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The Agpeya of the Coptic Orthodox Church is the Liturgy of the Hours, consisting of prayers offered during seven hours of the day, with the addition of the Prayer of the Veil by the celibate Christians. This edition is a new translation of the Coptic prayers, while the Psalms are all based on the New Revised Standard Version.
The Agpeya of the Coptic Orthodox Church is the Liturgy of the Hours, consisting of prayers offered during seven hours of the day, with the addition of the Prayer of the Veil by the celibate Christians. This edition is a new translation of the Coptic prayers, while the Psalms are all based on the New Revised Standard Version.
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The Agpeya of the Coptic Orthodox Church is the Liturgy of the Hours, consisting of prayers offered during seven hours of the day, with the addition of the Prayer of the Veil by the celibate Christians. This edition is a new translation of the Coptic prayers, while the Psalms are all based on the New Revised Standard Version.
Hak Cipta:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Format Tersedia
Unduh sebagai PDF, TXT atau baca online dari Scribd
Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1 In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us. Amen. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of all ages. Amen. + Make us worthy to pray in thanksgiving, saying: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. In Christ Jesus our Lord. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen. Introduction to Every Hour 2 + Let us give thanks to the benecent and merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ. For he has covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to himself, spared us, supported us, and brought us to this hour. Let us also ask the Pantocrator, the Lord our God, to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life. O Master, Lord, God the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, we thank you for everything, concerning everything, and in everything. For you have covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to yourself, spared us, supported us, and brought us to this hour. Therefore we ask and entreat you, good Lover of humankind, to grant us to complete this holy day and all the days of our life in all peace with your fear. All envy, all temptation, all the works of Satan, the advice of the wicked, and the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take them away from us, from all your people, and from this holy place that is yours. Rather, provide for us those things that are good and protable, for it is you who gave us the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. And do not bring us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one, in the Introduction to Every Hour 3 grace and love of humankind, of your only begotten Son, our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is he through whom the glory, the honour, the dominion, and the veneration are due to you, with him and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who is consubstantial with you, now and always, and to the ages of all ages. Amen. + Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justied in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgement. Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do Introduction to Every Hour 4 not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you have no delight in sacrice; if I were to give a burnt-offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, then you will delight in right sacrices, in burnt-offerings and whole burnt-offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. Alleluia. Introduction to Every Hour 5 The Gloria: Let us praise with the angels saying: Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and goodwill to all people. We praise you, we bless you, we serve you, we worship you, we confess to you, we glorify you. We give thanks to you for your great glory. Lord, King of heaven, God the Father, the Pantocrator; the one Lord and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. You who takes away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. You who sits at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. You only are holy, you only are the most high, Lord Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Everyday I will bless you, I will bless your holy name forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. My spirit awakes before each watch of the night, my God, for your precepts are a light over all the earth. I meditated on your promise, for you became my help. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice. Early I will stand before you, and you will see me. Common Prayers 6 Vouchsafe, O Lord: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and gloried be your name forever. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth. You, O Lord, will protect us; you will guard us from this generation and forever. Amen. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your statutes. Blessed are you, O Lord, make me understand your statutes. Blessed are you, O Lord, enlighten me with your statutes. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Lord, you have been my refuge in all generations. I said: O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Save me, O Lord, I have ed to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart. To you belongs blessing, to you belongs praise, to you belongs glory, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, existing from the beginning, now, and to the ages of ages. Amen. It is Common Prayers 7 good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night. +++ The Great Trisagion: Holy God, holy mighty, holy immortal, who was born of the Virgin, have mercy on us. Holy God, holy mighty, holy immortal, who was crucied for us, have mercy on us. Holy God, holy mighty, holy immortal, who rose from the dead and ascended into the heavens, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of all ages. Amen. Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Lord, forgive our trespasses. Lord, visit the sick of your people, heal them for the sake of Common Prayers 8 your holy name. Our fathers and brothers who have slept, Lord repose their souls. Sinless Lord, have mercy on us. Sinless Lord, help us and accept our prayers to you. For the glory, the dominion, and the triple holiness are yours. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us. Amen. + Make us worthy to pray in thanksgiving, saying: Our Father in heaven... The Doxology: We hail and ask you, O saint full of glory, the ever- virgin, the Mother of God, the Mother of Christ; to lift up our prayers to your beloved Son, so that he may forgive us our sins. Hail to the saintly virgin who gave birth to the true Light, Christ our God; ask the Lord for us to have mercy on our souls, so that he may forgive us our sins. O Virgin Mary, the holy Mother of God, the fervent protectress of the human race; intercede for us before Christ whom you bore, so he may grace us with the forgiveness of our sins. Hail to you, O Virgin, the true queen, hail to the pride of our race, who bore for us Emmanuel. We ask you to remember us, O our fervent protectress, before our Lord Jesus Christ, so that he may forgive us our sins. Common Prayers 9 The Beginning of the Holy Creed: We exalt you, the Mother of the true light. We glorify you, O saint, the Mother of God, for you brought forth to us the Saviour of the whole world; he came and saved our souls. Glory to you, our Master, our King, Christ, the pride of the apostles, the crown of the martyrs, the joy of the righteous, the rmness of the churches, the forgiveness of sins. We proclaim the Holy Trinity in one Godhead. We worship him, we glorify him. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us. Amen. The Holy Creed: In truth we believe in one God, God the Father the Pantocrator, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things came into being. This is he, who for us humans and our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and became human. Common Prayers 10 And he was crucied for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And he rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures. He ascended into the heavens and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he is also coming in his glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son, we co-worship him and we co-glorify him, who spoke by the prophets. And in one holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen. Lord, hear us, have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins, when we say: "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times). Common Prayers 11 The Lesser Trisagion: Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of your glory and honour. Have mercy on us, O God the Father, the Pantocrator. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord God of hosts, be with us, for we have no other helper in our hardships and distress but you. Absolve us, forgive us, and pardon, O God, our trespasses; those we have committed voluntarily, and those we have committed involuntarily; those we have committed knowingly, and those we have committed unknowingly; the hidden and the manifest. O Lord, forgive us, for the sake of your holy name, which is called upon us. According to your mercy, O Lord, and not according to our sins. + Make us worthy to pray in thanksgiving, saying: Our Father in heaven... Common Prayers 12 The Conclusion of Every Hour: Be merciful to us, O God, who is worshiped and gloried at every time and at every hour, in heaven and on earth. Christ, our good God, who is slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and compassion, loving the just, and merciful to sinners of whom I am foremost; who has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; calling all to salvation by the promise of the good things to come. Do you, Lord, yourself accept our prayers at this hour, and direct our lives to fulll your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our ideas, and deliver us from every sorrow, evil, and pain. Let your holy angels encamp around us, so that, protected and guided by their host, we may reach the unity of faith, and the knowledge of your unapproachable glory; for you are blessed forever. Amen. Hear me as I pray, saying: Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. My hope is God the Holy Trinity; have mercy on your creation, and save my soul. Amen. Common Prayers 13 Come let us worship, come let us ask Christ our God. Come let us worship, come let us ask Christ our King. Come let us worship, come let us ask Christ our Saviour. +++ Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, our God, through the intercessions of Saint Mary and all your saints, preserve us and bring us to a good start. Have mercy on us according to your will forever. The night has passed, we thank you, Lord, and we ask you to keep us this day away from sin and deliver us. +++ First Hour 14 Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God. The reading is from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Ephesians - may his blessing be with us. Amen. I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. +++ The Faith of the Church: One is God the Father of all. One is his Son, Jesus Christ the Logos, who was incarnate, died, and rose from the dead on the third day, and raised us with him. One is the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, one in his hypostasis, who proceeds from the Father, sancties all creation, and teaches us to worship the Holy Trinity in one Godhead and one nature. We praise and bless him forever. Amen. First Hour 15 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The praise of the rst hour of this blessed day, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Alleluia. First Hour 16 Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying, Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, You are my son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potters vessel. Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, with trembling kiss his feet, or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled. Happy are all who take refuge in him. Alleluia. O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying to me, There is no help for you in God. But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his First Hour 17 holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me. I am not afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Rise up, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Deliverance belongs to the Lord; may your blessing be on your people! Alleluia. Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. How long, you people, shall my honour suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Offer right sacrices, and put your trust in the Lord. There are many who say, O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord! You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound. I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. Alleluia. First Hour 18 Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil will not sojourn with you. The boastful will not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful. But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house, I will bow down towards your holy temple in awe of you. Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouths; their hearts are destruction; their throats are open graves; they atter with their tongues. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of their many transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover them with favour as with a shield. Alleluia. First Hour 19 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror. My soul also is struck with terror, while you, O Lordhow long? Turn, O Lord, save my life; deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love. For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who can give you praise? I am weary with my moaning; every night I ood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eyes waste away because of grief; they grow weak because of all my foes. Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer. All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror; they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame. Alleluia. O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your ngers, the moon First Hour 20 and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honour. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the eld, the birds of the air, and the sh of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Alleluia. Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind. They utter lies to each other; with attering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all attering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, With our tongues we will prevail; our lips are our ownwho is our master? Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now rise up, says the Lord; I will place them in the safety for which they long. The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure, silver rened in a furnace on the ground, puried seven times. You, O Lord, will protect us; you will First Hour 21 guard us from this generation for ever. On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among humankind. Alleluia. How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, and my enemy will say, I have prevailed; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Alleluia. O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbours; in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honour those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe First Hour 22 against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved. Alleluia. Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you. As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight. Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink-offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure. For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit. You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. Alleluia. The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the rmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares First Hour 23 knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice
goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens
he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much ne gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my First Hour 24 heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Alleluia. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness sake, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. For your names sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose. They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who First Hour 25 fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever towards the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and aficted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. Consider my afiction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles. Alleluia. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to devour my eshmy adversaries and foesthey shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be condent. One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set First Hour 26 me high on a rock. Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! Come, my heart says, seek his face! Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation! If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence. I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Alleluia. O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my esh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as First Hour 27 I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is satised as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword, they shall be prey for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped. Alleluia. May God be gracious to us and bless us, and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him. Alleluia. First Hour 28 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonour who desire to hurt me. Let those who say, Aha, Aha! turn back because of their shame. Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, God is great! But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay! Alleluia. Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord! Alleluia. First Hour 29 Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness. Do not enter into judgement with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. For the enemy has pursued me, crushing my life to the ground, making me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Save me, O Lord, from my enemies; I have ed to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path. For your names sake, O Lord, preserve my life. In your righteousness bring me out of trouble. In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my adversaries, for I am your servant. Alleluia. First Hour 30 AoLo oot o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. AoLo oot Kugtt. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the esh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became esh and First Hour 31 lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a fathers only son, full of grace and truth. John testied to him and cried out, This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me. From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. The true light, which enlightens everyone, came into the world. You came to the world through your love of humankind, and the whole creation rejoiced by your coming. You saved Adam from the treachery, and you freed Eve from the cords of death. You gave to us the spirit of adoption, and we praised and blessed you with your angels saying: AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, First Hour 32 As the daylight shines upon us, O Christ our God, the true light, let the thoughts of light shine within us, and do not let the darkness of passions hover over us, so that with our minds we may praise you with David saying, My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. In your steadfast love hear our voices; O Lord our God, in your justice preserve my life. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. You are the honoured Mother of the light; from the risings of the sun to its settings glorications are offered to you, O Mother of God, the second heaven, for you are the pure and unchanging ower, and the ever-virgin mother. The Father chose you, the Holy Spirit overshadowed you, and the Son of God took esh from you. Therefore, ask him to give salvation to the world which he made, and to save it from all evils. Let us praise him with a new praise and bless him. First Hour 33 To be prayed: The Gloria 6 The Great Trisagion 8 The Doxology 9 The Beginning of the Holy Creed 10 The Holy Creed 10 "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 First Absolution: O Lord, God of hosts, who was before all ages and exists forever, who created the sun for daylight, and the night to provide rest for all esh; we thank you, O King of the ages, for you let us pass through the night in peace, and brought us to the beginning of the day. Therefore, we ask you, O our Master, the King of all ages, make your face shine upon us, and enlighten us with the light of your divine knowledge. Grant us to be children of light and children of day, to pass this day in righteousness, chastity and good conduct, that we may complete all the rest of the days of our life without falling. Through the grace, the compassion, and the love of humankind of your only begotten Son Jesus Christ, and the grace of your Holy Spirit, now and always, and to all the ages. Amen. First Hour 34 Second Absolution: You who brings forth light, who makes his sun shine upon the good and the evil, who created the light which illuminates the whole world; enlighten our minds, our hearts and our comprehension. Grant us to please you this present day. Guard us from every evil, from every sin, and from all the power of the enemy, in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is he with whom you are blessed, and with the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who is consubstantial with you, now and to the ages of all ages. Amen. To be prayed: The Conclusion of Every Hour 13 First Hour 35 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The praise of the third hour of this blessed day, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. The Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion. May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favour your burnt sacrices. May he grant you your hearts desire, and full all your plans. May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. May the Lord fulll all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand. Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and Third Hour 36 stand upright. Give victory to the king, O Lord; answer us when we call. Alleluia. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his names sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staffthey comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Alleluia. The earth is the Lords and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift Third Hour 37 up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Alleluia. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you. I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O Lord, singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds. O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides. Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with the bloodthirsty, those in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My Third Hour 38 foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the Lord. Alleluia. Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendour. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord ashes forth ames of re. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, Glory! The Lord sits enthroned over the ood; the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! Alleluia. I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. Third Hour 39 O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved. By your favour, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication: What prot is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper! You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you for ever. Alleluia. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, Third Hour 40 and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken. Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his Third Hour 41 servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. Alleluia. Happy are those who consider the poor; the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive; they are called happy in the land. You do not give them up to the will of their enemies. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed; in their illness you heal all their inrmities. As for me, I said, O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you. My enemies wonder in malice when I will die, and my name perish. And when they come to see me, they utter empty words, while their hearts gather mischief; when they go out, they tell it abroad. All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me. They think that a deadly thing has fastened on me, that I will not rise again from where I lie. Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me. But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them. By this I know that you are pleased with me; because my enemy has not triumphed over me. But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence for ever. Blessed be the Lord, the God Third Hour 42 of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen. Alleluia. Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from those who are deceitful and unjust deliver me! For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off? Why must I walk about mournfully because of the oppression of the enemy? O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. Alleluia. My heart overows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. You are the most handsome of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you for ever. Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your glory and majesty. In your majesty ride on victoriously for the cause of truth and to defend the right; let your right hand teach you Third Hour 43 dread deeds. Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the kings enemies; the peoples fall under you. Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever. Your royal sceptre is a sceptre of equity; you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; daughters of kings are among your ladies of honour; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your people and your fathers house, and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him; the people of Tyre will seek your favour with gifts, the richest of the people with all kinds of wealth. The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes; in many-coloured robes she is led to the king; behind her the virgins, her companions, follow. With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king. In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever. Alleluia. Third Hour 44 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with re. Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Alleluia. Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy. For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he Third Hour 45 loves. God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm. God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted. Alleluia. AoLo oot, o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. AoLo oot Kugtt. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I am coming to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no Third Hour 46 longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way. I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine- grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. Your Holy Spirit, O Lord, whom you sent on your holy disciples and honoured apostles in the third hour, do not take him away from us, but sustain him in us. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, Third Hour 47 O good Lord, who sent your Holy Spirit on your holy disciples and honoured apostles in the third hour, do not take him away from us, but we ask you to sustain him within us. O Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Logos, renew a spirit of prophecy and chastity, a spirit of holiness, justice and authority, for you have the power over all things. You are the light of our souls - the true light, which enlightens everyone, who came into the world. Have mercy on us. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. O Mother of God, you are the true vine who bore the cluster of life. We ask you, O full of grace, as well as the apostles, for the preservation of our souls. Blessed is the Lord our God. Blessed is the Lord everyday. He prepares our way, for he is the God of our salvation. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. O good King of heaven and the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, who is present in all places and lls all things, the treasure of good things, and the giver of Third Hour 48 life; vouchsafe to come and dwell in us, cleanse us from all impurities, and protect our souls. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, Just as you were with your disciples, O Saviour, and gave them peace, be with us also, guard us, and protect our souls. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. Whenever we stand in your holy sanctuary, we are like those standing in heaven. O Theotokos, you are the gate of heaven, open for us the door of mercy. To be prayed: "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 Absolution: O God of all compassion, and Lord of all comfort, who comforts us everytime with the comfort of your Holy Spirit; we thank you, for you raised us for prayer in this holy hour, in which you abundantly Third Hour 49 poured the grace of your Holy Spirit as tongues of re, on your holy disciples and honourable and blessed apostles. We ask and entreat you, Lover of humankind, to accept our prayers and send forth on us the grace of your Holy Spirit, and cleanse us from all impurities of body and spirit. Transform us to have a spiritual standing in life, that we may live by the Spirit and not gratify the passions of the esh. Make us worthy to serve you with purity and righteousness all the days of our life. For to you is due glory, honour, and dominion, together with your good Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and to the ages of all ages. Amen. To be prayed: The Conclusion of Every Hour 13 Third Hour 50 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The praise of the sixth hour of this blessed day, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For the insolent have risen against me, the ruthless seek my life; they do not set God before them. But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. In your faithfulness, put an end to them. With a freewill-offering I will sacrice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. Alleluia. Sixth Hour 51 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by. I cry to God Most High, to God who fullls his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me, he will put to shame those who trample on me. God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness. I lie down among lions that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my path, but they have fallen into it themselves. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody. Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. Alleluia. Sixth Hour 52 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me abide in your tent for ever, nd refuge under the shelter of your wings. For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned for ever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! So I will always sing praises to your name, as I pay my vows day after day. Alleluia. O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my esh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is satised as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the Sixth Hour 53 shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword, they shall be prey for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped. Alleluia. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him. Alleluia. Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonour who desire to hurt me. Let those who say, Aha, Aha! turn back because of their Sixth Hour 54 shame. Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, God is great! But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay! Alleluia. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my esh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow nds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he Sixth Hour 55 bestows favour and honour. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you. Alleluia. Lord, you were favourable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin. You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation towards us. Will you be angry with us for ever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield Sixth Hour 56 its increase. Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps. Alleluia. Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication. In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name for ever. For great is your steadfast love towards me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of rufans seeks my life, Sixth Hour 57 and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving-maid. Show me a sign of your favour, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Alleluia. On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; Philistia too, and Tyre, with EthiopiaThis one was born there, they say. And of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one were born in it; for the Most High himself will establish it. The Lord records, as he registers the peoples, This one was born there. Singers and dancers alike say, All my springs are in you. Alleluia. You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Sixth Hour 58 Lord, My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will nd refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that ies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling-place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honour them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. Alleluia. Sixth Hour 59 The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved; your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. The oods have lifted up, O Lord, the oods have lifted up their voice; the oods lift up their roaring. More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the Lord! Your decrees are very sure; holiness bets your house, O Lord, for evermore. Alleluia. AoLo oot o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. AoLo oot Kugtt. When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be lled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive Sixth Hour 60 mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. Sixth Hour 61 O you who, on the sixth day and in the sixth hour, nailed to the cross the sin that our father Adam boldly committed in Paradise, erase the record of our sins, O Christ our God, and rescue us. I cry aloud to the Lord and he answered me. Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my supplication. Attend to me, and answer me in the evening and morning and noon. I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice and save my soul in peace. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, O Jesus Christ, our God, who was nailed to the cross in the sixth hour, and mortied sin by the tree. We humans were made with your own hands, but were dead through sin, yet by your death you made humanity alive. Put to death our passions through your saving and life/giving Passion, and by the nails with which you were nailed. Strip off the old self and whatever is earthly in us, and bring us to the remembrance of your heavenly judgements, according to your compassion. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. Sixth Hour 62 Since we have no boldness in us because of our many sins, O Theotokos, present our prayers to him who was born of you. Through you we implore him who was born of you, for abundant and acceptable is your intercession with our Saviour, O pure mother. Do not forsake us sinners from your intercession with him who was born of you. He will forgive our sins through your intercessions, for he is merciful and strong to deliver us, because he suffered for us to rescue us. Let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are exceedingly poor. Help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; O Lord, rescue us and forgive our sins, for the sake of your holy name. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. You wrought salvation in the midst of all the earth, O Christ our God, as you stretched your holy hands on the cross. Therefore, all nations cry out saying, Glory to You O Lord. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, Sixth Hour 63 We worship your person that is without blemish, asking for the forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our good God. For of your own will, you were pleased to be lifted up on the cross, to deliver those whom you made from the bondage of the enemy. We cry out in thanksgiving to you, for you have lled everyone with joy, O Saviour, when you came to help the world. Lord, glory to you. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. You are she who is full of grace, O Theotokos the Virgin. We praise you, for through the cross of your Son, Hades was destroyed and Death was abolished. We were dead but are raised, becoming worthy of eternal life, and we gained the delight of the rst Paradise. Therefore, in thanksgiving we glorify the immortal Christ our God. To be prayed: "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 Sixth Hour 64 Absolution: We thank you, our King, the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, and we glorify you, for you have made the time of the Passion of your only begotten Son, one of prayer and comfort. Accept our supplication and erase the record of our sins that is written against us, just as you erased it in this holy hour by the cross of your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. This is he who destroyed all the power of the enemy. Grant us, O God, a glorious time, a blameless conduct, and a serene life, so that we may please your holy and worshipped name. May we stand before the fearful and just throne of your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, without falling into condemnation; and together with all your saints, glorify you, our Father without beginning, and the Son, who is consubstantial with you, and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, now and always, and to the ages of all ages. Amen. To be prayed: The Conclusion of Every Hour 13 Sixth Hour 65 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The praise of the ninth hour of this blessed day, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in holy splendour; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, The Lord is king! The world is rmly Ninth Hour 66 established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that lls it; let the eld exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth. Alleluia. The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. All worshippers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him. Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgements, O God. For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. The Lord loves those who hate evil; he Ninth Hour 67 guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! Alleluia. O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gained him victory. The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar, and all that lls it; the world and those who live in it. Let the oods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. Alleluia. Ninth Hour 68 The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he! Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he! Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them. O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy. Alleluia. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his Ninth Hour 69 steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Alleluia. I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing. I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. One who secretly slanders a neighbour I will destroy. A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate. I will look with favour on the faithful in the land, so that they may live with me; whoever walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. No one who practices deceit shall remain in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue in my presence. Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the Lord. Alleluia. The Lord says to my lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. The Lord sends out from Zion your mighty sceptre. Rule in the midst of your foes. Your people will offer themselves Ninth Hour 70 willingly on the day you lead your forces on the holy mountains. From the womb of the morning, like dew, your youth will come to you. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, You are a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek. The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgement among the nations, lling them with corpses; he will shatter heads over the wide earth. He will drink from the stream by the path; therefore he will lift up his head. Alleluia. Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of honour and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures for ever. He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever, to be performed with Ninth Hour 71 faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures for ever. Alleluia. Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments. Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures for ever. They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered for ever. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are rm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures for ever; their horn is exalted in honour. The wicked see it and are angry; they Ninth Hour 72 gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing. Alleluia. Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Alleluia. I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: O Lord, I pray, save my life! Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your Ninth Hour 73 rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Alleluia. I kept my faith, even when I said, I am greatly aficted; I said in my consternation, Everyone is a liar. What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving-maid. You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrice and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Alleluia. AoLo oot o Oto qov. Ninth Hour 74 Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. AoLo oot Kugtt. On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place. But he said to them, You give them something to eat. They said, We have no more than ve loaves and two shunless we are to go and buy food for all these people. For there were about ve thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down in groups of about fty each. They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the ve loaves and the two sh, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were lled. What was left Ninth Hour 75 over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. O you who tasted death in the esh in the ninth hour for us, put to death our carnal thoughts, O Christ our God, and rescue us. Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word. Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, O you who commended the spirit into the hands of the Father when you were crucied on the cross in the ninth hour; you led the criminal into Paradise. Do not cast me off, O you who are good, and do not forsake me, I who am lost; but cleanse my soul and enlighten my understanding, and grant that I may partake of the grace of your mysteries. So that when I taste your goodness, I offer you praise without Ninth Hour 76 ceasing, yearning for your splendour above all things, O Christ our Lord, and rescue us. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. O you who was born of the Virgin for us and endured the cross; O you who are good, who abolished death by your death, and manifested the resurrection; O good God, do not turn away from those whom you have made with your own hands, but manifest your love for humankind. O Saviour, accept from your mother her pleading for us, a humble people, and rescue us. Do not give us up forever, and do no annul your covenant. Do not withdraw your mercy from us, for the sake Abraham your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. When the criminal saw the Author of life on the cross, he said: Had not the one crucied with us been God incarnate, the sun would not hide its rays, Ninth Hour 77 nor would the earth have quaked trembling. But, O mighty and powerful in all things and over all things, remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, O you who accepted the confession of the criminal on the cross, accept us to you, O you who are good; even though we deserve the sentence of death because of our sins. With him, we all confess your divinity; with him, we cry out saying: Remember us, Lord, when you come into Your Kingdom. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. When the mother of the Lamb and Shepherd, saw the Saviour of the world on the cross, she said with tears: The world rejoices in receiving salvation, but my bowels are troubled as I see your endurance for the sake of all, my son and my God. To be prayed: Ninth Hour 78 "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 Absolution: God, the Father of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, who in his manifestation saved us and delivered us from the bondage of the enemy; we ask you, in his blessed and great name, turn our minds away from mundane cares and worldly passions, to the remembrance of your heavenly statutes. Fulll your love for humankind, O you who are good. May our prayers always, and especially this supplication of the ninth hour, be favourably accepted by you. Grant us to lead a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called, so that when we depart from this body, we may be counted with the worshippers elected by your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Thus, we gain mercy, and forgiveness of our sins, and salvation with the choir of saints who truly pleased you since the beginning and forever. Amen. Lord, abolish for us the power of the adversary and all his evil hosts, even as your only begotten Son has trampled on them by the power of his life/giving cross. Accept us to you, O our Lord Jesus Christ, as you accepted the criminal at your right while you Ninth Hour 79 were on the cross. Make your light shine on us as you shone your light on those who were in the darkness of Hades, and restore us all to the Paradise of joy. For you, our Lord, are blessed God, and to you is due all the glory, honour, dominion, power, and worship, with your good Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and to the ages of all ages. Amen. To be prayed: The Conclusion of Every Hour 13 Ninth Hour 80 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The praise of the eleventh hour of this blessed day, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! For great is his steadfast love towards us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever. Alleluia. