Luke 18:9-14.And He spoke also this parable unto certain men who trust in themselves that they are righteous, and despise others. “Two men went up unto the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. And the Pharisee stood and prayed thus to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of mankind, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this publican. I fast twice in the week. I pay tithe of all that I gain.’ But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful unto me the sinner.’ I tell you that this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For every one that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that abases himself shall be exalted.”

This weekend, we begin the season of the Lenten Triodion with the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, with the canon of the Sunday posted here for praying outside the service of the Temple.

THE CANON OF THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE, FROM THE TRIODION:

Ode I, Irmos: When Israel walked on foot in the sea as on dry land, * on seeing their pursuer Pharaoh drowned, * they cried: * Let us sing to God * a song of victory.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

By parables Christ hath led all mankind to a life of amendment: Raising up the Publican from humbleness, he showed the Pharisee who exalted himself to be humbled.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

From humility cometh an exalted honour, but from pride we see a grievous fall; let us, then, strive to emulate the good actions of the Publican, and hate the evil ones of the Pharisee.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Every good deed is rendered useless through pride, while every evil is cleansed by humility. Wherefore, let us in faith embrace humility, and utterly abhor the ways of vainglory.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The King of all, wishing His own disciples to be humble-minded, taught them to emulate the sighing of the Publican and his humility.

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

I groan as did the Publican, and with never-silent lamentations O Lord I now draw near to Thy loving compassion, do Thou be merciful to me who doth now pass through life in humility.

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

O lady, I dedicate to thee my understanding and my counsel, my expectation, my body, soul and spirit. From grievous adversaries and temptations, and from every threat to come, do thou deliver and save me.

Ode III, Irmos: There is none as holy as Thou, * O Lord my God, * who hast exalted the horn of The faithful O good One, * and strengthened us upon the rock * of Thy confession.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

From the dung-hill of the passions the humble are lifted up on high, while from the height of the virtues the high-minded suffer a grievous fall: let us flee such an image of wickedness.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Vainglory doth nullify the riches of righteousness, whereas humility scattereth a multitude of passions; bestowing this upon us, show us to be like the Publican O Saviour.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Like the Publican let us also beat our breasts and cry out in compunction, “O God cleanse us sinners,” that like him we may receive forgiveness.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Zealously, O ye faithful, let us increase in meekness, and with humility let us live out the days of our lives in suffering of the heart, weeping and prayer, that we may receive forgiveness from God.

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

Let us cast away, ye faithful, the high-minded boasting and hurtful pride of the Pharisee, and his most wicked, repugnant to God, malice.

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

In thee, my only refuge, have I set my trust: let me not fall away from my good hope, but grant me thy protection, O pure One, and deliver me from every evil snare of my wicked enemies.

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

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Sessional Hymns, Tone IV: Humility exalted the Publican who was overcome with shame at his evil deeds, * when he cried to the Creator, “Be merciful:” * but exaltation brought down from righteousness the wretched Pharisee who spoke boastfully. * Therefore, let us earnestly desire that which is good ** and avoid that which is evil.

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

Of old humility exalted the Publican * who cried aloud with tears, * “Be merciful,” and he was justified. * Let us all follow his example, * for we have fallen into the depths of evil. * Let us cry to the Saviour from the depths of our hearts: ** We have sinned, be merciful, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

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

Be swift to receive our prayers, O Lady, * and bring them to thy Son and God, all-immaculate Sovereign Lady. * Deliver from tribulations those who flee to thee. * Destroy the wiles and subdue the arrogance ** of those who godlessly war against thy servants, O most pure One.

Ode IV, Irmos: Christ is my power, * my God and my Lord, * the holy Church divinely singeth, * crying with a pure mind, * keeping festival in the Lord.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The Word, set an example showing that the path to exaltation is humility, having humbled Himself even unto taking the form of a servant, thereby instructing all, that he who humbleth himself shall be exalted on high.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The righteous Pharisee exalted himself and fell, wickedly rejecting humility, but through humility the Publican was exalted and justified.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

He who was without need of virtue was deprived of them, and shown to be foolish. Yet the riches of humility justified him who was in most need of them, whose humility let us emulate.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O Lord, Thou didst forewarn all that Thou dost resist the high-minded, but grantest Thy grace to the humble. O Saviour send down now Thy grace upon us, for we have humbled ourselves.

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

The Saviour and Master, ever leading us to blessed exaltation, hath shown us that it is humility that raises one on high, for with His own hands He didst wash the feet of the disciples.

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

O Virgin, who hast given birth to the unapproachable Light, by thy light-giving effulgence disperse the darkness of my soul, and taking me by the hand, guide my life into the path of salvation.

Ode V, Irmos: Illumine with Thy divine light, I pray, O Good One, * the souls of those who with love rise early to pray to Thee, * that they may know Thee, O Word of God, * as the true God, * Who recalleth us from the darkness of sin.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Let us make haste to follow the Pharisee in his virtues and to emulate the Publican in his humility, and let us hate what is wrong in each of them: foolish opinion and the fall into self-destruction.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The righteousness of the Pharisee proved to be vain and was condemned, for it was yoked to prideful opinion; However the Publican became a co-companion of humility, the virtue which exalts one on high.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The Pharisee thought to drive swiftly in the chariot of the virtues; but the Publican outran him on foot, for he had yoked humility to compassion.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Pondering with our minds the parable of the Publican, let us all emulate him with tears, offering to God a contrite spirit, seeking the remission of our sins.

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

Let us cast far away the wicked haughtiness and boasting of the Pharisee, that we may not be stripped of divine grace.

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

A staff of strength grant unto all, O good one, who flee unto thee, grant them victory in the midst of all enemies and deliver them from every evil circumstance.

