Answer me in Your righteousness,
And do not enter into judgment with Your servant.
Answer me in Your righteousness,
And do not enter into judgment with Your servant.
Your good Spirit will guide me in the straight land.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (3x)

At the conclusion of Psalm 142, the Deacon and the Priest bow to each other. The Priest returns to the Sanctuary through the South door and stands at his place before the Altar Table.

The Deacon moves to stand before the Royal Doors, lifts his Orarion and says:

The Great Litany

Deacon: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all people, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For [his Beatitude] Metropolitan ______; for [his Grace] our Bishop ______; for the honorable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For the President and all civil authorities of this country, and for those serving in its Armed Forces, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For this city, [if a monastery: For this holy habitation,] for every city and countryside, and for the faithful dwelling in them, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For travelers by land, by sea, and by air; the sick; the suffering; the captives; and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

The Deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ:

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

God is the Lord

Deacon: God is the Lord, and has revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endures forever!

People: God is the Lord, and has revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

Deacon: All nations surrounded me; but in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.

People: God is the Lord, and has revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

Deacon: I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.

People: God is the Lord, and has revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

Deacon: The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

People: God is the Lord, and has revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

Troparia

[Troparion or Troparia and the Theotokion from the Octoechos or of the Feast]

The Deacon enters the Sanctuary through the South door, goes to the High Place, bows, turns, bows to the Priest, and goes to his place at the Altar Table.

Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Kathismata

Then the first of the appointed Kathismata, and after each of the first two Stasis:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God! (3x)
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

But after the third Stasis:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God! (3x)

During Pre-Feasts, during Post-Feasts, and Days of the Great Doxology: Near the conclusion of the Kathisma, the Deacon bows to the Priest, passing the High Place, exits the Sanctuary through the North door and stands at his place on the solea, lifts his Orarion and says:

The Little Litany

Deacon: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other and all our life unto Christ our God.

The Deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For Yours is the majesty, and Yours are the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

The Deacon enters the Sanctuary through the South door, goes to the High Place, bows, turns, bows to the Priest, and goes to his place at the Altar Table.

People: Amen.

Kathisma Hymn

[Sedalen (Kathisma Hymn)]

Reader:structional reading, if appointed]

Then the second of the appointed Kathismata, which is read in the same way, and with the same conditions concerning the Little Litany, Kathisma Hymn, and instructional reading (except that the exclamation of the Little Litany--if there is a Little Litany--is:

Priest: You are a good God and You love mankind, and to You we ascribe Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages off ages.

People:Amen.

On many days there is a third Kathisma [but on feasts the Polyeleon takes precedence, either the ordinary Polyeleon (following) or the special Polyeleon for the Theotokos (Appendix B)].

On Feasts the Polyeleon is sung:

On the Lord’s Day either the Polyeleon or the 17th Kathisma is sung, according to the local tradition.

The Polyeleon

Refrain:Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Psalm 134 (135)

Praise the name of the Lord,
praise the Lord, you servants of His
who stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise the Lord, because God is good,
sing psalms to His name, for it is beautiful.
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His own possession.
For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
The Lord does whatever He chooses
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and in all the depths.
He brings up clouds from the end of the earth,
He makes lightnings for the rain,
He brings winds out of His treasuries.
He struck the firstborn of Egypt,
of man and beast alike.
He sent signs and wonders
in the midst of you, O Egypt,
on Pharaoh and all his slaves.
He struck many nations
and killed powerful kings:
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, the king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
And He gave their land as an inheritance,
a possession for His people Israel.
O Lord, Your name is eternal
and Your memorial from generation to generation.
For the Lord will judge His people
and He will be comforted by His servants.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the works of men’s hands.
They have mouths but will not talk,
they have eyes but will not see,
they have ears but will not hear,
for there is not a breath in their mouth.
Let those who make them become like them
and all who trust in them.
O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!
O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
Blessed is the Lord from Zion,
Who lives in Jerusalem.

Refrain: for His mercy is eternal. Alleluia!

Psalm 135 (136)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
Give thanks to the God of gods,
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
To Him Who alone does great wonders,
To Him Who made the heavens with understanding,
To Him Who poised the earth on the waters,
to Him Who alone made great lights,
The sun for governing the day,
The moon and the stars for governing the night,
To Him Who struck Egypt with their firstborn,
And led out Israel from among them,
With a strong hand and a high arm,
To Him Who divided the Red Sea into parts,
And led Israel through the midst of it,
But shook off Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,
To Him Who led His people in the wilderness,
To Him Who struck great kings,
And killed strong kings,
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
And Og, king of Bashan,
And gave their land as an inheritance,
An inheritance for His servant Israel,
For in our humiliation, the Lord remembered us
And He delivered us from our enemies,
Who gives food to all flesh,
O give thanks to the God of heaven,

For the Sundays of the Prodigal Son, Judgment, & Forgiveness; (in addition to the usual Polyeleon):

Refrain: Alleluia!

Psalm 136 (137)

By the rivers of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
On the willows in the midst of it
we hung up our instruments.
For there those who captured us asked us for songs
and those who led us away called for a tune:
“Sing us some of the songs of Zion.”
How shall we sing the Lord’s song
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten.
May my tongue stick to my throat
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem foremost,
as in the beginning of my happiness.
Remember, O Lord, the sons of Edom
on the day of Jerusalem’s fall, who said:
“Down with it, down with it to its foundations!”
O wretched daughter of Babylon!
Blessed is he who repays you
for what you did to us.
Blessed is he who seizes your children
and dashes them against the Rock.

