Part 12
Since importable is the terrible threatening of that day, let us unceasingly beseech of Christ forgiveness of all sins for him that hath in faith and hope of resurrection hither gone.
Since, through penitence, he, thy servant, unto thee a lamp enkindled brightly ere his death, O Master, Saviour loving-kind, vouchsafe to him in brightly wise thy bridal-room.
_Glory._
When all things hid thou dost reveal, and prove our sins, O Christ, him whom thou hast receiv’d do thou then spare, remembering his confession, Lord.
_Both now. Theotokion._
Holy God-bearing one, forget not all that cry to thee with ceaseless wail; and find him rest, thou blessed one, even him, thy faithful servant, who is gone from us.
_Ode v. Irmos._
Of thy divine epiphany, O Christ....
In the elect ones’ choir, and in the joy of paradise, O thou compassionate one, give rest to him whom thou from us in faith removed hast; for thou, our Saviour, hast divine repentance laid on all men who have sinn’d; and him, as Master, of thy kingdom worthy count.
According to thy might as God, thou art, in lordly wise, unto thy creature merciful, whom thou subjected hast to human law, O Lord, sole lover of mankind. Therefore remit, forgive the sins of him gone hence in faith, and him, O Saviour, of thy kingdom worthy count.
_Glory._
None there escape the fearful sentence of thy judgment-seat: kings, mighty ones with servants all together stand, and them, the people who have sinn’d, the judge’s fearful voice bids to gehenna’s doom; but save from this thy servant, Christ.
_Both now. Theotokion._
In supernatural wise from thee was born, according unto human nature, him that Redeemer is; and him, O thou unwedded Virgin, ceaselessly beseech to free from torment all, and from the fierce and fearful hades’ pains; and save him who is now in faith remov’d from us.
_Ode vi. Irmos._
The lowest depth....
Death and the grave and judgment us await, impressing all our works; and out of these thy servant save, O lover of mankind, even him who thou removed hast.
Open, my Saviour, I beseech thee, unto him gone hence thy mercy’s door, that he, O Christ, in glory may in chorus sing, partaking of the gladness of thy mightiness.
_Glory._
Deliver, Saviour, from iniquities thy servant for thy mercy’s sake, him whom thou now removed hast in faith; for none is justified by human works, O lover of mankind.
_Both now. Theotokion._
The slayer of death and looser of the curse in flesh thou broughtest forth, God-bearing one, and all that die in faith he saves, as being good and lover of mankind.
_Then the customary ectenia._
Again and again.... _Page 142._
_And the prayer_, O God of spirits.... _Page 139._
_Condakion, tone viii._
Rest with the Saints, O Christ, thy servant’s soul, where is no pain, nor grief, nor sighing, but life that endeth not.
_Icos._
Thyself alone immortal art, who madest and didst fashion man, for out of earth we mortals fashion’d were, and unto that same earth shall go, as thou who madest me hast given command, and sayest unto me, Earth thou art, and unto earth shalt thou return. And thither all we mortals go, making the funeral wail, even the song, the _Alleluia_.
Hearken in thoughtful wise, I pray; for I with pain these words announce; yea, for your sake I make the wail: it may for profit be to some. But when ye have to sing these words, remember me who once was known; for ofttimes we together went, and in God’s house together sang the _Alleluia_.
Arise ye then, and gather ye together all, and, sitting down, hear ye a word, Brethren, the judgment-seat is dread, where we have every one to stand. There none is slave, and none is free; there none is little, none is great; but all in nakedness shall stand: for this cause it is well to sing ofttimes the psalm, the _Alleluia_.
Bewail we all with tears as we behold the relics lie, and all approaching them to kiss let us in equal wise exclaim, Lo, thou hast left them who thee lov’d: wilt thou not speak with us again? Why dost thou speak not, friend, as thou wast wont to speak to us? But so thou silent art, even to say with us the _Alleluia_.
What, brethren, are the dying’s bitter words, which, when they go, they say? I from the brethren parted am, I quit and leave you all, O friends. Then where I go I do not know, and how I shall be there know not: God only knows, who calleth me. But make ye my memorial with the song, the _Alleluia_.
