Kontakion of Holy Thursday

Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His Passion (http://www.stjosephmelkitecatholicchurch.org/holy_week/HOLY_THURSDAY_3.jpg)

  
Kontakion in Tone 2. By Romanos the Melodist.

After taking the bread into his hands the traitor secretly stretches them out and takes the price of the One who fashioned humankind with his own hands; and he remained unrepentant, Judas the slave and deceiver.

The Ikos.

As we all draw near with fear to the mystic table, let us receive the Bread with pure souls, remaining beside the Master that we may see how he washes the feet of the Disciples and dries them with the towel, and let us do as we have seen, being subject to one another and washing one another’s feet; for Christ himself so ordered his disciples, as he declared; but he did not listen, Judas the slave and deceiver.

The Menologion of the day and then the following notice:
On holy and great Thursday the godlike Fathers have arranged all things well and have handed on to us that we should celebrate in turn four events from the godlike Apostles and sacred Gospels: the sacred Washing, the mystical Supper (that is the handing on for us of the dread Mysteries), the transcendent Prayer and the Betrayal itself.

(http://www.ruicon.ru/arts-new/fresco/1x1-dtl/rospisi_stavronikita/omovenie_nog1/?page_19=1707&p_f_12_temp_id=1&p_f_12_63=1&ref-cat=)

Verses for the sacred Washing

At evening God washed the Disciples’ feet,
Whose foot once walked in Eden before dusk.

(http://www.ruicon.ru/arts-new/fresco/1x1-dtl/rospisi_stavronikita/tajnaya_vecherya2/?page_19=1710&p_f_12_temp_id=1&p_f_12_63=1&ref-cat=)

For the Mystical Supper

Double the Supper that Law’s Pascha brings
And Pascha new: the Master’s Body, Blood.

(http://www.ruicon.ru/arts-new/fresco/1x1-dtl/rospisi_stavronikita/molenie_o_chashe/?page_19=1856&p_f_12_temp_id=1&p_f_12_63=1&ref-cat=)

For the transcendent Prayer

Prayer; and great terror, drops of blood,
O Christ, drop from your face, as pleading to
Escape from death, by this you cheat the foe.

(http://www.ruicon.ru/arts-new/fresco/1x1-dtl/dionisiat_gretciya/predatelstvo_iudi/?page_19=2084&p_f_12_temp_id=1&p_f_12_63=1&ref-cat=)

For the Betrayal

What need of swords, of staves, O erring folk,
‘Gainst one who longs to die for world’s release?

Christ bestowing the Sacred Mysteries: "Take, eat, this is my Body, which is broken for your for the remission of sins" (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXF_2BG3q6OFbHtLQWwuXK98S6C3gaPf0eNcjidiQXY6tq1y4k3ZcFfn26bVbsEuuAfMA_R7zNRm5zqVmPZQNQJyw_1V8CEHfxktzvtmbQSXc4MNuCo00FiKZGS7caeW24AtNx4olv4jI/s1600/M-Deipnos-lept-2010.jpg)

  

In your ineffable compassion, Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

(http://anastasis.org.uk/HWThu-M.htm)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!