Maundy Thursday - from the first Eucharist and the Passion Gospels to prejudices. Twelve Gospels

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On Thursday evening, Great Heel Matins is celebrated with the reading of the 12 Gospels of the Holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1) (Holy Gospel of John 13:1-38)

1. Before the Feast of Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, showed by deed that, having loved His who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2. And during the supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Simon Iscariot to betray Him,
3. Jesus, knowing that the Father has given all things into His hands, and that He came from God and is going to God,
4. He got up from supper, took off His outer clothing and, taking a towel, girded Himself.
5. Then he poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.
6. He approaches Simon Peter, and he says to Him: Lord! Should you wash my feet?
7. Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not know now, but you will understand later.”
8. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.
9. Simon Peter says to Him: Lord! not only my feet, but also my hands and head.
10. Jesus says to him: He who has been washed only needs to wash his feet, because he is all clean; and you are clean, but not all.
11. For He knew His betrayer, therefore He said: You are not all pure.
12. When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes, he lay down again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?”
13. You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you speak correctly, for I am exactly that.
14. So, if I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, then you should also wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do the same as I have done to you.
16. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.
17. If you know this, blessed are you when you do it.
18. I’m not talking about all of you; I know whom I chose. But let the Scripture be fulfilled: He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.
19. Now I tell you before it comes to pass, so that when it comes to pass, you may believe that it is I.
20. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives him whom I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
21 Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”
22. Then the disciples looked around at each other, wondering who He was talking about.
23 Now one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ breast.
24. Simon Peter made a sign to him and asked who it was that he was talking about.
25. He fell to the chest of Jesus and said to Him: Lord! who is this?
26. Jesus answered, “The one to whom I dip a piece of bread I will give.” And, having dipped the piece, he gave it to Judas Simon Iscariot.
27. And after this piece Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “Whatever you are doing, do it quickly.”
28. But none of those reclining understood why He told him this.
29. And since Judas had a chest, some thought that Jesus was saying to him: buy what we need for the holiday, or to give something to the poor.
30. Having accepted the piece, he immediately went out; and it was night.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”
32. If God was glorified in Him, then God will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him.
33. Children! I won't be with you for long. You will seek Me, and just as I told the Jews that where I go you cannot come, so I tell you now.
34. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, let you also love one another.
35. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
36. Simon Peter said to Him: Lord! where are you going? Jesus answered him: Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but later you will follow Me.
37. Peter said to Him: Lord! Why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my soul for You.
38. Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

2) (Holy Gospel of John 18:1-28)

1. Having said this, Jesus went out with His disciples beyond the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He and His disciples entered.
2. And Judas, His betrayer, also knew this place, because Jesus often gathered there with His disciples.
3. So Judas, having taken a detachment of soldiers and ministers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4. Jesus, knowing everything that would happen to Him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?”
5. They answered: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them: It is I. And Judas, His betrayer, stood with them.
6. And when he said to them, “It is I,” they retreated back and fell to the ground.
7. He asked them again: Who are you looking for? They said: Jesus of Nazareth.
8. Jesus answered: I told you that it was I; So, if you are looking for Me, leave them, let them go, -
9. That the word He spoke might be fulfilled: “Of those whom You gave Me, I have not destroyed any.”
10. Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 But Jesus said to Peter, Sheathe your sword; Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?
12 Then the soldiers and the captain and the officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him,
13. And they took Him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
14. It was Caiaphas who gave advice to the Jews that it was better for one man to die for the people.
15. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus; This disciple was known to the high priest and entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.
16. And Peter stood outside the doors. Then another disciple, who was known to the high priest, came out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.
17. Then the servant servant said to Peter: “Are you not one of this man’s disciples?” He said no.
18. Meanwhile, the slaves and servants, having lit a fire, because it was cold, stood and warmed themselves. Peter also stood with them and warmed himself.
19. The high priest asked Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.
20. Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and I did not say anything secretly.
21. Why are you asking Me? ask those who heard what I said to them; behold, they know that I have spoken.
22. When He had said this, one of the servants who was standing close struck Jesus on the cheek, saying, “Is this the answer you give to the high priest?”
23. Jesus answered him: If I have said something bad, show me what is bad; What if it’s good that you beat Me?
24. Annas sent Him bound to the high priest Caiaphas.
25. Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Then they said to him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied and said: no.
26. One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said: Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?
27. Peter denied again; and immediately the rooster crowed.
28. They took Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning; and they did not enter the praetorium, so as not to be defiled, but so that they could eat the Passover.

3) (Holy Gospel of Matthew 26:57-75)

57. And those who took Jesus took Him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled.
58. Peter followed Him at a distance, to the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat down with the servants to see the end.
59. The chief priests and elders and the whole Sanhedrin sought false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death,
60. and were not found; and, although many false witnesses came, they were not found. But finally two false witnesses came
61. And they said: He said: I can destroy the temple of God and build it in three days.
62. And the high priest stood up and said to Him: Why don’t you answer? What do they testify against You?
63. Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to Him: I adjure You by the living God, tell us, Are You the Christ, the Son of God?
64. Jesus says to him: You said; I even say to you: from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.
65. Then the high priest tore his clothes and said: He is blaspheming! What more need do we need witnesses? Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy!
66. what do you think? They answered and said: He is guilty of death.
67. Then they spat in His face and buffeted Him; others struck Him on the cheeks
68. And they said: Prophesy to us, O Christ, who struck You?
69. Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a certain maid came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”
70. But he denied it before everyone, saying, “I don’t know what you are saying.”
71. And as he went out of the gate, another saw him, and said to those who were there, “This one also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72. And he again denied with an oath that he did not know this Man.
73. A little later those standing there came and said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for your speech also convicts you.”
74. Then he began to swear and swear that he did not know this Man. And suddenly the rooster crowed.
75. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. And going out, he wept bitterly.

4) (Holy Gospel of John 18:28-40)

28. They took Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning; and they did not enter the praetorium, so as not to be defiled, but so that they could eat the Passover.
29. Pilate came out to them and said, “What do you accuse this man of?”
30. They answered him: If He had not been an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.
31. Pilate said to them: Take Him, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”
32. That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, indicating by what kind of death He would die.
33. Then Pilate again entered the praetorium, and called Jesus, and said to Him: Are you the King of the Jews?
34. Jesus answered him, “Are you saying this of your own accord, or have others told you about Me?”
35. Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Your people and the chief priests delivered You up to me; what have you done?
36. Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world; If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight for Me, so that I would not be betrayed to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here.
37. Pilate said to Him: So are You a King? Jesus answered: You say that I am a King. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I came into the world, to testify to the truth; everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.
38. Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And having said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them: I find no guilt in Him.
39. You have a custom that I give you one for Easter; Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?
40. Then they all shouted again, saying, “Not Him, but Barabbas.” Barabbas was a robber.

5) (Holy Gospel of Matthew 27:3-32)

3. Then Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, and, repenting, returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4. saying: I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. They said to him: What is that to us? see for yourself.
5. And throwing away the pieces of silver in the temple, he went out, went and hanged himself.
6. The high priests, taking the pieces of silver, said: It is not permissible to put them in the church treasury, because this is the price of blood.
7. Having taken counsel, they bought a potter's land with them for the burial of strangers;
8. Therefore that land is called “the land of blood” to this day.
9. Then was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, who says: And they took thirty pieces of silver, the price of the One who was valued, whom the children of Israel valued,
10 And they gave them for the potter's land, as the Lord said to me.
11. Jesus stood before the governor. And the ruler asked Him: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: You speak.
12 And when the chief priests and elders accused Him, He answered nothing.
13. Then Pilate said to Him: Do you not hear how many testify against You?
14. And he did not answer a single word, so that the ruler was greatly amazed.
15. On the holiday of Easter, the ruler had the custom of releasing to the people one prisoner whom they wanted.
16. At that time they had a famous prisoner called Barabbas;
17 So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them: whom do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?
18. For he knew that they had betrayed Him out of envy.
19. While he was sitting in the judgment seat, his wife sent him to say: Do not do anything to the Righteous One, because today in a dream I suffered a lot for Him.
20. But the chief priests and elders stirred up the people to ask Barabbas and to destroy Jesus.
21. Then the governor asked them: Which of the two do you want me to release to you? They said: Barabbas.
22. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ? Everyone tells him: let him be crucified.
23. The ruler said: What evil has He done? But they shouted even more loudly: let him be crucified.
24. Pilate, seeing that nothing helped, but the confusion was increasing, took water and washed his hands before the people, and said: I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous One; look you.
25 And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us and on our children.
26. Then he released Barabbas to them, and beat Jesus and handed him over to be crucified.
27. Then the soldiers of the governor, taking Jesus to the praetorium, gathered the whole regiment against Him
28. And having undressed Him, they put purple robe on Him;
29. And having woven a crown of thorns, they placed it on His head and gave Him a reed in His right hand; and, kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews!
30. And they spat on Him and, taking a reed, beat Him on the head.
31. And when they had mocked Him, they took off His scarlet robe, and clothed Him with His own garments, and led Him away to be crucified.
32. As they went out, they met a certain Cyrene man named Simon; this one was forced to bear His cross.

