THE ORDER OF THE ORTHROS

The Priest aloud:

Blessed is our God, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

And the Reader:

Come, let us adore, and fall down to our King, God.

Come, let us adore, and fall down to Christ, our King, God.

Come, let us adore, and fall down to Christ himself, our King and God.

Ps. 19. May the Lord hearken to thee in the day of tribulation; may the Name of the God of Jacob shield thee.

May he send thee help out of the holy place, and out of Sion succour thee.

May he be mindful of all thy sacrifice, and make fat thy holocaust.

May the Lord grant thee according to thy heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

We will exult in thy salvation; and in the Name of the Lord our God shall we be magnified.

May the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the Lord hath saved his anointed.

He will hearken to him out of his holy heaven; with mighty acts is the salvation of his right hand.

Some (put their trust) in chariots, and some in horses, but we will call upon the Name of the Lord our God.

They are entangled and fallen; but we are risen, and set upright.

O Lord, save the King, and hearken to us in what day soever we shall call upon thee.

Ps. 20. O Lord, in thy power shall the King rejoice; and in thy salvation shall he exult exceedingly.

The desire of his heart hast thou given him, and the will of his lips hast thou not withholden from him.

For thou hast prevented him with the blessings of thy bounty; thou hast set upon his head a crown of precious stone.

Life asked he of thee, and thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever.

Great is his glory in thy salvation: glory and majesty shalt thou lay upon him.

That thou mayest give him a blessing for ever and ever: thou shalt make him glad with joy in thy presence.

For the King hopeth in the Lord; and in the mercy of the Most High he shall not at all be shaken.

May thy hand be found of all thine enemies, may thy right hand find out all that hate thee.

For thou shalt make them as an oven of fire, in the time of thy presence.

The Lord shall trouble them in his wrath; and fire shall devour them.

Their fruit shalt thou destroy from off the earth; and their seed from among the children of men.

For they have intended evils against thee; they have devised counsels, by which they shall not at all be able to stand.

For thou shalt set them aback: in thy remnants thou shalt prepare their face.

Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy power: we will sing, and praise thy mighty acts.

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

Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

And while these are being read, the Priest censeth both the Sanctuary, and the Nave.

And we say:

The Trisagion. Holy God, Holy Strong One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us. Thrice.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

O All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, be gracious to our sins. O Master, forgive us our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Glory to the Father (to the end).

Our Father that art in the heavens, hallowed be thy Name; thy Kingdom come; thy will be done, as in heaven, also on the earth: give us to-day our bread of subsistence; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The Priest:

For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

Then we say these Troparia.

Save thy people, O Lord, and bless thine inheritance, granting to our Kings victory over Barbarians, and through thy Cross keeping thine estate.

Glory …

Thou that wast of thine own will lifted up on the Cross, to the new State named after thee grant thy compassions, O Christ the God: make glad in thy power our faithful Kings, conferring upon them victory over their enemies. May they have thine assistance, a shield of peace, an unconquerable trophy.

Both now …

Theotokion. Defence, terrible, and that cannot be put to confusion, despise not, O Good One, our supplications, thou all-praised Theotokos; stablish the State of the Orthodox; save those whom thou hast called to reign, and from heaven confer upon them the victory; for thou didst bring forth God, thou only blessed.

Then the Priest saith:

Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy: we beseech thee, hearken, and have mercy.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Again, we beseech for pious and Orthodox Christians.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Again, we beseech for our Archbishop N.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Exclamation.

For a merciful God and lover of man art thou, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

The Reader: In the Name of the Lord, bless, Father.

And straightway the Priest saith aloud:

Glory to the holy, and consubstantial, and life-giving, and undivided Trinity, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

Then we say the Hexapsalmos, with all attention and fear of God, as speaking to him invisibly, and importuning for our sins, thus:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, among men good will. Thrice.

O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim thy praise. Twice.

Ps. 3. O Lord, why are they multiplied that afflict me? many rise up against me.

Many say to my soul: There is no salvation for him in his God.

But thou, O Lord, art mine upholder, my glory, and the lifter up of my head.

With my voice have I cried unto the Lord, and he hath hearkened to me out of his holy mountain.

Now I laid me down, and slept; I have awoke, for the Lord will sustain me

I will not be afraid of myriads of the people, that beset me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God.

For thou hast smitten all those that are mine enemies without cause; thou hast broken the teeth of sinners.

Of the Lord is salvation, and upon thy people is thy blessing.

And again: I laid me down, and slept; I have awoke, for the Lord will sustain me.

Ps. 37. O Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath.

For thine arrows are fastened in me, and thou hast pressed thy hand heavily upon me.

There is no health in my flesh, from the presence of thy wrath; there is no peace in my bones, from the presence of my sins.

For mine iniquities are gone over my head; as a weighty burden have they weighed upon me.

My wounds are fœtid and corrupt, from the presence of my foolishness.

I am dejected and bowed down utterly; all the day long have I walked with sorrowful look.

For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in my flesh.

I am afflicted and brought down exceedingly, I have roared for the groaning of my heart.

O Lord, before thee is all my desire; and my groaning is not hidden from thee.

My heart is troubled, my strength hath forsaken me; and the light of mine eyes,—it also is not with me.

My friends and my neighbours have drawn near over against me, and stood still; and those nearest to me have stood afar off.

While they have used violence that seek after my soul; and those that seek my hurt have spoken vanities, and meditated deceits all the day long.

But I, as one deaf, have heard not; and I am as one dumb that openeth not his mouth.

Yea I am become as a man that heareth not, and that hath in his mouth no reproofs.

