Lamentations of the Most Holy Mother of God
From the time that the Plaščanica (shroud) is laid out until the Service of the Glorious Resurrection, it remains in the Holy Grave. During the course of this time, everyone is encouraged to pay many visits to the Holy Grave, and there – as it were with the Virgin Mother – to perform the so-called “Lamentations.” If we come privately to the Grave, then, as we kneel, we may read all the Hymns of the Nine Irmoi. If a Religious Society should come before the Grave, then the members are advised, while kneeling, to sing the entire Canon. Behold! During these hours Holy Mother Church herself places the words of these “Lamentations” on our lips.
CANON.
Ode 1. Irmos.
Tone 6.
KNEEL
As on dry land hath Israel walked across the deep, and seeing the pursuing Pharaoh drowning, exclaimed: Let us sing to God a triumphal hymn.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
When the pure Virgin beheld her Son and Lord suspended upon the Cross, rending her garments, she lamented sorrowfully with other women, and weeping said:
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
“I behold Thee this day, my beloved and adorable Child, haning upon the Cross, and my heart is grievously wounded,” said the Immaculate Virgin; “But speak to Thine handmaid, O Good One.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“Willingly, O my Son and Creator, dost Thou endure the cruel death upon the gibbet,” said the Virgin, standing beneath the Cross with the beloved disciple.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
“This day am I deprived of my Son and my Lord, my Hope, my Joy, and my Gladness; woe unto me, my heart grieveth,” said the Immaculate, weeping.
Ode 3. Irmos.
There is none so holy as Thou, Lord, my God! Who hast raised the power of Thy faithful, O Good One, and hast strengthened us upon the rock of Thy faith.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
For fear of the Jews, Peter concealed himself, and all the followers fled, leaving Christ, but the Virgin weeping said:
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
“In Thine awesome and strange nativity, O my Saviour, I have been exalted above all mothers; but seeing Thee this day upon the Cross, woe unto me, for my heart is consumed.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“I desired to receive my Child off the Cross into my arms in which I held Him, an Infant,” said the Immaculate Virgin, “but, alas, no one did give Him to me.”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
“Behold, my sweet Light, my Hope, my gracious Life, my God, expired upon the Cross; my heart is consumed,” said the Virgin, weeping.
Ode 4. Irmos.
“Christ is my strength, God and Lord,” magnificently singeth our honourable Church, exclaiming with a pure mind and rejoicing in the Lord.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
“Thou never-setting Sun, eternal God and Creator of the universe, Lord! How dost Thou endure the Passion upon the Cross,” said the Immaculate, weeping.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
The Immaculate weepingly said to the Venerable: “Hasten to Pilate, Joseph, and ask permission to take thy Master down from the Cross.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Seeing the Immaculate weeping bitterly, Joseph was grieved, and with tears approached Pilate and sobbingly said: “Give to me the Body of my God.”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Beholding Thee wounded and defamed hanging naked upon the Cross, the Virgin Mother lamenting exclaimed: “O my Child, I am consumed in my bosom.”
Ode 5. Irmos.
By Thy divine light, O Good One, illuminate with love the souls offering to Thee their morning prayers; I pray that they may know Thee, O Divine Word, as the true God, calling us away from the darkness of sin.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Rending his garment and sobbing, and being astonished together with Nicodemus, Joseph, weeping and moaning, took down and venerated the most holy Body, extolling Him as God.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Having received Him lachrymously, the Immaculate Mother placed Him upon her knees, entreating and kissing Him tearfully, while bitterly sobbing and crying out.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“O Lord, my Son and my God, I, Thine handmaid, have deemed Thee the light of mine eyes, mine only hope and my life, but today I have been deprived of Thee, my sweet and beloved God.”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
“Alas, suffering and affliction and sighing have descended upon me,” the Immaculate sobbed bitterly, “when I beheld Thee, my beloved Child, naked, solitary and lifeless, anointed with aromatics.”
Ode 6. Irmos.
Beholding the sea of life raging with the storm of temptations, I have fled to Thy quiet harbour, calling to Thee: Lead my life away from corruption, O Most Merciful One!
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
“O Lover of mankind, I behold Thee lifeless, Who hast quickened the dead and rulest all, and I am grievously afflicted; I desire to die with Thee,” the Immaculate said, “for I cannot endure to behold Thee dead.”