Then where now go the souls? then how now fare they there? I long to learn the mystery; but none sufficient is to tell. Do they remember their own things, as we remember them? or have they us forgotten who are left, who them lament and make the song, the _Alleluia_.
Accompany the dead, O friends, and to the grave with heed hie ye, and muse ye there in thoughtful wise, and your own feet prepare: all youthfulness is cast therein, all vigour fadeth there: there dust and ashes are, and worms: there all is silence, and none saying _Alleluia_.
Lo, now we see him lying, but to us no presence is of him: behold, the tongue now silent is, and, lo, already cease the lips. Farewell, O friends, O children; be ye saved, O ye brethren, O acquaintance, be ye sav’d; for I depart my way. But make ye my memorial with the song, the _Alleluia_.
Not one of those who there hath gone doth live again to tell to us how they, our brethren once and kinsfolk, fare who there have come before the Lord. Therefore, we oft, yea, ever say, Do they each other there behold? do they a brother see? do they together say the psalm, the _Alleluia_?
We go the everlasting way in mien as them that are condemn’d, with faces all cast down. Then where is beauty? where is wealth? then where the glory of this life? Nothing of these shall help us there, even to say ofttimes the psalm, the _Alleluia_.
Why in untimely wise disquietest thou thyself, O man? one hour, and all is gone; for there in hades no repentance is, nor any further pardon there: the never-dying worm is there, all there is dark and gloomy land, where I must come to be condemn’d. For I have not ofttimes made speed to say the psalm, the _Alleluia_.
Nothing so soon forgotten is by man as man when he is gone; for, if we do remember for a time, we straightway death forget, when absent is the dead. And parents even every child forget, that, of the womb begot, they nourish’d have, and have with tears accompanied with the song, the _Alleluia_.
I remind you, O my brethren, and my children, and my friends, that ye forget me not when ye beseech the Lord. I pray, I ask, I make entreaty that ye keep these words in memory, and bewail me day and night. I speak to you as Job did to his friends, O sit ye down to say again the _Alleluia_.
Forsaking all things we depart, and naked and abhorrent we become; for comeliness doth fade away as grass, but only do we men delude ourselves. Thou naked, wretched one, wast born, and altogether naked there shalt stand! Then be not prodigal in life, O man; but only always sigh with wailing, _Alleluia_.
If thou, O man, art merciful to man, he there shall mercy have to show to thee; and if to any orphan hast been kind, he there shall thee deliver out of need; if thou in life the naked clothed hast, he there shall clothing have to put on thee, and sing the psalm, the _Alleluia_.
The way is evil whereby I depart, and therein so I never went; that country also is unknown, where me none recognize at all. ’Tis fearful them to see who dreadfully are led, and him who me hath call’d, who ruleth life and death, and there us biddeth when he willeth. _Alleluia._
If from some country we depart, we of some guides have need. What shall we do, and whither go, that country in, where we are quite unknown? To thee will then be needful many guides, and many prayers to go with thee to save thy wretched soul, ere it attain to Christ, and say to him, the _Alleluia_.
They that to lusts material subject are, in nowise have forgiveness there: there terrible accusers are, and there too opened are the books. Then where, O man, wilt thou glance round? or who will there then thee assist? save thou in life hast wrought some good, or done some kindness to the poor, singing the _Alleluia_.
Both youth and bodily beauty fade away in time of death, and then in painful wise is parch’d the tongue, and, dried up, is scorch’d the throat, then quenched is the beauty of the eyes, all chang’d the beauty of the face, the beauty of the neck is spoil’d, and what remaineth silent is to say ofttimes the _Alleluia_.
Keep silence then, keep silence: O ye survivors, be ye still before him lying there, and contemplate the mystery great; for fearful is the hour. Hush, that the soul may go in peace; for it endureth anguish great, and in much fear beseecheth God with _Alleluia_.
