Suggested Morning Prayers on Holy Tuesday

As we will not be offering the Presanctified Liturgy this morning, you are invited to add the following to your morning prayers:

Three-Ode Canon

Ode 2. Tone 8.

Irmos. Attend, O heaven, and I shall speak, and sing in praise of Christ, who took flesh from a Virgin and came to dwell among us.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

In spirit let us go with Christ to the Mount of Olives, and joining the apostles let us lodge with Him for the night.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Understand, O my humble heart, the parable of the millstone of which Christ spoke in prophecy, and be watchful.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Prepare thyself for thy departure, O my soul. Near at hand is the coming of the Judge who favours no man’s person.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

O Theotokos undefiled, Virgin alone worthy of all praise, pray to thy Son for us thy servants.

Another Irmos. See now, see that I am God: before the world was made, before earth and heaven were established, I knew all things, for I dwell wholly in the Father and bear the whole Father in Myself.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

With My word I have established heaven and earth, for I was with the Father; and with My word I uphold all creation, for I am Word and Wisdom and Power, the Father’s Image, His fellow-worker and His equal in might.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Who has appointed the times of the year? Who watches over the ages? Who ordains all things and makes them move, except Him who is ever with the Father from all eternity, as the ray is in the light?

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Jesus, beyond measure is Thy love for mankind! For Thou hast made known to us the appointed time when the end of the world shall come to pass, though Thou hast hidden the hour from us; yet Thou hast plainly revealed the signs which shall precede its coming.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

All things Thou understandest, all things Thou knowest, Jesus, for as God Thou hast within Thee all the glory of the Father, and by nature Thou hearest in Thyself the whole Spirit, coeternal with the Father.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Master and Lord, Maker of the ages, grant that at the Last Day we also may hear Thy holy voice, calling the chosen of the Father into the Kingdom of heaven.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

O Trinity uncreated and without beginning, O undivided Unity, Three and One, Father, Son and Spirit, a single God, accept this our hymn from tongues of clay, as if from mouths of flame.

Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Thou art revealed, O Virgin, as the holy Tabernacle of God: for in thee the King of heaven took up His dwelling bodily, and from thee He came forth in beauty, having refashioned man within Himself by His divine power.

Kathisma. Tone 2.

Moved by Thy tender mercy, O Christ our Benefactor, Thou dost of Thine own will go forth to meet Thy Passion, wishing to deliver us from the passions and from condemnation in hell. Therefore we all sing the praises of Thy holy sufferings and we glorify Thy deep self-abasement, O Saviour.

Ode 8. Tone 8.

Irmos. O ye angels and ye powers of heaven, sing to Him who sits upon the throne of majesty, and is glorified unceasingly as God: bless, praise and exalt Him above all for ever.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard, my soul, how Christ spoke in prophecy to His holy disciples, foretelling the consummation of all things. Make ready, then, since thou knowest that the end will come; the hour of departure is at hand.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou knowest, O unfruitful soul, the example of the wicked servant. Fear, then, and neglect not the gift of grace which has been given unto thee, not to be hidden in the earth but to be used.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

May thy lamp shine brightly, O my soul; and, like the lamps of the five virgins, may it overflow with the oil of compassion; and so thou shalt find open before thee the door of Christ’s bridal chamber.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

When the Teacher spoke of night on the Sabbath and in the winter, He foretold darkly, as in a riddle, the storm of the present age, which is the seventh day of the week, when the end shall come as the winter.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard, my soul, how on that day the fearful coming of thy Master shall be as swift as the lightning that shines across the heaven. Make haste, then, and be ready.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

When the Judge shall come with thousands and ten thousands of the angelic hosts and powers, then—woe is me!—what fear and trembling shall be thine, my soul, when all shall stand naked before Him.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

The Trinity is one God: the Father is not begotten like the Son, nor does the Son proceed like the Spirit, but each keeps His distinctive properties; and I glorify the Three as light and God for ever.

Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

At the intercessions of the Theotokos receive our prayer, O God; send down Thy mercy in abundance upon all, and grant Thy peace to Thy people.

Ode 9. Tone 8.

Irmos. The burning bush upon the mountain revealed in prophecy to the Giver of the Law Christ’s birth from the Ever-Virgin for our salvation: and with never-silent songs of praise we magnify Him.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

My soul, thou hast heard the Judge foretelling and teaching thee about the time of the end. By thine acts prepare for thy departure, lest thou be rejected by God as unworthy.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

From the fig tree, O my soul, learn to recognize the coming of the end. When its leaves are tender and it puts forth branches, then the time of summer is at hand; and when thou shalt see these things, know that the end is near, even at the doors.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Who save Thee knows Thy Father? Who save Thee knows the hour or the day? for in Thee are all the treasures of wisdom, Christ our God.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

The books shall be opened and the thrones shall be set up; all men shall stand naked and their deeds shall be examined. Neither witness nor accuser will be there, for everything is manifest in God’s sight.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

The Judge of all is led to judgement. He who sits upon the throne of the cherubim stands before Pilate as one accused, and suffers all things that Adam may be saved.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Our mighty and divine Passover approaches: it shall come after two days, so Christ teaches, foretelling the day of the Passion on which He shall be offered as a sacrifice to the Father.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thy Mother stood beside Thy Cross, O Saviour, and seeing Thine unjust death she cried aloud: Woe is me, my Child, O Light that never sets! O Sun of glory, shine with Thy brightness upon all.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

O Holy Unity, Trinity in single Godhead, God one in three, one Nature in three Persons, equal in honour and undivided in glory, save our souls from danger.

Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Christ, receive the intercessions of Thy Mother: at her prayers give peace to the world, strengthen the power of our rulers, and unite Thy Churches in one.

Readings

Exodus 2:5-10

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying in the basket, and Pharaoh’s daughter took pity on him, ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said.

Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’

Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Go.’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he took became a son to her. She named him Moses, ‘because,’ she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’

Job 1:13-22

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were ploughing and the she-asses were feeding beside them, and marauders fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’

While he was still speaking, another messenger came to Job and said, ‘Fire fell from heaven onto the earth and burned up the sheep and the shepherds, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.’

While he was still speaking, another messenger came to Job and said, ‘The horsemen formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’

While he was still speaking, another messenger came to Job and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on your children, and they are died; I alone have escaped to tell you.’

When he heard this Job arose, tore his clothes, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshipped the Lord. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; as it seemed good to the Lord, so it has come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord to the ages.’

In all this Job did not sin before the Lord, nor with his lips; nor did he charge God with folly.

Matthew 24:36-26:2

The Lord said to his Disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know at what hour your Lord is coming. But know this: if the owner of the house had known at which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him.

“Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom his lord has put in charge of his servants, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his lord will find doing this when he comes. Amen I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, the lord of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. He will cut him in pieces and his portion will be with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten virgins took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were prudent, and five were foolish. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the prudent took oil in their flasks with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘See! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Amen I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and handed over his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Lord, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you have been faithful in a few things, I will put you in charge of many; enter into the joy of your lord.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Lord, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you have been faithful in a few things, I will put you in charge of many; enter into the joy of your lord.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Lord, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his lord replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away from them. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the just will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you to drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when did we saw you sick or in prison and came to you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Amen I say to you, just as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not serve you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Amen I say to you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the just into eternal life.”

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

Troparion and Kontakion

Behold, the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and blessed is that servant whom he finds watching; but unworthy is the one whom he finds slothful. Take care then, my soul, not to be overcome with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and be shut out of the kingdom; but rouse yourself and cry: Holy, holy, holy are you, O God; through the Mother of God, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Think, wretched soul, upon the hour of the end; recall with fear how the fig tree was cut down. Work diligently with the talent that is given to thee; be vigilant and cry aloud: May we not be left outside the bridal chamber of Christ!