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
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...