I have seen an infant dying, and for my life have wept; for it was altogether scar’d, and, when its hour came, trembling cried, O father, help me; mother, save me! and none sufficient was to help it then: they only griev’d beholding, and in the grave bewail’d it. _Alleluia._
How many on a sudden have been taken from their bridal to the grave, betroth’d been with an everlasting troth, have costless made the dirge, and from the chamber have not risen; but together there was marriage and the grave, together troth and parting, together laughter and the wail, yea, and the psalm, the _Alleluia_.
We are enflam’d when only hearing that everlasting light is there, there our life’s fount, and there eternal joy: the paradise is there where every soul rejoiceth with the just. We all in Christ shall gather’d be, that so to God we all may cry the _Alleluia_.
All-holy Virgin, thou unwedded one, who didst bring forth th’ approachless light, I pray, entreaty make, and beg, Cease not to pray the Lord concerning him, thy sleeping servant, thou most pure, that in the day of judgment he may find forgiveness there; for thou, as Queen all pure, to pray thy Son hast always boldness. _Alleluia_.
_Then again the condakion._
Rest with the Saints, O Christ.... _Page 188._
_Ode vii. Irmos._
Narrateless wonder....
As being pitiful, O Christ, deliver him, thy servant, whom thou in faith received hast, from fearful doom, and from gehenna’s fire, and to thy servant grant to sing to thee, Blessed art thou, redeemer, God.
Within the land of gentle ones, and in delights of paradise, in glory’s wondrous dwelling-place, thy servant faithfully asleep esteeming worthy, God, do thou grant him to sing to thee, Blessed art thou, redeemer, God.
_Glory._
Great is the doom and undescribable the need, O brethren, in gehenna; for the souls of sinners there are burned with their bodies, and in anguish weep, unable to exclaim, Blessed art thou, redeemer, God.
_Both now._
Them that undoubtingly thee praise, O Mother of God, thou altogether undefil’d God-bearing one, when living by thy prayers for ever guard, and when departed free from bitter torment, that they with thee to Christ may say, Blessed art thou, redeemer, God.
_Ode viii. Irmos._
Fearingly quake, O heaven....
O what dread hour awaiteth sinners, brethren! O what terror then! gehenna’s fire consumes, and shall eternally torment. Therefore, O Christ, compassionate Lord, deliver him departed now from us from fearful threatening, and snatch him from gehenna’s pains eternally.
Oh, of the just the joy which they receive when comes the judge! for them the bridal-chamber is prepar’d, and paradise, and all Christ’s kingdom; and there thy servant, Christ, make manifest rejoicing with the Saints eternally.
_Glory._
Who shall endure the fearful menace of thy presence, Christ? the heavens thereat roll’d up shall be as is a scroll in fearful wise, the stars shall fall, and all creation shake with fear, and changed be the light; but then, O Word, spare him whom thou removed hast from us.
_Both now. Theotokion._
Him whom thou gavest flesh in supernatural wise, O pure, even the Son, he is the judge of living and of dead, and judgeth all the earth, and saves from torment whom he wills, and them especially who in types adore him lovingly, and thee, God-bearing one, extol eternally.
_Ode ix. Irmos._
Weep not for me, O mother....
O weep ye not, all ye who die in faith; for Christ for us bore flesh, the cross, and sepulture, and made all them immortal sons that sing to him, O into judgment with thy servant enter not.
Let us, ye faithful, from the heart pray Christ to stablish in the dwellings of the saints the brother who in faith and hope of resurrection sleeps; for there is judgment stern and trial dread, and none can help himself without good works, and common prayer of faithful ones; and let us cry, Lord, into judgment with thy servant enter not.
_Glory._
In, Blessed One, thy glory that becomes not old, and in delights of paradise, place him who now is gone from us, and in the right-belief and penitence betaketh him to thee in faith; and of thy kingdom him a chosen partner make.
_Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, we reverently, we, faithful ones, extol thee who art mother of life in supernatural wise; for we, aforetime dead, being made immortal, life have found; and, lo, to thee the song we end.
