Τὰ Ἐγκώμια The Lamentations

Στασις Αʹ. First Stanza. Mode pl. 1.

Ἡ ζωὴ ἐν τάφῳ, κατετέθης Χριστέ, καὶ Ἀγγέλων στρατιαὶ ἐξεπλήττοντο,

συγκατάβασιν δοξάζουσαι τὴν σήν.

In the tomb they laid you, you, O Christ, who are Life; in amazement angel armies lift up their song, as they glorify your self‐abasement, Lord.

Ἡ ζωὴ πῶς θνῄσκεις; πῶς καὶ τάφῳ οἰκεῖς; τοῦ θανάτου τὸ βασίλειον λύεις δέ, καὶ τοῦ ᾍδου τοὺς νεκροὺς ἐξανιστᾷς.

Life, how can you perish, or how dwell in a tomb? Yet the royal hall of Death you now bring to naught, and from Hadesʹ realm you raise the dead again.

Μεγαλύνομέν σε, Ἰησοῦ Βασιλεῦ, καὶ τιμῶμεν τὴν Ταφὴν καὶ τὰ Πάθη σου, διʹ ὧν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς φθορᾶς.

Now we magnify you, O Lord Jesus our King; we pay honor to your Passion and burial, for from foul corruption you saved us through them.

Μέτρα γῆς ὁ στήσας, ἐν σμικρῷ κατοικεῖς, Ἰησοῦ παμβασιλεῦ τάφῳ σήμερον, ἐκ μνημάτων τοὺς θανέντας ἀνιστῶν.

King of all, O Jesus, who established earthʹs bounds, on this day you make your home in a little tomb, raising up the dead of ages from their graves.

Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ μου, Βασιλεῦ τοῦ παντός, τί ζητῶν τοῖς ἐν τῷ ᾍδη ἐλήλυθας; ἢ τὸ γένος ἀπολῦσαι τῶν βροτῶν;

O my Christ, my Jesus, king and monarch of all, seeking what have you descended to those in Hell? Was it not to liberate the mortal race?

Ὁ Δεσπότης πάντων, καθορᾶται νεκρός, καὶ ἐν μνήματι καινῷ κατατίθεται, ὁ κενώσας τὰ μνημεῖα τῶν νεκρῶν.

He who governs all things here is seen as a corpse. New the grave in which the body is laid to rest, of the one who empties graves of all their dead.

Ἡ ζωὴ ἐν τάφῳ κατετέθης Χριστέ, καὶ θανάτῳ σου τὸν θάνατον ὤλεσας,

καὶ ἐπήγασας τῷ Κόσμῳ, τὴν ζωήν.

In the tomb they laid you, you, O Christ who are Life. Death itself you brought to nothing by your own death, and became the fount of life for all the world.

Μετὰ τῶν κακούργων, ὡς κακοῦργος Χριστέ, ἑλογίσθης δικαιῶν ἡμᾶς ἅπαντας, κακουργίας τοῦ ἀρχαίου πτερνιστοῦ.

Guilty with the guilty, you were judged, O my Christ, at the moment you wrought justice for all of us from the ancient tricksterʹs foul and evil deeds.

Ὁ ὡραῖος κάλλει, παρὰ πάντας βροτούς, ὡς ἀνείδεος νεκρὸς καταφαίνεται, ὁ τὴν φύσιν ὡραΐσας τοῦ παντός.

Fairer he in beauty than are all mortal kind, now a corpse we see unsightly, bereft of form, he who beautified the nature of all things.

ᾍδης πῶς ὑποίσει, Σῶτερ παρουσίαν τὴν σήν, καὶ μὴ θᾶττον συνθλασθείη σκοτούμενος, ἀστραπῆς φωτός σου αἴγλῃ ἐκτυφλωθείς;

How could Hell endure it when in splendor you came, and how not be swiftly shattered and plunged in dark, blinded by the blazing glory of your light?

Ἰησοῦ γλυκύ μοι, καὶ σωτήριον φῶς, τάφῳ πῶς ἐν σκοτεινῷ κατακέκρυψαι; ὢ ἀφάτου, καὶ ἀρρήτου ἀνοχῆς!

Light that saves, O Jesus, you are sweetness to me. In the darkness of the grave how can you lie hid, O forbearance that no language can express?

Ἀπορεῖ καὶ φύσις, νοερὰ καὶ πληθύς, ἡ ἀσώματος Χριστὲ τὸ μυστήριον, τῆς ἀφράστου καὶ ἀρρήτου σου ταφῆς.

