First Saturday of Lent

The Great Martyr Theodore / The 40 Martyrs of Sebaste

Tone 8

Vespers with Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts: Great litany. Kathisma 18. Small litany after each Antiphon.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 5, on 10: the Idiomelon in the Triodion, x2 (Come, ye faithful); 4 stichera for the Forty Martyrs (Valiantly enduring real torments – from March 9); 4 stichera for St. Theodore (Come, all ye who love the martyrs – from the Triodion); G: St. Theodore (Using as his tool); N: Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone 8 (In His love for mankind, the King of heaven).

Entry with the censer; O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 5: The Lord hear thee in the day of affliction. Reading: Gen. 2:20-3:20. Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 6: Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength; we will sing and chant of Thy mighty acts. Reading: Prov. 3:19-34. 3 Old Testament Readings for the Forty Martyrs.

Let my prayer be set forth; and the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, until after the prayer behind the Ambo, then the Canon of Intercession to St. Theodore, as indicated in the Triodion, p. 175ff. Following the blessing of the koliva, Blessed be the name of the Lord; G/N: Psalm 33 and the Dismissal.

Vespers, if Presanctified Liturgy is not served: Kathisma 18. Small litany.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 3, on 6: 3 stichera for the Forty Martyrs (Valiantly enduring real torments – from March 9); 3 stichera for St. Theodore (Come, all ye who love the martyrs – from the Triodion); G: St. Theodore (Using as his tool); N: Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone 8 (In His love for mankind, the King of heaven).

No Entry; Reader: O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 5: The Lord hear thee in the day of affliction. Reading: Gen. 2:20-3:20. Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 6: Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength; we will sing and chant of Thy mighty acts. Reading: Prov. 3:19-34. 3 Old Testament Readings for the Forty Martyrs. Vouchsafe, O Lord; Litany: Let us complete our evening prayer.

Aposticha: Idiomelon of the Triodion (Come, all ye faithful – which is the first sticheron at Lord, I have cried, in the Triodion) x2; Martyricon from the Octoechos, Saturday Matins at the Praises, Tone 5 (Blessed be the army of the Heavenly King); verse: The righteous man shall rejoice in the Lord; sticheron for St. Theodore, Tone 2, O thrice-blessed Theodore (last sticheron at Lord, I have cried); G: for the Forty Martyrs, Tone 6, In hymnody let us praise the forty; N: Theotokion, Tone 6, O Theotokos, thou art the true vine.

Now lettest Thou. Trisagion to Our Father. Troparion: Forty Martyrs; G: St. Theodore (Great are the achievements of faith); N: Resurrectional Theotokion, Tone 2 (All of thy most glorious mysteries). Litany: Have mercy on us, O God. Prayer of St. Ephraim, with 3 prostrations.

Then the Canon of Intercession to St. Theodore, as indicated in the Lenten Triodion, p. 175ff. Following the blessing of the koliva, Blessed be the name of the Lord; G/N: Psalm 33; Priest: Wisdom! Choir: It is truly meet; Priest: O most holy Theotokos, save us. Choir: More honorable. Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ our God. Choir: G/N: Lord, have mercy x3. Father, bless! Dismissal.

Great Compline: Without prostrations. After the first Trisagion, Troparion for the Forty Martyrs; G: Troparion for St. Theodore; N: Resurrectional Theotokion, Tone 2 (All of thy most glorious mysteries).

After the second Trisagion, we sing Have mercy on us, O Lord, as usual. Canon for the departed from the Octoechos, from Saturday Matins, Tone 8. After the Canons: It is truly meet.

After the third Trisagion, Kontakion for the Forty Martyrs instead of O Lord of Hosts. Then: Lord, have mercy x40. O Thou who at all times. G/N: More honorable. In the name of the Lord. Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers. The prayers: O undefiled, untainted, etc. Usual Dismissal, asking of forgiveness, and final litany.

Saturday Midnight Office: Kathisma 9.

Matins: The usual beginning for daily Matins.