6) (Holy Gospel of Mark 15:16-32)

16. And the soldiers took Him inside the courtyard, that is, to the praetorium, and gathered the whole regiment,
17. And they clothed Him in scarlet, and plaited a crown of thorns, and laid it on Him;
18. And they began to greet Him: Hail, King of the Jews!
19. And they beat Him on the head with a reed, and spat on Him, and kneeling down they bowed down to Him.
20. When they had mocked Him, they took off His scarlet robe, clothed Him in His own garments, and led Him out to crucify Him.
21. And they forced a certain Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming from the field, to carry His cross.
22. And they brought Him to the place of Golgotha, which means: Place of Execution.
23. And they gave Him wine and myrrh to drink; but He did not accept.
24. Those who crucified Him divided His garments, casting lots as to who should take what.
25. It was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
26. And the inscription of His guilt was: King of the Jews.
27. Two thieves were crucified with Him, one on His right and the other on His left.
28. And the word of the Scripture was fulfilled: He was numbered among the evildoers.
29. Those passing by cursed Him, nodding their heads and saying: Eh! destroying the temple, and building in three days!
30. Save Yourself and come down from the cross.
31. Likewise, the high priests and the scribes mocked each other and said to each other, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself.”
32. Let Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe. And those crucified with Him reviled Him.

7) (Holy Gospel of Matthew 27:34-54)

34. They gave Him vinegar mixed with gall to drink; and, having tasted it, did not want to drink.
35. And those who crucified Him divided His garments, casting lots;
36. And they sat and watched over Him there;
37. And they placed an inscription over His head, signifying His guilt: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
38. Then two thieves were crucified with Him: one on the right side, and the other on the left.
39. Those who passed by cursed Him, shaking their heads.
40. and saying: He who destroys the temple and in three days He who builds it up! save yourself; if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41. Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes and elders and Pharisees, mockingly said:
42. He saved others, but he cannot save himself; if He is the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him;
43. trusted in God; Let him deliver Him now, if He pleases Him. For He said: I am the Son of God.
44. Also the thieves who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
45. From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour;
46. ​​And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice: Either, Or! Lama Savakhthani? that is: My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me?
47. Some of those standing there, hearing this, said, “He is calling Elijah.”
48. And immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and putting it on a reed, gave Him to drink;
49. And others said, “Wait, let’s see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
50. Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up the ghost.
51. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook; and the stones dissipated;
52. And the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were resurrected
53. And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
54. The centurion and those who were with him guarding Jesus, seeing the earthquake and everything that happened, were greatly afraid and said: Truly this was the Son of God.

8) (Holy Gospel of Luke 23:23-49)

23.But they continued with great shouting to demand that He be crucified; and the cry prevailed over them and the chief priests.
24. And Pilate decided to be at their request,
25.And he released to them the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, whom they asked for; and he gave Jesus over to their will.
26.And when they had led Him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the field, and laid a cross on him to carry after Jesus.
27.And a great multitude of people and women followed Him, weeping and lamenting for Him.
28.Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem!” do not weep for Me, but weep for yourself and for your children,
29. For the days are coming in which they will say: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed!
30.Then they will begin to say to the mountains: fall on us! and the hills: cover us!
31. For if they do this to a green tree, what will happen to a dry tree?
32. They led two evildoers with Him to death.
33.And when they came to the place called Skull, there they crucified Him and the evildoers, one on the right and the other on the left.
34. Jesus said: Father! forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. And they divided His garments by casting lots.
35.And the people stood and watched. The leaders also mocked them, saying: He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ, God's chosen one.
36.The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar
37. And saying: if You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.
38. And there was an inscription over Him, written in Greek, Roman and Hebrew words: This is the King of the Jews.
39. One of the hanged villains slandered Him and said: if You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.
40. The other, on the contrary, calmed him down and said: Or are you not afraid of God, when you yourself are condemned to the same thing?
41.And we are condemned justly, because we accepted what was worthy of our deeds, but He did nothing bad.
42.And he said to Jesus: Remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom!
43.And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
44. Now it was about the sixth hour of the day, and darkness fell over all the land until the ninth hour:
45.And the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle.
46.Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said: Father! I commit My spirit into Your hands. And having said this, he gave up the ghost.
47. The centurion, seeing what was happening, glorified God and said: Truly this man was a righteous man.
48. And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests.
49. And all those who knew Him, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood afar off and looked on.

9)John 19:25-37

25. Standing at the cross of Jesus were His Mother and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26. Jesus, seeing the Mother and the disciple standing there, whom he loved, said to His Mother: Je’no! Behold, Your son.
27.Then he says to the disciple: Behold, your Mother! And from that time on, this disciple took Her to himself.
28.After this, Jesus, knowing that everything had already been accomplished so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, says, “I thirst.”
29.There stood a vessel full of vinegar. The soldiers filled a sponge with vinegar and put it on hyssop and brought it to His lips.
30.When Jesus tasted the vinegar, he said, “It is done!” And, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.
31. But since it was Friday, the Jews, in order not to leave the bodies on the cross on Saturday - for that Saturday was a great day - asked Pilate to break their legs and take them off.
32. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with Him.
33. But when they came to Jesus, when they saw Him already dead, they did not break His legs,
34. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
35.And he who saw it bore witness, and his testimony is true; he knows that he speaks the truth so that you may believe.
36. For this happened, that the Scripture might be fulfilled: Let not His bone be broken.
37. Also in another place the Scripture says: They will look at Him whom they have pierced.

10) Mark 15:43-47 (The Descent of the Lord's Body from the Cross)

43. Joseph came from Arimathea, a famous member of the council, who himself expected the Kingdom of God, dared to enter Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
44.Pilate was surprised that He had already died, and, calling the centurion, asked him how long ago had He died?
45.And having learned from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
46. ​​He bought a shroud and took Him off, wrapped him in the shroud, and laid Him in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, and rolled the stone to the door of the tomb.
47. Mary Magdalene and Mary of Joseph looked where they laid Him.

11) John 19:38-42 (Nicodemus and Joseph burying Christ).

38.After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly out of fear from the Jews, asked Pilate to remove the body of Jesus; and Pilate allowed it. He went and took down the body of Jesus.
39. Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also came and brought a composition of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred liters.
40. So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linens with spices, as the Jews are wont to bury.
41. In the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid.
42.They laid Jesus there for the sake of the Friday of Judea, because the tomb was close.

12) Matthew 27:62-66 (Putting guards at the tomb of the Savior).

62. On the next day, which followed Friday, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered to Pilate
63.And they said: Master! We remembered that the deceiver, while still alive, said: after three days I will rise again;
64. Therefore command that the tomb be guarded until the third day, so that His disciples, coming at night, do not steal Him and say to the people: He has risen from the dead; and the last deception will be worse than the first.
65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go and protect it as best you can.
66They went and set a guard at the tomb and put a seal on the stone.

"ORTHODOX LIFE"
Monthly supplement to the magazine “Orthodox Rus'”.

Twelve Gospels of the Holy Passion.