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever! Let Israel say, His steadfast love endures for ever. Let the house of Aaron say, His steadfast love endures for ever. Let those who fear the Lord say, His steadfast love endures for ever. Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. With the Lord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me? The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It Eleventh Hour 81 is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put condence in mortals. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put condence in princes. All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a re of thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of the Lord does valiantly; the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lords doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Eleventh Hour 82 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever. Alleluia. In my distress I cry to the Lord, that he may answer me: Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you? And what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? A warriors sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree! Woe is me, that I am an alien in Meshech, that I must live among the tents of Kedar. Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. Alleluia. I lift up my eyes to the hillsfrom where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Eleventh Hour 83 Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore. Alleluia. I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalembuilt as a city that is bound rmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there the thrones for judgement were set up, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers. For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, Peace be within you. For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. Alleluia. Eleventh Hour 84 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than its ll of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud. Alleluia. If it had not been the Lord who was on our sidelet Israel now sayif it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the ood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Alleluia. Eleventh Hour 85 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides for ever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and for evermore. For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous may not stretch out their hands to do wrong. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts. But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers. Peace be upon Israel! Alleluia. When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was lled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. Alleluia. Eleventh Hour 86 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved. Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of ones youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Alleluia. Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May you see your childrens children. Peace be upon Israel! Alleluia. Eleventh Hour 87 Often have they attacked me from my youthlet Israel now sayoften have they attacked me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me. Those who plough ploughed on my back; they made their furrows long. The Lord is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked. May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be like the grass on the housetops that withers before it grows up, with which reapers do not ll their hands or binders of sheaves their arms, while those who pass by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord! Alleluia. AoLo oot o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. AoLo oot Kugtt. After leaving the synagogue he entered Simons house. Now Simons mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them. As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought Eleventh Hour 88 them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. Demons also came out of many, shouting, You are the Son of God! But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what would become of me, the sinner? The burden of the day and the scorching heat I could not bear, because of the weakness of my humanity. Yet you are a God of steadfast love, so count me with those of the eleventh hour. Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. Therefore, I could not even look up to heaven; but through the abundance of your steadfast love and your love for humankind, I cry out and say: O God, forgive me, I am a sinner, and be merciful to me. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, Eleventh Hour 89 Run to save and put around me your fatherly arms, for I wasted my life in pleasures and passions, and the day is past and gone. Therefore, I rely on your abundant and innite compassion; do not forsake a submissive heart that is in need of your steadfast love. To you I cry, O Lord, in humility saying: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. I have sinned with prudence and energy, and every sin I committed with yearning and diligence, so I am worthy of all afiction and judgement. Therefore, prepare for me the ways of repentance, O Lady the Virgin; I ask and entreat you for your intercessions. Do not let me be put to shame, for I call on you to help me. When my soul departs, guide me and turn away the assaults of the enemies. Do not let Hades close its mouth over me, or let the deep swallow me up. You are the unblemished bride of the true bridegroom. Eleventh Hour 90 To be prayed: "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 Absolution: We thank you, our compassionate King, for you granted us to pass this day in peace, brought us to the evening thankfully, and made us worthy to behold the light of day until the evening. We offer to you glorication. Quench the ery darts of the evil one that are craftily directed against us. In this coming night, grant us peace without pain, without anxiety, without unrest, and without phantasies; so that we may pass it in peace and chastity, and rise up for praises and prayers, always and everywhere. We glorify your holy name for everything, together with the Father, who is incomprehensible and without beginning, and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who is consubstantial with you, now and always, and to the ages of all ages. Amen. To be prayed: The Conclusion of Every Hour 13 Eleventh Hour 91 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The praise of the twelfth hour of this blessed day, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. Alleluia. Twelfth Hour 92 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.
O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and for evermore. Alleluia. O Lord, remember in Davids favour all the hardships he endured; how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, I will not enter my house or get into my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I nd a place for the Lord, a dwelling-place for the Mighty One of Jacob. We heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the elds of Jaar. Let us go to his dwelling-place; let us worship at his footstool. Rise up, O Lord, and go to your resting-place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your faithful shout for joy. For your servant Davids sake do not turn away the face of your anointed one. The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I shall teach them, Twelfth Hour 93 their sons also, for evermore, shall sit on your throne. For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation: This is my resting-place for ever; here I will reside, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless its provisions; I will satisfy its poor with bread. Its priests I will clothe with salvation, and its faithful will shout for joy. There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one. His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, but on him, his crown will gleam. Alleluia. How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life for evermore. Alleluia. Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord. May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. Alleluia. Twelfth Hour 94 By the rivers of Babylonthere we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our harps. For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion! How could we sing the Lords song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither! Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy. Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalems fall, how they said, Tear it down! Tear it down! Down to its foundations! O daughter Babylon, you devastator!
Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock! Alleluia. I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down towards your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have Twelfth Hour 95 heard the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulll his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Alleluia. I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you. Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrice. Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity; do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous strike me; let the faithful correct me. Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head, for my prayer is continually
against their wicked deeds. When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they shall learn that my words were pleasant. Like a rock that one breaks Twelfth Hour 96 apart and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. But my eyes are turned towards you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless. Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I alone escape. Alleluia. With my voice I cry to the Lord; with my voice I make supplication to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. When my spirit is faint, you know my way. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. Look on my right hand and seethere is no one who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for me. I cry to you, O Lord; I say, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low. Save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring me out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me. Alleluia. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to Twelfth Hour 97 my God all my life long. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign for ever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Alleluia. Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is tting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground. Twelfth Hour 98 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. He grants peace within your borders; he lls you with the nest of wheat. He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down hail like crumbswho can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters ow. He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Alleluia. Twelfth Hour 99 AoLo oot o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. AoLo oot Kugtt. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;
this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lords Messiah.