Ode VI, Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, *

I run to Thy calm haven, and cry to Thee: * Raise up my life from corruption, * O Most Merciful One.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The Publican along with the Pharisee ran the race of life, but the one was overcome by high-mindedness and shipwrecked, while the other was saved by humility.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Changing to a humble course of life, let us emulate the fervent wisdom of the Publican and flee the deadening conceit of the Pharisee; and we shall live.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Let us fervently follow the ways of Jesus the Saviour and His humility, if we desire to reach the tabernacle of everlasting joy and to dwell in the land of the living.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O Master, Thou hast shown to Thy disciples the humility that raiseth men on high, for girding Thy loins with a towel, and washing their feet Thou didst prepare them to follow Thine example.

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

The Pharisee passed his life in virtue and the Publican in sin; but the former was brought low by his pride, while the latter was raised on high by his humble-mindedness.

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

I was formed naked in innocence and simplicity; but the enemy hath clothed me in the raiment of transgressions and the grossness of the flesh. But by thine intercessions, O Maiden, I have been saved.

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

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Kontakion Triodion, Tone IV Let us flee from the proud-speaking of the Pharisee * and learn from the Publican the loftiness of words of humility, * and with penitential lamentation let us cry aloud: “O Saviour of the world ** be merciful to us, and cleanse us Thy servants’.

Ikos: Let us all humble ourselves, brethren; sighing and lamenting, beating our conscience, that at the eternal judgment we may be numbered with the faithful and the righteous, and receive forgiveness. Let us pray that we behold the place truly peaceful, where there is neither pain, nor sorrow, nor sighing from the soul, in the wondrous Eden fashioned by Christ, for He is God coeternal with the Father.

Ode VII, Irmos: An Angel made the furnace bedew the holy Children. * But the command of God consumed the Chaldeans * and prevailed upon the tyrant to cry: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Exalted by the works of self-justification, the Pharisee was grievously snared in the nets of vainglory, boasting madly; but the Publican was lifted on high on the light wings of humility, and drew near to God.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Using humility as a ladder, the Publican was raised on high to the heights of heaven; but by the putrid foolishness of pride the wretched Pharisee fell into the abyss of Hades.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The enemy doth catch the righteous and despoil them through vainglory, blinding sinners in the nets of despair. But let us emulate the Publican and hasten to escape from both these evils.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

In our prayer before God, let us fall down with tears and fervent sighs, emulating the Publican in his lofty humility; and singing in faith: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou”.

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

Thou hast forewarned Thy disciples, O Master, teaching them not to be lofty of wisdom, but to be numbered with those who are humble-minded. Therefore, O Saviour, in faith we cry aloud to Thee: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

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

O thou beauty of Jacob, divine Ladder which of old he beheld stretching from earth to heaven, thou holy Virgin, who hath brought down from on high God made flesh, and doth bring mortal man up to heaven.

Ode VIII, Irmos: Thou didst make flame bedew the holy children, * and didst burn the sacrifice of a righteous man with water. * For Thou alone, O Christ, dost do all as Thou willest, * Thee do we exalt throughout all ages.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The humble-minded sighing of the Publican found the mercy of the Lord, and he was saved; but by the evil tongue of boasting, the Pharisee fell from righteousness.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O ye faithful, let us avoid the self-will of the Pharisee; who called himself pure, rather let us strive to emulate the Publican’s goodness, who gained forgiveness with humility.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O ye faithful, let us utter the words of the Publican in the holy temple, “God be merciful,” that with him we may obtain forgiveness, and be delivered from the vile boasting of the Pharisee.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Let us all emulate the sighing of the Publican and, speaking to God with warm tears, let us cry out: “O Lover of mankind, we have sinned, but in Thy merciful compassion, do Thou cleanse and save us.”

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

God accepted the groaning of the Publican and having justified him, hath shown unto us all, that He is quickly turned to compassion by the sighings and tears of those who ask for the forgiveness of sins.

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

I know of no other intercessor save thee, I offer thee, O pure and all-immaculate One, as my mediator before Him Whom thou didst bear. Do thou show me to be free from all that doth grieve me.

Ode IX, Irmos: It is impossible for mankind to see God * upon Whom the orders of Angels dare not gaze; * but through thee, O all-pure one, * did the Word Incarnate become a man * and with the Heavenly Hosts * Him we magnify and thee we call blessed.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Christ hath set before us as a path to exaltation and an image of salvation, the humility of the Publican: which, let us strive after by rejecting disdainful pride and gaining God’s mercy through humble-mindedness.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Let us cast away pride and learn the righteousness of the humble-minded; let us not seek to justify ourselves, but rather let us abhor the delusion of vainglory, and with the Publican let us pray to God.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Let us offer the Creator entreaties for mercy, as did the Publican,. Let us avoid the ungrateful prayers of the Pharisee and the boastful words with which he judged his neighbor, that we may gain God’s mercy and light.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Weighed down by a great multitude of sins, I have surpassed the Publican in an excess of evil, having embraced the self-adulating madness of the Pharisee, wherefore I am utterly devoid of all that is good: O Lord, spare me.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O Lord, grant blessedness to those who for Thy sake are poor in spirit, and who follow Thy teachings, bringing unto Thee a contrite heart. Receive and save them who worship Thee.

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

ay we never pray unto Thee as did the Pharisee, may we enter the Temple justified by sighing and tears, with a heart that is broken and humbled, laying aside the heavy yoke of sin and thus be cleansed.

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

Grant us to hymn, glorify, and bless thee, to worthily honour thee, O most pure one; glorifying thy birth-giving, O only-blessed one, for thou art the praise of Orthodox Christians, and their divinely-acceptable intercessor before God