IN In ancient times, when Jerusalem was under the rule of Christian rulers, the Christians of the Holy City spent the night on Good Friday in common prayers e. - Having gathered in the Zion Church, the Christians set off from it in a procession of the cross, led by the patriarch and all the clergy, to the church on the Mount of Olives, built by Queen Helena on the site where the Lord talked with the apostles before His suffering. This conversation is recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 13. 31 – 17 ch. Art. 26, which is the gospel, the first passionate one, and was read. After reading it, the procession of the cross went to the place of the Gethysemane prayer of the Savior and the betrayal of Him by Judas, and here the Gospel about this was read, the second passionate one. Then the religious procession went to new places of sacred memories of the suffering and death of the Savior, and at each place the corresponding memory of St. was read. gospel This is how the 11th gospel was read, after which the procession returned to the Zion Church, where in conclusion the 12th gospel was read about the sealing of the Holy Sepulcher and the posting of guards at it for three days. Between the Gospels, during the procession of the cross, Christians sang those of St. chants that have survived to us and which we also sing. During the march, the Christians had lamps in their hands. Following their example, we stand while reading the passionate Gospels with candles. May our prayers be to the Lord Savior fiery, yes are burning our hearts are towards Him with a feeling of gratitude and zeal to live according to His covenants!

WITH lava to Your Passion, Lord, glory to You!

The first gospel.
From John ch. 13, art. 31 – 18, Art. 1.

R here the Lord is with His disciple: Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will glorify Him in Himself, and He will also glorify Him. Children, I haven’t been with you much yet. - You will seek Me, and like the Jews of Judaism: even though I go, you cannot come: and to you I speak today. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another; as you have loved, you also love yourselves. Everyone understands this, for you are My disciples, if you have love for each other.. Simon Peter said to Him: Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered him: Even though I am walking, you cannot now walk after Me: but follow Me. Peter said to Him: Lord, why can’t I walk after You today? Today I will lay down my soul for You. Jesus answered him: Will you lay down your soul for Me? Amen, amen, I say to you: the alector will not cry until he has denied me three things. Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, and believe in Me. In My Father's house there are many mansions: if not, I would say to you: I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I prepare a place for you, I will come and take you to Myself, so that even though I am, you too will be. And even though I am walking, I know, and I know the way. The verb to Him Thomas: Lord, we do not know where you are going: and how can we lead the way? Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life: no one will come to the Father except by Me. If they knew Me quickly, and knew My Father, then they knew Him, and henceforth they knew Him, and they saw Him. Philip said to Him: Lord, show us the Father, and it will be sufficient for us. Jesus said to him: I have been with you for so long, and you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father, and why do you say: show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The verbs that I say to you, I do not say about Myself: But the Father abides in Me, He does the works. Believe Me, for I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me: or else, for these works have faith in Me. Amen, amen, I say to you: believe in Me, the works that I do, he will do this, and he will do greater things than these.: For I am coming to My Father. And whatever you ask of the Father in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. And whatever you ask in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray to the Father, and another Comforter the Spirit of truth will give you, may it be with you forever The world cannot accept Him, for it does not see Him, nor does it know Him: you know Him, for He abides in you and will be in you. I will not leave you, sires: I will come to you. It is still a little, and the world does not see Me: you see Me, as I live, and you will live. On that day you will understand that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Have My commandments and keep them, that is, love Me: and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father: and I will love him and will appear to him Myself. The verb to him from Judas is not Iscariot: Lord, what will happen if you want to appear to us, and not the world? Jesus answered and said to him: If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word: and My Father will love him, and I will come to him and make my abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word that you have heard is not Mine, but the Father who sent Me. These are the verbs to you, in you. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you everything and remember everything that has been told to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: not as the world gives, I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor be afraid. Hear, as I say to you: I am going and will come to you. If they loved Me quickly, they rejoiced quickly, for I am going to the Father, for My Father is sick to Me. And now there will be no reh for you, before it will not even be: so that whenever it happens, you will have faith. To whom I say a little with you: for the prince of this world is coming, and he will have nothing in Me. But let the world understand that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, I do this: Arise, let us go from here. I am the true vine, and My Father is the worker. Every rod about Me that does not produce fruit I will cut off; and every rod that produces fruit I will cut off, so that it may bear abundant fruit. You are already clear for the word that was spoken to you. Be in Me, and I am in you. Just as a rod cannot produce fruit for itself unless it is on the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. . I am the vine, you are the birth. And he who is in Me, and I in him, will produce much fruit: for without Me you cannot do anything. If anyone does not abide in Me, he will be cast out like a rod and dry up.: And they collect it and put it into the fire, and it burns. If you remain in Me, My words will abide in you: if you want, ask, and it will be done for you. For this my Father is glorified, that you may produce much fruit and be my disciples. As the Father has loved Me, and I have loved you: be ye in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and I will remain in His love. These words are spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be fulfilled. This is My commandment, that you love one another as you have loved. No one has greater sowing love, but who would lay down his soul for his friends. You are my friends, and if you do, I command you. To whom do I speak, you are servants, for a servant does not know what his Lord is doing; but you have been told by others, for all that I have heard from My Father I have told you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and your fruit should remain, that if you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you. I command you this, that you love one another. If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before you. If you were quicker from the world, the world would love its own: just as you are not from the world, but I chose you from the world, for this reason the world hates you. Remember the word that is spoken to you: there is no greater servant than his master. If they expel me, they will expel you too : If you keep My word, they will keep yours. But they are doing all this to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If he had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin: now they have no guilt about their sin. Hate Me, and hate My Father. Even if I had not done deeds in them that no one else had done, they would have no sin: now they both see and hate Me and My Father. But let the word that is written in their law be fulfilled, that they hated Me. When the Comforter comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, Who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.: And you testify that from time immemorial you have been with Me. These are the words to you, so do not be tempted. You will be separated from the hosts: but the hour will come, and everyone who kills you will think of offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or Me. But these words were spoken to you, yes, when the hour comes, remember this, for I have been for you; these things have not been for you from the beginning, for I have been with you. Now I go to Him who sent Me, and no one asks Me from you: where are you going? But, as these words were spoken to you, your hearts were filled with sorrow. But I tell you the truth: if I do not go, I will go; if I do not go, the Comforter will not come to you; if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world about sin, and about truth, and about judgment. About sin, because they do not believe in Me: about righteousness, because I go to My Father, and those who do not see Me: about judgment, because the prince of this world is condemned. The imam has many more words to say to you, but you cannot wear them now. When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth: for it is not about Himself to speak, but if anyone hears, He will speak, and the one who comes will tell you. He will glorify Me, because He will receive from Mine and tell it to you. All that the Father has is Mine: for this reason, he will receive from Mine and tell you. Away, and those who do not see Me: and again a little, and you will see Me as I go to the Father. Deciding from His disciples to themselves: what is this, which He says to us: a little, and you do not see Me: and again a little, and you will see Me? and: How am I going to the Father? To the verb: what is this, he says, in the distance? We don’t know what he says. Jesus understood, as if He wanted to question Him, and He said to them: Do you quarrel among one another about this, as if you were a little, and you do not see Me; and again, a little, and you will see Me? Amen, amen, I say to you, that you will weep and mourn, and the world will rejoice: you will be sad, but your sorrow will be joy. When a woman gives birth, she has sorrow, because her year is come; but when a child gives birth, who does not remember the sorrow for the joy that a man was born into the world. And you have sorrow today: then I will see you, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you: and in that day you will not ask Me anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, for whatever you ask from the Father in My name, He will give it to you.. Until now, do not ask for anything in My name: ask, and you will receive, that your joy will be filled. These things are spoken to you in parables, but the hour will come when I will not speak to anyone in parables, but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day, in My name, ask: And I will not tell you, that I will pray to the Father for you: for the Father Himself loves you, because you loved Me, and believed, because I died from God. I departed from the Father and came into the world: and again I leave the world and go to the Father. His disciples said to Him: Behold, now you speak without hesitation, but you speak no parables. Now we know that you are everything, and you do not demand, but someone asks you: about this we believe, as if you came from God. Jesus answered them: Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming, and now it has come, that you may be separated, each to his own, and leave Me alone: ​​and you are not alone, for the Father is with Me. These are the words to you, may you have peace in Me. You will be in the world of sorrow: but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. Jesus said this, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come: glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You: for Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, and whatever Thou hast given Him, He will give them life. eternal. This is the eternal belly, yes They know You the one true God, and He Whom You sent Jesus Christ. I have glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now You glorify Me, Father, with You Yourself with glory, even though You had no peace before. I have revealed Your name as a man, which You gave Me from the world: Your besha, and You gave them to Me: and You have kept Your word. Now I understand that all that you gave to Me is from You: as the verbs that You gave to Me, I gave to them: and I accepted these, and truly understood that I departed from You, and I believed that You sent Me. I pray for this, I do not pray for the whole world, but for those whom you have given to me, for they are yours.. And all of Mine is Thine essence, and Thine is Mine: and I am glorified in them. And whoever is not in the world, and these are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given to Me, so that they may be one, as We are. Whenever I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name: which you gave Me to keep, and no one perished from them except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Today I come to You, and I say this to the world, that they may have My joy filled within themselves. I gave them Your word, and the world hated them, for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you keep them away from the world, but that you keep them from hostility. They are not from the world, just as I am not from the world. Sanctify them in Thy truth: Thy word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, and I sent them into the world: and for them I will sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified in truth. I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe their words for their sake in Me: that they all may be one: just as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You, that they also may be one in Us.: Yes, and the world has faith, because You sent Me. And I have given the glory to Me, I have given to them: that they may be one, as We are one. I am in them, and You are in Me: may they be perfect in one, and may the world understand that You sent Me, and You loved them, as You loved Me. Father, these you have given to Me, I will, that even where I am, they also may be with Me: that they may see My glory, which you have given to Me, because you loved Me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, even the world does not know You, but I have known You, and these have known that You have sent Me: and I told them Your name, and I will say: Yes, love, with whom You loved Me, He will be in them, and I will be in them . And this river Jesus went out with His disciples to the half of the stream of Kedrsk, where there was a helicopter city, and into it He and His disciples entered.

