HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV SHEVCHUK (1970) The Youngest Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Monday, March 26, 2012


It;s been a Year since the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church elected His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who was the Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of Santa Maria de Patrociñio en Bueños Aires as the new Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych though he is entitled as Patriarch accorded to him by the Bishop. At the age of 40 He is the Youngest of all Hierarchs not just of the Catholic Church but at the same the Youngest head of a Sui Iuri Eastern Rite Catholic Church

Here is what Rev. Fr. Athanasius Mcvay of the Annales Ecclesiae Ucraiane Blog has observed as the very first with the Enthronement of His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk.



1. To be Enthroned in the Ancient City of Kyiv since the Eighteenth Century
2. To be Enhtroned in the yet In Complete Sobor (Arch Cathedral) of the Ressurection, the Seat of the Major Archiepiscopate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
3. To have other Eastern Catholic Patriarchs and Primate flanking him at the Ceremony, notably Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III Laham and Slovak Greek Catholic Metropolitan Jan Babjak
4. To have present at his Enthronement Representatives from all Three Orthodox Churches of Ukraine, namely the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church



For more is the Autobiography of His Beatitude and the Commentray regarding his Election as Patriarch. May the Major Archbishop have more years, Нехай добрий Бог грант багато років Блаженніший нашої Пресвятої ПатріархСвятослав і пастви Української Греко-Католицької Церкви



Read more...

GREAT FEAST, ANNUNCIATION

Sunday, March 25, 2012

HYMNS



Troparion (Tone 4) 
Today is the beginning of our salvation,
The revelation of the eternal mystery!
The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin
As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.
Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace,
The Lord is with You!
Kontakion (Tone 8)
O Victorious Leader of Triumphant Hosts!
We, your servants, delivered from evil, sing our grateful thanks to you, O Theotokos!
As you possess invincible might, set us free from every calamity
So that we may sing: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!

Forefeast hymns

Troparion (Tone 4)
Today is the prelude of joy for the universe!
Let us anticipate the feast and celebrate with exultation:
Gabriel is on his way to announce the glad tidings to the Virgin;
He is ready to cry out in fear and wonder:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with You!
Kontakion (Tone 8)
You are the beginning of salvation for all of us on earth, Virgin Mother of God.
For the great Archangel Gabriel, God's minister,
Was sent from heaven to stand before you to bring you joy:
Therefore, we all cry to you: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.
_________________________________________________________

Today within the Season of Great Lent we celebrated with Joy this Great Feast, when the Archangel Gabriel had come to the Most Blessed Virgin and Holy Theotokos Mary and promised him of bearing a Son. This was chosen by the Church father exactly Nine Months before the Nativity to make his conceiving by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary perfect according to the Nicene Creed

For more Information on the Liturgy and Tradition on this Great Feast click on the Orthowiki Link and the other  from the Wikipedia Link



Read more...

Do not be mislead of FALSE ECUMENISM :P

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

And i am serious about this one to be exact, here is a reaction of a Eastern Rite Orthodox Christian on his wall regarding this Post on the Demise of the Coptic Christian head Shenouda III, here is what he have to say on the recent posts extending not just Condolences and even calling "Memory Eternal" to the late Hierarch:

"With the recent death of the charismatic leader of the Coptic Church of Egypt, Pope Shenouda, a few Eastern Orthodox religious leaders have declared their sympathy and condolence to the Coptic faithful as they pray "Memory Eternal" to the Coptic Pope.
It should be remembered and understood that in the Eastern Orthodox tradition the prayer "Eternal Memory" refers to REMEMBRANCE BY GOD, rather than by the living, and is "another way of praying that the soul HAS ENTERED HEAVEN and ENJOYS ETERNAL LIFE."
An Orthodox Christian prays to God for the "Eternal Memory" of the beloved departed who has fallen asleep in the Lord so that he or she shall be "eternally alive in the eternal memory of God." If follows that this "Eternal Memory" prayer is applicable only to the departed faithful and not to those who have died outside the true Faith, and outside the Holy Church.
It is a common knowledge that the Coptic Church of Egypt is not in communion with the Holy Orthodox Church since it rejects the Declaration of Faith at the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451 AD). The Monophysite heresy was condemned and its followers were anathematized by the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon. Their excommunication from the Church still remains to this day and will only be lifted once they accept the Declaration of Faith.
Therefore, how can anyone who denies the True Faith be eternally alive in the eternal memory of God? Monophysitism and Orthodoxy has nothing in common and is totally incompatible.
As an ordinary faithful of the Orthodox Church, it is against my conscience to pray "Eternal Memory" to someone who willfully deny the True Faith and died outside the Church. I pray for the Lord's mercy that his heresy may be forgiven. I also pray that the Copts return back to the bosom of the true church, the Holy Orthodox Church. I also pray for my Orthodox brethren who unknowingly fell victim to the deception of false ecumenism. Lord have mercy on me."