On Feasts [in the Russian usage only]:
The Clergy proceed to the center of the temple:

The Magnification

Clergy: [The Magnification]

The presiding Celebrant preceded by the Deacon with a candle incense around the Analogion while the People sing:

People: [The Magnification]

Reader: [The Select Psalm]

People: [The Magnification]

Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

People: [The Magnification]

Reader: ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

People: [The Magnification]

Reader: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God (3x)

People: [The Magnification]

The Clergy return to the Sanctuary through the South door.

The Eulogitaria of the Resurrection

Refrain: Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes!

Tone 5

The angelic host was filled with awe when it saw You among the dead! By destroying the power of death, O Savior, You raised Adam and saved all men from hell!

In the tomb, the radiant angel cried to the myrrh-bearers, “Why do you women mingle myrrh with your tears? Look at the tomb and understand! The Savior is risen from the dead!

Very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearers ran with sorrow to Your tomb. But an angel came to them and said: “The time for sorrow has come to an end! Do not weep but announce the Resurrection to the Apostles!

The myrrh-bearers were sorrowful as they neared Your tomb, but the angel said to them: “Why do you number the living among the dead? Since He is God, He is risen from the tomb!”

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

We worship the Father, and His Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in essence. We cry with the seraphim: Holy, Holy, Holy, are You, O Lord!

...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Since you gave birth to the Giver of life, O Virgin, you redeemed Adam from his sin! You gave joy to Eve instead of sadness! The God-Man Who was born of you has restored to life those who had fallen from it.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O God. (3x)

Near the conclusion, the Deacon bows to the Priest, passing the High Place, exits the Sanctuary through the North door and stands at his place on the solea, lifts his Orarion and says:

The Little Litany

Deacon: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

The Deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For blessed is Your name, and glorified is Your kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

The Deacon enters the Sanctuary through the South door, goes to the High Place, bows, turns, bows to the Priest, and goes to his place at the Altar Table.

People: Amen.

Hypakoe or Sessional Hymn

People: [The Hypakoe or Sessional Hymn]

Reader: [Instructional Reading]

The Hymn of Degrees

(On Sundays, according to the tone of the week; on feasts, Tone 4, Antiphon 1 only by custom)

People: From my youth, many passions have fought against me. But do You help me and save me, O my Savior!
You who hate Zion shall be put to shame by the Lord. You shall be withered up like grass by the fire!

The Deacon bows to the Priest, passing the High Place, exits the Sanctuary through the North door and stands at his place on the solea.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit and is exalted in purity, illumined by the Holy Trinity in a sacred mystery!

The Deacon lifts his Orarion and says:

The Prokeimenon

See Appendix C for the Sunday Prokeimena.

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend.
The Prokeimenon in the _____ tone.

(The Deacon reads the first verse of the Prokeimenon, etc.)

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: You are holy, O our God, Who rest in the sanctuary, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People:Amen.

Another Prokeimenon

Deacon: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.

People: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.

Deacon: Praise God in His sanctuary, praise Him in His mighty firmament.

People: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.

Deacon: Let everything that breathes...

People: ...praise the Lord.

The Gospel

On Sundays the Gospel is read at the Altar Table; at feast days when the icon is to be venerated, the Priest, preceded by an Acolyte, exits the Sanctuary through the North door and reads the Gospel at the icon in the center of the temple:

Deacon: And that we may be accounted worthy of hearing the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.

People: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Deacon: The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. __________.

People: Glory to You, O Lord, Glory to You.

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

Priest: + Peace be unto all.

People: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Let us attend.

Priest: [Reads the Gospel]

People: Glory to You, O Lord, Glory to You.

After it is read, the Gospel is carried in procession back to the Altar Table:

Troparia

Having beheld the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. We venerate Your Cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Your holy resurrection, for You are our God, and we know no other than You, we call on Your name.

Come, all you faithful, let us venerate Christ’s holy resurrection! For, behold, through the Cross, joy has come into all the world. Let us ever bless the Lord, praising His resurrection, for by enduring the Cross for us, He has destroyed death by death!

The Royal Doors are opened. The Priest brings out the Holy Gospel to the center of the temple, carrying it on his chest rather than up above his head, and places it upon the Analogion for veneration by the Faithful. The veneration of the Gospel begins by the Priest making two metanias, kissing the Gospel, and making another metania. All who come forward to venerate the Holy Gospel do likewise, and then bow to the Priest who stands on the left side of the Analogion (as one looks toward the Sanctuary) and faces the Faithful. The Gospel is carried as in procession when returned to the Altar Table, and the Priest turns, usually on the solea, and blesses the People with the Gospel. The Royal Doors are closed.

Psalm 50 (51)

Reader: Have mercy on me, O God, in Your great mercy,
and in Your abundant compassion blot out my transgression.
Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my sinfulness and my sin is before me continually.
Against You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight,
that You may be justified in Your words and win when You are judged.
For I was conceived in iniquities and in sins my mother gave me birth.
But You love truth; the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom You have made known to me.
You will sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be clean. You will wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness. The bones that have been humbled will rejoice.
Turn Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with Your ruling Spirit.
I will teach Your ways to the lawless, and sinners will return to You.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation.
My tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You will open my lips and my mouth will declare Your praise.
For if You desired sacrifice, I would have given it.
You take no delight in whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice for God is a broken spirit; a broken and humbled heart God will not despise.
Gladden Zion, O Lord, with Your goodwill, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.
Then You will delight in the sacrifice of righteousness, in offering and whole burnt offerings.
Then they will offer young bulls on Your altar.

