On Tuesday of the first week of Great Lent during Great Compline, we begin the second section of the Great Canon after the reading of Psalm 69. 

ODE 1
TONE 6
Irmos: A Helper and a Protector, He is become my salvation. This is my God, I will glorify Him, the God of my father will I exalt, for gloriously hath He been glorified.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
I have refused to imitate the righteousness of Abel, O Jesus: never have I offered Thee any acceptable gift or godly work; neither a pure sacrifice nor a blameless life.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Like Cain we are condemned, O wretched soul, for unto the Creator of all we have offered only our defiled actions, a polluted sacrifice, and a useless life.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

As a potter moldeth his clay, Thou hast fashioned my flesh and my bones, giving me breath and life. Now accept me in repentance, O my Maker and Redeemer and my Judge.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Woe to me, O wretched soul, for thou art become like the first Eve! For thou hast looked in wickedness and wast bitterly wounded; for thou hast touched the tree and rashly tasted the forbidden fruit.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I confess to Thee, O Saviour, all the sins I have committed and the wounds of my soul and body, which my murderous thoughts, like thieves, have inflicted upon me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: O Trinity, Who dost surpass all creation and art adored in Unity, take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Theotokion: O Theotokos, the hope and protection of those who praise thee, take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and as thou art our Most-pure Lady, accept me in repentance.

ODE 2
Irmos: Attend, O heaven and I will speak, I will sing of Christ, Who from the Virgin took flesh to dwell with us.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
I have lost my original beauty and splendor and now I lie naked and ashamed.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

The demons of passion have ploughed long furrows on my back, prolonging their wickedness upon me.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

My sins have stripped me of the garment that God had woven for me, and have stitched for me robes of skin.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Now I am clothed with a raiment of shame as if with fig leaves in reproof of my self-willed desires.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Now I am clad in a coat of disgrace that is shamefully bloodstained by the flow of my passions and my pleasure-loving life.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I have fallen under the burden of my passions and the corruption of my body, and ever since, have been oppressed by the enemy.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Having preferred a life of pleasure and material things to a life free of possessions, I have been harnessed with a heavy burden, O Saviour.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I have adorned the idol of my flesh with the diverse clothing of my shameful thoughts and now I am condemned.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I have been concerned only with outward adornment, and have neglected the inner temple made in the image of God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: I sing praises to the One in Three Persons, God of all, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Theotokion: O Most-pure Theotokos and All-laudable Virgin, fervently
intercede for our salvation.

ODE 3
Irmos: Establish, O Lord, mine unstable heart on the rock of Thy commandments, for Thou only art Holy and the Lord.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
In Thee have I found the Fountain of Life, O Conqueror of Death, and before the end, I cry out from my heart: I have sinned, O Lord, cleanse me and save me.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned against Thee; be gracious unto me and cleanse me, for there is no one who surpasseth me in my offenses.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I have imitated the example of those, O Saviour, who lived in wantonness in the days of Noah; and like them I am condemned to drown in the flood.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast not inherited the blessing of Shem, O my wretched soul, nor hast thou received, like Japheth, thine inheritance in the land of forgiveness.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: O simple Unity praised in a Trinity of Persons; O uncreated Nature without beginning, save us who in faith worship Thy power. (Prostration)

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Theotokion: O Virgin Theotokos, thou hast given birth within time to the timeless Son of the Father. O strange wonder! Thou givest Him milk while still remaining Virgin!

ODE 4
Irmos: The prophet heard of Thy coming, O Lord, and was afraid that Thou wast to be born of a Virgin and appear to men, and he said, “I have heard the report of Thee and am afraid.” Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
By the two wives, understand that one is action and the other is spiritual understanding in contemplation. Leah doth represent action, for she had many children; and Rachel spiritual understanding, for she endured great toil. For without labor, O my soul, neither action nor contemplation will succeed.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

