifixion with Him, but also co-resurrection, - in accordance with the song of the canon:
“Yesterday I was buried with You, Christ, today I am risen with You.” Instead of the Apostolic reading, the 1st chapter of Acts is read, which tells about the Savior’s appearances to the disciples after the Resurrection, about His command not to leave Jerusalem and to wait for the fulfillment of the promise He made about sending the Spirit - the Comforter.
Gospel reading again takes us into eternity. It may seem surprising that the Gospel of the Easter Liturgy does not tell us about the Resurrection. In fact, the 1st chapter of John we read is the supreme revelation of the truth underlying the entire gospel story. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... Jesus Christ, who suffered and was buried by us in the form (image) of a servant and rose in glory as God is the 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity, from the beginning the existing Word, abiding from eternity in the bosom of the Father, They laid the beginning of life, and this life was light
people. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we saw His glory, glory as the only begotten from the Father... and from His fullness we all received and grace upon grace (). These words contain the highest dogmatic revelation about the God-man and God-manhood. The Gospel is usually read in different languages in commemoration of the universality of Christianity.
The entire liturgy takes place in joy and lightness of spiritual uplift. The Cherubic song sounds in a new way, for the Angels, praising the King of kings, have now descended to earth to announce His Resurrection. The words of the Symbol sound in a new way: She suffered, and was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. With a new feeling we Thank the Lord, realizing in a new way that the very word “Eucharist” means “Thanksgiving”.
Since apostolic times, Christians have had an immutable custom of consecrating this night with communion of the Holy Mysteries, for Paschal joy is Eucharistic joy.
The Easter Liturgy ends with the jubilant Christ is Risen, with which the choir responds to all the exclamations of the priest. This joy without end, this universal rejoicing is already a prototype of the coming Kingdom of Glory, given in the Revelation of the Apostle John: And I heard as it were the voice of a large people, as it were the sound of many waters, as it were the voice of mighty thunders, saying: Alleluia! for the Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory; For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And it was given to Her to be clothed in fine linen, clean and bright (). The wife and bride of the Lamb - the Church of Christ, which has adorned itself with all the treasures of joy and beauty, now celebrates and rejoices and calls everyone to come to the bright Triumph of Love. Both the spirit and the Bride say: come. And let the one who hears say: come, let the thirsty come, and let the one who desires take the water of life freely (). This water of life is Christ - the New Passover, the Living Sacrifice, the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world.
Shroud - the most important part of all services celebrated on the Great Friday of Holy Week.
Great Vespers and the removal of the Shroud on Good Friday take place at 2-3 p.m. This action completes the cycle of services for this day. It is this time that is considered to be the time of the Savior’s death. By this hour the Shroud is taken to the temple. Removal is carried out through the Royal Doors. Before lifting the Shroud from the throne, the clergyman is obliged to bow to the ground three times. Then, in the presence of a deacon with a candle and censer, as well as priests, the Shroud is carried into the temple through the northern gate. Prepared for her special place on a hill, which may be called a “coffin”. It is decorated with various flowers as a sign of mourning for Jesus Christ, and the place is also anointed with incense. The Gospel is placed in the center of the Shroud.
After Great Vespers, Little Compline is held. Hymns are sung about the lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as a canon about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. After this, everyone can venerate the Shroud. The shroud lies in the center of the temple for three days (incomplete), thereby reminding believers of the presence of Jesus Christ in the tomb.
Matins begins as a funeral service. Funeral troparia are sung and incense is performed. After the singing of the 118th Psalm and the glorification of the Holy Trinity, the temple is illuminated, then the news of the myrrh-bearing women who came to the tomb is proclaimed. This is the first, still quiet, because the Savior is still in the tomb - the good news of the Resurrection of Christ.
During the service, believers make a procession of the cross - they carry the Shroud around the temple and sing “Holy God.” The religious procession is always accompanied by the ringing of funeral bells.
At the end of the burial ceremony, the Shroud is brought to the royal doors, and then returned to its place in the middle of the temple so that all the clergy and parishioners can bow to it. There she is until late evening Great Saturday.
Only before Easter Matins, during the Midnight Office, is the Shroud taken to the altar and placed on the throne, where it remains until Easter is celebrated.
On Good Friday, people all over the world bow before the Shroud with special reverence. It is a living confirmation of what Jesus Christ did for humanity. His torment and death were able to open for us the entrance to paradise, which was closed after the sin of the first people, and also gave us hope of meeting the Lord after death.
Sermons for Holy Week - Met. Anthony of Sourozh
Removal of the shroud. Good Friday. April 8, 1966
How difficult it is to connect what is happening now and what once was: this glory of the removal of the Shroud and that horror, human horror that gripped all creation: the burial of Christ on that one, great, unique Friday. Now the death of Christ tells us about the Resurrection, now we stand with lit Easter candles, now the Cross itself shines with victory and illuminates us with hope - but then it was not so. Then, on a hard, rough wooden cross, after many hours of suffering, the incarnate Son of God died in the flesh, the Son of the Virgin died in the flesh, Whom She loved like no one else in the world - the Son of the Annunciation, the Son who was the come Savior of the world.
Then, from that cross, the disciples, who had previously been secret, but now, in the face of what had happened, opened up without fear, Joseph and Nicodemus took down the body. It was too late for the funeral: the body was taken to a nearby cave in the Garden of Gethsemane, laid on a slab, as was customary then, wrapped in a shroud, covering the face with a scarf, and the entrance to the cave was blocked with a stone - and that was as if that was all.
But there was more darkness and horror around this death than we can imagine. The earth shook, the sun darkened, the whole creation was shaken by the death of the Creator. And for the disciples, for the women who were not afraid to stand at a distance during the crucifixion and dying of the Savior, for the Mother of God this day was darker and more terrible than death itself. When we now think about Good Friday, we know that the Saturday is coming, when God rested from His labors - the Saturday of victory! And we know that on the bright night from Saturday to Sunday we will sing the Resurrection of Christ and rejoice over His final victory.
But then Friday was the last day. Nothing is visible behind this day, the next day was supposed to be the same as the previous one, and therefore the darkness and gloom and horror of this Friday will never be experienced by anyone, will never be comprehended by anyone as they were for the Virgin Mary and for the disciples of Christ .
We will now prayerfully listen to the Lamentation of the Most Holy Theotokos, the lamentation of the Mother over the body of the cruel death of her lost Son. Let's listen to him. Thousands, thousands of mothers can recognize this cry - and, I think, Her cry is more terrible than any cry, because from the Resurrection of Christ we know that the victory of the general Resurrection is coming, that not a single one is dead in the tomb. And then She buried not only Her Son, but every hope of God’s victory, every hope of eternal life. The length of endless days began, which, as it seemed then, could never come to life again.
This is what we stand before in the image of the Mother of God, in the image of the disciples of Christ. This is what the death of Christ means. In the remaining short time, let us delve into this death with our souls, because all this horror is based on one thing: SIN, and each of us who sin is responsible for this terrible Good Friday; everyone is responsible and will answer; it happened only because a person lost love and broke away from God. And each of us, who sins against the law of love, is responsible for this horror of the death of the God-Man, the orphanhood of the Mother of God, for the horror of the disciples.
Therefore, when we venerate the sacred Shroud, we will do it with trepidation. He died for you alone: let everyone understand this! - and let us listen to this Cry, the cry of the whole earth, the cry of hope that has been torn, and thank God for the salvation that is given to us so easily and which we pass by so indifferently, while it was given at such a terrible price to God, and the Mother of God, and the disciples . Amen.