Second Gospel.
From John ch. 18, art. 1-28.

IN About that time, Jesus went out with His disciples to the half of the stream of Kedrsk, where there was a helicopter city, and there He and His disciples were seen. Seeing Judas, give His place, as Jesus gathered in multitudes with His disciples. And then there was the reception of the spirit, and from the bishops and Pharisees the servants came there with luminaries and candles and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was to come, said to them: Whom are you looking for? Answering Him: Jesus of Nazareth. The verb is named after Jesus: I am. And Judas, who betrayed Him, stood with them. Yes, as I said to them: I am, I went back and fell to the earth. Then Jesus asked them: whom are you looking for? They decided: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answers: Reh to you, for I am. If you seek Me, leave these behind: that the word that was spoken might be fulfilled: For you have given them to Me, and have not destroyed anyone through them. Simon Peter took the knife, take it out, and strike the bishop’s servant, and cut his gum. The name of the servant is Malchus. Jesus Petrov said: stick the knife into the scissors. If the Father gives me the cup, won’t the imam drink it? Spira and the captain and the servants of the Jews brought Jesus and bound Him, and brought Him to Anna first: for Caiaphas was the father-in-law, who was the bishop of the year before. Caiaphas gave advice to Judaea, because it was impossible for a single person to die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple walked after Jesus; the bishops knew that disciple, and they went with Jesus into the courtyard of the bishops. Peter stood at the door outside. The disciple of the same one whom the bishops knew went out, and spoke at the door, and brought Peter in. The verb of the servant of the door of Petrovi: food and are you a disciple of this Man? The verb is: there is no. The slaves and servants stood and made fire, like winter, and warmed themselves: and Peter stood and warmed himself with them. The bishop asked Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching. Jesus answered him: I did not hesitate to speak to the world: I always taught in the congregations and in the church, where the Jews are always silent, and without saying anything. Why are you asking Me? Questions from those who heard what the verbs said to them: behold, behold, even reh Az. This is what I said to Him: from the servants ahead, strike Jesus on the cheek, saying: Is this the answer the bishops give? Jesus answered him: If you speak evil, testify of evil, or if you speak good, that you speak of Me? His ambassador Anna was associated with the bishop Caiaphas. Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Deciding to him: Are you food from His disciple? He refused and spoke; no. There is only one verb from the servant of the bishops, this little boy, whom Peter cut off his ear: didn’t I see you in Vertograd with him? Again, Peter denied himself, and cried out to all the loopers. He led Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetor. Early in the morning, let them not go into the praetor, lest they be defiled, but let them eat the Passover.

Third Gospel.
From Matthew ch. 26, art. 57-75.

IN About the time it came, the soldiers of Jesus led the bishops to Caiaphas, where the scribes and elders gathered. Peter walked along Him from afar, to the bishop’s courtyard: and going inside, sitting with the servants, he saw his death. The bishop and the elders and the whole host sought false witness against Jesus, so that they would kill Him, and they did not find it: and they did not find it with many false witnesses. - Afterwards, two false witnesses came and said: This is what I say: I can destroy the Church of God and in three days create it. And the bishop stood up and said to Him: Is it wrong for you to answer that these things testify against You? Jesus is silent. And the bishop answered and said to Him: I conjure Thee by the Living God, and say unto us, Are Thou the Christ, the Son of God? Jesus said to him: you say. Again, I say to you: from here you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. Then the bishop tore his vestments, saying, as if blaspheming the verb: what else do we require witnesses? Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy: what do you think? They answered and decided: I am guilty of death. Then you spit on His face and dirty tricks on His deeds: but you struck for the cheek, saying: prophets to us, O Christ, who are those who strike Thee? - Peter is sitting outside in the courtyard. And one servant girl approached him, saying: “You too are with Jesus of Galilee.” He denied himself before everyone, saying: “We do not know what you say.” I went out to his gate, and another woman saw him, and she said to them: “And this one was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again I denied with an oath that I did not know the Man. Little by little, the standing people came up and decided to Petrov: “Truly, you too are from them, for your conversation is creating you in reality.” Then they began to grumble and swear that they didn’t know the Man. And shout out loudly. And I will remember Peter’s verb of Jesus, which was spoken to him, because first he would not even cry out, having denied Me three times. And he went out, crying bitterly.

The Fourth Gospel.
From John ch. 18, art. 28 – Ch. 19, art. 16.

IN About the time it was, leading Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetor. It is early morning: and they shall not go into the praetor, lest they be defiled, but let them eat the Passover. - Pilate came out to them and said: What speech do you bring against this Man? Answering and deciding to him: If this had not been an evildoer, they would not have handed Him over to you. Pilate said to them: Capture Him, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews decided to him: “We are not worthy of killing anyone; let the word of Jesus come true, as he said, signifying the death by which we wish to die.” Below, Pilate returned to the praetor, and the voice of Jesus was heard, and he said to Him: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him: Are you saying this about yourself, or are you talking about Me? Answer Pilate: Am I food for the Jews? Your family and the bishop gave You over to me: what have you done? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world: though my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought, lest they be delivered up by Judea: but now my kingdom is not from here. Pilate said to Him: Art Thou a King? Answer Jesus: You say that I am the King. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, that I may bear witness to the truth: and everyone who is of the truth will hear My voice. Pilate said to Him: What is truth? And these things he again went out to Judea and said to them: I find not a single guilt in Him. There is a custom for you, so that I will release one thing to you on Easter: do you want, then, that I will release to you the King of the Jews? Then she cried out again, saying: not this one, but Barabbas. Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate watered Jesus and beat Him. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns, placed it on His head, and clothed Him in a scarlet robe, and said: Hail, King of the Jews! and beat Him on His cheek. Then Pilate went out again and said to them: Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, so that you may understand that in Him I find not a single guilt. Out went Jesus, wearing a crown of thorns and a scarlet robe. And the verb to them: behold, Man. When the bishop and servants saw Him, they cried out, saying: Crucify, crucify Him. Pilate said to them: catch Him and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him. The Jews answered him: we are imams of the law, and according to our law we must die, because we have created for ourselves the Son of God. When Pilate heard this word, he was more afraid, and went into the praetor again, and the verb of Jesus: Where are you from? Jesus did not give him an answer. Pilate said to Him: “Are you not speaking to me?” Do you not think that the imam has the power to crucify you, and the imam has the power to let you go? Answer Jesus: Have no power over Me unless it is given from above: for this reason, I have given Me over to you to commit a greater sin. For this reason Pilate sought to let Him go. But the Jews cried out, saying: If you let this go, bear it as a friend of Caesar: everyone who creates a king for himself resists Caesar. Pilate, having heard this word, brought Jesus out, and sat at the trial, on the spot we say lithostroton, in Hebrew Gabbatha. It’s almost five o’clock, and it’s almost six o’clock. And the verb Iudeom: behold, your King. They cried out: take him, take him, crucify him. Verb named after Pilate: Shall I crucify your king? The bishop answered: not the imams of the king, only of Caesar. Then he handed Him over to them, so that He might be crucified.