With all due respect, i have to make things straight on having a Clarification, though we are still extending our Condolences, we cannot say anymore Glorifying words but instead offer Prayers of Mercy on this Patriarch, who still until now Upholds the Schism they have committed in 451 A.D in the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon on which the Coptic Pope of that time Dioscorus who is a proponent of the Heretical view of Monophysitism have even Excommunicated the defender of Orthodoxy which is Pope St. Leo the Great, who by his Tomes has declared not just the Copts but the Churches in Communion with Anathematized, as it was stated by the Holy Ecumenical Council of Ephesus. Making the Clarifications so that i am not going to be mislead and be swayed by False Ecumenism. Below is the Chalcedonian Definition of Faith:


"ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON: DEFINITION OF THE FAITH (451 A.D.)

"So, following the saintly fathers, we all with one voice teach the confession of one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: the same perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity, the same truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and a body; 

Consubstantial with the Father as regards his divinity, and the same consubstantial with us as regards his humanity; 

Like us in all respects except for sin; begotten before the ages from the Father as regards his divinity, and in the last days the same for us and for our salvation from Mary, the virgin God-bearer as regards his humanity;

One and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, acknowledged IN TWO NATURES which undergo NO CONFUSION, NO CHANGE, NO DIVISION, NO SEPARATION;

At no point was the difference between the natures taken away through the union, but rather THE PROPERTY OF BOTH NATURES IS PRESERVED and comes together into a single person and a single subsistent being;

He is not parted or divided into two persons, but is one and the same only-begotten Son, God, Word, Lord Jesus Christ, just as the prophets taught from the beginning about him, and as the Lord Jesus Christ himself instructed us, and as the creed of the fathers handed it down to us.

Since we have formulated these things with all possible accuracy and attention, the sacred and UNIVERSAL SYNOD DECREED that NO ONE IS PERMITTED to produce, or even to write down or compose, any other creed or to THINK or TEACH OTHERWISE.

As for those who dare either to compose another creed or even to promulgate or teach or hand down another creed for those who wish to convert to a recognition of the truth from Hellenism or from Judaism, or from any kind of heresy at all: if they be bishops or clerics, the bishops are to be DEPOSED from the episcopacy and the clerics from the clergy; if they be monks or layfolk, they are to be ANATHEMATISED.

We have deemed it right that the canons hitherto issued by the saintly fathers at each and every synod should REMAIN IN FORCE."


His Holiness Blessed Pope John Paul III with the Coptic Pope and Patriarch Shenouda III

We still pray for Christian Unity though, and also it the Decrees of the Council of Chalcedon is still enforce upon the Miaphysite Churches, namely the Coptic Christians. A merely joint Statement from the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch has no weight compare to the Decrees of a Ecumenical Council, we also include in our Intercession the Lifting of Excommunication from the 451 Chalcedon Council, just like the Lifting of the 1054 Excommunication of both His Holiness Pope Paul VI and His Beatitude Patriarch Athenagoras in 1965

For more here is a Video Link of the brief History of the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon


Read more...