By fathering the twelve Patriarchs, the Great Patriarch Jacob established a mystical ladder of active ascent for thee, O my soul; wisely setting his sons as the steps at each level of ascent.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast rivaled the hated Esau, O my soul, for thou hast given up the birthright of thy first beauty to the deceiver thus forsaking the blessing of thy father. Twice then, hast thou fallen, once in action and once in understanding; Repent now, thou wretched soul.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Esau was known as Edom because of his raging love for women; for
burning always with desires and stained with sensual pleasures, he was named “Edom” which means the red-hot heat of a sin-loving soul.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard of Job, O my soul, who was justified on a dung heap; yet thou hast not imitated his courage nor hast thou shown any firmness of will in the face of thy trials and temptations but hast proved cowardly and weak.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

He that once sat upon a throne now lieth naked on a dung heap, covered
with his sores. He that had many children and was once admired by all is
suddenly bereft of children and is left without a home; yet for him the dung heap is a palace, and his sores a chain of pearls.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: I confess Thee as undivided in Essence, unconfused in Persons, One Triune Divinity, co-reigning and co-enthroned! And to Thee, I raise the great Thrice-holy hymn that is sung on high.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Theotokion: Thou givest birth and art a virgin, and in both thou remainest a virgin by nature. He Who is born reneweth the laws of nature, and the womb giveth birth without travail. When God so willeth, the order of nature is overruled, for He doeth whatsoever He willeth.

ODE 5
Irmos: Out of the night watching early for Thee, enlighten me I pray, O Lover of mankind, and guide me in Thy commandments and teach me O Saviour, to do Thy will.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
When Joseph was cast down into the pit, O Lord and Master, it was to prefigure Thy Burial and Resurrection. But what offering such as this shall I ever make to Thee?

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard, O my soul, of the basket of Moses and how he was carried on the waves of the river as if in an ark; and so he avoided the execution of Pharaoh’s bitter decree.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard, O wretched soul, of the midwives who were ordered to put to death in infancy the fruit of manly chastity. Be then like Moses who survived, and ponder wisdom.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou, O wretched soul, hast not struck and killed the lustful mind of the Egyptian, as did Moses. How then, shalt thou dwell in that desert where all passions are slain through repentance?

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Moses the great went to dwell in the desert; Come then, O my soul, and emulate his life that thou mayest also behold through contemplation the vision of God in the bush not consumed by the fire.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: We glorify Thee, O Trinity, as One God! Holy, Holy, Holy, art Thou, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; simple Essence and Unity worshipped for ever. (Prostration.)

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Theotokion: From thee, O Virgin undefiled and maiden Mother, hath God the Creator of the ages become vested in mine human flesh, uniting to Himself the nature of man.

ODE 6
Irmos: With mine whole heart, I cried unto the compassionate God: and He heard me, and He lifted up my soul from the depths of hell and from corruption.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
Like the Israelites in the desert, thou hast made a foolish decision, O my
soul; for thou hast preferred the pleasures of gluttony and passions to the refreshment of divine manna.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast preferred, O my soul, the meat of swine and the tempting food of Egypt to the food of Heaven, as did the ungrateful people of old in the wilderness.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast preferred, O my soul, the wells of Canaanite delusion to the cleft Rock from which, as from a chalice, flow rivers of divine theology.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

When Thy servant Moses struck the rock with his staff, O Saviour, he
mystically foreshadowed Thy Life-creating Body from which we all draw the water of life.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Be like Joshua, the son of Nun, and explore the Promised Land, O my
soul, and take up thine abode in it through obedience to the Law.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: “I am the Trinity, simple and undivided, yet divided in Three Persons; and I am the Unity, united by Nature,” saith the Father and the Son and the Divine Spirit.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Theotokion: Thy womb bore God for us, fashioned in our image. Implore thou Him as the Creator of all, O Theotokos, that we may be justified through thine intercessions.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Sedalen (Tone 6): I think of the dreadful day of Thy coming and judgment, O Christ, and weep over mine evil deeds. But before the end, O blessed Saviour, by the prayers of Thine Holy Mother save me, O only Lover of mankind.

ODE 7
Irmos: We have sinned, transgressed, done wrong before Thee. We have not watched or done as Thou hast commanded us. But do not give us up utterly, O God of our fathers.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
David once composed a hymn, setting forth, as in an icon, all the evils he had done; and he condemned them, crying: Have mercy on me, for against Thee only have I sinned; O God of all, cleanse me!

