At Matins
Sessional hymns
I entreat Thee in Thy compassion O Christ, through true fasting and repentance restore to life my soul slain by the fruit of disobedience.
Tossed in the tempest of the passions, deaf to the voice on my conscience, I call fervently upon thee, O pure Virgin. Suffer me not to perish in my wretchedness, for thou hast borne the Lord whose mercy knows no limit.
As we set out upon the second week of the Fast, direct our steps O Lord: shine upon us with the sanctifying light of Thy commandments and make us worthy to offer on bended knees a prayer acceptable to Thee.
Canon :: Canticle One
As Christ has taught us in the Scriptures, a pure fast means the putting away of sin, the rejection of the passions, love for God, attentiveness in prayer, tears of compunction, and acts of mercy to the poor.
Isa 58: 6-7; Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? [7] Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh?
Matt 6: 1-18
Canon :: Canticle Eight
Journeying upon the uncertain path of life, I have fallen among thieves, and am despoiled by my own thoughts; my wounds stink and are corrupt. O Physician of the sick, at the prayers of all thy saints, give me Thine hand.
Luke 10:30;
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Deliver my soul from enslavement to the passions, O Lord, that I may freely do Thy will ….
O my soul, hate the incontinence of Esau and emulate the virtues of Jacob; catch Beelzebub by the heel and throw him down; through abstinence grow rich in things divine and sing praises unto God for ever.
Gen 25:26,30-34; [26] And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was three score years old when she bore them.[30] And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray you, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. [31] And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright. [32]And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of death: and what profit shall this birthright be to me? [33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. [34] Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
[27:36] And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright;
[30:43] And the man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and donkeys.
No man became foolish through drinking water, but thou, O Noah, hast exposed they nakedness after tasting wine; and because of drunkenness Lot sowed the seeds of evil. Flees, O my soul, from their example and sing the praise of Christ.
Gen 9:21; And he drank of the wine, and was drunk; and he was uncovered within his tent.
Gen 19:31-36; [32] Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve descendants of our father. [33] And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose. [34] And it came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay last night with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and you go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve descendants of our father.
Canon :: Canticle Nine
Let us fast from the rage of passions, let us delight in unfeigned love, let us feed the poor with bread; and, nourished by the grace of God, with weeping let us quench the tears of future punishment.
O my soul, because of fasting Moses beheld God; because of fasting Elijah rode in the chariot of fire, and Paul was taken up to heaven. Therefore let us fast from evil and we also shall be taken up on high, gaining freedom from passions.
Exodus 24:15-18; 33:18-23; 3(1) Kings 19:8;
4(2) Kings 2:11; And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and separated them both; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2Cor 12:2-4; I knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) such a one caught up to the third heaven. [3] And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) [4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Prayer and fasting are a marvellous weapon. Through them Moses became writer of the Law and Elijah a fiery enemy of false sacrifice. Let us persevere in them, ye faithful, and cry unto the Saviour: ‘Against Thee only have we sinned; have mercy on us’.
Exodus 24:18; 31:18; 3(1) Kings 18:36-40; 19:8;
Ps 50:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight: that you might be justified when you speak, and be blameless when you judge.