Enlighten me Christ ...

Thursday night Vesper prayers:

I have been darkened by the devil's deceits, my Christ.

Enlighten me, enlightener of the faithful,

Who darkened the sun as you hung upon the cross,

Granting deliverance,

So that as I walk in the light of your precepts

I may see purely the saving rays of your resurrection!

Hanging as a vine upon the tree, Savior,

You satisfied the earth with the wine of incorruption.

Therefore, I cry to you:

I have been drunk always and darkened with sinfulness.

Satisfy me with the true sweet drink of compunction,
And strengthen me now through abstinence from pleasures
My gracious Savior and lover of mankind!

Great are the wonders of the cross!

It planted abstinence firmly in the church.
And uprooted adam's lack of it in paradise.
One tree in eden brought death to man,
But another on Golgotha granted eternal life to the world.

The cross is the fountain of paradise

Which released your life-bearing blood and water.

By your cross, gladden our lenten joy,

God of Israel who possess great mercy.

-- From the Triodion First Week of Lent Thursday Vespers.