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon
came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. Twelfth Hour 100 Behold, I am about to stand before the righteous Judge, terried and trembling because of my many sins, for a life spent in vanities deserves condemnation. But repent, O my soul, so long as you dwell on this earth, for inside the grave, dust does not praise. In death there is no remembrance of God, and in Hades there is no thanksgiving. Therefore arise from the slumber of laziness, and entreat the Saviour, repenting and saying: God, have mercy on me and save me. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, If this life were eternal, and this world innite, you would have an excuse, O my soul. But if your wicked deeds and repulsive evils were exposed before the righteous Judge, what answer would you give while you are lying on the bed of sins, negligent in disciplining the body? O Christ our God, before your dispassionate seat of judgement I grieve; before your council of judgement I submit; and from the light of your radiance I tremble. I, the wretched and deled, lay on my bed inattentive of my ways. But I take the example of the tax-collector, beating my breast and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Twelfth Hour 101 !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. O pure Virgin, help me, your servant, and shield me from the tides of evil. Raise up my weak soul for prayer and vigil, for it is deeply slumbering. For you are a capable, compassionate and helpful mother, the mother of the fountain of life, my King and my God, Jesus Christ, my hope. To be prayed: Vouchsafe, O Lord 7 The Great Trisagion 8 The Doxology 9 The Beginning of the Holy Creed 10 The Holy Creed 10 "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 Absolution: Lord, all our sins that we committed against you today, whether in thought, word, deed, or through all the senses, pardon and forgive us for the sake of your holy name, as you are the good Lover of humankind. God, grant us a peaceful night and a sleep free from Twelfth Hour 102 all anxiety. Send us an angel of peace to protect us from every evil, and every afiction, and every temptation of the enemy. Through the grace and love of humankind of your only begotten Son, our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ; this is he to whom is due all glory, honour, and dominion, together with you and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life who is consubstantial with you, now and always, and to the ages of all ages. Amen. To be prayed: The Conclusion of Every Hour 13 Twelfth Hour 103 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The prayer of the veil, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. Psalms to pray: Page Answer me when I call, O God, 18 O Lord, do not rebuke me 20 How long, O Lord? 22 Protect me, O God 23 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul, 25 The Lord is my light and my salvation 26 May God be gracious to us and bless us 28 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me 29 The Lord is my shepherd 37 I will extol you, O Lord 39 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause 43 Be merciful to me, O God 52 Incline your ear, O Lord 57 You who live in the shelter of the Most High 58 The Lord is king! 67 Prayer of the Veil 104 The Lord says to my lord 70 I love the Lord 73 I kept my faith 74 I lift up my eyes to the hills 83 Often have they attacked me from my youth 88 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord 92 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up 93 O Lord, remember in Davids favour 93 How very good and pleasant 94 Come, bless the Lord 94 By the rivers of Babylon 95 I call upon you, O Lord 96 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! 97 Look on my misery and rescue me 123 Princes persecute me without cause 123 Let my cry come before you, O Lord 124 AoLo oot o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. AoLo oot Kugtt. When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When Prayer of the Veil 105 evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terried. But he said to them, It is I; do not be afraid. Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going. The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. Prayer of the Veil 106 Lord, you know the end design of my enemies, and you have taken notice of my lowly nature, O my Creator. Therefore, into your hands I commit my spirit. Shelter me under the wings of your goodness, or I will sleep the sleep of death. Enlighten my eyes by the greatness of your words, and raise me up always to glorify you, for only you are the good Lover of humankind. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, How fearful is your judgement, O Lord, when people shall be gathered, and the angels will stand; the books shall be opened, everyones deeds shall be revealed, and their thoughts shall be examined. What will be my judgment, I who am found in sins? Who will quench the ames of re? Who would enlighten my darkness, and have mercy, but you, Lord? For you are compassionate to humanity. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. O Mother of God, because we have put our trust in you, we shall not be put to shame, but shall be saved. Prayer of the Veil 107 As we have gained your help and intercession, O holy and pure one, we shall not fear; instead, we shall pursue our enemies and disperse them, taking you as our shield because of your powerful help. We ask and entreat you, and cry out to you saying: O Theotokos, rescue us by your prayers, and raise us up from the dark sleep, so that with strength we may glorify God who took esh from you. To be prayed: The Great Trisagion 8 The Doxology 9 The Beginning of the Holy Creed 10 The Holy Creed 10 "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 Absolution (by Antiochus of Palestine): O Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, grant us rest as we sleep, repose of our bodies, purity of our souls, and protect us from the darkness of sin. Calm the impulses of carnal desires, quench the heat of the esh, and subdue the rebellions of the body. Grant us a watchful mind, chaste thoughts, a life full of virtue, and a pure and undeled sleep. Raise us up for the Prayer of the Veil 108 night and morning praises, steadfast in your commandments, keeping in ourselves the thought of your judgments without ceasing. Grant us to glorify you the whole night; blessing your holy name that is full of glory and splendour, with your good Father, and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, now and always and to the ages of all ages. Amen. To be prayed: The Conclusion of Every Hour 13 Prayer of the Veil 109 Arise, O children of the light, let us praise the Lord of hosts, that he may grant us the salvation of our souls. When we stand in the esh before you, take away from our minds slothfulness. Grant us sobriety so that we know how to stand up before you at the time of prayer, and send up to you the appropriate doxology, and win the forgiveness of our many sins. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord. May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word. Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. My lips will pour forth praise, because you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your promise, for all your commandments are right. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have Vigil Prayer 110 chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and to the ages of all ages. Amen. Glory to you, the good Lover of humankind, hail to your mother the Virgin and all your holy ones. AoLo oot o! ovotvq o!to Tgto tXtqoov q!o". Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate his holy name ee before him. Let your people multiply in blessings, a thousand times and ten thousand times, doing your will. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. Amen. Alleluia. Vigil Prayer 111 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The praise of the rst nocturn of the vigil of this blessed night, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. Psalms to pray: Page O Lord, how many are my foes! 17 O Lord, do not rebuke me 20 How long, O Lord? 22 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me 29 Incline your ear, O Lord 57 You who live in the shelter of the Most High 58 Praise the Lord, all you nations! 81 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good 81 1. Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways. Vigil Prayer 112 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes xed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances. I will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 2. How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments. I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes. With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth. I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts, and x my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 3. Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word. Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your Vigil Prayer 113 commandments from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments; take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your decrees. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your decrees are my delight, they are my counsellors. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 4. My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word. When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me. I cling to your decrees, O Lord; let me not be put to shame. I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 5. Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, Vigil Prayer 114 that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selsh gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways. Conrm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you. Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good. See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 6. Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise. Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word. Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your ordinances. I will keep your law continually, for ever and ever. I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts. I will also speak of your decrees before kings, and shall not be put to shame; I nd my delight in your commandments, because I love them. I revere your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. Vigil Prayer 115 7. Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life. The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. When I think of your ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O Lord. Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, those who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my songs wherever I make my home. I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law. This blessing has fallen to me, for I have kept your precepts. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 8. The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words. I implore your favour with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. When I think of your ways, I turn my feet to your decrees; I hurry and do not delay to keep your commandments. Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous ordinances. I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. Vigil Prayer 116 9. You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word. Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was humbled I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. The arrogant smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts. Their hearts are fat and gross, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 10. Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O Lord, that your judgements are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me. Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I will meditate on Vigil Prayer 117 your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, so that they may know your decrees. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 11. My soul languishes for your salvation; I hope in your word. My eyes fail with watching for your promise; I ask, When will you comfort me? For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me; they out your law. All your commandments are enduring; I am persecuted without cause; help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth; but I have not forsaken your precepts. In your steadfast love spare my life, so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 12. The Lord exists for ever; your word is rmly xed in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand today, for all things are your servants. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my Vigil Prayer 118 misery. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your decrees. I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 13. Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your decrees are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn away from your ordinances, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 14. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and conrmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances. I am severely aficted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word. Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord, and Vigil Prayer 119 teach me your ordinances. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your decrees are my heritage for ever; they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes for ever, to the end. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 15. I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. You are my hiding-place and my shield; I hope in your word. Go away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope. Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually. You spurn all who go astray from your statutes; for their cunning is in vain. All the wicked of the earth you count as dross; therefore I love your decrees. My esh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgements. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 16. I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. Guarantee your servants well- being; do not let the godless oppress me. My eyes fail from watching for your salvation, and for the Vigil Prayer 120 fulllment of your righteous promise. Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. I am your servant; give me understanding, so that I may know your decrees. It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken. Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than ne gold. Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts; I hate every false way. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 17. Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom towards those who love your name. Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not kept. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. Vigil Prayer 121 18. You are righteous, O Lord, and your judgements are right. You have appointed your decrees in righteousness and in all faithfulness. My zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words. Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth. Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but your commandments are my delight. Your decrees are righteous for ever; give me understanding that I may live. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 19. With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord. I will keep your statutes. I cry to you; save me, that I may observe your decrees. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I put my hope in your words. My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. In your steadfast love hear my voice; O Lord, in your justice preserve my life. Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near; they are far from your law. Yet you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true. Long ago I learned from your decrees that you have established them for ever. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. Vigil Prayer 122 20. Look on my misery and rescue me, for I do not forget your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes. Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your justice. Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from your decrees. I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands. Consider how I love your precepts; preserve my life according to your steadfast love. The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures for ever. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 21. Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word like one who nds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances. Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I fulll your commandments. My soul keeps your decrees; I love them exceedingly. I keep your precepts Vigil Prayer 123 and decrees, for all my ways are before you. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. 22. Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word. Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. My lips will pour forth praise, because you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your promise, for all your commandments are right. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. AoLo oot qtXov0gont. AoLo oot o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. AoLo oot Kugtt. Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and ve were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no Vigil Prayer 124 oil with them; but the wise took asks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise replied, No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves. And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. But he replied, Truly I tell you, I do not know you. Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. Behold, the Bridegroom is coming at midnight, so blessed is that servant whom he nds watching, but Vigil Prayer 125 unworthy is the one found sleeping. Beware, therefore, O my soul, that you are not borne down with deep sleep, and then shut out from the Kingdom. Rather, keep awake and cry out saying: Holy, Holy, Holy are you, O God; for the sake of the Mother of God, have mercy on us. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, O my soul, be mindful of that most fearful day, and be vigilant. Light your lamp with the oil of gladness, for you do not know when you will hear the voice calling to you, saying: Look! Here is the bridegroom! So watch out, O my soul, and do not fall asleep, or you will remain outside knocking like the ve foolish bridesmaids. Rather, keep awake, entreating that you may meet Christ the Lord with rich oil, and that he may grant you the true, divine bridal chamber of his glory. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. O Mother of God the Virgin, you are the unassailable wall and fortress of salvation. Scatter the counsels of Vigil Prayer 126 the adversaries, and turn your servant's sorrow into joy. Defend our city, give victory to our rulers, and intercede for the peace of the world; for you are our hope, O Mother of God. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. O good King of heaven and the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, who is present in all places and lls all things, the treasure of good things, and the giver of life; vouchsafe to come and dwell in us, cleanse us from all impurities, and protect our souls. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, Just as you were with your disciples, O Saviour, and gave them peace, be with us also, guard us, and protect our souls. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. Vigil Prayer 127 Whenever we stand in your holy sanctuary, we are like those standing in heaven. O Theotokos, you are the gate of heaven, open for us the door of mercy. To be prayed: "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The praise of the second nocturn of the vigil of this blessed night, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. (Pray the psalms of the eleventh hour praise, except the rst two psalms). AoLo oot o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. AoLo oot Kugtt. Vigil Prayer 128 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisees house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisees house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching himthat she is a sinner. Jesus spoke up and said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. Teacher, he replied, speak. A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed ve hundred denarii, and the other fty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt. And Jesus
said to him, You have judged rightly. Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has Vigil Prayer 129 bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. Then he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins? And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. Give me, O Lord, many fountains of tears, as you previously gave the women who was a sinner. Make me worthy to wash your feet, which liberated me from wandering astray, and to offer you precious ointment. Through repentance, may I gain a pure life, so that I may hear that voice full of joy, saying: Your faith has saved you. Vigil Prayer 130 AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, When I realize my many wicked deeds, and the thought of that fearful judgment comes to my heart, I tremble and take refuge in you, O God, the Lover of humankind. So I entreat you to not turn your face away from me. You alone are without sin. Grant piety to my poor soul before the end comes, and save me. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. The heavens praise you, O full of grace, the bride unwedded. We also glorify your indescribable conception. O Mother of God, intercede for the salvation of our souls. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. O good King of heaven and the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, who is present in all places and lls all things, the treasure of good things, and the giver of Vigil Prayer 131 life; vouchsafe to come and dwell in us, cleanse us from all impurities, and protect our souls. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, Just as you were with your disciples, O Saviour, and gave them peace, be with us also, guard us, and protect our souls. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. Whenever we stand in your holy sanctuary, we are like those standing in heaven. O Theotokos, you are the gate of heaven, open for us the door of mercy. To be prayed: "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 !'o's nai nan " !'o's nai nan " 8amhn 8allhloui8a " #en 8vran 8m$iwt nem 8!%hri nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u " ouonou+ 8nouwt 8amhn. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. Vigil Prayer 132 The praise of the third nocturn of the vigil of this blessed night, I offer to Christ my King and my God, asking him to forgive me my sins. (Pray all the psalms of the twelfth hour praise). AoLo oot o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. AoLo oot Kugtt. Do not be afraid, little ock, for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master nds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during Vigil Prayer 133 the middle of the night, or near dawn, and nds them so, blessed are those slaves. But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Peter said, Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone? And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will nd at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, My master is delayed in coming, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. Vigil Prayer 134 With a merciful eye, O Lord, consider my weakness; for shortly my life will end, and I am not justied by my deeds. Therefore, I ask you, O Lord, to consider my weakness with a merciful eye; look at my humility, my poverty, my exile, and save me. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, As the Judge is present, be mindful of that most fearful hour, O my soul, and be vigilant. In the day of judgment, there will be no mercy on those who were not merciful. Therefore, have compassion on me, O Saviour, for you alone are the Lover of humankind. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. O the noetic gate of life, the honoured Mother of God, rescue those who faithfully take refuge in you from hardships, so that in everything we may glorify your holy conception, which was for the salvation of our souls. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. Vigil Prayer 135 O good King of heaven and the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, who is present in all places and lls all things, the treasure of good things, and the giver of life; vouchsafe to come and dwell in us, cleanse us from all impurities, and protect our souls. AoLo Hoxgt !ot Y; !ot At; Hvtuoxt, Just as you were with your disciples, O Saviour, and gave them peace, be with us also, guard us, and protect our souls. !ot vuv !ot ott !ot tt xou otovo xov otovov. Aqv. Whenever we stand in your holy sanctuary, we are like those standing in heaven. O Theotokos, you are the gate of heaven, open for us the door of mercy. To be prayed: "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 The Lesser Trisagion 12 Vigil Prayer 136 AoLo oot o Oto qov. Bless, O Lord, the reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. AoLo oot Kugtt. Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. !iwou va pennou+ pe 8amhn. May your saying be completed in peace. &enouw%t 8mmok 8w !'''s nem !ekiwt 8nagacos nem !i'p'n'a 'e'c'u je ak8i aksw+ 8mmon nai nan. To be prayed: The Great Trisagion 8 The Doxology 9 The Beginning of the Holy Creed 10 The Holy Creed 10 "#$%& '()*+,- (41 times) 11 Vigil Prayer 137 The Lesser Trisagion 12 Absolution: O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, the living and eternal Son of God, enlighten our minds to understand your life-giving words. Raise us up from the darkness of sin that deadens the soul. Make us worthy to become upright in good deeds. At the time of your coming to judge the world, make us worthy of hearing that voice full of joy saying: Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Yes, Lord, grant us to be without fear, anxiety or condemnation in that hour; and do not judge us according to our iniquities. For you alone are compassionate, slow to anger and plenteous in steadfast love. Through the intercessions of our Lady the holy Theotokos, Saint Mary, and all the choir of your holy ones. Amen. To be prayed: The Conclusion of Every Hour 13 Vigil Prayer 138 Vigil Prayer 139 Instructive Verses (how one should approach the holy Mysteries): As you are about to eat the body of the Master, approach with fear lest you be burned, for it is re. And before you drink in communion the blood, be rst reconciled with all those you have offended; then you may take courage to eat the mystic Food. Before you take part in the awesome sacrice of the life/giving body of the Master, take care and pray with fear of God. First Prayer, by St. Basil the Great: Lord, may I not partake unworthily of your pure body and precious blood, and may I not be guilty, my Christ and my God, to eat and drink condemnation to myself for not discerning your body and blood. Emboldened by your loving kindness, I come to you, who said, Those who eat my esh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Take pity, therefore, O Lord, and do not rebuke me, a sinner, but deal with me mercifully. Let these holy gifts give me healing and cleansing, enlightenment and protection, salvation and sanctication of soul and body. May they avert every phantasy, evil practice, and works of the devil enacted in my members by his Prayers Before Communion 140 design. May they give me condence in and love for you; amendment of life and perseverance, increase of virtue and perfection, fulllment of your commandments, fellowship of the Holy Spirit, provisions for the journey of eternal life, and an acceptable answer at the fearful judgment seat. Amen. Second Prayer, by St. John Chrysostom: Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy, nor sufcient, that you should come under the roof of the house of my soul, for it is entirely desolate and in ruins, and you do not have a worthy place in me to lay your head. But as you humbled yourself from on high for our sake, do likewise also for my unworthiness. And as you willed in the cave to lie in a manger of dumb animals, take it upon yourself now to enter the manger of my dumb soul and into my soiled body. And as you did not refuse to enter and eat with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so also deign to enter into the house of my soul, leper and sinner that I am. And as you did not cast out the harlot, a sinner like me, who came and touched you, so have compassion on me the sinner who now comes to touch you. And as you did not abhor the Prayers Before Communion 141 kiss of her sinful and unclean mouth, do not abhor my mouth, more stained and unclean than hers, nor my sordid and unclean and shameless lips, nor my more unclean tongue. But let the ery coal of your most pure body and of your most precious blood bring sanctication, illumination, and strengthening of my lowly soul and body, relief of the burden of my many transgressions, protection against every operation of the devil, an averting and hindering of my mean and evil habits, mortication of my passions, fulllment of your commandments, an increase of your divine grace, and inheritance of your kingdom. For it is not with a light heart, Christ my God, that I venture to approach you. But I trust in your ineffable goodness. May I not become prey to Satan by abstaining for long from your communion. Therefore, Lord, I pray to you who alone are holy that you sanctify my soul and body, my heart, and my mind, and renewing me wholly, implant in my members the fear of you. Do not let your sanctication be taken from me, but be my help and protector, governing my life in peace. Make me worthy to obtain a place at your right hand with your saints, through the prayers and supplications of your most pure Mother, of your bodiless ministers and Prayers Before Communion 142 pure angelic powers, and of all your saints who from the ages have found favour in you. Amen. Third Prayer, by St. John Chrysostom: I believe and confess, Lord, that you are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. I also believe that this is truly your pure body, and that this is truly your precious blood. Therefore, I pray to you, have mercy upon me, and forgive my trespasses, in word and deed, those I committed voluntarily, and those I committed involuntarily; those I committed knowingly and those I committed unknowingly. And make me worthy without condemnation to partake of your pure Mysteries for the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Behold, my Maker, I approach holy Communion. Burn me not as I partake, for you are re which burns the unworthy. But cleanse me from every stain. Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of your mystical Supper. I will not reveal your Mystery to your adversaries. Nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas. But as the criminal I confess to you: Lord, remember me in your kingdom. Amen. Prayers Before Communion 143 First Prayer (Anonymous): My heart has been lled with joy and my tongue with rejoicing. Let my spirit glorify the Lord, and my soul rejoice in God my Saviour. I have drawn near to you, O Lord, to clothe me with a radiant garment and make me worthy to enter into your wedding. Let my union with you today be for all ages, for through it I increase and grow rm in virtue, progress in faith, and strengthen my hope. Let it become a sign of salvation, a raiment of grace, a garment of the new birth, a purity and righteousness of body and soul, a cleansing of love, an eternal happiness and joy, a good answer before your fearful judgement seat. I rely on your compassion to make me one with you and under your will. I call forth my mind and my senses to be in presence without ceasing. Bless my will to obey your will. Enliven my heart and awaken my conscience. Disperse the phantasies of the enemies. Still the storms. Walk with me and calm my fears. Quench my thirst, kindle the ame of your love in my heart. Abide with me, fast falls the eventide. For you are my goal and my happiness. You alone are Lord now and always, and to the ages of all ages. Amen. Prayers After Communion 144 Second Prayer (Anonymous): I thank you, Lord, my God, that you have not rejected me, a sinner, but have made me worthy to partake of your holy Mysteries. I thank you that you have permitted me, although I am unworthy, to receive your pure and heavenly gifts. O loving Master, who died and rose for our sake, and granted to us these awesome and life/giving Mysteries for the well/being and sanctication of our souls and bodies, let these gifts be for healing of my own soul and body, the averting of every evil, the illumination of the eyes of my heart, the peace of my spiritual powers, a faith unashamed, a love unfeigned, the fullling of wisdom, the observing of your commandments, the receiving of your divine grace, and the inheritance of your kingdom. Preserved by them in your holiness, may I always be mindful of your grace and no longer live for myself, but for you, our Master and Benefactor. May I pass from this life in the hope of eternal life, and attain to the everlasting rest, where the voices of your saints who feast are unceasing, and their joy, beholding the ineffable beauty of your countenance, is unending. For you, Christ our God, are the true joy and the Prayers After Communion 145 inexpressible gladness of those who love you, and all creation praises you forever. Amen. Third Prayer, by St. Basil the Great: I thank you, Christ and Master, our God, King of the ages, and Creator of all things, for all the good gifts you have given me, and especially for the participation in your pure and life-giving mysteries. I, therefore, pray to you, good and loving Lord: keep me under your protection and under the shadow of your wings. Grant that to my last breath I may with a pure conscience partake worthily of your gifts for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life. For you are the bread of life, the source of holiness, the giver of all good things, and to you we give glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and to the ages of all ages. Amen. +++ Prayers After Communion 146