Like us on Facebook to know more :)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Besides this Blog which have been running for a Year, we begin this Advocacy of promoting the Eastern Rite in the Social Networking site of Facebook by first creating a Closed Group and followed by a Fan Page with photos and information on different Hierarchs and Liturgies of several Eastern Rite Catholic Sui Iuris, or Self Governing Churches. Here below are the following Links that will lead you to join and like also

Eastern Rite Catholic Filipinos - Group

Eastern Rite Catholic Filipinos - Fan Page

You might notice that the Group is a Closed, we have been strict since some Unwanted People try to enter the Group with no honest Intentions of ever joining. You can see also the Fan Page streaming on the Left too so that you can easily like it. For more Information just send me a Message in the Link going to my Account for more Questions and i will Entertained it

Noah Y. Acha


Пресвята Богородиця, захищати США 
(MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS, PROTECT US)
Господи Ісусе Христе Сину Божий, помилуй мене грішного 
(LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER)
Слава Ісусу Христу
(GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST)



Read more...

Kyrie Eleison, His Beatitude Shenouda (1923-2012), Patriarch of Alexandria and Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Together with our Brethren from the other Eastern Rite Christian Churches, namely of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt in grief and we extend our Condolence upon the Death of His Holiness Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. He is known for the efforts he made in Commitment of having Christian Unity. He is the first Coptic Orthodox Patriarch to meet with the Pope after 1500 Years meeting with His Holiness Pope Paul VI and later on with His Holiness Blessed Pope John Paul II. Here is the Statement from the Vatican on the demise of the Coptic Pope.




"The Catholic Church shares in the grief and prayers of Coptic Christians in mourning the loss of their spiritual leader, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria. Pope Benedict XVI was informed of the news and he is united spiritually with prayers of suffrage. We will never forget the meeting of Pope Shenouda in Cairo with Pope John Paul II during his pilgrimage to Mount Sinai during the Great Jubilee. The occasion marked a high moment in dialogue and fellowship witnessing to our common faith in Christ. May the Lord welcome this great shepherd and give him the reward he deserves for his service.


Fr. Federico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press Office"

Here below are the Links regarding this News of the Passing over in this Life of the Coptic Patriarch:


We in the Eastern Rite Catholic Filipinos also extend the Condolence on our Brethren in the Coptic Orthodox Church joining and always be in our Prayer

"O God of spirits and of all
bodies, who trampled down
death and overcame the devil,
and bestowed life on your
world, yourself O Lord set to
rest the soul of your servant
Shenouda who has fallen asleep, in
a place of light, in a place of
green pastures, in a place of
rest whence all pain, sorrow
and sighing have been driven
away. Forgive him (her) every
transgression committed in
word, in deed, or in thought,
for you are a good God, the
Lover of mankind; yet there is
no man born who does not
transgress, and you alone are
without sin, your
righteousness is everlasting,
and your word is true."




Read more...

Suriyani Qurbana, Traditional Syro Malabar Divine Liturgy

Saturday, March 17, 2012


Unlike other posts here of the Holy Qurbana of Addai and Mari, this one is the Traditional Holy Qurbana of the Syro Malabar Catholics prior to 1962. The Suriyani Qurbana is being Chanted not just in Syriac, the Liturgical Language of Eastern Churches under the Antiochian and Syro-Oriental Rite. This Divine Liturgy of East Syrian source was restored by His Holiness Pope Pius XII in 1957. This one is celebrated in 50:50 Formula, by which the Priest first is facing the People at the Liturgy of the Word but when the Eucharistic Liturgy and Anaphora comes, he will be Ad Orientem facing the Liturgical East. Malayalam was only used in the Suriyani Qurbana in 1962


Read more...

Back again on our Endeavor and the Blogging of course

Friday, March 16, 2012

It took me days before i have post here again, i am busy doing things but it does not mean that i have forget everything. Now i am back again in full Action

For those who think that we are only posting Articles regarding the Eastern Rite Catholicism, without saying our Plan for having a Divine Liturgy of such in the Philippines. We know that our Endeavor is not a easy task at all even though some of the People who are interested in the Eastern Rite support the idea, i honestly believe that it is the help from the Clergy, namely those Liturgically minded ones who are also interested on the Liturgies of the East and even its Spirituality

I write this Article to serve as a Message for some of my brethren here in the Majority Latin Rite Roman Catholic Philippines, to know the other side of the Catholic truth and its Eastern lung United with the Holy Universal Pontiff and to gain support for our Advocacy on having a Eastern Rite Divine Liturgy here, by the grace and mercy of God and the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos we will continue to do our Work in promoting Eastern Rite here in the Philippines


Пресвята Богородиця, захищати США 
(MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS, PROTECT US)
Господи Ісусе Христе Сину Божий, помилуй мене грішного 
(LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER)
Слава Ісусу Христу
(GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST)



Read more...