Troparia

On Feasts:

People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

[the first Troparion of the feast]

...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

[the second Troparion of the feast]

Have mercy on me, O God, in Your great mercy, and in Your abundant compassion blot out my transgression.

[the third Troparion of the feast]

On Sundays outside Pre-Lent and Great Lent:

People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Through the prayers of the Apostles, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions. ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Have mercy on me, O God, in Your great mercy, and in Your abundant compassion blot out my transgression.
Jesus has risen from the dead, as He foretold, granting us eternal life, and great mercy.

On Sundays in Pre-Lent and Great Lent:

The Penitential Troparia

People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

Open to me the doors of repentance, O Life-Giver, for my spirit rises early to pray towards Your holy temple, bearing the temple of my body all defiled. But in Your compassion purify me by the loving kindness of Your mercy.
...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lead me on the paths of salvation, O Mother of God, for I have profaned my soul with shameful sins, and have wasted my life in laziness. But by your intercessions deliver me from all impurity.

Have mercy on me, O God, in Your great mercy, and in Your abundant compassion blot out my transgression. When I think of the many evil things I have done, wretch that I am, I tremble at the fearful day of judgment. But trusting in Your loving kindness, like David I cry to You: have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love.

The Great Intercession

The Deacon bows to the Priest, passing the High Place, exits the Sanctuary through the North door, stands before the icon of Christ, lifts his Orarion and prays:

Deacon: O God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Visit Your world in mercy and compassion. Exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians, and send down on us Your rich mercies; through the prayers of our most-pure Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; through the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of heaven; through the supplications of the honorable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of the Holy Myrrh-bearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles, Mary Magdalen;

of our fathers among the saints, hierarchs and ecumenical teachers: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our fathers among the saints Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, Irenaeus of Lyons, Cyprian of Carthage, Ambrose of Milan, Nicholas of Myra in Lycia, Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria, Gregory of Rome, Augustine of Canterbury, and Theodore of Tarsus;

of Gregory the Enlightener of Armenia; Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia; Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland; Robert, Bishop of Salzburg and Enlightener of the Bavarians; the holy Methodius and Cyril, Evangelizers of the Slavs; the blessed Princess Olga and the holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles; Nahum, Enlightener of the Bulgarians; Nicholas, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlightener of Japan;

of our fathers among the saints: Innocent, the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to America; Jacob, Enlightener of the Upic and Athabascan peoples; Nicholas of Zhicha and South Canaan; Tikhon, Enlightener of North America and Patriarch of Moscow; and John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco;

of the holy, glorious, and right-victorious Martyrs: the Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen; the Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon; the Great-Martyrs Demetrius of Thessalonika, George the Victorious, and Theodore the Recruit; Alban, Protomartyr of Britain; the martyrs Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia; the New Martyr Gorazd of Prague; the new Hieromartyr Nicetas the Albanian of Mount Athos; the New Hieromartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles Cosmos of Aitolia;

of Juvenaly, Protomartyr of America and the martyred Aleut Peter; of the New-martyrs and Passion-bearers of Russia, especially the martyrs John of Chicago and Alexander of New York;

of the Protomartyr among women and Equal-to-the-Apostles Thekla; of the Great Martyrs Barbara, Katherine, Irene of Thessalonika, and Marina of Antioch; of Lucy of Syracuse; the martyrs Faith, Hope, and Love and their mother Sophia; the Virgin-Martyrs of Rome: Anastasia, Tatiana, Paraskeva, Xenia, Agnes, Lucy, Susanna, and Eugenia; of Hripsime and Gayane of Armenia and Susanna of Georgia;

of our venerable and God-bearing fathers: Anthony the Great; Pachomias the Great; Sabbas; Euthymius; Benedict of Nursia; Colomban of Iona; Theodore of Studion; Anthony and Theodosius and the other wonderworkers of the Caves in Kiev; Sergius of Radonezh; Paisius of Modavia; Seraphim of Sarov; Macarius of Corinth; Nectarios of Aigina; Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain; Sergius and Herman of Valaam; Ambrose, Elder of Optina; Silouan of Mount Athos;

and our venerable father Herman, Elder and Wonderworker of Alaska and all America;

of our venerable and God-bearing mothers: Pelagia; Theodosia; Anastasia; Eupraxia; Fevronia; Theodulia; Euphrosyne; Mary of Egypt; and Hilda of Whitby; and Xenia of Petersburg, Fool-for-Christ; of the Holy and God-crowned Emperor Constantine and his mother Helen; of the Righteous Sarah, wife of Abraham; the Righteous Hanna, mother of the Prophet Samuel; Emilia, mother of Saints Basil the Great, Macrina ,and Gregory of Nyssa; Silvia, mother of Gregory the Dialogist; and Genevieve of Paris;

of St. John of Kronstadt; and our father-among-the-saints, Alexis of Minneapolis and Wilkes-barre, defender of the Orthodox Church in America;

of Saint (of the day) ; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, hear us sinners who pray to You, and have mercy on us.

The Deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ.

People: Lord, have mercy. (12x)

Priest: Through the mercy and compassion and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Deacon enters the Sanctuary through the South door, goes to the High Place, bows, turns, bows to the Priest, and goes to his place at the Altar Table.

THE CANON

Ode I - The Song of Moses

Refrain: For He has triumphed gloriously!

Ex. 15:1-19

I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and my song and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host He cast into the sea; and his picked officers are sunk in the Red sea.

The floods cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

In the greatness of Your majesty You overthrow Your adversaries; You send forth Your fury, it consumes them like stubble.

At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up, the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.”

You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, terrible in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

You stretched out Your right hand, the earth swallowed them.

You have led in Your steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed, You have guided them by Your strength to Your holy abode.