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

When the Ark of the Covenant was being carried in a cart and one of the oxen stumbled, Uzzah only touched it, and yet he experienced the wrath of God. Flee from his presumption, O my soul, and respect with reverence the things of God.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard of Absalom, and how he rebelled against nature; thou
knowest of his wicked deeds and how he defiled his father David’s bed; yet thou hast followed him in his passionate and sensual desires.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thy free dignity hast thou enslaved to thy body. O my soul, for thou hast
found in the enemy another Ahithophel and hast become an accomplice to his designs. But Christ Himself hath shattered his bonds so that thou mayest be saved.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: O Trinity, simple and undivided, consubstantial and of One Nature. We praise Thee, Light and Lights, One Holy and Three Holies, God the Trinity! Sing, O my soul, and glorify the Life of Lives, the God of all.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Theotokion: We praise thee, we bless thee, we venerate thee, O Mother of God: (prostration) for thou hast given birth to Christ God, One of the undivided Trinity, and hast opened the Heavens to us on earth.

ODE 8
Irmos: Him Whom the hosts of heaven glorify, Whom the Cherubim and Seraphim dread, let every breath and creature praise, bless, and magnify throughout all ages.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
In all ways hast thou imitated the unclean thoughts of Gehazi, O my wretched soul. At least now, in thine old age, rid thyself of his greed and flee from the fires of hell, turning away from thine evil ways.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Having imitated Uzziah, O my soul, thou hast contracted a double leprosy: for thy deeds are wicked and thy thoughts impure. Leave these all behind, and hasten to repentance.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard of the Ninevites, O my soul, who repented before God wearing sackcloth and ashes; yet thou hast not imitated them and hast become worse than all who have ever sinned both before and after the Law.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard, O my soul, how Jeremiah in the muddy pit cried out with lamentations and sought tears for the city of Sion. Imitate his life of lamentation, therefore, and be saved.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Jonah fled to Tarshish foreseeing the conversion of the Ninevites, for as a Prophet he knew of the compassion of God and was anxious that his prophecy be fulfilled.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: O Eternal Father, Co-eternal Son, and Gracious Comforter, the Spirit of Righteousness, Father of the Divine Word, Word of the Eternal Father, and Living and Creating Spirit. O Trinity, One in Unity, have mercy on me!

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Theotokion: The spiritual purple of Emmanuel was woven inside thy womb as if from scarlet silk, O Most-pure Virgin. Therefore we honour thee as truly Theotokos.

ODE 9
Irmos: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
When the Lord had fasted for forty days in the wilderness He became hungry thus showing us His human nature. Do not be dismayed, O my soul, and when the enemy attacks thee, drive him away through prayer and fasting.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Christ suffered temptation, being tempted by the devil, who showed Him stones that they might be made into bread; and he led Him up into a mountain to see in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. Be careful, O my soul, when thou art tempted; be watchful and pray every hour to Christ our God.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

The Forerunner of God, the Dove of the desert, the Lamp of Christ, the
voice of one crying in the wilderness, was heard preaching repentance while Herod was lying in sin with Herodias. Be careful, O my soul, that thou art not trapped in the snares of the wicked, but rather, embrace repentance.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

The Forerunner of Grace went to dwell in the wilderness, and all of Judea and Samaria ran to hear him; they confessed all their sins and eagerly they were baptized. But thou, O my soul, hast not imitated them.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Christ cured the paralytic who then took up his bed; He raised from the
dead the widow’s son and the Centurion’s servant; He appeared to the
Samaritan woman and taught thee, O my soul, how to worship in the spirit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

To the Trinity: We sing Thy praises, O Trinity, One in Essence and Unity in Three Persons: we glorify the Father, we magnify the Son, and we worship the Spirit; (prostration) One in Nature truly God, Life and Lives, Kingdom without end.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Theotokion: Thou didst give birth to the One God, uniquely remaining a virgin. O extraordinary Nativity from a Conception without seed; o extraordinary Conception bringing a Nativity surpassing nature! Do thou, O Bride of God, every day watch over the flock of thy Son!

Irmos: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God. Prostration.

Now the Reader continues with Psalm 4, and the rest of Great Compline follows.