Letter to a New Convert in the Eastern Rite and its Spirituality

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

From the Russian Orthodox Site Pravmir.Com

Dear “John”,

I understand that you are on the way to becoming Orthodox. I know nothing about you, beyond the fact that you are English.

Before we go any further, there is one point I should make clear. I have not been told why you are about to convert, but I assure you there is no point whatsoever if it is for negative reasons. You will find as much “wrong” (if not more) in Orthodoxy as in the Anglican or Roman Churches.

So – the first point is, are you prepared to face lies, hypocrisy, evil and all the rest, just as much in Orthodoxy as in any other religion or denomination?

Are you expecting a kind of earthly paradise with plenty of incense and the right kind of music?

Do you expect to go straight to heaven if you cross yourself slowly, pompously and in the correct form from the right side?

Have you a cookery book with all the authentic Russian recipes for Easter festivities?

Are you an expert in kissing three times on every possible or improper occasion?

Can you prostrate elegantly without dropping a variety of stationery out of your pockets?

OR…..

Have you read the Gospels?

Have you faced Christ crucified? In the spirit have you attended the Last Supper – the meaning of Holy Communion?

AND….

Are you prepared, in all humility, to understand that you will never, in this life, know beyond Faith; that Faith means accepting the Truth without proof. Faith and knowledge are the ultimate contradiction –and the ultimate absorption into each other.

Living Orthodoxy is based on paradox, which is carried on into worship – private or public.

We know because we believe and we believe because we know.

Above all, are you prepared to accept all things as from God?

If we are meant, always, to be “happy”, why the Crucifixion? Are you prepared, whatever happens, to believe that somewhere, somehow, it must make sense? That does not mean passive endurance, but it means constant vigilance, listening, for what is demanded; and above all, Love.

Poor, old, sick, to our last breath, we can love. Not sentimental nonsense so often confused with love, but the love of sacrifice – inner crucifixion of greed, envy, pride.

And never confuse love with sentimentality.

And never confuse worship with affectation.

Be humble – love, even when it is difficult. Not sentimental so called love – And do not treat church worship as a theatrical performance!

I hope that some of this makes sense,

With my best wishes,
Mother Thekla
(sometime Abbess of the Monastery of the Assumption, Normanby)

Mother Thekla wrote the above in 2009 when she was 91 years old.

Read more...

The Prayer of Righteous Ephrem

Here is the most used Prayer of the Eastern Rite, both of the Catholics and the Orthodox of the Byzantine Rite during Great Lent. It is attributed to St. Ephrem the Syrian and this is always prayed too on Weekday Liturgies, namely that of the Divine Liturgy of the Pre Sanctified. Here is the short verse of this Prayer both in English and in Greek and the Kyivan Versions of this Lenten Prayer:
_________________________________________


English: O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of sloth, dispair, lust for power and idle talk.
But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity (integrity), humility, patience and love.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother. For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Greek: Κύριε καὶ Δέσποτα τῆς ζωῆς μου, πνεῦμα ἀργίας, περιεργίας, φιλαρχίας, καὶ ἀργολογίας μή μοι δῷς.,
Πνεῦμα δὲ σωφροσύνης, ταπεινοφροσύνης, ὑπομονῆς, καὶ ἀγάπης χάρισαί μοι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ.
Ναί, Κύριε Βασιλεῦ, δώρησαι μοι τοῦ ὁρᾶν τὰ ἐμὰ πταίσματα, καὶ μὴ κατακρίνειν τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἶ, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.
Kyivan: Господи и владыко живота моегω, духъ оунынїѧ, небрежεнїѧ, любоначалїѧ и празднословїѧ ѿжεни ѿ мεнε.
Духъ же цѣломѹдрїѧ, смиреномѹдрїѧ, терпѣнїѧ и любве, дарѹй ми рабѹ твоемѹ.
Ей Господи Царю, даждь ми зрѣти моѧ согрѣшенїѧ, и не ωсуждати брата моегω, якω благословенъ еси во вѣки вѣковъ. Аминь