The peoples have heard, they tremble; pangs have seized on the inhabitants of Philistia.

8. Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; the leaders of Moab, trembling seizes them; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.

7. Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of Your arm, they are as still as a stone,

6. Till Your people, O Lord, pass by, till the people pass by whom You have purchased.

5. You will bring them in, and plant them on Your own mountain, the place which You have made for Your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

4. The Lord will reign forever and ever.

3. For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea.

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

1. ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Ode III - The Song of Hannah

Refrain: Holy are You, O Lord.

1 Samuel 2:1-10

My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.
There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides You; there is no rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has born seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord kills and brings to life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low, He also exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.
8. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s and on them He has set the world.
7. He will guard the feet of His faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
6. For not by might shall a man prevail.
5. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
4. Against them He will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
3. He will give strength to His king, and exalt the power of His anointed.
2. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Patristic Reading

Reader: [Patristic reading]

The Deacon bows to the Priest, passing the High Place, exits the Sanctuary through the North door, and stands at his place on the solea, lifts his Orarion and says:

The Little Litany

Deacon: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

The Deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For You are our God, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

People: Amen.

Sessional Hymn

[Sessional Hymn or Hypakoe]

While the People sing the Sessional Hymn, the Deacon enters the Sanctuary through the South door, goes to the High Place, bows, turns, bows to the Priest, and goes to his place at the Altar Table.

Ode IV - The Song of Habakkuk

Habakkuk 3:2-19

O Lord, I have heard the report of You, and Your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years renew it; in the midst of the years make it known, in wrath remember mercy.

God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.

His brightness was like the light, rays flashed from His hand; and there He veiled His power.

Before Him went pestilence, and plague followed close behind.

He stood and measured the earth; He looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered, the everlasting hills sank low. His ways were as of old.

I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

Was Your wrath against the rivers, O Lord? Was Your anger against the rivers or Your indignation against the sea, when You rode upon Your horses, upon Your chariot of victory?

You stripped the sheath from Your bow, and put the arrows to the string. You divided the earth with rivers.

The mountains say You, and writhed; the raging waters swept on; the deep gave forth its voice, it lifted its hands on high.

The sun and moon stood still in their habitation, at the light of Your arrows as they sped, at the flash of Your glittering spear.

You walked the earth in fury, You trampled the nations in anger.

You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for the salvation of Your anointed. You crushed the head of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck.

You pierced with Your shafts the heads of his warriors, who came like a whirlwind to scatter me, rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.

You trampled the sea with Your horses, the surging of mighty waters.

I hear, and my body trembles, my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones, my steps totter beneath me. I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.

8. Though the fig trees do not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines,

7. The produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food,

6. The flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,

5. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will have joy in the god of my salvation.

4. God, the Lord, is my salvation; He makes my feet like hinds feet,

3. He makes me tread on my high places.

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

1. ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Ode V - The Song of Isaiah

Refrain: Alleluia!

Isaiah 26:9-21

In the path of Your judgments, O Lord, we wait for You; Your memorial name is the desire of our soul.

My soul yearns for You in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks You. For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals perversely and does not see the majesty of the Lord.

O Lord, Your hand is lifted up, but they see it not. Let them see Your zeal for Your people and be ashamed. Let the fire for Your adversaries consume them.

O Lord, You will ordain peace for us, You have wrought for us all our works.

O Lord our God, other lords besides You have ruled over us, but Your name alone we acknowledge.

They are dead, they will not live; they are shades, they will not arise; to that end You have visited them with destruction and wiped out all remembrance of them.

But You have increased the nation, O Lord, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have enlarged all the borders of the land.

O Lord, in distress they sought You, they poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.

8. Like a woman with child, who writhes and cries out in her pangs, when she is near her time,

7. So were we because of You, O Lord; we were with child, we writhed, we have as it were brought forth wind.

6. We have wrought no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.

5. Your dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy!

4. For Your dew is a dew of light, and on the land of the shades You will let it fall.

3. Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the wrath is past.

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

1. ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Ode VI - The Song of Jonah

Refrain: Save us, O Lord.

Jonah 2:1-9

I called to the Lord, out of my distress, and He answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice.

For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the flood was round about me; all Your waves and Your billows passed over me.

8. Then I said, “I am cast out from Your presence; how shall I again look upon Your holy temple?”

7. The waters closed in over me, the deep was round about me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever;

6. Yet You brought up my life from the Pit, O Lord my God.

5. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to You, into the holy temple.

4. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their true loyalty,

3. But with the voice of thanksgiving I will sacrifice to You; what I have vowed I will pay.

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

1. ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Patristic Reading

Reader: [Patristic reading]

The Deacon bows to the Priest, passing the High Place, exits the Sanctuary through the North door, and stands at his place on the solea, lifts his Orarion and says:

The Little Litany

Deacon: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

The Deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For You are the king of peace and Savior of our souls, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

People: Amen.

Kontakion

[the Kontakion]

While the People sing the Kontakion, the Deacon enters the Sanctuary through the South door, goes to the High Place, bows, turns, bows to the Priest, and goes to his place at the Altar Table.

Ikos

Reader: [Ikos, up to but not including the concluding phrase, which is identical to the concluding phrase of the Kontakion]

People: [Last phrase of the Ikos] Synaxarion

Reader: [The Synaxarion]

Ode VII - The Song of Azariah and of the Three Young Men

Refrain: Blessed are You, O Lord.

Daniel 3:26-45

Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, and worthy of praise; and Your name is glorified unto ages.