Angels are bewildered, and the bodiless host at a loss, O Christ, before that great mystery: your ineffable entombment beyond speech.

Ὢ θαυμάτων ξένων! ὢ πραγμάτων καινῶν! Ὁ πνοῆς μοι χορηγὸς ἄπνους φέρεται, κηδευόμενος χερσὶ τοῦ Ἰωσήφ.

O most strange of wonders! What new deeds we now see! He who gave me my lifeʹs breath lies unbreathing now, borne to burial at noble Josephʹs hands.

Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι.

Καὶ ἐν τάφῳ ἔδυς, καὶ τῶν κόλπων Χριστὲ τῶν πατρῴων οὐδαμῶς ἀπεφοίτησας, τοῦτο ξένον καὶ παράδοξον ὁμοῦ.

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

Like the sun when setting, to the tomb you descend; yet, O Christ, your Fatherʹs bosom you do not leave. What strange paradox, what wondrous thing this is!

Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

Ἀληθὴς καὶ πόλου, καὶ τῆς γῆς Βασιλεύς, εἰ καὶ τάφῳ σμικροτάτῳ συγκέκλεισαι, ἐπεγνώσθης πάσῃ κτίσει Ἰησοῦ.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.Amen.

As the skyʹs true monarch, as true king of the earth, though enclosed within the

narrowest sepulcher, you were known by all creation, Jesus Lord.

(Καὶ πάλιν τὸ πρῶτον.) (End with the first one again.)

Ἡ ζωὴ ἐν τάφῳ, κατετέθης Χριστέ, καὶ Ἀγγέλων στρατιαὶ ἐξεπλήττοντο,

συγκατάβασιν δοξάζουσαι τὴν σήν.

In the tomb they laid you, you, O Christ, who are Life; in amazement angel

armies lift up their song, as they glorify your self‐abasement, Lord.

Στασις Βʹ. Ἦχος πλ. αʹ. Second Stanza. Mode pl. 1.

Ἄξιόν ἐστι, μεγαλύνειν σε τὸν Ζωοδότην, τὸν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ τὰς χεῖρας ἐκτείναντα, καὶ συντρίψαντα τὸ κράτος τοῦ ἐχθροῦ.

It is right indeed we should magnify the one who grants life. You that stretched

your hands wide upon the Cross broke and smashed the might and power of the foe.

 Ἄξιόν ἐστι, μεγαλύνειν σε τὸν πάντων Κτίστην· τοῖς σοῖς γὰρ παθήμασιν ἔχομεν, τὴν ἀπάθειανῥυσθέντες τῆς φθορᾶς.

It is right indeed you to magnify who fashion all things. Your pains from corruption deliver us, and your Passion grantsdispassion to our souls.

Ἔφριξεν ἡ γῆ, καὶ ὁ ἥλιος Σῶτερ ἐκρύβη, σοῦ τοῦ ἀνεσπέρου φέγγους Χριστέ, δύναντος ἐν τάφῳ σωματικῶς.

All Earth quaked in fear, and the sun concealed itself, O Savior, when, O Christ our light, you set bodily, as the light that knows no evening was entombed.

Ὕπνωσας Χριστέ, τὸν φυσίζωον ὕπνον ἐν τάφῳ, καὶ βαρέως ὕπνου ἐξήγειρας, τοῦ τῆς ἁμαρτίας, τὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένος.

Sleeping in the tomb with the sleep that breathes forth life, Anointed, from sinʹs heavy sleep you, as God, aroused all the human race that sin had held enthralled.

Μόνη γυναικῶν, χωρὶς πόνον ἔτεκόν σε Τέκνον, πόνους δὲ νῦν φέρω πάθει τῷ σῷ, ἀφορήτους, ἔλεγεν ἡ Σεμνή.

“Of all womankind, I alone bore you, my child, without pain. Cruel pangs now wrack me as I behold your great suffering,” the Holy Virgin cries.

Ἄνω σε Σωτήρ, ἀχωρίστως τῷ Πατρὶ συνόντα, κάτω δὲ νεκρὸν ἡπλωμένον γῇ, φρίττουσιν ὁρῶντα τὰ Σεραφίμ.

Seeing you on high never separated from the Father, yet below on Earth laid out as a corpse, the dread Seraphim, my Savior, shake with fear.

Ῥήγνυται ναοῦ, καταπέτασμα τῇ σῇ σταυρώσει, κρύπτουσι φωστῆρες Λόγε τὸ φῶς, σοῦ κρυβέντος Ἥλιε ὑπὸ γῆν.