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
“I am astonished when I behold Thee, O Good God and exceedingly bountiful Lord, defamed, lifeless, and disfigured, and embracing Thee, I weep as though, alas, I were destitute of hope ever to see Thee, my Son and my God.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“Wilt Thou not utter a single world to Thine handmaid, O Word of God? Wilt Thou not have mercy, O Master, on her, who bore Thee?” said the Immaculate, sobbing and weeping, embracing the body of her Lord.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
“I contemplate, O Master, that I shall not hear Thy sweet voice, neither shall I, Thine handmaid, behold the beauty of Thy countenance, as I did previously, for Thou hast passed from my sight, O my Son.”
Kondak.
Tone 6.
STAND
Come, let us all praise Him Who was crucified for us; for Mary beheld Him upon the Cross and exclaimed: “Even though Thou dost suffer crucifixion, Thou art my Son and my God.”
Ikos.
The Ewe, beholding her Lamb led to slaughter, Mary, her hair disarranged, followed with other women, lamenting thus: “Whither goest Thou, my Child? Why dost Thou hasten? Is there perchance another wedding in Cana of Galilee, and Thou dost hasten thither to make them wine from water? Shall I go with Thee, my Child, or shall I await Thee? Speak to me, O Word; do not pass me by in silence, Thou Who hast preserved me immaculate: for Thou art my Son and my God.”
Ode 7. Irmos.
KNEEL
The angel made the fiery furnace emit dew for the righteous youths, but God’s command, consuming the Chaldeans, induced the tyrant to exclaim: Blessed art Thou, God of our fathers.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
“Where, O my Son and God, is the ancient annunciation which Gabriel spoke to me, naming Thee King and Son of God on high? For this day I behold Thee, my sweet Light, a naked and wounded corpse.”
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
“Thou Deliverer from suffering, accept me now unto Thyself, my Saviour and my God, that I, too, may descend, O Master, into the grave with Thee; do not forsake me, for I can no longer endure to live, not seeing Thee, my sweet Light.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Immaculate, weeping in anguish with her myrrh-bearing women companions and seeing Christ borne along, lamented: “Alas, what do I behold? Whither goest Thou now, my Son; art Thou forsaking me?”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
The Immaculate, exhausted and lamenting, said to her companions: “Condole with me and weep, for this, my sweet Light, your Teacher, is being consigned to the grave.”
Ode 8. Irmos.
From the flames Thou hast diffused dew on the righteous youths, and the sacrifice of the just together with the water Thou hast burned up; for Thou, O Christ, doest all things at well; we exalt Thee forever.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Joseph, beholding the Virgin weeping, rent his garments, and cried out in anguish: “O my God, how shall I, Thy servant, bury Thee this day? In what sort of winding sheets shall I wrap Thy Body?”
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
The strange spectacle of the Lord, Sustainer of the entire universe, surpasseth understanding; for this reason Joseph with Nicodemus carrieth Thee a corpse in his arms and placeth Thee in a tomb.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“I behold a strange and glorious mystery,” the Virgin exclaimed to her Son and Lord: “How canst Thou be placed in a narrow sepulchre, Who by command dost raise the dead in their graves?”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
“I shall not depart from Thy tomb, my Child, neither shall I, Thine handmaid, cease shedding tears, till I, too, shall descend into the grave; for I cannot endure separation from Thee, my Son.”
Ode 9. Irmos.
For man it is impossible to behold God, upon Whom the choirs of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, Most Pure, the Word made flesh revealed Itself to men; exalting Him, with the heavenly host, we bless thee.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
“Henceforth joy shall never touch me,” weepingly sobbed the Immaculate. “My Light and my Joy hath descended into the tomb; but I shall not abandon Him alone; here I shall die and be buried with Him.”
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
“Heal now the wound of my soul, O my Child,” the Immaculate cried out lachrymously. “Arise and soothe my grief and sadness; for Thou doest, o Master, whatever Thou wilt, even though Thou hast willingly been buried.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“Oh, how the immensity of bounty is denied to thee,” spoke the Lord secretly to His Mother; “Wanting to save my creation, I willed to die, but I shall arise as God of Heaven and earth, and shall extol thee.”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
“I praise Thy graciousness, O Lover of mankind, and I venerate the opulence of Thy grace, O Master; for, wanting to save Thy creation, Thou hast assumed death,” said the Immaculate; but with Thy Resurrection, O Saviour, have mercy on us.
Now rise and kiss the Plaščanica with reverence, saying:
Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to Thee! Amen.
18 April 2025