For You are just in all that You have done to us, and all Your works are true and Your ways right, and all Your judgments are truth.

You have executed true judgments in all that You have brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers, for in truth and justice You have brought all this upon us because of our sins.

For we have sinfully and lawlessly departed from You, and have sinned in all things and have not obeyed Your commandments; we have not observed them or done them, as You have commanded us that it might go well with us.

So all that You have brought upon us, and all that You have done to us, You have done in true judgment.

You have given us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful rebels, and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world.

And now we cannot open our mouths; shame and disgrace have befallen Your servants and worshipers.

For Your name’s sake do not give us up utterly, and do not break Your covenant, and do not withdraw Your mercy from us, for the sake of Isaac Your servant and Israel Your holy one, to whom You promised to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the shore of the sea.

For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation, and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins.

And at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, or sacrifice, no oblation or incense, no place to make an offering before You or to find mercy.

Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted, as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and with tens of thousands of fat lambs; such may our sacrifice be in Your sight this day, and may we wholly follow You, for there will be no shame for those who trust in You.

And now with all our heart we follow You, we fear You and seek Your face.

Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in Your forbearance and in Your abundant mercy.

Deliver us in accordance with Your marvelous works, and give glory to Your name, O Lord!

Let all who do harm to Your servants be put to shame; let them be disgraced and deprived of all power and dominion, and let their strength be broken.

Let them know that You are the Lord, the only god, glorious over the whole world.

Daniel 3:52-56

8. Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, and to be praised and highly exalted forever;

7. And blessed is Your glorious, holy name, and to be highly praised and highly exalted forever;

6. Blessed are You in the temple of Your holy glory, and to be extolled and highly glorified forever.

5. Blessed are You, Who sit upon cherubim and look upon the deeps, and to be praised and highly exalted forever.

4. Blessed are You on the throne of Your kingdom, and to be extolled and highly exalted forever.

3. Blessed are You in the firmament of heaven, and to be sung and glorified forever.

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

1. ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

At the 8th Ode, the Deacon receives the blessing from the Priest for the Great Censing. He begins in the Sanctuary and, emerging to the Solea by the North door, censes the right side of the Iconostasis. He then stands before the icon of the Theotokos awaiting the conclusion of the Katabasia of the 8th Ode.

Ode VIII - The Song of the Three Young Men

Refrain: Sing and exalt Him throughout all the ages.

Daniel 3:57-88

Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord.
Bless the Lord, you heavens and you angels of the Lord.
Bless the Lord, all waters above the heavens and all powers of the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon and you stars of heaven.
Bless the Lord, all rain and dew and all winds.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat, winter and summer.
Bless the Lord, dews and snows, ice and cold.
Bless the Lord, frosts and snows, lightnings and clouds.
Bless the Lord, nights and days, light and darkness.
Bless the Lord, earth, mountains and hills, and all things that grow on the earth.
Bless the Lord, you springs, seas and rivers, you whales and all creatures that move in the waters.
Bless the Lord, all birds of the air, all beasts and cattle.
Bless the Lord, you sons of men, bless the Lord, O Israel.
8. Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord, and you servants of the Lord.
Sing and exalt Him throughout all the ages.
7. Bless the Lord, you spirits and souls of the righteous, you who are holy and humble in heart.
Sing and exalt Him throughout all the ages.
6. Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael.
Sing and exalt Him throughout all the ages.
5. Bless the Lord, you apostles, prophets, and martyrs of the Lord.
Sing and exalt Him throughout all the ages.
4. We bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; the Lord.
We sing and exalt Him throughout all the ages.
3. We praise, bless, and worship the Lord.
Singing and exalting Him throughout all the ages.
2. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
1. ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

If the Magnificat will be sung:

The Deacon raises the censer and says:

Deacon: The Theotokos and Mother of the Light, let us honor and magnify in song

The Deacon then censes the icon 3 times, the left side of the Iconostasis, the people and the icons in the remainder of the temple, and gives up the censer. He then returns to his place in front of the icon of the Theotokos.

Ode IX -The Song of Mary (the Magnificat) and The Song of Zacharia (the Benedictus)

Refrain: More honorable than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim: without corruption you gave birth to God the Word: True Theotokos, we magnify you.

Luke 1:46-56

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

For He has regarded the humility of His handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

For He Who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.

He has shown His power with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has pulled down rulers from their thrones and has exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel as He promised to our fathers, so as to remember His mercy to Abraham and his sons forever.”

[from this point on there is no refrain]

Luke 1:68-79

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.

And He has raised up a mighty salvation for us in the house of His servant David,

As He said through the mouth of the saints who are His prophets from of old,

Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

To show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

8. The oath which He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we should be delivered from the hand of our enemies,

7. to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

6. But you, child, will also be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

5. To give to His people the knowledge of salvation in the forgiveness of their sins, through the merciful compassion of our God

4. by which the Sunrise from on high has visited us, to appear to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death,

3. And to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

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

...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Deacon moves to stand before the Royal Doors, lifts his Orarion and says:

The Little Litany

Deacon: Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

The Deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ:

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

On Sundays [but not on Palm Sunday or Pentecost, nor on any Sunday which may coincide with Transfiguration or the Exaltation of the Cross]:

The Priest stands at the Altar Table.

A Hymn of Light

Deacon: Holy is the Lord our God.

People: Holy is the Lord our God.

Deacon: For holy is the Lord our God.

People: Holy is the Lord our God.

Deacon: Over all people is our God.

People: Holy is the Lord our God.

The Deacon enters the Sanctuary through the South door, goes to the High Place, bows, turns, bows to the Priest, and goes to his place at the Altar Table.