_Deacon._ Again and again.... _Page 142._
_And the prayer_, O God of spirits.... _Page 139._
_Exapostilarion._
Now am I at rest, and much forgiveness have receiv’d; for I have passed from corruption, and am translated unto life: glory to thee, O Lord.
_And the people the same._
_Verse i._ Man is as grass, his day is as a flower of the field.
_Verse ii._ For his spirit goeth through in him, and he shall not be.
_Verse iii._ And the mercy of the Lord shall endure to ages.
_And to each verse the exapostilarion._
_Then, Glory. Both now._
Now have I chosen the maiden Mother of God, for Christ, redeemer of all, was born of her: glory to thee, O Lord.
_And straightway_, Praise the Lord from the heavens....[47]
_Then stichera, tone vi._
_Like_, Having despair’d....
Thy godly minister is gone to thee, now deified in the translation by thy quickening mystery, Christ: take as a bird his soul into thy hand, and range him in thy courts and in the angelic choirs, and rest him whom thou hast received by thy command, O Lord, for thy great mercy’s sake.
Strange is the mystery of death; for unacceptably it comes to all, nature by force is spoil’d; it taketh elders, abbots, scribes, teachers who vainly strive, bishops, and pastors too. Then let us cry with tears, Him, whom thou hast receiv’d, O Lord, by thy command, O rest, for thy great mercy’s sake.
He that in piety hath liv’d, and was thy decorated priest, O Christ, the celebrant and offerer of thy mysteries divine, is gone, by thy divine command, from life’s alarms to thee; and him, accepting as a priest, O Saviour, save, and with the righteous rest, even him whom thou received hast, for thy great mercy’s sake.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, we have understood the God made flesh from thee, whom do thou pray to save our souls.
_Then they say_, Glory to God in the highest....
_And after the_ Vouchsafe, O Lord....
_the following stichera idiomela are said, of Damascene, tone i._
What sweet of life abideth unaccompanied with grief? what glory stayeth upon earth unchang’d? All is the feeblest shade, all the most cheating dream: one moment, and death taketh all these things. But in thy face’s light, O Christ, and in the sweetness of thy beauty, grant rest to him whom thou hast call’d, as lover of mankind.
_Verse._ The Lord tendeth me, and there is nothing lacking to me.
By deed, my Saviour, thou hast shewn that thou the resurrection art of all, who didst, O Word, by word raise Lazarus from the dead. Then were the fetters burst, and shatter’d hades’ gates; then human death declared was a sleep. Thou, therefore, who didst come thy creature, not to judge, but save, rest him whom thou received hast, as lover of mankind.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
Thou art made manifest, O Bringer-forth of God, a fervent advocate for all, for all a shelter, and a might of God for them that hie to thee, an aid for them that are in need, a quick deliverance for the bound. For thee against barbarians Christ hath placed as a fence, and barrier, and assailless wall; and for the weak a strength unovercome; and for our souls the arbitress of peace.
_Stichera, tone ii._
Woe unto me, what agony hath the soul when it is from the body torn! alas, then how it weeps, and none is merciful to it! To Angels lifting eyes, without effect it prays; to men extending hands, it findeth none to help. Therefore, my brethren lov’d, musing on our brief life, let us for the departed ask for rest from Christ, and for great mercy for our souls.
_Verse._ When I was in affliction I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
Come, let us all a wonder passing thought behold: he who but yesterday abode with us now lieth dead. Come, let us know that soon in funeral swathes we also at an end shall be; and they anointed with the fragrant myrrh shall lie of odour ill. How is it they adorn’d with gold lie unadorn’d and void of form? Therefore, my brethren well belov’d, musing on our brief life, let us of Christ entreat for rest for him who hence hath gone, and for great mercy for our souls.
_Verse._ O Lord, deliver my soul from unrighteous lips.
Farewell, vain life; farewell, all friends, acquaintances, and children too; for in a way I go where never have I trod. But come, remembering my love for you, follow ye me, and give ye to the grave this clay of mine, and pray ye Christ with tears, who hath to judge my humble soul, that he may snatch me from the quenchless fire.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
O gate impassable, in mystery seal’d, God-bearing Virgin bless’d; accept our prayers, and offer them thy Son and God, that he, through thee, may save our souls.
