The Scripture Readings
Luke 24:12-35 (5th Matins Gospel)
2 Timothy 3:10-15
Luke 18:10-14
Philippians 2:5-11 Theotokos
Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28 Theotokos
Hebrews 13:17-21 St. Alexis
Luke 6:17-23 St. Alexis
HIDE TROPARIAAfter Matin Gospel, Publican and the Pharisee, Troparion, Tone VIII
Open to me the doors of
repentance, O Life-giver. For my spirit rises early to pray towards Thy holy
temple, bearing the temple of my body all defiled. But in Thy compassion, purify
me by the loving kindness of Thy mercy.
Theotokion:
Make straight for me the paths of salvation, O Mother of
God. For I have profaned my soul with shameful sins, and have wasted my whole
life in easy-going indifference. But by thy intercessions deliver me from all
uncleanness.
Tone VI
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and
according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression. When I
think of the multitude of ghastly things I have done, wretch that I am, I
tremble at the fearful day of Judgment. But trusting in the mercy of Thy loving
kindness; like David I cry to Thee: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy
great mercy.
(Note: These penitential songs are sung on Sundays during the Great Fast
from the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee to the fifth week.)
Kontakion, Tone IV
Let us avoid the proud speaking of the Pharisee and
learn humility from the groans of the Publican, and let us cry in penitence: O
Saviour of the world, be merciful to Thy servants.
Troparion of the Sunday, Tone V
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, / Co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,
/ born for our salvation from the Virgin, / for He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the
flesh, / to endure death / and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.
Hymn to the Theotokos, Tone V
Rejoice, O impassable gate of the Lord! / Rejoice, O wall and protection of those who run to
you! / Rejoice, O unshakable refuge! / Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of your God and Creator! /
Do not cease praying for those who praise you and worship your Son. (1x)
Blessed be the name of the Lord, henceforth and forever more.
Kontakion of the Sunday, Tone V
Thou didst descend into hell, O my Savior, / shattering its gates as almighty; / resurrecting
the dead as Creator, / and destroying the sting of death. / Thou hast delivered Adam from the
curse, O Lover of Man, / and we all cry to Thee: "O Lord, save us!"
St. Meletius, Patriarch of Antioch the Great, Troparion, Tone IV
The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith,/ a model
of meekness and a teacher of abstinence/ wherefore thou hast attained the
heights through humility/ and riches through poverty.// O hierarch Meletius our
father, entreat Christ God that our souls be saved.
Kontakion, Tone VI
Fearing the boldness of thy spirit,/ the apostate Macedonius fleeth;/ but we,
thy servants, celebrating a service of prayer to thee,/ have recourse to thee
with love, O Meletius, conversor with the angels,/ fiery sword of Christ our God
who cuttest down all the ungodly;// and we hymn thee as a beacon enlightening
all.
St. Alexis, metropolitan of Moscow, Troparion, in Tone VIII
Hastening to thy precious shrine, O holy hierarch Alexis, divinely wise
wonder-worker, assembling with love, we celebrate with splendor the memory of
thee who art equally enthroned with the apostles, the all-good physician, the
right pleasing servant; and we rejoice with songs and hymns, glorifying Christ
Who hath given thee such grace to heal and bestowed upon thy city so great a
bulwark.
Another troparion, in Tone IV
Celebrating the memory of the all-blessed and holy hierarch Alexis, the
careful preserver of the dogmas of the apostles, the shepherd and teacher of the
Church of Russia, let us glorify with right fitting hymnody Christ our God Who
hath given us His favored one as an abundant well-spring pouring forth healings,
the boast and confirmation of the city of Moscow.
Kontakion, in Tone VIII, "To thee, the champion leader..."
O all ye people, hymning with faith the new wonder-worker Alexis, the godly
and all-honorable hierarch of Christ, let us bless him with love, as a great
pastor, an all-wise minister and teacher of the land of Russia. And hastening
today to his memorial, let us joyfully give utterance to a hymn to the
God-bearer: As thou hast boldness before God, deliver us from multifarious evil
circumstances, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O confirmation of our city!
Venerable 
Full abstention from food
Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Food without Oil
Food with Oil
Fish Allowed
Caviar Allowed
Meat is excluded
Fast-free
vigil for great feasts; a more festive service where all of the unfixed hymns are dedicated to the feast.
"vigil" to a certain saint when All Night vigil is celebrated. The order of the service is similar to a Polyeleos (magnification) service, in that small vespers, great vespers and matins are combined (from this comes the vigil) and that there is the blessing of breads and the anointing with oil at the end of matins.
"doxology", "with doxology" during this service to the saint it is proper to sing the Great Doxology at the end of matins (in services of a lower rank, the doxology is read), also at this service are sung several Sunday Theotokions, sedalions after the kathisma (psaltery reading) to the saint, the katavasia during the canon, also at the end of matins are sung the praise verses, the Great Doxology, and the entire ending of matins follows the order of a feast.
"six verse", "up to six"; all six stikhera of "Lord, I cry" are sung to the saint, there is a stikhera for "Glory" of the Apotischa for both vespers and matins; troparion to the saint, and the canon of matins is sung to the saint in six troparions.