Hymn of Light

People: [The Exapostilarion or Hymn of Light]
[“Glory...” for the saint if there is one]
[“...now and ever...” for the saint]
[Sunday Theotokion]

The Praises

When there are verses on the Praises [except at Bridegroom Matins and during weekdays of the Pentecostarion]:

People: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
Praise Him in the heights,
To You, O God, is due a song.

Praise Him, all you angels of His,
Praise Him, all His hosts.
To You, O God, is due a song.

When there are no verses on the Praises and when it is a Bridegroom Matins or a weekday of the Pentecostarion:

Psalm 148:1-2

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights,
Praise Him, all you angels of His, praise Him, all His hosts.

Psalm 148:3-14

Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you stars and light.
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens and you water that is above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He spoke and they were born,
He commanded and they were created. He has fixed them forever and ever.
He has made a law and it will not be bypassed. Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all depths, fire, hail, snow, ice,
the storm wind, all obeying His word, all you mountains and hills,
all you fruit trees and cedars, you wild beasts and all cattle, reptiles and winged birds,
you kings of the earth and all peoples, all you rulers and judges of the earth;
young men and virgins, old men and children,
let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name only is exalted;
His praise is above heaven and earth. And He will exalt the power of His people.
This is a song for all His saints, for the children of Israel, for people drawing near to Him.

Psalm 149

Sing to the Lord a new song! Let His praise be sung in the church of the saints.
Let Israel rejoice in Him Who made him, and let the children of Zion exult in their King.
Let them praise His name with dancing, let them sing to Him with drum and harp.
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people and will exalt the meek with His salvation.
The saints will exult in glory, and they will rejoice on their beds.
The high praises of God will be in their throat and two-edged swords in their hands,
to pass judgment on the nations and give rebukes among the peoples,
8. to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,
7. to pass judgment on them as God has written. This glory will be for all His saints.

Psalm 150

6. Praise God in His saints, praise Him in the expanse of His power.
5. Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him for His infinite greatness.
4. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet, praise Him with psaltery and harp.
3. Praise Him with drum and dancing, praise Him with strings and bells.
2. Praise Him with well-tuned cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of victory!
1. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Psalm 9:33 (10:12)
Arise, O Lord God, let Your hand be uplifted, do not forget the poor and needy.

Psalm 9:2 (9:1)

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Your wonders. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

[Gospel hymn]

Reader: ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

At the singing of “...now and ever...” the Royal Doors are opened. The Priest stands in front of the Altar Table and the Deacon to his right.

Tone 2

People: You are most blessed, O Virgin Theotokos! Through the God-man Who took flesh from you, hell has been captured and Adam called back! The curse has been annulled, and Eve set free! Death has been slain, so we are given life! Blessed is Christ our God, whose good will it was! Glory to You!

On Feasts:

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

People: [Sticheron on ‘Glory’, if provided]

Reader: ...now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

People: [Theotokion]

If no Stichera have been sung with the Praises:

Reader: To You, O Lord our God, belongs glory, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Great Doxology

Priest: Glory to You Who have shown us the light!

People: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of His will.
We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory: O Lord, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty: O Lord, the Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ: and O Holy Spirit.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Who take away the sins of the world, accept our prayer. Who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever, even unto ages of ages.
Let Your mercy be upon us, O Lord, even as we have set our hope on You.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
Blessed are You, O Master, make me to understand Your commandments.
Blessed are You, O Holy One, enlighten me with Your precepts.
Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said, “Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You!”
Lord, I have fled to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.
For with You is the fountain of life, and in Your light shall we see light. Continue Your mercy unto those who know You.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us.

The Deacon bows to the Priest, passing the High Place, exits the Sanctuary through the North door and stands at his place on the solea.

Troparia

On Sundays of an odd-numbered Tone:

Today salvation has come to the world! Let us sing to Him Who rose from the dead, the author of our life! Having destroyed death by death, He has given us the victory and great mercy!

On Sundays of an even-numbered Tone:

By rising from the dead, You destroyed the bonds of death. By destroying the condemnation of death, O Lord, You redeemed all men from the snares of the enemy. By revealing Yourself to Your apostles, You sent them to proclaim You. Through them You have given peace to the universe, O Merciful One!

On Feasts:

[The proper Troparion]

On Feasts for saints:
[The Troparion for the saint]
[“Glory...now and ever...Amen”]
[Resurrectional Theotokion]

The Deacon lifts his Orarion and prays:

The Litany of Fervent Supplication

Deacon: Have mercy upon us, O God, according to Your great goodness, we implore You, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Deacon: Again we pray for [His Beatitude] Metropolitan ______, for [His Grace] our Bishop ______, for priests, deacons, and all other clergy, and for all our brethren in Christ.

People: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Deacon: Again we pray for the (President) and all civil authorities of this country and for those serving in its Armed Forces.

People: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Deacon: Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable holy Orthodox Patriarchs; for the blessed and ever memorable founders of this holy house; for all our fathers and brethren, the Orthodox departed this life before us, [especially __________ and all those] who here and in all the world lie asleep in the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Deacon: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and visitation for the servants of God [especially ______], and for the pardon and remission of their sins.

People: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Deacon: Again we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable house; for those who labor and those who sing; and for all the people here present, who await Your great and rich mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

The Deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ.

Priest: For You are a merciful God, and You love mankind, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Deacon moves to stand before the Royal Doors, lifts his Orarion and says:

The Morning Litany

Deacon: Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Your grace.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

People: Grant it, O Lord.

Deacon: For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

People: Grant it, O Lord.

Deacon: For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.

People: Grant it, O Lord.

