Saturday Before Meatfare

Vespers: The usual beginning of daily Vespers. Kathisma 18.

Lord, I have cried, Tone 6, on 6: Octoechos, Tone 6 of the Martyrs: 3 (Thy martyrs, O Lord denied Thee not – See Triodion, pp. 146-7); 3; Triodion: 3 (O ye faithful, remembering); G: Triodion (I lament and weep); N: Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone 6 (Who doth not call thee blessed).

No Entrance; Reader: O Gladsome Light. In place of Prokimenon, Alleluia, Tone 8 with verses for the departed (Verse 1: Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thyself, O Lord. Their memorial is from generation to generation. & Verse 2: Their souls shall dwell among good things). Vouchsafe, O Lord; Litany: Let us complete our evening prayer.

Aposticha: Octoechos, Tone 6 (Those who suffered – Triodion, p. 147); G: Triodion (Thy creative ordinance); N: Theotokion from the Triodion (At the intercessions of the Mother).

Troparia: Tone 8, O Thou Who by the depth of Thy wisdom; G/N: Theotokion (In thee we have a wall and a haven). Litany: Have mercy on us, O God; Dismissal.

Matins: The usual beginning for daily Matins.

In place of God is the Lord, we sing Alleluia, Tone 8, with the following verses (as at a Panikhida): 1. Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and hast taken to Thyself, O Lord. 2. Their remembrance is unto generation and generation. 3. Their souls shall dwell among good things. Then these Troparia, Tone 8: O Thou Who by the depth of Thy wisdom x2; G/N: Theotokion (In thee we have a wall and a haven).

Kathisma 16. Small litany (usual, not for the departed). Sessional Hymns from the Octoechos, Tone 6 Martyrs (Having endured the struggle of martyrdom – 2^nd hymn of the 1^st set of sessional hymns in the Octoechos); Martyrs (While the choirs of the incorporeal ones – 1^st hymn of the 2^nd set of sessional hymns); Verse (Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel); Martyrs (The memory of Thy saints – 2^nd hymn of the 2^nd set of sessional hymns); Verse (Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thyself, O Lord); Hymn for the Dead (Truly all things are vanity – Nekrosimon from the 2^nd set of sessional hymns); G/N: Theotokion (I offer thee sighs – from the 2^nd set of sessional hymns) – or you can use the hymns as arranged in the LTS, p. 333f). Choir: Lord, have mercy x3; Glory; Reader: Both now; and he begins the first half of Kathisma 17, with the refrain Blessed art Thou, O Lord, sung slowly, softly, and repeatedly, by the choir, while this is read. The last two verses (If Thy law had not been; & I will never forget Thy statutes) are sung thrice by the choir.

Small Litany (for the departed): Deacon: Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: Again we pray for the repose of the departed servants of God, our forefathers, fathers, brethren, and the Orthodox here and everywhere laid to rest and that they may be forgiven every transgression, both voluntary and involuntary. Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: That the Lord God commit… Choir: Lord, have mercy. Deacon: The mercy of God… Choir: Grant this, O Lord. Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy, x40, While the priest secretly says the prayer O God of spirits. Exclamation (For Thou art the Resurrection). Choir: Amen.

The second half of Kathisma 17 is read, with the refrain Save me, O Savior, sung while this is read, as above. Last two verses (My soul shall live; & I have gone astray) are sung thrice.

Then immediately, the choir sings the Evlogitaria of the Departed (Blessed art Thou, O Lord; The choir of the saints; and the rest), during which there is a full censing of the Church. Small Litany (for the departed, as previously). Sessional Hymn from the Triodion (Give rest, O our Savior); G/N Theotokion (O Christ God, Who didst shine forth); Psalm 50.

Canon: Temple 6

Triodion 8 Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants who have fallen asleep.

Irmos of the Temple

Katavasia from the Triodion: O ye people, let us raise a song.

Ode 2 is taken entirely from the Triodion, and for that ode, the Irmos and the Katavasia are likewise of the Triodion.

After Ode 3, Small Litany (usual) and sessional hymns from the Triodion (O Savior, who for our sakes). After Ode 6, Small Litany (departed), Kontakion (With the saints give rest) and Ikos.

At Ode 9, More Honorable; After Ode 9: It is truly meet is not sung. Small Litany (usual).

Exapostilaria from the Triodion: O Thou who hast Authority; G: Give rest to Thy servants; N: O Mary, Bride of God.

Praises, (all the verses are read, down to Praise Him for His mighty acts), on 4: Triodion 4 (Come, brethren); G: Triodion (As a flower withers); N: Theotokion in the Triodion (Rejoice Mary Theotokos, temple). The priest does not say To Thee glory is due, but immediately Glory to Thee who has showed us the light.

Small Doxology is read; Litany: Let us complete our morning prayer.

Aposticha: Octoechos (Beyond our understanding – stichera and verses from the Octoechos, Tone 6, also found in the LTS, p. 334f); G: Triodion (In days of old in Eden); N: Theotokion from Triodion (Thou art our God). It is good to give praise x1; Trisagion prayers; Troparia: O Thou Who by the depth of Thy wisdom; G/N: In thee we have a wall and a haven. Litany of Fervent Supplication; First Hour; and Dismissal.

Hours: Troparion (O Thou Who by the depth of Thy wisdom); and Kontakion (With the saints) from the Triodion.

Liturgy: Beatitudes on 8: Triodion: 4, from Ode 3; Triodion: 4, from Ode 6.

After the entrance: Troparion: O Thou Who by the depth of Thy wisdom; G: Kontakion: With the saints; N: In thee we have a wall and a haven.

Prokimenon for the departed, Tone 6: Their souls shall dwell among good things.

Epistle: 1 Cor. 10:23-28 (§146) & 1 Thess. 4:13-17 (§270).

Alleluia: Tone 6.

Gospel: Luke 21:8-9,25-27,33-36 (§105) & John 5:24-30 (§16).

Communion verse: Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen and hast taken to Thyself, O Lord, and their memorial is unto generation and generation.

After the Liturgy: A general Pannikhida for all Orthodox Christians is served.