This Penitential Prayer is recommended to be recited at Morning, Noon and Evening. It is also suggestible to recite on both rising and retiring to bed. On this next version we have the long Prayer of St. Ephrem used at the Weekday Liturgies of the Pre-Sanctified during Great Lent with guides on making Prostrations while reciting this Prayer during the Divine Liturgy


{Making a prostration}

O LORD, Master of my life, grant that I may not be infected with the
spirit of slothfulness and inquisitiveness, with the spirit of ambition and vain talking.


{Making a prostration}
Grant instead to me, your servant, the spirit of purity and of
humility, the spirit of patience and neighborly love.
{Making a third prostration}
O Lord and King, grant me the grace of being aware of my sins and of not thinking evil of those of my brethren.
For you are blessed, now and ever, and forever.

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings, You have power over life
and death. You know what is secret and hidden, and neither our
thoughts nor our feelings are concealed from You.
Cure me of duplicity; I have done evil before You.
Now my life declines from day to day and my sins increase.
O Lord, God of souls and bodies, You know the extreme frailty of
my soul and my flesh.
Grant me strength in my weakness, O Lord, and sustain me in my misery. Give me a grateful soul that I may never cease to recall
Your benefits, O Lord most bountiful.
Be not mindful of my many sins, but forgive me all my misdeeds.
O Lord, disdain not my prayer - the prayer of a wretched
sinner; sustain me with Your grace until the end, that it may
protect me as in the past.
It is Your grace which has taught me wisdom; blessed are they who follow her ways, for they shall receive the crown of glory.
In spite of my unworthiness, I praise You and I glorify You,
O Lord, for Your mercy to me is without limit.
You have been my help and my protection. May the name of Your majesty be praised forever.
To you, our God, be glory. Amen.


This Video clip is a Explanation and giving details and also Reflections on this very Penitential Prayer used by the Byzantine Rite during Great Lent. We thank Rev. Fr. Paul Makar, Director of the Ukrainian Catholic Vocations of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia for this wonderful Clip we ask permission to post it on our Blog as part of our Spiritual Journey this Great Lent Season




Read more...

Recitation of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Here we is a Video Link of the Reciting of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, a very long Penitential Canon sng every Great Lent by Rev. Fr. Ruslan Grekh of the Birth of the Virgin Mary Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church under the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lviv. I cannot find any Video of it so i just put it here in a Link which you can click on it


Here are what Mr. Carlos Antonio Palad of Filipino Catholicism notices, that it is close in the Greek Practice because in the recitation the Vestments are in Red and every Sentence everyone performs Prostrations.

Below is the Text of the first line of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, known as the Canon of Repentance

__________________________________________



Monday of the First Week

Ode 1

A Helper and a Protector has become salvation to me. This is my God, Whom I will glorify. God of my fathers I will exalt Him for in glory was He glorified. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
How shall I begin to mourn the deeds of my wretched life? What can I offer as first fruits of repentance? In Your compassion, O Christ, forgive my sins.
Come, my wretched soul, and confess your sins in the flesh to the Creator of all. From this moment forsake your former foolishness and offer to God tears of repentance.
My transgressions rival those of first created Adam, and because of my sins I find myself naked of God and of His everlasting kingdom.
Alas, my wretched soul, why are you so like Eve/ You see evil and are grievously wounded by it; you touch the tree and tasted heedlessly of its deceiving fruit.
Instead of the person Eve, I have within my inward being an "Eve" of passionate thoughts which though seemingly sweet never lose their bitter taste.
For failing to observe just one of Your commandments, O Savour, Adam was justly exiled from Eden. What then shall I suffer for continually ignoring Your words of life?
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Trinity above all essence and worshiped as One God, take from me the heavy burden of sin, and since You are compassionate grant me tears of repentance.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Theotokos, Hope and Protection of those who sing to you, take from me the heavy burden of sin and as one pure Lady accept me as I repent.