Fifth Gospel.
From Matthew ch. 27, art. 3-32.

IN About the time it was seen that Judas betrayed Jesus, having condemned Him, he repented and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the bishop and the elder, saying: “You have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They decide: what should we eat? you will see. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the church, and went away and hanged himself. The bishop accepted the pieces of silver, deciding: it is unworthy to put them in a corvan, since there is a price for blood. He created the council, bought with them the village of the poor, for a strange burial: and that village was called the village of blood, to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet will be fulfilled, saying: And having received thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was prized by the children of Israel, I gave to the poor in the village, as the Lord told me. Jesus is one hundred before the hegemon. And the hegemon asked Him, saying: Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said to him: You speak. And when the bishops and elders say nothing, they answer nothing. Then Pilate said to Him: Have you not heard how many people testify against You? And without answering him in a single verb, as if the hegemon was greatly amazed. On every holiday, it is customary for the hegemon to release one bond to the people, his own desire: then the name is then tied deliberately, the verb Barabbas. To those who had gathered, Pilate said to them: whomever you want I will release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus, the spoken Christ? You know that you betrayed Him out of envy. And as I sat at his trial, his wife sent him to him, saying: nothing to you and to the Righteous One: for you have suffered much today in a dream for His sake. The bishop and elders told the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. Having answered the hegemon, he said to them: Whom do you want from both of us will I release to you? They decided: Barabbas. The verb to them is Pilate: what shall I do to Jesus, the spoken Christ? I told him everything: let him be crucified. The hegemon said: what evil have you done? They cried out too much, saying: let him drink away. Seeing that Pilate succeeds in nothing, but that there is more rumor, he receives water and hands his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent from the blood of this Righteous One: you will see. And all the people answered and decided: His blood be on us and on our children. Then release Barabbas to them; beat Jesus and hand him over to them, so that they may kill Him. Then the warriors of the hegemon, having received Jesus at the judgment, gathered together the whole multitude of warriors: and they drew Him off, and clothed Him with a scarlet robe: and woven a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and a reed on His right hand: and bowed down on the knee before Him, I curse at Him, saying: Rejoice, King of the Jews. And he spat on Him, took up the reed, and struck His head. And when she mocked Him, she took off the scarlet robe from Him and clothed Him in His garments: and led Him to die. From there I found a man of Cyrene, named Simon: and therefore I decided to bear His cross.

Sixth Gospel.
From Mark ch. 15, art. 16-32.

IN About the time it came, the soldiers brought Jesus into the courtyard, who was the praetor, and summoned the whole army. And she clothed Him with hair, and put on Him a crown of thorns. And she began to kiss Him and say: Rejoice, King of the Jews. And I struck His head with a reed and spit on Him: and I bowed the knee to worship Him. And when she had mocked Him, she stripped Him of her clothes and clothed Him in His robe: and they brought Him out, that they might punish Him. And he touched a passing certain Simon Cyrene, coming from the village, Father Alexandrov and Rufus, so that he might take up His cross. And they brought Him to Golgotha, a place, so to speak, the Place of Execution. And I give Him permission to drink this wine. He’s not pleasant. And those who crucified Him divided His garments, casting lots for them as to who would take what. It was almost three o'clock, and crucified Him. And without the writing of His guilt it is written: King of the Jews. And two thieves were crucified with Him: one on His right hand and one on His left side. And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says: And be reckoned with the wicked. And those who pass by blaspheme Him, nodding their heads and saying: wow, destroy the church and build it up in three days: save yourself and come down from the cross. In the same way, the bishop, swearing at each other with the scribes, said: “He saved others, but can’t he save himself?” May Christ, the King of Israel, descend today from the cross, so that we may see and have faith in Him.

Seventh Gospel.
From Matthew ch. 27, art. 34-54.

IN About the time it came, the soldiers came to the place called Golgotha, which is the place of Kranie: and when Jesus gave the drink, the drink was mixed with bile: and the taste was not thirsty. They crucified Him and divided His garments, casting lots: and He sat as His guard: and they laid His iniquity on the top of His head, writing: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Then two thieves crucified with Him: one on the right hand and one on the left. Those passing by blaspheme Him, nodding their heads and saying: destroy the church and build in three days, save yourself: if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise, the bishop, quarreling with the scribes and elders and Pharisees, said: He saved others, but cannot save himself? If there is a King of Israel, let him come down today from the cross, and we believe in Him. I trust in God: may He deliver Him now, if He wills. I say that I am the Son of God. Likewise, the thief crucified with Him was reproached by Him. From the sixth hour darkness came over all the earth until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying: Or, Or, lima sabachani? It is: My God, My God, have you forsaken me in all things? And the netsies from those who stood heard the verb, as Elijah spoke: and he flowed alone from them, and received his lip, having fulfilled his duty, and stuck it on the reed, girding Him. The rest said: leave, so that we may see if Elijah comes to save Him. Jesus, having cried out with a great voice, gave up the ghost. And behold, the veil of the church was torn in two from the highest to the lowest: and the earth shook, and the stone was disintegrated: and the tombs were opened: and many bodies of the fallen saints arose, and coming out of the tomb, after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and those with him who were watching Jesus, seeing the coward and being greatly afraid, said: Truly this is the Son of God.

Eighth Gospel.
From Luke ch. 23, art. 32-49.

IN About the time it came, the leader was with Jesus and two other villains were killed with Him. And when he came to the place called Skull, he crucified Him and the villain, one on the right hand, and the other on the left, and Jesus said: Father, let them go: for they do not know what they are doing. Dividing His garments, the cast of lots. And I stand people can see. The princes also cursed with them, saying: He saved others, and may He save Himself, if He is the chosen Christ of God. The soldiers also cursed Him, approaching and acknowledging what was coming to Him, and saying: If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself. - And the writing was written over Him in Hellenic and Roman and Jewish writings: This is the King of the Jews. One of the evildoers who promised him blasphemed Him, saying: If You are the Christ, save Yourself and ours. - Having answered the other, he forbade him, saying: Do you not fear God, for you are condemned to the same thing? And we are in truth: worthy in deed perceived: This one has not done a single evil. - And Jesus said: remember me, Lord, when you come to the Kingdom . And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to you, today you will be with Me in heaven. As soon as the hour was six, and darkness was over all the earth until the hour of the ninth: and the sun grew darker, and the veil of the church was rent in the midst. And Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying: Father, in Your hands I commend My spirit. And this river, published. - When the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying: Truly this man was righteous. - And all those who came for the sake of this shame, seeing what happens, beating their perseverance, return. - I stood, all who knew Him from afar, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, seeing this.

Canon.

Song 5. TO To you in the morning, for the sake of mercy, you have exhausted yourself immutably and dispassionately bowed down to the passions, the Word of God: give peace to those who have fallen, O lover of mankind.

Chorus: WITH lava to you, our God, glory to you.

U having washed our feet and pre-cleansed ourselves by the sacraments of the Divine now, Thy Christ, the minister from Zion to the great Mount of Olives ascended with Thee, singing to Thee, O Lover of Man.

Z Say, say, friends, do not be afraid: now, for the hour of My life is drawing near, and I will slay the hands of the wicked: but you are all scattered, having left Me, and I will gather them together to preach Me, the Lover of Man.

