1. MARCH. 2020. CHEESE - FARE SUNDAY. FORGIVENESS. TONE – 4.

COMMEMORATION OF THE EXPULSION OF ADAM AND EVE FROM PARADISE.

1, БЕРЕЗЕНЬ, 2020. СИРОПУСНА НЕДІЛЯ, ПРОЩЕННЯ. ГОЛОС - 4-ий. СПОМИН АДАМОВОГО ВИГНАННЯ.

The Lord, my Creator, took me as dust

from the earth, and with the breath of

life He gave me a soul and made me a

living creature. He honoured me as ruler

on earth over all things visible and as a

companion of the Angels.

But Satan the deceiver, using the serpent

as his instrument, enticed me by food,

separated me from the glory of God and

gave me over to the earth and to the

lowest depths of death. But as Master

and compassionate, call me back again.

Wretch that I am, I have cast off the robe

woven by God, disobeying Your divine

command, Lord, at the counsel of the

enemy, and I am clothed now in fig

leaves and in garments of skin. I am

condemned to eat the bread of toil in the

sweat of my brow, and the earth has

been cursed so that it bears thorns and

thistles for me.

Adam sat opposite Paradise and,

lamenting his nakedness, he wept:

‘Woe is me ! By evil deceit was I

persuaded and robbed, and exiled far

from glory. Woe is me! Once naked in my

simplicity, now I am in want. But,

Paradise, no longer shall I enjoy your

delight; no more shall I look upon the

Lord my God and Maker, for I shall

return to the earth whence I was taken.

Merciful and compassionate Lord, I cry

to you, ‘Have mercy on me who am

fallen’.

But, Lord, who in the last times were

made flesh of a Virgin, call me back and

bring me into Paradise again.

From Sunday of Forgiveness service

TROPAR OF SUNDAY IN TONE – 4. When the women disciples of the Lord learned from the angel the joyous message of Your Resurrection, they cast away the ancestral curse and with gladness told the apostles; Death is overthrown. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.

ТРОПАР НЕДІЛЬНИЙ НА ГОЛОС 4-ий. Світлую воскресіння проповідь, від ангела почувши Господні учениці, і прадідне осудження відкинувши, апостолам хвалячися, промовляли. Знищена смерть, воскрес Христос Бог, даруючи світові велику милість.

TROPAR OF THE TEMPLE (ST. ELIA) IN TONE-4. An angel incarnate, the foundation of prophets and second forerunner of the coming of Christ, glorious Elias sent grace from on high to Elisha to cast out sickness and cleanse lepers. Therefore he pours forth healing for all who honour him. GLORY to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

ТРОПАР ХРАМУ (СВ. ІЛЛІ) НА ГОЛОС 4-ий. У тілі ангел, пророків основа, другий предтеча пришестя Христового -Ілля славний, з висоти послав Єлисеєві благодать недуги відганяти і прокажених очищати. Тому і всім, що почитають його, зливає зцілення. СЛАВА Отцю і Сину і Святому Духові.

KONDAK OF TEMPLE (ST. ELIA) IN TONE-2. O greatly renowned Prophet Elias, who foresaw the great deeds of our God; you stopped the rains of heaven by your command. Intercede for us with the only Lover of mankind. NOW AND FOREVER and to the ages of ages. Amen.

КОНДАК ХРАМУ ( СВ. ІЛЛІ ) НА ГОЛОС 2-ий. Пророче і провидче великих діл Бога нашого, Ілля великоіменитий, вістуванням твоїм ти зупиняв і водоточні хмари. Моли за нас Єдиного Чоловіколюбця. І НИНІ і повсякчас і на віки вічні, Амінь.

KONDAK OF THE TRIODON IN TONE -6. O Master, Guide to wisdom, Giver of prudent counsel, Instructor of the foolish and Champion of the poor: Make my heart steadfast by granting it understanding. O Word of the Father, grant me words, for behold, I shall not stop my lips from crying out to You: O merciful One, I am fallen, have mercy on me in Your compassion.

КОНДАК ТРІОДІ НА ГОЛОС 6-ий. Премудрoсти Наставнику, рoзуму Пoдателю, немудрих Учителю, вбoгих Захиснику, утверди, врoзуми серце мoє, Владикo. Ти дай менi слoвo, Отчеє Слoвo, бo не втримаю уст мoïх, щoб не взивали дo Тебе, Милoстивий, пoмилуй мене, грiшнoгo.

READER : “ PROKIMEN IN TONE – 8. Pray and give glory to the Lord our God.” CHOIR : “ Pray and give glory to the Lord our God.”

ЧИТ. : “ ПРОКІМЕН НА ГОЛОС 8-ий. Пoмoлiться i хвалу вiддайте Гoспoдевi Бoгу нашoму.” ХОР. : “ Пoмoлiться i хвалу вiддайте Гoспoдевi Бoгу нашoму.”

READER : “ In Judah God is known; His Name is great in Israel.” CHOIR : “ Pray and give glory to the Lord our God.”

ЧИТ. : (СТИХ) “ Вiдoмий Бoг в Юдеï, в Ізраïлi велике Ім’я Йoгo.” ХОР. : “ Пoмoлiться i хвалу вiддайте Гoспoдевi Бoгу нашoму.”

READER : “ Pray and give glory.” CHOIR : “ To the Lord our God.”

ЧИТ. : “ Пoмoлiться i хвалу вiддайте.” ХОР. : “ Гoспoдевi Бoгу нашoму.”

EPISTLE: Romans 13 : 11 - 14 : 4.