_Stichera idiomela, tone iii._
Lo, brethren mine belov’d, amid you all I silent lie, bereft of speech; the mouth is listless, still the tongue, impeded are the lips, the hands are tied, the feet together bound, the countenance is chang’d, the eyes are dimm’d and see not them that wail, the hearing takes not in the cry of them that mourn, the nose the fragrant incense smelleth not; but in nowise true love becometh dead. Therefore I you beseech, all mine acquaintances and friends, Remember me before the Lord, that I in day of doom may mercy find before that fearful judgment-seat.
_Verse._ I have lifted up mine eyes to the hills, whence cometh my help.
All human things are vanity which last not after death: riches abide not, nor doth glory stay; for when death cometh these all disappear. Then let us cry to the immortal Christ, O rest him who is gone away from us where is the dwelling-place of all that joy.
_Verse._ The Lord shall keep thy goings-out and thy comings-in from henceforth and for evermore.
O men, why do we vainly we ourselves disquiet? the course we run is quick and hard: life is as smoke: soon vapour, dust, and ashes we shall be; and as a flower shall fade. Therefore let us to the immortal Christ exclaim, Rest him remov’d from us where is the dwelling-place of all that joy.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, we, we tempest-tost upon life’s sea, thee as salvation’s haven have. Therefore pray God, who seedlessly from thee incarnate was, and man became unspeakably, to save our souls.
_Stichera, tone iv._
Where is the predilection of the world? where their imaginings who fade? where is the silver and the gold? where servants’ multitude and noise? All dust, all ashes, all a shade. But, come ye, let us say to the immortal King, O Lord, him, who hath been remov’d from us, of thine eternal blessings worthy count, him resting in thine ageless happiness.
_Verse._ I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Death as a robber came, like as a thief he came, and laid me low; he came, and me declar’d as one existing not; he came, and, being earth, I lie as being not. We verily are a dream, O men, a phantom verily. But, come ye, let us cry to the immortal King, O Lord, vouchsafe thine everlasting blessings unto him remov’d from us, him resting in the life that grows not old.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
O only pure and spotless Virgin, who without seed didst bring forth God, pray that our souls be sav’d.
_Stichera, tone v._
I remember’d what the prophet said, I am earth and I am dust; and again I meditated in the graves, and saw the naked bones, and said, Who now is king, or, warrior, who; or, who is rich, or, who is poor; or, who the just, or, he that sinn’d? But, with the just, thy servant rest, O Lord.
_Verse._ Our feet have stood in thy courts, O Jerusalem.
Thou, Christ, hast said that he in thee believing shall not death behold: but, as I out of light in light am light, so shall ye also in my glory be enlightened in me; for I, that am true God, have come to save them that revere me in true right-belief, me, one Lord God, in dual nature of deity and flesh, but one in essence. Therefore, thy faithful servant, who thus confesseth thee, rest in thy countenance’s light among the Saints, as lover of mankind.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
We thee beseech, as Mother of God, O blessed one, Pray thou for us, that we be sav’d.
_Stichera, tone vi._
To me thy life-effecting bidding was substance and origin; for, willing me to form a living one from nature that unseen is and is seen, my body thou didst make of earth, and, by thy breathing life-creating and divine, me gavest soul. Therefore, O Christ, thy servant rest in tract of them that living are, and in the dwellings of the just.
_Verse._ Unto thee have I lifted up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in heaven.
That which thy hands did frame thou with thine image honour’d hast, O Word; for, in material form inscribing livingly a mental essence’s similitude, of this me also thou hast made participant, placing me on the earth to be, of mine own power, creation’s lord. Therefore, thy servant, Saviour, rest in tract of them that living are, and in the dwellings of the just.
_Glory. Both now. Theotokion._
God-bearing Virgin, we have understood the God made flesh from thee, whom do thou pray to save our souls.
_Stichera, tone vii._