Canto 8. WITH The Divine Fathers have denounced a ton of wickedness against God: the reeling, lawless congregation advises in vain against Christ, the belly of Him who holds His hand is taught to kill, Whom all creation will bless, glorifying forever.

ABOUT So, as a disciple, now shake off the dream that you have been saying, O Christ, be vigilant in prayer, so that you do not enter into adversity, and especially Simon: to the strongest of the most painful temptations: understand Me, Peter, Whom you will bless all creation, glorifying forever.

WITH I will never say the worst words to You, Master: I will die with You, as I am prudent, even if all are rejected, cry Peter: neither flesh, nor blood, but Your Father, reveal You, Whom will all creation bless, glorifying forever.

G You have not fully experienced the depth of Divine wisdom and reason, but you have not comprehended the abyss of My destinies, O man, the Lord speaks: O humble flesh, do not boast: for having denied Me three times, He will bless all creation, glorifying Him forever.

ABOUT You are three, Simon Peter, who will quickly do as he said, and one young woman will come to you and frighten you, the Lord says: the mountaineer shed tears, finding Me both merciful, Whom will bless all creation, glorifying forever.

Canto 9. H The most natural Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, we magnify Thee as the real Mother of God.

P The evil assembly of the abominable, deceitful God-killers is presented to the host, Christ, to You, and as the unrighteous are drawn to the Creator of all, we magnify Him.

Z the law does not understand wickedness, with a prophetic voice he learns in vain, as a sheep, I draw You, the Lord, to unrighteously slay all, Whom we magnify.

I I betrayed the published Life with the scribes of the murder of the priestess, wounded by self-envying malice, by the nature of the Life-Giver, Whom we magnify.

ABOUT I was like a lot of psychos, and I struck, O King, Your cheek with a blow: I asked You, but You bore false witness: and having endured everything, You saved everyone.

Exapostilary.

R You have vouchsafed the prudent robber in one hour of heaven, O Lord: and enlighten me with the tree of the cross and save me.

Ninth Gospel.
From John ch. 19, art. 25-37.

IN About that time, I stood at the cross of Jesus, His Mother and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleopas and Mary Magdalene. Jesus, seeing the Mother and the disciple standing, loved him, saying to His Mother: Woman, behold, your son. Then he said to the disciple: behold, your Mother. And from that hour the disciple sang in his own way. Therefore, Jesus knew that everything had already been accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saying: I thirst. The vessel is standing full. They filled their lips with their lips and stood on their reeds, coming to His mouth. When Jesus receives the word, he says: it is finished. And bow your head, surrender your spirit. But the Jews, who had little heels, may not have their bodies left on the cross on the Sabbath, for that Sabbath day is great, praying to Pilate, that their legs may be broken and lifted up. The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with Him. But she came to Jesus, as if she had seen Him already dead, without breaking His legs: but one of the warriors with a spear pierced His ribs and came out blood and water. And he who has seen the testimony, and his testimony is true, and the message is that it speaks the truth, so that you may have faith. For this to happen, let the Scripture be fulfilled: a bone will not be broken from Him. And again another Scripture says: they will look upon Him, Who has given birth.

On Maundy Thursday in the evening, or, better to say, on the night of Good Friday, a special service is performed according to the rite of Matins with the reading of the 12 Gospels about the Passion of the Lord, alternating with appropriate chants. The 12 readable Gospels set out the entire story of the Lord’s suffering - from the farewell conversation with the disciples at the Last Supper to the removal from the Cross and burial of the Lord’s Body by Joseph and Nicodemus in the presence of the myrrh-bearing women. Let us consider in more detail the content of this service, which takes us to Golgotha.

Jerusalem. Calvary

Matins begins as usual. After the Six Psalms and the Great Litany, “Alleluia” is sung with sweet singing and the troparion “When the Glory of the Disciple” is sung, as on the eve of Great Wednesday. The temple is filled with candles in hands. At the end of the troparion and the small litany, the Lord’s farewell conversation with His disciples is read in full from the Gospel of John: “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him...” Despite the length of the conversation, it is listened to with unflagging attention and tenderness each time as something new. The author of these lines has the happiness and great joy during his 40-year priesthood to read this conversation of the Savior 37 times, and each time with the same tenderness and consolation. We have given a detailed account of the Lord’s farewell conversation elsewhere in our manuscript, and we will not repeat it. Between the first six Gospels, 15 hymns called antiphons are sung, with three antiphons between Gospels. After every three antiphons, a small ektenia is pronounced and a sedalene is sung. The first antiphon begins with the words: “The princes of mankind gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.” “You have laid the word of transgression upon Me, O Lord, Lord, do not forsake Me.” “Let us present our feelings pure to Christ,” the first antiphon says, “and, as friends, let us sacrifice our souls to Him. Let us not, like Judas, be overwhelmed by the cares of life, but from the depths of our hearts let us pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, deliver us from the evil one!”

“Judas hastens to the lawless scribes. - What will you give me and I will hand Him over to you? In the midst of those conferring, invisibly stood the One about whom they were conferring: Knower of the heart, Lord, have mercy on our souls!”

“Let us serve God with love, like Mary at the supper, and let us not be lovers of money, like Judas: let us always be with Christ our God!”

“After the resurrection of Lazarus, the Jewish children exclaimed: Hosanna to you! But the lawless Judas did not want to understand this.”

“At the Last Supper You predicted to Your disciples: one of you will betray Me. But the lawless Judas did not want to understand this!

“To John’s question: who will betray you? “You pointed out the traitor with bread, but the lawless Judas did not want to understand this!”

“When you washed the disciples’ feet, you commanded them, O Lord: you too do what you see. But the lawless Judas did not want to understand this!

“Watch and pray so as not to fall into temptation,” You told Your disciples, but the lawless Judas did not want to understand this!

The Second Gospel is also read from John: about the capture of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, about His interrogation by the high priest Anna and about Peter’s threefold denial. The opposite psychology of the two apostles is involuntarily contrasted - the gloomy Judas, frozen in his motionless despair, and the repentant, crying, soft and pure in heart Petra! At further antiphons, touching chants are sung: “Today Judas leaves the Teacher and accepts the devil, is blinded by the love of money, falls away from the light; and how can he see, having sold the Source of Light for thirty pieces of silver? But, having suffered for the world, shine upon us who cry out to You: you who suffered and have compassion for people, glory to You!”

“Today the Creator of heaven and earth said to His disciples: The hour has come, Judas is coming to betray Me. Let no one deny Me, seeing Me on the Cross between two thieves: I suffer as a man and, as a Lover of Mankind, I will save those who believe in Me!”

“Today the Jews are nailing the Lord to the Cross, who cut the sea with a rod and led them into the desert. Today they pierce His side with a spear, who covered Egypt with plagues for their sake. And they gave the bile to the one who had rained down the manna for them to eat.”

“Going into the free Passion, You said to the disciples: if you could not watch with Me for even one hour, then how can you promise to die for Me? Look at Judas, how he does not sleep, trying to betray Me to the lawless. Stand up, pray, let none of you refuse Me, seeing Me on the Cross.”

In the next sedalna the Church sings: “What reason made you, Judas, a traitor? Have you been excommunicated from the apostolic rank? Or were you deprived of the gift of healing? Or, sharing food with others, you were removed from the meal? Or, washing the feet of others, you were passed over? How many benefits you forget about! In all this, your ungrateful disposition and the Lord’s immeasurable patience are revealed!”

The third Gospel is read from Matthew - about the trial of the Lord by Caiaphas, about the testimony of false witnesses: about the direct question of the high priest: “I adjure You by the living God, tell us, Are you the Christ, the Son of God?” And about the affirmative answer of the Lord; about the indignation of the high priest, and about the unanimous decision of the Sanhedrin to put Christ to death for blasphemy. Mockery of Christ. Peter's denial.

After the third Gospel, the 7th, 8th and 9th antiphons are sung.

Then the fourth Gospel is read - from John: Christ is led from Caiaphas to Pilate, but they enter the Praetorium so as not to be desecrated in view of the upcoming Easter. Pilate came out to them. Interrogation of Christ by Pilate. Pilate does not find any guilt in Him and wants to release Him according to custom for the sake of the Easter holiday. The Jews demand the release not of Christ, but of Barabbas. Pilate subjects Christ to scourging and abuse. In a desecrated form he brings Him out to the Jews. But they demand the death of Christ even more fiercely. After some resistance, Pilate “gave Him over to them to be crucified.”

