Stations of the Cross

We will not be meeting for the Stations of the Cross this year. I have posted this Akathist (Hymn) to Christ on the Cross for you devotions.

Hymn to the Passion of Christ

Verse 1

Supreme Ruler and Lord of Heaven and earth, seeing You, the Immortal King, hanging on the Cross, all creation was changed, Heaven was horrified, and the foundations of the earth were shaken.

But we, unworthy as we are, offer You thankful adoration for Your Passion in our behalf, and with the repentant thief we cry to You: Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

In completing the choirs of angels, You did not take on the angelic nature, but being the Eternal God, for my sake You became human, and You did restore to life humans who were dead through sin with Your Life-giving Body and Blood. Therefore, in gratitude for Your amazing love, we humbly cry to You:

Jesus, God, Eternal Love, Who was pleased to save us who are born of earth!

Jesus, Infinite Mercy, Who did come down here to us fallen creatures!

Jesus, Who was clothed in our flesh and did destroy the dominion of death by Your death!

Jesus, Who joins us with God us with Your Divine Mysteries!

Jesus, Who has redeemed the whole world by Your Cross and Passion!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 2

Seeing You in the Garden of Gethsemane struggling in prayer till You sweat blood, an angel appeared and strengthened You when our sins weighed upon You like a heavy burden. For, having taken lost Adam on Your shoulders, You did bring him to the Father by bending Your knees and praying.

For this I sing to You with faith and love: Alleluia!

The Jews did not know the incredible truth of Your voluntary Passion.

Therefore, when You did say to those who were seeking You at night with lanterns: I AM HE, even though they fell to the ground, yet afterwards they bound You and led You to the judgment hall.

 But we fall down before You on the Way of the Cross and cry with love:

Jesus, Light of the world, hated by evil and worldly people!

Jesus, Who dwells in unapproachable Light, seized by the realms of darkness!

Jesus, Immortal Son of God, condemned to death by a son of perdition!

Jesus, in Whom there is nothing false, falsely kissed by the traitor!

Jesus, Who gives Yourself freely to all, sold for a sum of silver!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 3

By the power of Your divinity You did foretell to Your disciple his threefold denial. But even Though after this he denied You with an oath, yet when he saw You, His Lord and Master, in the high priest’s court his heart was touched, and he went out and wept bitterly. Look, then, also upon me, O Lord, and strike my hard heart, that with my tears I may wash away my sins and sing to You: Alleluia!

Having true power as High Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek, You did stand before the criminal high priest Caiaphas. O Lord and Master of all, Who did accept torture from Your slaves, accept from us these prayers and praises:

Jesus, Priceless One Who was bought for a price, adopt me into Your eternal inheritance!

Jesus, desire of all nations, denied from fear by Peter, reject me not a sinner!

Jesus, Innocent Lamb, torn by cruel scourges, rescue me from mine enemies!

Jesus, High Priest, Who entered the Holy of Holies with Your Blood, cleanse me from fleshly impurity!

Jesus bound, Who has power to bind and to loose, absolve my grievous sins!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 4

Breathing a storm of murderous thoughts, the Jews having listened to the voice of the father of lies and human slayer from time immemorial, the evil one, rejected You, the right Way, the Truth, and the Life. But we confess You to be Christ, the power of God, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and we cry: Alleluia!

Having heard Your meek and gentle words, Pilate delivered You up to be crucified as deserving death, even though he himself bore witness that he had found not a single fault in You. Then he washed his hands but defiled his heart. And wondering at the mystery of Your voluntary Passion, with compunction we cry to You:

Jesus, Son of God and Son of the Virgin, tortured by the sons of iniquity!

Jesus mocked and stripped, Who gives the flowers of the field their beauty and decks the sky with clouds!

Jesus, covered with wounds, Who satisfied the hunger of five thousand with five loaves of bread!

Jesus, King of all, who instead of a tribute of love and gratitude receives cruel tortures!

Jesus, Who is wounded all day long for our sake, heal the wounds of our souls!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 5

You were all arrayed in Your divine blood, O You Who covers Yourself with light as with a garment.

I know indeed I know with the Prophet why Your garments are purple.

I, Lord, it is I who wounded You with my sins.

So, to You Who was wounded for my sake I thankfully cry: Alleluia!

Foreseeing You in spirit covered with shame and wounds, the divinely inspired Isaiah cried in horror: We have seen Him, and He had no form or beauty. And we, seeing You on the Cross, with faith and amazement cry:

Jesus, enduring dishonour, Who has crowned man with glory and honour!

