ᾨδὴ Ηʹ
The Call to Repentance
The soul acknowledges the majesty of God and begins its confession of sin.
Whom the Heavenly Hosts glorify, and the Cherubim tremble before, and the Seraphim, all breath and creation, praise, bless, and exalt to all ages. I have sinned, Savior, have mercy on me; awaken my mind to repentance; accept me as I turn back, have compassion on me as I cry out; I have sinned against you alone, I have done wrong, have mercy on me.
Lessons from the Prophets
The soul is exhorted to learn from the examples of Old Testament figures, both righteous and sinful.
Elijah the charioteer, having mounted his chariot of virtues, was taken up into the heavens, rising above the earthly realm. Therefore, my soul, reflect on this ascent. The Jordan River once stood still for the prophet Elijah as he crossed it with Elisha; but you, my soul, haven't shared in that grace because of your lack of self-control. Elisha once received Elijah's mantle and was granted a double portion of grace from the Lord; yet you, my soul, haven't shared in this grace because of your lack of self-control. The woman from Samaria once welcomed the righteous man, O my soul, with a good intention; but you do not receive a stranger or a traveler, from whom you might be cast out of the bridal chamber, lamenting. I will imitate the example of Gehazi, poor soul, always holding onto that filthy mindset; push away his greed, even in old age; flee from the fire of hell that awaits your evils. My soul, you are envious of Uzziah, yet you carry his leprosy twice over; you harbor strange thoughts while acting unlawfully. Let go of what you hold and run toward repentance. You've heard about the Ninevites, soul, repenting to God with sackcloth and ashes; I won't imitate them, but you appeared more foolish than all those before the law and even after the law was given. You’ve heard Jeremiah in the pit of mire, O soul, crying out for the city of Zion with lamentations and seeking tears; imitate his mournful life, and you’ll be saved. Jonah fled to Tarshish, knowing the Ninivites would repent; for as a prophet of God, he understood His compassion, and thus he was envious that the prophecy might not come true. You’ve heard how Daniel in the den shut the mouths of the beasts, O soul; you know how the children around Azariah extinguished the flames of the blazing furnace by their faith. O soul, the Old Testament has been set before you as a model; imitate the righteous in their loving deeds, and turn away from the sins of the wicked.
The Cry for Mercy
The soul pleads for the Savior's healing and mercy, identifying with the repentant figures of the Gospels.
Righteous Judge and Savior, have mercy on me and rescue me from the fire and the threat I am about to face in judgment, where I must justly stand; grant me relief before the end through virtue and repentance. Like the thief, I cry out to you, 'Remember me!'; like Peter, I weep bitterly. Savior, help me. I call out like the tax collector; I weep like the sinful woman; accept my lament, just as you once did for the Canaanite woman. Heal the festering wound, Savior, of my humble soul, only Physician; pour upon me a mixture of oil and wine, works of repentance, with a contrition that brings tears. Like the Canaanite woman, I cry out, 'Have mercy on me, Son of David!' I touch the hem of your garment like the woman with the flow of blood; I weep like Martha and Mary over Lazarus. I cry out to you, Savior, like the sinful woman, pouring out my tears like precious ointment upon your head, seeking mercy; I bring my plea and ask for forgiveness. Even if no one else has sinned against you as I have, still accept me, compassionate Savior, as I repent in fear and cry out with longing; I have sinned against you alone, I acknowledge it, have mercy on me. Have mercy, Savior, on your own creation, and seek out the lost sheep like a shepherd; rescue me, who have gone astray, from the wolf, and make me a lamb in the fold of your sheep.
The Final Judgment and Doxology
The soul contemplates the awe of the coming Judgment and concludes with a prayer to the Trinity and the Mother of God.
When you sit as Judge, O Christ, full of compassion, and reveal your terrifying glory, oh, what fear will there be then! As the furnace burns, everyone will tremble before the majesty of your throne. Eternal Father, co-eternal Son, good Comforter, Holy Spirit, Creator of the Word of God, Word of the uncreated Father, living and creating Spirit, one Trinity, have mercy on me. As from the dye of the sea, O Immaculate One, the spiritual purple of Emmanuel was woven within your womb, where the flesh was intricately united; therefore, we honor you as the Mother of God in truth.