Ode 2

Attend O heaven and I will speak, I will sing of Christ, Who from the Virgin took flesh to dwell with us. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Listen, O heaven, and I will speak. O earth, hear the cry of one returning to God and singing His praises.
Look down on me in Your mercy, O compassionate God and Saviour, and accept my fervent confession.
More than all have I sinned; I alone have sinned against You, O God my Saviour, but have compassion on me, Your creature.
Through love of pleasure has my form become deformed and the beauty of my inward being has been ruined.
O compassionate One, as You saved Peter when he was about to sink, so reach out now to me, for a storm of evil surges around me.
O Saviour, I have defiled the garment of my flesh and polluted that which You fashioned within me according to Your own image and likeness.
With passions have I darkened the beauty of my soul and permitted my whole inward being to become mire.
I like naked, having torn up the garment which my Creator fashioned for me in the beginning.
I am ashamed, for the serpent deceived me and my garment is in tatters.
O compassionate One, like the prostitute who anointed Your feet so now do I offer You tears. Have mercy on me, O Saviour.
I like naked and ashamed, for the beauty of the tree, which I saw in the middle of the garden, deceived me.
The demons have cut deep wounds of passion into my back; their lawlessness has made it like a plowed field.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O God of all, I sing of You as One yet Three in Person, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most holy Theotokos, Virgin alone praised everywhere, pray fervently that we may be saved.

Ode 3

Establish Your Church, O Christ, on the unshakeable rock of Your commandments. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The Lord once caused fire to rain down from heaven, O my soul, and the land of Sodom was consumed.
Save yourself from sin, O my soul! Like lot on the mountain, take timely refuge in the town of Zoar.
Run from the flames, O my soul! Run from the burning of Sodom! Run from the destruction caused by fire sent from God!
O Christ my Saviour, I have sinned more than anyone; I alone have sinned against you, yet do not forsake me!
As a Good Shepherd search for me, Your sheep who has gone astray, and do not forsake me.
I confess, O Saviour, that I have sinned against You, but since You are compassionate, absolve and forgive me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O God, Trinity yet One, save us from delusion, temptations and misfortune!
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Hail, O Womb which received God! Hail, O Throne of the Lord! Hail, O Mother of our Life!




Ode 4


The prophet heard of Your coming, O Lord, and was afraid that You were to be born of a virgin and appear to men, and he said "I have heard the report of You and am afraid"; Glory to Your power, O Lord. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Do not forget Your saving acts, O righteous Judge, or turn away form Your creatures, but in Your compassion forgive me, though I have sinned more than all. For Yours is the power to remit the sins of all.
The end is approaching, O my soul, it is approaching! So why do you not care or prepare yourself for it? Arise! The time is short! The Judge already stands at the door. Life is vanishing like a dream, so why do you continue living in vanity?
Arise, O my soul, and reveal the evil things you have done. Ponder them well and allow your tears to flow. Then confess your deeds and thoughts openly to Christ, and He will make you righteous.
There never has been a sin, a deed, an evil act that I have not cherished, O Saviour. I have sinned in my thoughts, my words, and my deeds, and no one has sinned more than I.
Despair condemns me in the tribunal of my conscience where judgment is harsher than by any law on earth. O my Judge, Who created and redeemed me, spare, deliver and save me, Your servant.
The ladder which long ago Jacob the great patriarch saw is for you, O my soul, an image to consider. The bottom most rung is a first step towards doing the will of God, while those that follow lead to a true knowledge of Him. Therefore, renew your Life if you wish to do God's work, to receive knowledge and insight.
Wishing to marry Rachel, Jacob tended her father's sheep for seven years through the scorching heat of day and the frost of night. When given Leah by deceit he struggled and slaved yet another seven finally to win his chosen bride.
Now consider these two wives as images of diligence and wisdom Leah, who bore many children, is untiring labor, while Rachel is that wisdom which one acquires only through diligence. Neither, however, is possible, O my soul, without your effort.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I confess You as one God in Trinity, a single essence unconfused in persons, co-enthroned and co-ruling, and I sing to You, "Holy! Holy! Holy!" Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
As a virgin you gave birth, and a virgin you remained by nature, your womb giving birth painlessly for He Who was born of you renewed the laws of nature, since when God wills its order is overthrown.