Jesus, on Whom angels cannot gaze, slapped in the face!

Jesus, Who was struck on the head with a reed, bow my head in humility!

Jesus, Whose bright eyes were darkened with blood, turn away my eyes from beholding vanity!

Jesus, Who from head to feet had not part whole, make me perfectly whole and healthy!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 6

Pilate proved a preacher of Your innocence, when he told the people that he found nothing in You deserving death. But the Jews, like wild beasts that have seen blood, gnashed their teeth at You and cried: Crucify, crucify Him! We, however, kiss Your most pure wounds and cry: Alleluia!

You were a spectacle and marvel to humans and angels, and to Pilate who said of You: Behold the Man! Come, then, let us worship Jesus Who suffered abuse for our sake, as we cry:

Jesus, Creator and Judge of all, judged and tortured by Your creatures!

Jesus, Giver of Wisdom, Who gave no answer to foolish questions!

Jesus, Healer of those wounded by sin, grant me the healing of repentance!

Jesus, Shepherd Who was struck, strike the demons that cause me temptation!

Jesus, crushed in body, crush my heart with Your fear!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 7

Wishing to deliver mankind from slavery to the enemy, You did humble Yourself before Your enemies, O Jesus, and like a lamb that is dumb You were led to the slaughter, and did endure wounds all over, that having healed the whole person, we might cry: Alleluia!

Wonderful patience did You show when, after the sentence of the unjust judge, the soldiers reviled You and inflicted cruel wounds on Your Most-pure Body, so that it was purple with blood from head to foot. Therefore, with tears we cry to You:

Jesus, Lover of humankind, crowned with thorns by humankind!

Jesus, impassible in Your Divinity, enduring Your Passion to free us from our passions!

Jesus, my Saviour, save me who deserve all sufferings!

Jesus, forsaken by all, my Strength, strengthen me!

Jesus, my Joy, from all insults gladden me!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 8

Strange and wonderful it was when Moses and Elijah appeared to You on Mount Tabor and spoke of Your death which You were about to accomplish in Jerusalem, that having beheld Your glory there and seen our salvation here, they might cry: Alleluia!

Everywhere persecuted by the Jews on account of the great multitude of my sins, You did endure my shame and torment. For some say that You are opposed to Caesar, others accuse You of being a criminal while some cry: Take Him, take Him, and crucify Him. So, to You, our Lord, condemned by all and led to crucifixion, from the depth of our souls we say:

Jesus, unjustly condemned, our Judge, condemn us not according to our deeds!

Jesus, Who was exhausted on the way under Your Cross, my Power, forsake me not in the hour of my sorrow and suffering!

Jesus, Who did cry for help to the Father, mine Exemplar, strengthen me in my weakness!

Jesus, Who did accept dishonour, my Glory, deprive me not of Your glory!

Jesus, radiant image of the Father’s Being, transfigure my dark and impure life!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 9

All nature was confounded at the sight of You hanging on the Cross: in the heavens the sun hid his rays, the earth quaked, the veil of the Temple was torn, the rocks split, and hades gave up the dead. But we worship on the place where Your most pure feet stood, crying: Alleluia!

Eloquent orators, even if they speak much, cannot render sufficient gratitude for Your Divine Passion, O Lover of humankind.

But our souls and bodies, our hearts and all our members with compunction cry to You:

Jesus, Who was nailed to the Cross, nail down and annul the handwriting of our sins!

Jesus, Who stretched out Your hands from the Cross to all, draw me to Yourself, for I too have gone astray!

Jesus, Door of the sheep, pierced in Your side, lead me through Your wounds into Your bridal chamber!

Jesus, crucified in the flesh, crucify my flesh with its passions and desires!

Jesus, Who did end Your life in agony, grant that my heart may know nothing, but You crucified!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 10

Desiring to save the world, You did heal the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf and the dumb, and did drive out evil spirits. But the foolish Jews, breathing envy and malice, nailed You to the Cross, not knowing how to sing: Alleluia!

Jesus Eternal King, You suffer in every limb for my intemperance and incontinence, that You might make the whole of me pure, giving us a pattern in everything that we might follow in Your steps and cry:

Jesus, unfathomable Love, Who did not charge with sin those who crucified You!

Jesus, Who did pray earnestly with crying and tears in the garden, teach us also to pray!

Jesus, Who has fulfilled all prophecy in Yourself, fulfill our heart’s desire for goodness!

Jesus, Who did surrender Your spirit into Your Father’s hands, in the hour of my death receive my spirit!

