Fifth Saturday of Lent

The Saturday of the Akathist Hymn

 

Vespers with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts: Kathisma 18.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 6, on 10: Triodion 3 (The Idiomelon in the Triodion, x2 (Departing from Thy divine commandments) and the Martyricon (Thy martyrs, O Lord)); Theotokos 7 (Revealing the pre-eternal counsel); G/N: Theotokion, Tone 2 (Today is revealed the mystery).

Entry with the censer; O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 4: Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. Reading: Genesis 22:1-18. Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 4: How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all. Reading: Proverbs 17:17-18:5.

Let my prayer arise; and the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

 

If the Presanctified Liturgy is not served: Kathisma 18.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 6: Theotokos 8 (Revealing the pre-eternal counsel); G/N: Theotokion, Tone 2 (Today is revealed the mystery).

There is no entrance; Reader: O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 4: Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. Reading: Genesis 22:1-18. Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 4: How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all. Reading: Proverbs 17:17-18:5. Vouchsafe, O Lord; Litany: Let us complete our evening prayer.

Aposticha: Idiomelon of the Triodion (Departing from Thy divine commandments– which is the first verse at Lord I have cried, in the Triodion) x2; Martyricon (Thy martyrs, O Lord) x1; with the usual refrains from the Horologion; G/N: Theotokos (The Theotokos heard a voice she knew not – from the Doxasticon at the Praises – Triodion, p. 445).

Troparion: Theotokos (When the bodiless one learned the secret command).

Litany: Have mercy on us, O God. Prayer of St. Ephraim, with 3 prostrations. O All-Holy Trinity, the Consubstantial Dominion. Blessed be the name of the Lord x3. Psalm 33 is read. Priest: Wisdom! Choir: It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most blameless and Mother of our God. 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. Festal Dismissal: May Christ our True God, through the intercessions of His Most Pure Mother and of all the saints...

 

Small Compline is served without canons and without prostrations. Kontakion: To thee, the Champion Leader.

 

Matins: The usual beginning for daily Matins.

God is the Lord, Tone 8; Troparion: Theotokos (When the bodiless one learned the secret command) x3.

Kathisma 16; small litany, and we begin singing the Akathist before the icon of the Theotokos, which is decorated and placed on an analogion in the middle of the Church. We begin singing the Kontakion of the Theotokos (To thee, the champion leader), during which the Iconostasis and the entire Church is censed by the chief celebrant, then sing the first section of the Akathist. After the fourth Kontakion, we again sing To thee, the champion leader.*

Kathisma 17; small litany, and we again sing To thee, the champion leader, during which there is a lesser censing by the deacon, then sing the second section of the Akathist. After the seventh Kontakion, we again sing To thee, the champion leader.

Psalm 50.

 

Canon, Odes 1-5: In a Temple of the Lord:

                Canon of the Temple (including Irmos)          6

                Theotokos                                                             6              Most holy Theotokos, save us.

 

In a Temple of the Theotokos:

                Theotokos (canon in the Triodion)                  12           Most holy Theotokos, save us.

 

In a Temple of a Saint:

Theotokos  (including Irmos)                            6              Most holy Theotokos, save us.

                Canon of the Temple                                         6

               

The Irmos is sung twice. Katavasia: I shall open my mouth.

 

After Ode 3, Kontakion (To thee, the champion leader), during which there is a lesser censing by the deacon, then we sing the third section of the Akathist. After the tenth Kontakion, we again sing To thee, the champion leader. Then we sing the sessional hymn of the Triodion (Coming to the city of Nazareth – Triodion, p. 431).

 

Canon, Odes 6-9:

                Theotokos                                             6              Most holy Theotokos, save us.

                Four-Canticled Canon (2 canons)    8              refrains as in the Triodion

                Troparion for the Martyrs                  1              refrains as in the Triodion

                Troparion for the dead                       1              refrains as in the Triodion

                Katavasia: The Irmos of the 2nd Four-Canticled Canon.

 

After Ode 6, Kontakion (To thee, the champion leader), during which there is a lesser censing by the deacon, then we sing the fourth section of the Akathist. The thirteenth Kontakion is sung thrice, then the first Ikos is again sung again, and then we again sing To thee, the champion leader. Then the clergy return to the Altar, and the Royal Doors are closed.

At Ode 9, More honorable.

Exapostilarion: Theotokos (The mystery hidden from all ages is made known today).

Praises, Tone 4: Theotokos 4 (A mystery hidden, unknown even to angels); G/N: Theotokion (The Theotokos heard a voice). The Great Doxology is sung; Troparion: Theotokos (When the bodiless one learned the secret command); the two remaining Litanies. Festal Dismissal: May Christ our True God, through the intercessions of His Most Pure Mother and of all the saints; First Hour.

 

*The Bogosluzhebniye Ukazaniya states that according to established practice, the Akathist is read by the priest in the middle of the temple in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (if there is a concelebration of more than one priest, the first and fourth parts of the Akathist are usually read by the primate, and the second and third by other priests according to seniority). At the beginning of each of the four sections of the Akathist, the Kontakion To thee the Champion Leader, is sung first, and at the same time the Royal Doors are opened; the clergy go out through the Royal Doors, which remain open; at the conclusion of each of the four sections of the Akathist, the clergy return to the Altar, and the Royal Doors are closed.

 

Hours: Troparion: Theotokos; Kontakion: Theotokos.

 

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: Beatitudes on 8, Theotokos: 4, from Ode 3; Theotokos: 4, from Ode 6.

After the entrance: Troparion of the Theotokos; G/N: Kontakion of the Theotokos.

Prokimenon, Tone 3: My soul doth magnify the Lord.

Epistle: Hebrews 9:24-28 (§322); Hebrews 9:1-7 (§320).

Alleluia: Tone 8.

Gospel: Mark 8:27-31 (§35); Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28 (§54).

Communion verse: I will take the cup of salvation.

Festal Dismissal: May Christ our True God, through the intercessions of His Most Pure Mother and of all the saints...