Antiphons 10, 11 and 12 are sung, their content corresponding to the Gospel read.

“He who dresses himself in Light, like a robe, stands naked in judgment and receives blows on the cheek from the hands He created. The Lord of Glory is nailed to the Cross. The church veil is torn, the sun is darkening, unable to bear the outrage against God, before Whom everything trembles; let us worship Him!”

“For the good You showed to the Jewish race, they condemned You to crucifixion, and gave You gall and vinegar to drink. But reward them, Lord, according to their deeds, because they did not understand Your condescension.”

“Neither the shaking of the earth, nor the crumbling stones, nor the church veil, nor the resurrection of the dead convinced the Jews. Reward them, Lord, according to their deeds for the evil they have done.”

“This is what the Lord says to the Jews: My people! What have I done to you? Or how did he offend you? I healed your blind, cleansed your lepers, raised up the weak... My people, what have I done to you? And what did you repay Me with? For manna - bile; for water – otset; Instead of loving Me, they nailed Me to the Cross!.. I can’t stand this anymore - I will call My pagans, and they will glorify Me with the Father and the Spirit, and I will give them eternal life.”

After the sedal, the Fifth Gospel of Matthew is read - about the suicide of Judas and the subsequent trial by Pilate. Intervention of Pilate's wife. Pilate washes his hands. “His blood be on us and on our children!” Departure to the place of execution. After the Gospel, the last antiphons of the 13th, 14th and 15th are sung. “Christ, God’s Power and God’s Wisdom, before Whom everything is terrified and trembles, and Whom every people sings, the priests strike Him on the cheek and give Him gall. And He is ready to suffer everything in order to save us from our iniquities through His Blood.”

“Lord, You have chosen as Your companion a robber whose hands were stained with blood: accept us also according to Your love for mankind!”

“The thief on the Cross said a few words, but he acquired great faith, was saved in an instant, and was the first to open the gates of heaven and enter them: Glory to Thee, who accepted His repentance!”

“Today he hangs on a tree, hanging the earth on the waters. The King of Angels is crowned with thorns, the King is clothed in false scarlet, covering the sky with clouds. He accepts the stranglehold that freed Adam in the Jordan. The church groom is nailed down with nails. The Son of the Virgin is pierced by a spear. We worship Your Passion, Christ! (3 times). Show us also Your glorious Resurrection!” After the small ectenia, the sedalene is sung: “You redeemed us from the curse of the law with Your most pure Blood, nailed to the Cross and pierced by a spear, and granted people immortality! Glory to You, our Savior!”

Then the Sixth Gospel of Mark is read. The soldiers' mockery of Christ in Pilate's courtyard and the procession to Golgotha ​​are described. Along the way, the Cross is placed on an oncoming villager, Simon of Cyrene. At Golgotha, the Lord's vestments are divided among the warriors by lot. They give Him wine to drink “esmirnismeno” - mixed with myrrh. “He’s not nice.” On both sides of Him they crucify two thieves and place above Him the inscription of His guilt: “To the King and the Jews.” Passers-by and priests mock Him: “He saved others, but cannot save himself?” “Come down from the Cross, and we will believe You!”

The singing of the antiphons ended. The Beatitudes are sung with stichera. After the small ektenia, instead of the luminary, the prokeimenon is sung: “I have divided My garments for myself, and cast lots for My clothing.” - "God! My God! wonmi mi! Thou hast forsaken Me!” The feeling of being abandoned by God as a consequence of taking upon Himself the full weight of original sin weighed heavily on the soul of the Crucified One.

The Seventh Gospel of Matthew is read. It talks about the arrival of the soldiers with Christ at Golgotha ​​and everything else, as in the previous narrative of Ev. Brand. From the 6th hour to the 9th hour darkness covers the earth. At the 9th hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani.” These words were not clear to everyone. One of the soldiers, having soaked a sponge in vinegar, brought it on a reed to the lips of Jesus. Having cried out loudly again, Jesus gives up the ghost. The church curtain is torn, the earth shakes, the stones fall apart. The coffins are opened - many dead are resurrected and appear to many in the city. The centurion and others with him, seeing what was happening, said: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” The 50th Psalm is read, giving some respite from the difficult Golgotha ​​experiences. After the psalm, the Gospel is read again - the eighth, from Luke, again about the crucifixion. Jesus prays: “Father, let them go! They don’t know what they’re doing!” Again, bullying from the people, soldiers and leaders. One of the robbers also takes part in them, but the other robber holds him back and turns to Jesus in prayer, who promises him paradise along with Himself. Meanwhile, darkness covers the earth from the sixth hour to the ninth. At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out loudly: “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.” And he died. Seeing what was happening, the centurion standing at the Cross said: “Truly this man was a righteous man.” And all the people who had gathered for the spectacle, seeing what was happening, went home, beating their chests. Everyone who knew Him stood there and looked from afar, including the women who accompanied Him from Galilee.

After the Eighth Gospel, the singing of the Trisong begins (i.e., a canon with a reduced number of songs - instead of nine there are only three), compiled by Cosmos of Maium: “To Thee the morning mercy, who immutably poured forth mercy for Thyself and dispassionately bowed down to the passions, grant me peace to the Word of God, fallen, Lover of Mankind." “Having washed their feet and been cleansed by the communion of Your Divine Sacrament, Your servants, O Christ, ascend with You from Zion to the great Mount of Olives.” “Look, friends,” You told them, do not be afraid: the hour has come for Me to be taken and killed by the hands of the lawless. You will all scatter and leave Me, but I will gather you so that you will preach about My love for mankind.”

Kondak: “Come, let us glorify the Crucified One for our sake!” Seeing Him on the Cross, Maria said: although You endure crucifixion, You are also My Son and My God!”

And to about s: “Seeing Her Lamb being drawn to the slaughter, Maria, letting down her hair, followed Him with other women, exclaiming: where are you going, Child? Why the haste? Does the second marriage take place in Cana of Galilee? And You rush there to turn water into wine? Should I also go with You? Or wait for you? Say a word to Me, do not silently pass by Me, which You have kept in purity: for You are both the Son and My God!

Song 8: “The divine youths have denounced the pillar of malice against God: but the reeling lawless congregation advises in vain against Christ, the belly of the one who holds the hand is taught to kill: With it he will bless all creation, glorifying forever.”

“Drive away sleepiness from your eyes,” Christ said to the disciples, “do not weaken in prayer, lest you fall into temptation, and especially you, Simone! The stronger the greater the temptation! Understand, Peter, Me, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies forever!”

“I will never say a single bad word to You, Lord! “I will die with You, even if everyone turns away from You,” Peter exclaimed. “It was not flesh and blood, but Your Father who revealed You to me, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies forever.”

“You have not fully experienced the depth of divine wisdom and intelligence and have not comprehended the abyss of My destinies, man,” said the Lord. “Being flesh, do not boast: you will deny Me three times, Whom all creation blesses and glorifies forever.”

Song 9: “The most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison the Seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, the real Mother of God we magnify Thee.”

After the three-song, the famous luminary is sung, especially revealing the art and feelings of our church singers and especially touching those praying: “Thou hast vouchsafed the prudent thief in one hour to heaven, O Lord: and enlighten me with the tree of the cross and save me!” Listening to the Three Songs and the Lights, we enter into a special depth of feelings and experiences evoked in us by the service of Holy Week.

Every moment of these experiences resonates deeply in our hearts, but does not give rise to us either a feeling of horror and fear of the coming wrath of God, or a feeling of expectation of a terrible, merciless execution. On the contrary, our heart, overflowing with deep compassion and love, remains filled with deep peace and joy, plunging into the vast abyss of Divine love and condescension for the human race!