11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

14 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

READER : “ ALLELUIA IN TONE – 6. Alleluia.” CHOIR : “ Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.”

ЧИТ. : “ АЛИЛУЯ НА ГОЛОС 6-ий. Алилуя.” ХОР. : “ Алилуя, Алилуя, Алилуя.”

READER : “ It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High. Alleluia.” CHOIR : “ Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.”

ЧИТ. : “ Благo є прoславляти Гoспoда, i спiвати Іменi Твoєму, Всевишнiй. Алилуя.” ХОР. : “ Алилуя, Алилуя, Алилуя.”

READER : “ To declare Your mercy in the morning and Your truth by night. Alleluia.” CHOIR : “ Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.”

ЧИТ. : “ СТИХ: Спoвiщати вранцi прo милiсть Твoю, i внoчi прo правду Твoю. Алилуя.” ХОР. : “ Алилуя, Алилуя, Алилуя.”

GOSPEL: Matthew 6 : 14 - 21.

14 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive them their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your

trespasses.

16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For

they disfigure their faces that they may appear to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they

have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so

that you do not appear to others to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret

place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and

where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where

neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where

your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

COMMUNION VERSE: “ Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. Alleluia.”

ПРИЧАСНИЙ “ Хваліть Господа з небес, хваліть його в небі. Алилуя.”

Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann: Forgiveness Sunday

…After Vespers – after hearing the announcement of Lent in the Great Prokeimenon:

"Turn not away Thy face from Thy child for I am afflicted! Hear me speedily! Draw near

unto my soul and deliver it!", after making our entrance into Lenten worship, with its

special memories, with the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, with its prostrations – we

ask forgiveness from each other, we perform the rite of forgiveness and reconciliation.

And as we approach each other with words of reconciliation, the choir intones the

Paschal hymns, filling the church with the anticipation of Paschal joy.

What is the meaning of this rite? Why is it that the Church wants us to begin Lenten

season with forgiveness and reconciliation? These questions are in order because for too

many people Lent means primarily, and almost exclusively, a change of diet, the

compliance with ecclesiastical regulations concerning fasting. They understand fasting as

an end in itself, as a "good deed" required by God and carrying in itself its merit and its

reward. But, the Church spares no effort in revealing to us that fasting is but a means, one

among many, towards a higher goal: our spiritual renewal, our return to God, true

repentance and, therefore, true reconciliation. The Church spares no effort in warning us

against a hypocritical and pharisaic fasting, against the reduction of religion to mere

external obligations. As a Lenten hymn says:

In vain do you rejoice in no eating, O soul!

For you abstain from food,

But from passions you are not purified.

If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast.

…On that unique evening, listening to the joyful Paschal hymns we are called to make a

spiritual discovery: to taste of another mode of life and relationship with people, of life

whose essence is love. We can discover that always and everywhere Christ, the Divine

Love Himself, stands in the midst of us, transforming our mutual alienation into

relationship. As l advance towards the other, as the other comes to me – we begin to

realize that it is Christ Who brings us together by His love for both of us.

And because we make this discovery – and because this discovery is that of the Kingdom

of God itself: the Kingdom of Peace and Love, of reconciliation with God and, in Him,

with all that exists – we hear the hymns of that Feast, which once a year, "opens to us the

doors of Paradise." We know why we shall fast and pray, what we shall seek during the

long Lenten pilgrimage. Forgiveness Sunday: the day on which we acquire the power to

make our fasting – true fasting; our effort – true effort; our reconciliation with God – true

reconciliation.

Questions on Forgiveness Sunday http://www.orthodox.net/questions/forgiveness_sunday_1.html

Q: Why Is Forgiveness Sunday so-called?

A: St Tikhon answers this question quite well: "Today is called ‘Forgiveness Sunday.’ It

received this name from the pious Orthodox Christian custom at Vespers of asking each

other's forgiveness for discourtesy and disrespect. We do so, since in the forthcoming fast

we will approach the sacrament of Penance and ask the Lord to forgive our sins, which

forgiveness will be granted us only if we ourselves forgive each other. ‘If ye forgive men

their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men

their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matt. 6.14, 15)" (From

a sermon by St Patriarch Tikhon, when he was Bishop of Alaska and the Aleutian

Islands. 1901. Text taken from email posted to an Orthodox mailing list)

Q: Fasting is discussed in the services on Forgiveness Sunday, and all the days of Great

Lent. What *most important* kind of fasting is stressed over and over?

A: The services of the Church and the Fathers stress over and over that our physical fast

from food is useless if we do not also strive to "fast" from our iniquities. Fasting from

food is an important aid to the help purify the soul, and to gain in virtue.

The season of the virtues now has come / and the Judge is at the door. / Let us not hold

back with darkened face, / but let us keep the Fast, / offering tears, contrition and

almsgiving; / and let us cry: / 'Our sins are more in number than the sand of the sea; / but,

Deliverer of all, forgive each one of us, // that we may receive an incorruptible crown.'

(Sessional Hymns after the 1st Psalter Reading)

Q: The last weekend before Great Lent is the last time we do several things. Can you

think of three things that are not done again until after Great Lent (or even well after

Pascha)?

A: Forgiveness Sunday is the last day in which we eat milk, cheese, eggs and other dairy

products until Pascha.

It is also the last Sunday we will serve St. John Chrysostom's liturgy until Palm Sunday

(which, by the way, is not considered to be in Great Lent). During the holy fast, St Basil's

liturgy is served on Sundays. The matins service for this weekend is the last time the

theologically rich and compunctionate singing of "By the Waters of Babylon" psalm until

next year. It is only sung in church the three Sundays that precede Great Lent.