Jesus, Who did not prevent the division of Your garments, separate my soul from my body gently!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 11

Tenderest songs did Your immaculate Mother offer to You, saying: Even though You suffer on the Cross, yet I know You from the womb to be begotten of the Father before the morning star, for I see that all creation is suffering with You. You surrender Your spirit to the Father. Receive also my spirit and forsake me not as I cry: Alleluia!

Like a light-receiving lamp the immaculate Virgin stood at Your Cross burning with love and torn with a mother’s sorrow for You, the true Sun of Righteousness that was in the grave, and with Her accept these prayers of our heart:

Jesus, Who was lifted up on the Tree that with Yourself You might lift us fallen creatures to Your Father!

Jesus, Who did give the Ever-Virgin as a mother to the virgin Apostle that You might teach us purity and chastity!

Jesus, Who did entrust Your Mother to Your disciple, the Theologian, commit us all to Her maternal protection!

Jesus, Conqueror of the world and hades, conquer the unbelief, the pride of life, and the lust of the eyes that lurks within us!

Jesus, Destroyer of the power of death, deliver me from eternal death!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 12

Grant me Your Grace, O Jesus my God. Receive me as You did receive Joseph and Nicodemus, that I may offer to You my soul like a clean shroud, may anoint Your most pure body with the fragrant spices of virtue, and may have You in my heart as in a tomb, as I cry: Alleluia!

Praising Your voluntary Crucifixion, we worship Your Passion, O Christ.

We believe with the centurion that You art truly the Son of God Who art coming on the clouds with power and great glory.

Put us not then to shame, who are redeemed by Your blood, and thus cry aloud:

Jesus, long-suffering, by the lamentation of Your Virgin Mother rescue us from eternal weeping!

Jesus, forsaken by all, forsake me not in the hour of my death!

Jesus, with Mary Magdalene who touched Your feet, receive me!

Jesus, condemn me not with the traitor and those who crucified You!

Jesus, bring me with the good thief into Paradise!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 13

O Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, accept this small act of thanksgiving offered to You with all our soul, and heal us by Your saving Passion from all sickness of soul and body. Protect us by Your Cross from enemies visible and invisible and forsake us not at the end of our life, that saved by Your death from eternal death, we may unceasingly cry to You: Alleluia!

In completing the choirs of angels, You did not take on the angelic nature, but being the Eternal God, for my sake You became human, and You did restore to life humans who were dead through sin with Your Life-giving Body and Blood.

Therefore, in gratitude for Your amazing love, we humbly cry to Three:

Jesus, God, Eternal Love, Who was pleased to save us who are born of earth!

Jesus, Infinite Mercy, Who did come down here to us fallen creatures!

Jesus, Who was clothed in our flesh and did destroy the dominion of death by Your death!

Jesus, Who dost deify us with Your Divine Mysteries!

Jesus, Who hast redeemed the whole world by Your Cross and Passion!

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Verse 1 Repeated

Supreme Ruler and Lord of Heaven and earth, seeing You, the Immortal King, hanging on the Cross, all creation was changed, Heaven was horrified, and the foundations of the earth were shaken. But we, unworthy as we are, offer You thankful adoration for Your Passion in our behalf, and with the thief we cry to You: Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come in Your Kingdom!

Prayer to the Lord Jesus Crucified.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Creator of Heaven and earth, Saviour of the world,

Behold I who am unworthy and of all persons most sinful, humbly bow the knee of my heart before

the glory of Your majesty and praise Your Cross and Passion, and offer thanksgiving to You, the King and God of all, that You were pleased to bear as human all labours and hardships, all temptations and tortures, that You might be our Fellow-sufferer and Helper, and a Saviour to all of us in all our sorrows, needs, and sufferings.

I know, O all-powerful Lord, that all these things were not necessary for You, but for us men and women and for our salvation You did endure Your Cross and Passion that You might redeem us from all cruel bondage to the enemy.

What, then, shall I give in return to You, O Lover of humankind, for all that You hast suffered for me, a sinner?

I cannot say, for soul and body and all blessings come from You, and all that I have is Your, and I am Yours.

Yet I know that love is repaid only by love. Teach me, then, to love and praise You.

Trusting solely in Your infinite compassion and mercy, O Lord,

I praise Your unspeakable patience,

I magnify Your unutterable exhaustion,

I glorify Your boundless mercy,

I adore Your purest Passion,

and most lovingly kissing Your wounds, I cry:

Have mercy on me a sinner ,and cause that Your holy Cross may not be fruitless in me, that I may participate here with faith in Your sufferings and be granted to behold also the glory of Your Kingdom in Heaven. Amen.