Saturday Before
Meatfare
Vespers: The usual
beginning of Daily Vespers. Kathisma
18.
Lord, I have
cried, Tone
1, on 6: Octoechos, Tone 1 of the Martyrs: 3 (At the prayers, O Lord, of all the saints See Triodion, pp. 142); 3; Triodion:
3 (O ye faithful, remembering); G:
Triodion (I lament and weep); N:
Dogmatic Theotokion, Tone 1 (Let us hymn the Virgin Mary).
No Entry; 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 1 (O martyrs, worthy of all praise Triodion, p. 142-143); 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 1 Martyrs (As
valiant warriors 2nd hymn of the 1st set of
sessional hymns in the Octoechos); Martyrs (Be
Thou entreated by the pangs of the saints 1st hymn of the 2nd
set of sessional hymns); Verse (Wondrous
is God in His saints, the God of Israel); Martyrs (We all pray to the martyrs of Christ 2nd hymn of the 2nd
set of sessional hymns); Verse (Blessed
are they whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thyself, O Lord); Hymn for the
Dead (Abolishing the dominion of death
Nekrosimon from the 2nd set of sessional hymns); G/N: Theotokion (O Virgin Theotokos, thou only mighty and
fervent intercessor from the 2nd set of sessional hymns) or
you can use the hymns as arranged in the LTS, p. 311f). 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:
Triodion
8 Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants who have
fallen asleep.
Irmos
of the
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 (We entreat Thee, O Savior stichera and verses from the Octoechos,
Tone 1, also found in the LTS,
p. 313f); 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 Panikhida
for all Orthodox Christians is served.