Ode 5


Out of the night watching early for You, enlighten me I pray, O Lover of man, and guide me in Your commandments, and teach me, O Saviour, to do Your will. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
In the darkness of night has my whole Life passed, amidst shadowy delusions I cannot escape But, O Saviour, make me now a child of the day.
My soul is in despair, for like Reuben who defiled his father's bed, I have disobeyed the will of God my Father by defiling His image within me.
I confess my sins to You, O Christ my King, like Joseph's brothers have I sold into slavery him who was chaste and pure.
As an image of our Lord was that righteous soul cast out by his brothers and sold into slavery, while you, my soul, have sold yourself into your own evil hands.
O suffering and hopeless soul, imitate the purity of mind in righteous Joseph, and do not sin by being led astray by irrational desires.
Joseph's being placed in a pit formed an image of Your burial and resurrection, O Lord and Master. Will I ever be able to endure such things for Your sake?
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We glorify You, O Trinity, One in essence, and we praise and adore You forever, singing, "Holy! Holy! Holy!" Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
God, the Creator of all things, became incarnate through you, O pure Virgin Mother, uniting our human nature to Himself.


Ode 6


With my whole heart, I cried unto the compassionate God, and He heard me; and He lifted up my soul from the depths of hell and from corruption. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I offer you, O Saviour, sincere tears and the deepest groans of my soul, crying from the heart, "O God, I have sinned against You, be merciful to me".
When Datham and Abiram defied Moses and turned from the Lord, the earth opened to swallow them. Now you, my soul, having turned from the Lord as well, must cry with your whole heart from the depths of hell to be spared, lest you share their lot.
Having lived as a stubborn mule, O my soul, like that idol worshipper Ephraim, now as an agile deer flee the hunters and save your Life, strengthening it with good deeds, wisdom, and prayer.
Be assured, O my soul, that as God was able to turn Moses' hand white with disease and cleanse it once again, so can He also cleanse and purify a diseased Life. Therefore, do not despair of yourself even though infected with many sins.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
"I AM the Trinity, simple and undivided in essence yet divided in Persons. I AM also the Unity united in nature," says God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Your womb, O Theotokos, held God Who for our sakes took human form. Implore Him, the Creator of all, that through your prayers we may be justified.


Kontakion (Tone 6)


My soul, my soul, Arise! Why are you sleeping? The end is drawing near, and you will be confounded, awake then and be watchful that Christ our God may spare you, Who is everywhere, and fills all things.


Ode 7


We have sinned, transgressed, done wrong before You. We have not watched or done as You have commanded us, but do not give us up utterly, O God of our fathers. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have sinned, I have erred, I have rejected Your commandments. I have increased in sin and added to the wounds of my soul. But in Your compassion, be merciful to me, O God of our fathers.
I have confessed to You, my Judge, the secrets of my heart. See my humility, my distress, and give me now Your judgment, in Your compassion being merciful to me, O God of our fathers.
Saul lost his father's flock and found himself suddenly proclaimed King of Israel. Watch, O my soul, lest your animal instincts now block you from the kingdom of Christ.
David was a forefather of the Lord, O my soul, yet sinned doubly by committing both murder and adultery. Your sickness, however, is even worse than his deeds because of your impulsive will.
David, though once compounding his sins by first murdering a man and then stealing his wife was quick to repent of both. You, however, O my soul, have done worse things than he, yet never repented of them before the Lord.
David once showed us the image of true repentance in a psalm he wrote exposing all he had done. "Be merciful to me and cleanse me!" he wrote, "for against You only have I sinned, the God of our fathers".
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Simple and undivided, One in essence and nature, Light and Lights, One Holy and three Holies, Gd is praised as Trinity. So sing praises to Him, O my soul, and glorify the Life and Lives, the God of all.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
We praise you, we bless and venerate you, O Mother of God, for from the undivided Trinity you brought forth the only Son of God and restored to us on earth the heavenly realms.