Deacon: For all things that are good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

People: Grant it, O Lord.

Deacon: That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.

People: Grant it, O Lord.

Deacon: For a Christian ending to our life: painless, blameless, and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.

People: Grant it, O Lord.

Deacon: Commemorating our most holy, pure, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.

The Deacon moves to stand before the icon of Christ:

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For You are a good God, and You love mankind, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Priest turns toward the people and blesses:

Priest: + Peace be unto all.

People: And to your spirit.

Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

People: To You, O Lord.

The Prayer with Heads Bowed

Priest: O Holy Lord, Who dwell on high and look upon the humble, and Who with Your all-seeing eye do behold all creation: to You have we bowed the neck of our soul and body, and we implore You, O Holy of Holies, stretch forth Your invisible hand from Your holy dwelling place and bless us all. And if in any way we have sinned, either willingly or unwillingly, pardon us, inasmuch as You are good, and You love mankind, granting us Your good things in this age and in the age to come. For Yours it is to have mercy on us and to save us, O our God, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

The Great Dismissal

Deacon: Wisdom!

People: Father, bless.

Standing in front of the Altar Table, the Priest says:

Priest: + Christ our God, the Existing One, is blessed, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. People: Amen.

People:Confirm, O God, the holy Orthodox faith and Orthodox Christians unto ages of ages.

Priest: Most holy Theotokos, save us. People: More honorable than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God, the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify you.

Priest: Glory to You, O Christ, our God and our hope, glory to You.

The Deacon turns, exits through the Royal Doors, and goes to stand to the right of the Analoy.

Standing in the Royal Doors, facing the people, the Priest says the Great Dismissal:

From Ascension to Great and Holy Saturday:

Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Father, bless.

From Thomas Sunday to the Leave-taking of Pascha:

People: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Priest: May [He Who rose from the dead,] Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of St. (of the temple.....; of (of the day) , whom we commemorate today; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us for He is good and loves mankind.

Reader: Amen.,/p>

From Thomas Sunday to the Leave-taking of Pascha:
In the Byzantine tradition, the Priest raises the Cross and says:

Priest: Christ is risen!

People: Indeed He is risen!

Priest: Christ is risen!

People: Indeed He is risen!

Priest: Christ is risen!

People: Indeed He is risen!
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (3x)
And unto us He has given eternal life! Let us worship his resurrection on the third day!

THE TWELVE MATINS PRAYERS

I

We thank You, O Lord our God, Who have raised us from our beds and put into our mouths a word of praise, that we may adore and call on Your holy name. We entreat Your bounties, which You have always used in our life. Send down Your help even now on those who stand before the face of Your holy glory and await rich mercy from You. Enable those who serve You always with fear and love, to praise Your inexpressible goodness. For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

II

From the night our spirit wakes, O our God, for Your commandments are a light on the earth. Enlighten us now to perfect righteousness and holiness in fear of You, for we glorify You, our truly existing God. Incline Your ear and hear us. Remember by name, O Lord, all those who are with us and pray with us; save them by Your power. Bless Your people, and sanctify Your inheritance. Give peace to Your world, to the churches, to Your priests, to all those in civil authority, and to all Your people. For blessed and glorified is Your all-honorable and majestic name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

III

From the night our spirit wakes, O God, for Your commandments are a light. Teach us Your righteousness, O God, Your commandments and Your statutes. Enlighten the eyes of our understanding, lest at any time we should fall asleep to death in sin. Drive all gloom from our hearts. Grant us the Sun of Righteousness, and, by the seal of Your Holy Spirit, preserve our life unassailed. Guide our steps to the way of peace. Enable us to behold the dawn and the day with joy, that we may raise our morning prayers to You. For Yours is the majesty, and Yours are the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

IV

O Master, God, holy and unsearchable, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness; Who refreshed us by the sleep of the night; and Who raised us for the glorification and supplication of Your goodness. Implored by Your own lovingkindness, accept now also us who bow before You and give thanks according to our ability. Grant us all our petitions which are for salvation. Show us to be sons of the light and of the day, heirs of Your eternal good things. Remember, O Lord, in the multitude of Your bounties, all Your people here present and praying with us; and all our brothers on land, on sea, in the air, and in every place of Your dominion who are in need of Your mercy and love for mankind; grant Your mercy to all of them. That being always preserved in safety of soul and body, we may with boldness glorify Your wondrous and blessed name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

V

Treasury of Blessings, ever-glowing Fountain, Holy Father Who work wonders, almighty and all-powerful! We all worship You and pray to You, entreating Your mercies and Your compassion, to help and preserve our humility. Remember Your servants, O Lord, and accept our morning prayers as incense in Your sight. Let none of us be found guilty, but surround us all with Your bounties. Remember, O Lord, those who keep vigil and sing to Your glory, and to the glory of Your only-begotten Son and our God and of the Holy Spirit. Be their helper and protector, and receive their supplications on Your heavenly and ideal altar. For You are our God, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

VI

We thank You, O Lord, God of our salvation, for You do all things which are good for life, that we may always look up to You, the Savior and Benefactor of our souls. You have refreshed us in the past night, and raised us from our beds, and set us in worship of Your honorable name. Therefore we entreat You, O Lord, grant us grace and power that we may sing to You with understanding, and pray without ceasing, working out our own salvation in fear and trembling through the help of Your Christ. Remember, O Lord, those who call out to You in the night; hear them and have mercy on them, destroying under their feet invisible and warring enemies. For You are the King of Peace, the Savior of our souls, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