Read the original Latin
Ὃν Στρατιαὶ Οὐρανῶν δοξάζουσι καὶ φρίττει τὰ Χερουβὶμ καὶ τὰ Σεραφίμ, πᾶσα πνοὴ καὶ κτίσις, ὑμνεῖτε, εὐλογεῖτε καὶ ὑπερυψοῦτε εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας.
Ἡμαρτηκότα, Σωτήρ, ἐλέησον· διέγειρόν μου τὸν νοῦν πρὸς ἐπιστροφήν· δέξαι μετανοοῦντα, οἰκτείρησον βοῶντα· Ἥμαρτόν σοι μόνῳ, ἠνόμησα, ἐλέησόν με.
Ὁ διφρηλάτης Ἠλίας ἅρματι ταῖς ἀρεταῖς ἐπιβὰς ὡς εἰς Οὐρανοὺς ἤγετο ὑπεράνω ποτὲ τῶν ἐπιγείων· τούτου οὖν, ψυχή μου, τὴν ἄνοδον ἀναλογίζου.
Τοῦ Ἰορδάνου τὸ ῥεῖθρον πρότερον τῇ μηλωτῇ Ἠλιοὺ δι᾿ Ἐλισσαιὲ ἔστη ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα· αὐτὴ δέ, ὦ ψυχή μου, ταύτης οὐ μετέσχες τῆς χάριτος δι᾿ ἀκρασίαν.
Ὁ Ἐλισσαῖός ποτε δεξάμενος τὴν μηλωτὴν Ἠλιοὺ ἔλαβε διπλῆν χάριν παρὰ Κυρίου· αὐτὴ δέ, ὦ ψυχή μου, ταύτης οὐ μετέσχες τῆς χάριτος δι᾿ ἀκρασίαν.
Ἡ Σωμανῖτίς ποτε τὸν δίκαιον ἐξένισεν, ὦ ψυχή, γνώμῃ ἀγαθῇ· σὺ δὲ οὐκ εἰσῳκίσω οὐ ξένον οὐχ ὁδίτην· ὅθεν τοῦ νυμφῶνος ριφήσῃ ἔξω θρηνῳδοῦσα.
Τοῦ Γιεζῆ ἐμιμήσω, τάλαινα, τὴν γνώμην τὴν ρυπαρὰν πάντοτε, ψυχή· οὗ τὴν φιλαργυρίαν ἀπώθου κἂν ἐν γήρει· φεῦγε τῆς γεέννης τὸ πῦρ ἐκστᾶσα τῶν κακῶν σου.
Σὺ τὸν Ὀζίαν, ψυχή, ζηλώσασα, τὴν τούτου λέπραν ἐν σοὶ ἔσχες ἐν διπλῷ· ἄτοπα γὰρ λογίζῃ, παράνομα δὲ πράττεις· ἄφες ἃ κατέχεις καὶ πρόσδραμε τῇ μετανοίᾳ.
Τοὺς Νινευίτας, ψυχή, ἀκήκοας μετανοοῦντας Θεῷ σάκκῳ καὶ σποδῷ· τούτους οὐκ ἐμιμήσω, ἀλλ᾿ ὤφθης σκαιοτέρα πάντων τῶν πρὸ νόμου καὶ μετὰ νόμον ἐπταικότων.
Τὸν ἐν τῷ λάκκῳ βορβόρου ἤκουσας Ἱερεμίαν, ψυχή, πόλιν τὴν Σιὼν θρήνοις καταβοῶντα καὶ δάκρυα ζητοῦντα· μίμησαι τὸν τούτου θρηνῴδη βίον καὶ σωθήσῃ.
Ὁ Ἰωνᾶς εἰς Θαρσεῖς ἀπέδραμε προγνοὺς τὴν ἐπιστροφὴν τῶν Νινευιτῶν· ἔγνω γὰρ ὡς προφήτης Θεοῦ τὴν εὐσπλαγχνίαν· ὅθεν παρεζήλου τὴν προφητείαν μὴ ψευσθῆναι.