Ode 8


Him Whom the hosts of heaven glorify, Whom the Cherubim and Seraphim dread, let every breath and creature praise, bless and magnify throughout all ages. Have mercy on us, O God, have mercy on us.
O Saviour, I have sinned! Now convert my soul and receive me in repentance as I cry, "Against You only have I sinned and lived lawlessly. Have mercy on me!"
Remember, O my soul, how Elijah once drove the fiery chariot into heaven, abandoning all earthly cares by perfection in every virtue.
Elisha inherited a double portion of prophetic spirit when Elijah's mantle fell from heaven upon him. But how can you, O my soul, hope to share in such graces, not yet having learned to control your love of worldly pleasures?
Once the river Jordan was divided when Elisha struck its waters with Elijah's mantle. But how can you hope to share in such wonders, not yet having learned to control your love of worldly pleasures?
The wealthy woman of Shuynem showed her good will by entertaining the righteous Elisha, but you, my soul, receive neither strangers nor travellers, and will find yourself an alien cast out of the bridal chamber of Christ.
When Elisha cured Naaman of a dread disease he asked no price in return. But you, my soul, have imitated his wicked servant Gehazai, who sought money in his master's name. Abandon such greed before the end, lest you be cast into eternal fire.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Eternal Father, co-eternal Son, and gracious Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, O Father of the Divine Word, Word of the eternal Father, and Life-creating Spirit, Trinity in unity, have mercy on us.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O pure Virgin, the flesh of Emmanuel was formed within your womb as a robe of royal crimson is spun from scarlet silk. We proclaim you to be truly the Mother of our God.


Ode 9


Ineffable is the child bearing of a seedless conception, a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature, so in all ages we magnify you as mother and bride of God. Have mercy on us, O God, have mercy on us.
My inward being is wounded, my body is weak; my spirit is ill, and the word is powerless. Life is giving way to death and the end is near. What shall I do when the Judge comes and I must stand before Him?
I have reminded you, O my soul, from the books of Moses how the world was created, and from accounts throughout the Old Testament have shown examples of both the righteous and the unrighteous. But of these you have imitated the latter rather than the former and thereby have sinned against your God.
The law has no power over you, O my soul. You have made the Gospel fruitless, scorned the Scriptures, and reaped yourself no value from the prophets or the writings of the just. Your wounds have increased and you have no physician to heal you.
Therefore, O my soul, I will remind you of examples from the New Testament to lead you to contrition. Imitate the righteous and shun the ways of sinners that through prayer, fasting, purity, and reverence you may obtain the mercy of Christ.
Christ became a man, taking our flesh and of His own free will enduring everything which pertains to human nature (except sin). He has shown you an image of His own condescension.
Christ became a man and called both robbers and prostitutes to repentance. Return, therefore, O my soul, to Him. For the doors of the kingdom now stand open and the Pharisees, tax collectors and adulterers who have changed their ways are entering ahead of you!
Christ granted salvation to the Magi who worshiped Him; He summoned shepherds to His crib; He manifested as martyrs the infants whom Herod slew, glorified Simeon the Elder and the widow Anna, but you, my soul, have not imitated the lives and works of any such as these. Therefore, how terrible it will be for you when you are judged!
After He had fasted forty days in the wilderness, hunger revealed the Lord's human nature. Therefore, O my soul, do not despair if the enemy attacks you, for it is only through prayer and fasting that he shall be defeated.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We glorify the Father, we exalt the Son, and we worship the Holy Spirit, the indivisible Trinity Who exists as One, the Light and Lights, the Life and Lives Who grants light and Life to the ends of the world.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O purest Mother of God, preserve your people, for through you are we kept faithful, strengthened, and made able to overcome every temptation, trial, and tribulation.
O holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.
O honourable Andrew, thrice-blessed Father and pastor of Crete, never cease praying to God for those who sing your praises, that He may deliver from anger, sorrow, corruption, and countless sins all of us who faithfully honour your memory.

(St. Andrew of Crete)


Read more...