Aposticha Prayers

Our first parents did not fast from the tree of knowledge, as the Creator had commanded them. Because of their disobedience, they harvested the fruit of death, being banished from the Tree of Life and the delight of Paradise. Therefore, O faithful, let us fast from food that perishes and from the passions that destroy us, that we may reap life from the divine Cross, returning with the Good Thief to our ancient fatherland and receiving great mercy from Christ our God.

To You I have lifted up my eyes, to You who live in heaven. Behold: the eyes of the servants are turned to the hands of their masters, and the eyes of the maid-servants to the hands of their mistresses: thus do out eyes watch the Lord our God until He takes pity on us.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have been filled with shame: our soul has been filled to overflowing. May scorn befall detractors, and humiliation come to the proud.

O wondrous martyrs, you renounced the good things of this life as you nobly endured your torments, and your hopes for blessedness were not in vain. You have received the Kingdom of Heaven as your inheritance. Since you have the power to intercede before our God who is so good, entreat Him to grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.

Seeing her Lamb once hastening to the slaughter, the Mother Ewe hurried to accompany Him and cried aloud: “Where are You going, O my most-beloved Son? O long-suffering Christ, O most beloved Jesus, O sinless and merciful Lord, for whose sake are You running this course without resting? Speak a word to Your handmaid, O my Son; O compassionate God, do not pass me by in this frightening silence, for I am the Mother who gave You birth, O Giver of Life, who grant the world great mercy!”