Τὸν Δανιὴλ ἐν τῷ λάκκῳ ἤκουσας, πῶς ἔφραξεν, ὦ ψυχή, στόματα θηρῶν· ἔγνωκας πῶς οἱ Παῖδες οἱ περὶ Ἀζαρίαν ἔσβεσαν τῇ πίστει καμίνου φλόγα καιομένης.
Τῆς παλαιᾶς Διαθήκης ἅπαντας παρήγαγόν σοι, ψυχή, πρὸς ὑπογραμμόν· μίμησαι τῶν δικαίων τὰς φιλοθέους πράξεις· ἔκφυγε δὲ πάλιν τῶν πονηρῶν τὰς ἁμαρτίας.
Δικαιοκρίτα, Σωτήρ, ἐλέησον καὶ ῥῦσαί με τοῦ πυρὸς καὶ τῆς ἀπειλῆς, ἧς μέλλω ἐν τῇ κρίσει δικαίως ὑποστῆναι· ἄνες μοι πρὸ τέλους δι᾿ ἀρετῆς καὶ μετανοίας.
Ὡς ὁ Λῃστὴς ἐκβοῶ σοι τὸ Μνήσθητι· ὡς Πέτρος κλαίω πικρῶς· Ἄνες μοι, Σωτήρ, κράζω ὡς ὁ Τελώνης· δακρύω ὡς ἡ Πόρνη· δέξαι μου τὸν θρῆνον, καθώς ποτε τῆς Χαναναίας.
Τὴν σηπεδόνα, Σωτήρ, θεράπευσον τῆς ταπεινῆς μου ψυχῆς, μόνε ἰατρέ· μάλαγμά μοι ἐπίθες καὶ ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον, ἔργα μετανοίας, κατάνυξιν μετὰ δακρύων.
Τὴν Χαναναίαν κἀγὼ μιμούμενος, Ἐλέησόν με, βοῶ, τῷ Υἱῷ Δαυΐδ· ἅπτομαι τοῦ κρασπέδου ὡς ἡ Αἱμορροοῦσα· κλαίω ὡς ἡ Μάρθα καὶ Μαρία ἐπὶ Λαζάρου.
Τὸ τῶν δακρύων, Σωτήρ, ἀλάβαστρον ὡς μύρον κατακενῶν ἐπὶ κεφαλῆς κράζω σοι ὡς ἡ Πόρνη τὸν ἔλεον ζητοῦσα· δέησιν προσάγω καὶ ἄφεσιν αἰτῶ λαβεῖν με.
Εἰ καὶ μηδεὶς ὡς ἐγώ σοι ἥμαρτεν, ἀλλ᾿ ὅμως δέξαι κἀμέ, εὔσπλαγχνε Σωτήρ, φόβῳ μετανοοῦντα καὶ πόθῳ κεκραγότα· Ἥμαρτόν σοι μόνῳ, ἠνόμησα, ἐλέησόν με.
Φεῖσαι, Σωτήρ, τοῦ ἰδίου πλάσματος καὶ ζήτησον ὡς ποιμὴν τὸ ἀπολωλὸς πρόβατον· πλανηθέντα ἐξάρπασον τοῦ λύκου, ποίησόν με θρέμμα ἐν τῇ νομῇ τῶν σῶν προβάτων.
Ὅταν Κριτὴς καθίσῃς ὡς εὔσπλαγχνος καὶ δείξῃς τὴν φοβερὰν δόξαν σου Χριστέ, ὢ ποῖος φόβος τότε! καμίνου καιομένης, πάντων δειλιώντων τὸ ἄστεκτον τοῦ βήματός σου.
Ἄναρχε Πάτερ, Υἱὲ συνάναρχε, Παράκλητε ἀγαθέ, Πνεῦμα τὸ εὐθές, Λόγου Θεοῦ Γεννῆτορ, Πατρὸς ἀνάρχου Λόγε, Πνεῦμα ζῶν καὶ κτίζον, Τριὰς Μονάς, ἐλέησόν με.
Ὡς ἐκ βαφῆς ἁλουργίδος, Ἄχραντε, ἡ νοητὴ πορφυρὶς τοῦ Ἐμμανουὴλ ἔνδον ἐν τῇ γαστρί σου ἡ σὰρξ συνεξυφάνθη· ὅθεν Θεοτόκον ἐν ἀληθείᾳ σὲ τιμῶμεν.
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