After the luminary, the Ninth Gospel (from John) is read. At the Cross of the Lord stood His Mother, and Mary of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene, and the beloved disciple John. The Lord entrusts His Mother to John, and John adopts His Mother as son. And from that day John took the Mother of His Lord into his home. Jesus Christ was thirsty. One of the soldiers, soaking a sponge in vinegar and sticking it on a cane, quenched His thirst. Having said: “It is finished,” the Lord gave up his ghost.

Since it was Friday and Saturday was approaching, which coincided with Easter that year, the Jews, not wanting to leave their bodies on the crosses on such a day, asked Pilate for permission to break the legs of the crucified and remove their bodies from the crosses. Pilate allowed it. The legs of the robbers who were still alive were broken. But Christ, who had already died, was not broken in the legs, but only one of the soldiers struck Him with a spear, and blood and water flowed from the wound. Thus the prophecies were fulfilled: “A bone will not be broken by Him” and “they will look at Him Whom they pierced.”

After the 9th Gospel, psalms of praise are read and stichera of praise are sung: “My firstborn son Israel did two wicked things: He abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, and dug for himself a worthless well. He crucified me on a tree, but he begged Barabbas and let him go! The sky was horrified at this, and the Sun hid its rays, but you, Israel, were not ashamed and put Me to death: forgive them, Holy Father, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Each member of Your most pure Flesh suffered reproach for us: the head is a thorn; face - spitting; cheeks - strangling; the lips received bile dissolved in vinegar; ears - wicked blasphemies; shoulders - flagellation; hands - cane; the whole body is prostrate on the cross; hands and feet - nails; ribs - copy. You who suffered for us and freed us from passions, who condescended to us in mercy and exalted us, Almighty Lord, have mercy on us!”

“Seeing You crucified, all creation trembled; The foundations of the earth shook from the fear of Your power... The Jewish race perished, the church veil was torn in two, and the dead rose from their graves... The centurion, seeing the miracle, was horrified; and Your Mother, sobbing loudly, exclaimed: “How can I not weep and be tormented at heart, seeing You naked, like a criminal, hanging on the Cross! Crucified, buried and risen from the dead, Lord, glory to You!

After the stichera, the Tenth Gospel of Mark is read: Joseph of Arimathea dared to go to Pilate and ask for the Body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised that He had already died, and, calling the centurion, learned from him that Christ had indeed died and allowed Joseph to take the Body. Joseph bought a shroud, took the Body from the Cross, wrapped Him in the shroud, and placed Him in a new tomb, carved out of stone, in his garden. And he rolled the stone to the door of the tomb. At the same time, Mary Magdalene and Mary of Joseph (i.e., the Mother of God) were present and looked where they laid Him.

The Great Doxology on this day is not sung, but read. After the petitionary ectenia, the Eleventh Gospel, according to John, is read. According to this Gospel, Joseph, the secret disciple of Christ, “for fear of the Jews,” asks Pilate for the Body and Sou. Pilate gives permission to take it. Nicodemus also came and brought with him aromas. They took the Body of Jesus and wrapped it in clothes with aromas, as is customary among the Jews. In that place there was a garden, and in the garden there was a new coffin in which no one had yet been laid. There, for the sake of Jewish Friday, since the tomb was close, they laid Jesus.

After the Gospel, verse stichera are sung: “The whole creation changes with fear, seeing You hanging on the Cross: the sun has darkened, the foundations of the earth have shaken, everything has compassion for the Creator of everything; You who endured everything for us, glory to You!”

“Lord, when You ascended the Cross, fear and trembling gripped all creation; You forbade the earth to swallow up those who crucified You, but you commanded hell to release the prisoners, Judge of the living and the dead, who came to renew people, to give them life and not death - Lover of mankind, glory to You!

“The reed for judgment is already being wetted; Jesus is judged by unrighteous judges and condemned to the Cross; all creation suffers, seeing the Lord on the Cross. But, having accepted our bodily nature and suffering for my sake, good Lord, glory to Thee!”

The Twelfth Gospel according to Matthew is read. “On the morning of the next day, after Friday, the bishops and Pharisees gathered to Pilate and said: we remembered that this deceiver promised to rise on the third day. Order that the tomb be guarded until the third day, so that His disciples, coming at night, do not steal the Body and tell people that He has risen from the dead and the last deception will be worse than the first. Pilate answered: You have a guard - go, guard as best you can. They went, sealed the coffin and set a guard!” After the reading of the Trisagion, the troparion of the day is sung: “You redeemed us from the curse of the law with Your Most Pure Blood, nailed to the Cross and pierced by a spear, and granted people immortality, glory to You!” Then follows the usual end of Matins, without the first hour, which is transferred to the next morning.

The service of the 12 Gospels is of central importance in the worship of the entire Holy Week. It describes and remembers all the amazing events of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday night and Good Friday.

A series of great events pass before us: the Last Supper, the washing of feet, the establishment of the Sacrament of Communion, prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, taking into custody and the whole painful night of interrogations, bullying, abuse and beatings inflicted on the Lord, Peter’s denial, condemnation of the Lord to death, confirmation of the sentence Pilate, the procession to Golgotha, the crucifixion and death of the Lord, the burial of His Body in the garden of Joseph of Arimathea, the sealing of the grave and its protection by guards. Liturgical chants almost do not touch the dogmatic meaning of Golgotha, do not give its dogmatic interpretation, but it is clearly felt by the believer and the loving heart. There is no talk of the wrath of God, no fear of the punishing hand of God. One feels only the sacrifice of boundless love for humanity, and, moreover, the love not only of the Suffering Son of God, but also of God the Father who sent this suffering. “God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17). This is what the Evangelion says, this is what the service of Holy Week says, even in its most sorrowful and shocking moments. This is the Orthodox perception of Golgotha.

“My soul, my soul, arise!” Open your eyes and rise from the bed of hell; decide to serve the living God and the truth, as you have hitherto served as an idol of the passions; and everything else is already ready for your salvation. The Gospel is ready to admonish you in all cases of life; the precious garment of Christ's merits is ready to cover your spiritual nakedness; The Body and Blood of the Son of God is ready to satisfy your hunger; The oil and balm are ready to heal your wounds; the almighty grace of the Holy Spirit is ready to strengthen your weak strength; Gogov is the very crown to crown your small deeds. “Rise up, may Christ God have mercy on you.” Do you hear how He speaks with the voice of the Gospel from His heavenly supper: “And there is still room” (Luke 15:22). This is the place for you and me, my soul! Let us hasten to become worthy of it, before midnight comes, before the doors of the palace are shut, and before the oil in the lamp of our life goes out! Amen.

Innokenty, apxep. Kherson

April 28 is a special day this year - Maundy Thursday. In our Temple in the morning the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, and in the evening - reading of the 12 Gospels of the Holy Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lent is over. Holy Week is underway - the Holy Days have arrived. Maundy or Maundy Thursday, on this day we remember the established at the Last Supper Jesus Christ, the Sacrament of the Eucharist, during which all believers, under the guise of bread and wine, taste the true Body and Blood Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper, the Lord broke bread and, having blessed it, gave it to the apostles with the words: “This is My Body, which is for you are pre-yet-sya; do this in My honor.” Taking the cup and blessing it, he said: “Drink from it, everyone; For this is My Blood for the remission of sins.”

In the evening the 12 Passion Gospels were read. Amazing services. It is no coincidence that they are so concentrated, quiet and unusually strong. These Holy days have been embedded in our lives since childhood. It is so amazing that we no longer just say that we know - yes, God exists, but we empathize and through this we believe and trust in Christ the Son of God.

“I carry a passionate candle from the Gospels, look at the flickering light: it is holy. It’s a quiet night, but I’m very afraid: it will go out! If I bring it, I’ll live until next year. The old cook is glad that I brought it. She washes her hands, takes the holy light, lights our lamp, and we go to burn crosses. We burn them over the kitchen door, then on the cellar, in the barn... It seems to me that Christ is in our yard, and in the barn, and in the cellar, and everywhere in the black cross from mine. candles - Christ has come. And everything we do is for Him. The yard is cleaned, and all the corners are cleaned, even under the canopy. These are extraordinary days. Christ's days. Now I’m not afraid of anything: I walk through the dark hallways - and nothing, because Christ is everywhere.” (“The Summer of the Lord” by Ivan Shmelev)