VII

O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who have raised us from our beds, and gathered us at the hour of prayer. Grant us grace in the opening of our lips, and accept our thanks according to our ability. Teach us Your statutes. We do not know how to pray as we entreat You, pardon and forgive whatever sins we may have committed up to this present hour, by word or thought, voluntarily or involuntarily. If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You. You only are holy, a mighty helper, the defender of our life; and our song shall always be of You. Blessed and most glorified be the majesty of Your kingdom: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

VIII

O Lord our God, Who have driven the despair of sleep from us and assembled us by a holy call, that even in the night we might lift up our hands and give thanks to You for the judgments of Your righteousness, accept our prayers and petitions, the thanks of our nightly worship. Grant us, O Lord, a faith unashamed, a sure hope, a love unfeigned. Bless our comings and goings, our works and deeds, our words and thoughts, and grant that we may begin this day, praising, singing, and blessing the goodness of Your ineffable beneficence. For blessed is Your name, and glorified is Your kingdom: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

IX

Illumine our hearts, O Master Who love mankind, with the pure light of Your divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Your gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Your blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing to You. For You are the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father Who is without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

X

O Lord our God, Who have granted men pardon through repentance, and set repentance unto forgiveness, for the prophet David as an example for us of acknowledgment of sin and confession. O Master, have mercy on us according to Your great goodness on account of the many and great iniquities into which we have fallen; and according to Your abundant mercy, blot out our transgression. For we have sinned against You, O Lord, Who know the secret and hidden things in the heart of man and Who alone have authority to pardon sins. Since You have created in us a clean heart; and put a new and right spirit within us; and made known to us the joy of Your salvation; cast us not away from Your presence. But since You are good, and You love mankind, graciously enable us, even to our last breath, to offer to You the sacrifice of righteousness, and an oblation on Your holy altar. Through the mercy and compassion and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

XI

O God, our God, Who by Your will have made all the powers endowed with reason and understanding, we implore and supplicate You: Accept the praise which we offer with all Your creatures according to our ability; reward us with the rich gifts of Your goodness. For every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth bends to You; and everything that breathes and every creature sings of Your ineffable glory; only You are the true and most merciful God. For all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

XII

We praise, bless, sing, and thank You, O God of our Fathers, for You have led us through the shade of night and showed us again the light of day. We entreat Your goodness, cleanse us from our sins and accept our prayer in Your great tenderness of heart; for we run to You, the merciful and all powerful God! Make the true Sun of Your Righteousness dawn in our hearts. Enlighten our mind and guard all our senses; that walking uprightly as in the day in the way of Your commandments, we may attain to eternal life - for with You is the fountain of life, and we will be made worthy of enjoying Your unapproachable light. For You are our God, and to You we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

THE POLYELEON FOR FEASTS OF THE THEOTOKOS

Refrain: Alleluia!

Psalm 44 (45)

My heart is bubbling over with a good word; I address my works to the King. My tongue is the pen of a rapid writer.
You are lovely with a beauty beyond the sons of men, grace has been poured out on Your lips; therefore God has blessed You forever.
Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Powerful One, in Your splendor and beauty, and draw Your bow and prosper and reign in the cause of truth and meekness and justice, and Your right hand will guide You wonderfully.
Your arrows are sharp, O Powerful One, in the heart of the King’s enemies. Peoples will fall under You.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Your Kingdom is a rod of justice.
You love righteousness and hate lawlessness. Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.
Myrrh, stacte and cassia flow from Your garments, from the ivory palaces, from those who gladden You.
King’s daughters are present in Your honor. On Your right hand stands the queen, dressed in a garment interwoven with gold, embroidered with many colors.
And the daughter of Tyre will worship You with gifts; the richest of the people will implore Your favor.
All the glory of the King’s daughter is within, though she is dressed in tasseled gold embroidered with many colors.
The virgins in her train will be brought to the King, those near her will be brought to You.
They will be brought with joy and gladness, they will be led into the King’s temple.
Instead of Your fathers, sons will be born to You; You will make them rulers over all the earth.
I will remember Your name in all generations; therefore peoples will praise You forever and ever.

SUNDAY PROKEIMENA

in their customary (edited) form from the Octoechos

Tone 1

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend!
The Prokeimenon in the first tone:
I will arise, says the Lord; I will set myself for salvation// and not draw back from it.
Verse: The Lord’s words are pure words.

Tone 2

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend!
The Prokeimenon in the second tone:
Arise, O Lord my God, in defense of the decree which You Yourself have commanded,//
and the assembly of peoples will gather around You.
Verse: O Lord my God, I have set my hope on You, save me.

Tone 3

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend!
The Prokeimenon in the third tone:
Say among the nations that the Lord is King,//
for He has established the world so that it shall never be moved.
Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord all the earth.

Tone 4

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend!
The Prokeimenon in the fourth tone:
Arise, O Lord, and help us.//
Deliver us for Your name’s sake.
Verse: We have heard with our ears, O God, and our fathers have told us.

Tone 5

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend!
The Prokeimenon in the fifth tone:
Arise, O Lord my God. Let Your hand be lifted up,//
for You reign forever.
Verse: I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds.

Tone 6

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend!
The Prokeimenon in the sixth tone:
O Lord, stir up Your might// and come to save us.
Verse: Give ear, O shepherd of Israel, You Who lead Joseph like a flock.

Tone 7

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend!
The Prokeimenon in the seventh tone:
Arise, O Lord, lift up Your hands;//
O God, forget not the afflicted.
Verse: I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds.

Tone 8

Deacon: Wisdom! Let us attend!
The Prokeimenon in the eighth tone:
The Lord will reign forever;//
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Verse: Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord as long as I live.

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