See the Temple Veil rent asunder at your crucifixion. Heavenʹs beacons hide, O my Christ, their light to see you, the Sun, now hid beneath the earth.

Γῆς ὁ καταρχάς, μόνῳ νεύματι πήξας τὸν γῦρον, ἄπνους ὡς βροτὸς καθυπέδυ γῆν· φρῖξον τῷ θεάματι οὐρανέ.

He, who at the start, by His will alone, set Earth revolving, lifeless as a mortal sets under earth. Let the sky now shake and tremble at the sight.

Ἔδυς ὑπὸ γῆν ὁ τὸν ἄνθρωπον χειρί σου πλάσας, ἵνʹ ἐξαναστήσης τοῦ πτώματος, τῶν βροτῶν τὰ στίφη, πανσθενεστάτῳ κράτει.

Humankind you formed; with your hand you fashioned us, O Savior. Now, O Sun, you set underneath the earth, raising companies of mortals from the fall.

Θρῆνον ἱερόν, δεῦτε ᾄσωμεν Χριστῷ θανόντι, ὡς αἱ Μυροφόροι γυναῖκες πρίν, ἵνα καὶ τὸ Χαῖρε ἀκουσώμεθα σὺν αὐταῖς.

Come now, let us sing; let our sacred hymn lament the dead Christ, singing as the Myrrh‐bearing women did, that with them we, too, may hear the word, ʺRejoice.ʺ

Μύρον ἀληθῶς, σὺ ἀκένωτον ὑπάρχεις Λόγε· ὅθεν σοι καὶ μύρα προσέφερον, Μυροφόροι μύρα ζῶντι Θεῷ.

Truly you are Myrrh, truly, Word of God, the Myrrh Unfailing. So it was myrrh‐bearers brought myrrh to you, to the Living God brought myrrh as to the dead.

ᾍδου μὲν ταφείς, τὰ βασίλεια Χριστὲ συντρίβεις, θάνατον θανάτῳ δὲ θανατοῖς, καὶ φθορᾶς λυτροῦσαι τοὺς γηγενεῖς.

Buried, O my Christ, the great palaces of Hell you shattered. Death you put to death by your death, O Lord, from corruptionyou set free those born of earth.

Ῥεῖθρα τῆς ζωῆς, ἡ προχέουσα Θεοῦ σοφία, τάφον ὑπεισδῦσα ζωοποιεῖ, τοὺς ἐν τοῖς ἀδύτοις ᾍδου μυχοῖς.

To the grave descends he, the Wisdom of our God that pours out streams of life,

descending into a tomb, giving life to those in Hades’ deepest depths.

Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι.

Ἵνα τὴν βροτῶν, καινουργήσω συντριβεῖσαν φύσιν, πέπληγμαι θανάτῳ θέλων σαρκί. Μῆτερ οὖν μὴ κόπτου τοῖς ὀδυρμοῖς.

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

 “Willingly by death I was wounded in the flesh, dear Mother, thus the broken nature of mortal kind to renew; so do not beat your breast in grief.”

Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

Ἔδυς ὑπὸ γῆν, ὁ φωσφόρος τῆς διιαιοσύνης καὶ νεκροὺς ὥσπερ ἐξ ὕπνου ἐξήγειρας, ἐκδιώξας ἄπαν, τὸ ἐν τῷ ᾍδῃ σκότος.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.Amen.

When beneath the Earth you had set, the Morning Star of justice, you aroused the dead as if they but slept, as you put to flight the murk and gloom of Hell.

(Καὶ πάλιν τὸ πρῶτον.) (End with the first one again.)

Ἄξιόν ἐστι, μεγαλύνειν σε τὸν Ζωοδότην, τὸν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ τὰς χεῖρας ἐκτείναντα, καὶ συντρίψαντα τὸ κράτος τοῦ ἐχθροῦ.

It is right indeed we should magnify the one who grants life. You that stretched your hands wide upon the Cross broke and smashed the might and power of the foe.

Στασις Γʹ. Ἦχος γʹ. Third Stanza. Mode 3.

Αἱ γενεαὶ πᾶσαι, ὕμνον τῇ Ταφῇ σου, προσφέρουσι Χριστέ μου.

Each generation offers, my Christ, for your entombment, in hymns and songs its praises.

Καθελὼν τοῦ ξύλου, ὁ Ἀριμαθαίας, ἐν τάφῳ σε κηδεύει.