God is the Lord, Tone 1; Troparia: Forty Martyrs (By the pangs of Thy saints), twice; G: St. Theodore (Great are the achievements of faith); N: Resurrectional Theotokion, Tone 2 (All of thy most glorious mysteries).

After Kathisma 16, Small litany and the Sessional hymns for the Forty Martyrs: O ye forty godly martyrs of Christ; G: O wondrous athletes; N: Theotokion, O Theotokos and Mistress.

After Kathisma 17, Small litany and Sessional hymns of the Triodion, to St. Theodore (Burning with orthodoxy of faith); G: another Sessional hymn to St. Theodore (The Lord, who strengthened thee); N: Theotokion of the Triodion (In thy womb, O Virgin undefiled – Lenten Triodion, p. 283).

Polyeleos; Magnification for the Forty Martyrs: We magnify you, O holy passion-bearing martyrs of Sebaste, and we honor your venerable sufferings, which ye did endure for Christ. Psalm verses: Our God is refuge and strength. Small litany. Sessional hymns for the Forty Martyrs: Adornment of the holy martyrs (twice); G/N: Theotokion. Hymns of Ascents, first Antiphon, Tone 4: From my youth.

Prokimenon, Tone 4: We went through fire and water, and Thou didst bring us out into refreshment. Matins Gospel: Luke §106 (21:12–19). Psalm 50; G: Through the prayers of the Forty Martyrs; N: Through the prayers of the Theotokos; Have mercy on me, O God; sticheron, Tone 2, Prophetically David cried aloud in the Psalms. Prayer Save, O God, Thy people.

Canon: Forty Martyrs (2 canons) 6, Holy Martyrs, pray to God for us.

St. Theodore (2 canons) 8, Holy Great Martyr Theodore, pray to God for us.

Irmos of the Canon for the Forty Martyrs (sung twice). Katavasia: I shall open my mouth.

After Ode 3, Kontakion for the Forty Martyrs, Having left all the army of the world; Ikos; Sessional hymn for the Forty Martyrs (Having served Christ in martyrdom); G: for St. Theodore (Putting on the whole armor of God or Thou wast not weakened); N: Theotokion (Thou art the undefiled bride). After Ode 6, Kontakion (Thou has carried as a shield) and Ikos of St. Theodore. At Ode 9, More honorable.

Exapostilaria: Forty Martyrs (Let us hymn as is meet the company of forty); G: St. Theodore (Saint of God); N: Theotokion (Wishing to restore)

At the Praises, Tone 5, on 6: Forty Martyrs 3 (Come ye, O brethren); St. Theodore 3 (O ye faithful); verse: We went through fire and water, and Thou didst bring us out into refreshment; Doxasticon for the Forty Martyrs (O athletes of Christ); G: St. Theodore (Thou art a gift of holiness); N: Theotokion (O Theotokos, Thou art the true vine). The Doxology is sung. Troparia: Forty Martyrs; G: St. Theodore; N: Resurrectional Theotokion, Tone 2 (All of thy most glorious mysteries). The two remaining Litanies and Dismissal; followed by the First Hour.

Hours: Troparia: Forty Martyrs; G: St. Theodore; Kontakion: Forty Martyrs & St. Theodore, alternating.

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: Beatitudes on 8, Forty Martyrs, 4 from Ode 3 and St. Theodore, 4 from Ode 6.

After the entrance: In a temple of the Theotokos: Troparion of the Forty Martyrs, St. Theodore; Kontakion of the St. Theodore; G: Forty Martyrs; N: Temple.

In a temple of the Lord or of a saint: Troparion of the Forty Martyrs, St. Theodore; Kontakion of Forty Martyrs; G: St. Theodore; N: O protection of Christians.

Prokimenon, Tone 5: Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt preserve us, and Tone 7, The righteous shall be glad in the Lord. Epistle: Heb. 1:1-12 (§303); II Tim. 2:1-10 (§292); Heb. 12:1-10 (§331). Alleluia: Tone 4 (for the Forty Martyrs & for St. Theodore). Gospel: Mark 2:23-3:5 (§10); John 15:17-16:2 (§52); Matt. 20:1-16 (§80).

Communion hymns: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. & In everlasting remembrance.