The Noble Joseph takes you down from the Tree, my Savior, and in the tomb he lays you.

Μυροφόροι ἦλθον, μύρα σοι Χριστέ μου, κομίζουσαι προφρόνως.

Myrrh‐bearing Women came then, providently bringing to you, O Christ, the sweet myrrh.

Δεῦρο πᾶσα κτίσις, ὕμνους ἐξοδίους, προσοίσωμεν τῷ Κτίστῃ.

Let all Creation join us, as to the Creator our farewell hymns we now sing.

Ὡς νεκρὸν τὸν ζῶντα, σὺν Μυροφόροις πάντες, μυρίσωμεν ἐμφρόνως.

With ointment‐bearing women, let us with understanding anoint, as dead, the Living.

Ἰωσὴφ τρισμάκαρ, κήδευσον τὸ σῶμα, Χριστοῦ τοῦ ζωοδότου.

O thrice‐blessed Joseph, entomb Messiah ʹs body, the corpse of Him who grants life.

Οὓς ἔθρεψε τὸ μάννα, ἐκίνησαν τὴν πτέρναν, κατὰ τοῦ Εὐεργέτου.

Those he fed with manna raised their heels against him, against the Benefactor.

Οὓς ἔθρεψε τὸ μάννα, φέρουσι τῷ Σωτῆρι, χολὴν ἅμα καὶ ὄξος.

Those he fed with manna bring vinegar and gall now to offer to the Savior.

Ὢ τῆς παραφροσύνης, καὶ τῆς Χριστοκτονίας, τῆς τῶν προφητοκτόνων!

O the boundless folly of those who slew the prophets and now slay Godʹs Anointed!

Ὡς ἄφρων ὑπηρέτης, προδέδωκεν ὁ μύστης, τὴν ἄβυσσον σοφίας.

Initiate, yet traitor, he the senseless servant sold the Abyss of Wisdom.

Τὸν ῥύστην ὁ πωλήσας, αἰχμάλωτος κατέστη, ὁ δόλιος Ἰούδας.

Judas, the deceiver, for silver sold the Savior and thus became a captive.

Κατὰ τὸν Σολομῶντα, βόθρος βαθὺς τὸ στόμα, Ἑβραίων παρανόμων.

Solomon declared it: The mouth of Lawtransgressing Hebrews is like a deep pit.

Ἑβραίων παρανόμων, ἐν σκολιαῖς πορείαις, τρίβολοι καὶ παγίδες.

Law‐transgressing Hebrews, for treading on paths crooked, face pits and traps and sharp snares.

Ἰωσὴφ κηδεύει, σὺν τῷ Νικοδήμῳ, νεκροπρεπῶς τὸν Κτίστην.

With Nicodemus, Joseph buries the Creator, as for the dead is fitting.

Ζωοδότα Σῶτερ, δόξα σου τῷ κράτει, τὸν ᾍδην καθελόντι.

O Life‐giving Savior, the conqueror of Hades, to your great might be glory.

Repeat the following verse several times, as the priest sprinkles the tomb and the people.

Ἔρραναν τὸν τάφον, αἱ Μυροφόροι μύρα, λίαν πρωῒ ἐθοῦσαι.

Myrrh‐bearers came and sprinkledsweet myrrh upon your tomb, Lord; at early dawn they come now.

Εἰρήνην Ἐκκλησία, λαῷ σου σωτηρίαν, δώρησαι σῇ Ἐγέρσει.

Peace unto your Church, Lord, salvation to your people grant by your Resurrection.

Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι.

Ὦ Τριὰς Θεέ μου, Πατὴρ Υἱὸς καὶ Πνεῦμα, ἐλέησον τὸν Κόσμον.

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

Father, Son, and Spirit, O Trinity, my One God, have mercy on the whole world.

Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

Ἰδεῖν τὴν τοῦ Υἱοῦ σου, Ἀνάστασιν Παρθένε, ἀξίωσον σοὺς δούλους.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.Amen.

Count all your servants worthy to see, Most Holy Virgin, your Sonʹs bright Resurrection.

(Καὶ πάλιν τὸ πρῶτον.) (End with the first one again.)

Αἱ γενεαὶ πᾶσαι, ὕμνον τῇ Ταφῇ σου, προσφέρουσι Χριστέ μου.

Each generation offers, my Christ, for your entombment, in hymns and songs its

praises.

Τὰ Εὐλογητάρια. Ἦχος πλ. α´. Evlogetaria. Mode pl. 1a.

Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, δίδαξόν με τὰ δικαιώματά σου.

Τῶν ἀγγέλων ὁ δῆμος κατεπλάγη ὁρῶν σε ἐν νεκροῖς λογισθέντα, τοῦ θανάτου δέ, Σωτήρ, τὴν ἰσχὺν καθελόντα καὶ σὺν ἑαυτῷ τὸν Ἀδὰμ ἐγείραντα καὶ ἐξ ᾅδου πάντας

ἐλευθερώσαντα.

 Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

When the hosts of the Angels saw how You were accounted among the dead, they all marveled. You, O Savior, are the One who destroyed the might of death; and when You arose You raised Adam with yourself and from

Hades liberated everyone.

Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, δίδαξόν με τὰ δικαιώματά σου.

Τί τὰ μύρα συμπαθῶς τοῖς δάκρυσιν, ὦ μαθήτριαι, κιρνᾶτε; ὁ ἀστράπτων ἐν τῷ τάφῳ ἄγγελος

προσεφθέγγετο ταῖς μυροφόροις· Ἴδετε ὑμεῖς τὸν τάφον καὶ ἥσθητε· ὁ Σωτὴρ γὰρ ἐξανέστη τοῦ μνήματος.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

ʺWhy do you mingle the ointments with your tears full of pity, O women disciples?ʺ Thus the Angel who was shining in the tomb cried to the myrrhbearing women. ʺSee for yourselves the empty tomb and understand, that the Savior has risen from the sepulcher.ʺ

Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, δίδαξόν με τὰ δικαιώματά σου.

Λίαν πρωῒ μυροφόροι ἔδραμον πρὸς τὸ μνῆμά σου, θρηνολογοῦσαι· ἀλλ᾿ ἐπέστη πρὸς αὐτὰς ὁ ἄγγελος καὶ εἶπε· Θρήνου ὁ καιρὸς πέπαυται,μὴ κλαίετε· τὴν ἀνάστασιν δὲ ἀποστόλοις εἴπατε.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

Very early in the morning, the myrrh‐bearing women were hastening to Your tomb lamenting. But the Angel

appeared to them and uttered, ʺThetime for lamentation has ended; weepno more. Go announce the Resurrection to the Apostles.ʺ

Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, δίδαξόν με τὰ δικαιώματά σου.

Μυροφόροι γυναῖκες μετὰ μύρων ἐλθοῦσαι πρὸς τὸ μνῆμά σου,Σῶτερ, ἐνηχοῦντο Ἀγγέλου τρανῶςπρὸς αὐτὰς φθεγγομένου· Τί μετὰνεκρῶν τὸν ζῶντα λογίζεσθε; ὡς Θεὸς γὰρ ἐξανέστη τοῦ μνήματος.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Yourstatutes.

When the myrrh‐bearing women had come with their spices to Your sepulcher, O Savior, they heard the

voice of an Angel clearly speaking to them, ʺWhy do you account among the dead the One who lives? For as God,He has risen from the sepulcher.ʺ

Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι.

Προσκυνοῦμεν Πατέρα καὶ τὸντούτου Υἱόν τε καὶ τὸ ἅγιον Πνεῦμα,τὴν ἁγίαν Τριάδα, ἐν μιᾷ τῇ οὐσίᾳ,σὺν τοῖς Σεραφείμ, κράζοντες τό·Ἅγιος, Ἅγιος, Ἅγιος εἶ, Κύριε.

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

We bow down in worship to theFather and His Son and the Holy Spirit,the Holy Trinity, one in essence; and

we cry aloud with the Seraphim, ʺHoly,Holy, Holy are You, O Lord.ʺ

Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

Ζωοδότην τεκοῦσα, ἐλυτρώσω,Παρθένε, τὸν Ἀδὰμ ἁμαρτίας, χαρμονὴν δὲ τῇ Εὔᾳ ἀντὶ λύπης παρέσχες· ρεύσαντα ζωῆς, ἴθυνε πρὸςταύτην δὲ ὁ ἐκ σοῦ σαρκωθεὶς Θεὸςκαὶ ἄνθρωπος.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages.Amen.

Giving birth to the Giver of life, O Virgin, you delivered Adam from sin,and to Eve you have rendered joy in

place of sorrow. He who from you became incarnate, God and man, has directed to life him who fell from it.

Ἀλληλούϊα, ἀλληλούϊα,ἀλληλούϊα, δόξα σοι ὁ Θεός. (3)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3)