For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hearken, O Lord my God.

For I have said: Lest at any time mine enemies rejoice over me; and when my feet slip, they have spoken haughtily against me.

For I am ready for scourges; and my grief is before me cotinually.

For mine iniquity will I declare, and be apprehensive for my sin.

But mine enemies live, and are mightier that I; and they are multiplied that hate me wrongfully.

They that render me evil for good, have slandered me, because I have followed goodness.

Forsake me not, O Lord my God; do not thou depart from me.

Attend thou unto my help, O Lord of my salvation.

And again: Forsake me not, O Lord my God; do not thou depart from me.

Attend thou unto my help, O Lord of my salvation.

Ps. 62. O God, my God, unto thee do I watch early.

For thee hath my soul thirsted,—for thee my flesh how many ways,—in a barren, and trackless, and waterless land.

Thus in the holy place have I appeared before thee, that I might behold thy power and thy glory.

For better is thy mercy than lives; my lips shall praise thee.

Thus will I bless thee in my life, and in thy Name lift up my hands.

As with marrow and fatness may my soul be filled, and with lips of exultation shall my mouth praise thee.

While I have remembered thee upon my bed, at dawn have I meditated upon thee.

For thou art become my helper, and in the shelter of thy wings will I exult.

My soul hath stuck close behind thee, and thy right hand hath sustained me.

But they have in vain sought after my soul; they shall go into the lowest parts of the earth; they shall be delivered into the hands of the sword; portions for foxes shall they be.

But the King shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall be praised; for the mouth of those that speak unjust things is stopped.

And again: At dawn have I meditated upon thee, for thou art become my helper, and in the shelter of thy wings will I exult.

My soul hath stuck close behind thee, and thy right hand hath sustained me.

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

Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to thee, the God, glory to thee. Thrice.

Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

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

Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Ps. 87. O Lord, the God of my salvation, by day have I cried, and at night before thee.

Let my prayer come in before thee; incline thine ear unto mine entreaty.

For my soul is filled with evils, and my life hath drawn nigh to Hades.

I am counted with those that are going down into the pit; I am become as a man without help, free among the dead.

Like the slain sleeping in the grave, of whom thou art mindful no longer; and they are cast off from thy hand.

They have laid me in the lowest pit, in dark places, and in the shadow of death.

Upon me hath thine indignation pressed hard; and all thy billows hast thou brought in upon me.

Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; they have set me an abomination to themselves.

I am delivered up, and have not come forth: mine eyes have languished through poverty.

I have cried unto thee, O Lord, all the day long; I have spread forth my hands unto thee.

Wilt thou for the dead work wonders? or, shall physicians raise them up, and they confess to thee.

Shall any one declare thy mercy in the grave, and thy faithfulness in destruction.

Shall thy wonders be known in the darkness, and thy righteousness in a land forgotten.

And I—unto thee, O Lord, have I cried, and in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.

Wherefore, O Lord, dost thou cast off my soul, and turn away thy face from me?

Poor am I, and in labours from youth; and having been exalted, I am brought low, and am in despair.

Upon me hath thine anger passed; thy terrors have disquieted me.

They have surrounded me like water; all the day long have they compassed me about together.

Thou hast put far from me friend and neighbour, and mine acquaintance from misery.

And again: O Lord, the God of my salvation, by day have I cried, and at night before thee.

Let my prayer come in before thee; incline thine ear unto mine entreaty.

Ps. 102. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his rewards:

Who readily forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from corruption; who crowneth thee with mercy and compassions;

Who satisfieth thy desire with good things: thy youth shall be renewed as the eagle’s.

Doing acts of mercy is the Lord, and judgement for all that are wronged.

He hath made his ways known to Moses, his wills to the children of Israel.

Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy: not unto the uttermost will he be angry, nor for ever be wroth:

Not according to our iniquities hath he dealt with us, nor according to our sins rewarded us.

For according to the height of the heaven from the earth, hath the Lord confirmed his mercy upon those that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, hath he removed our iniquities from us.

Like as a Father hath compassion on his children, hath the Lord had compassion on those that fear him: for he knoweth our frame; he is mindful that we are dust.

Man,—as grass are his days; as the flower of the field, so shall he flourish:

For the spirit is passed through in him, and he shall not be; and shall know his place no longer.

But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, and unto eternity upon those that fear him;

And his righteousness unto children’s children, to such as keep his testament, and are mindful of his commandments to do them.

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heaven, and his Kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the Lord, all ye his Angels, mighty in strength, that execute his word, on hearing the voice of his words.

Bless the Lord, all ye his Powers, ye ministers of his, that do his will.

Bless the Lord, all ye his works, in every place of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

And again: In every place of his dominion, bless the Lord, O my soul.

Ps. 142. O Lord, hearken to my prayer; give ear unto mine entreaty in thy faithfulness; hearken to me in thy righteousness.

And enter not into judgement with thy servant, for before thee shall none living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath brought my life down to the earth.

He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those dead of old; yea my spirit hath languished in me, my heart is troubled within me.

I am mindful of the days of old; I have meditated upon all thy doings; on the works of thy hands have I meditated.

I have spread forth my hands unto thee:—my soul as a waterless land toward thee.

Speedily hearken to me, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted.

Turn not away thy face from me, lest I become like unto those that are going down into the pit.

Make me to hear thy mercy in the morning, for in thee have I hoped.

Make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for unto thee have I lifted up my soul.

Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto thee have I fled: teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God.

Thy good Spirit shall guide me in a straight land: for thy Name’s sake, O Lord, thou shalt quicken me.

In thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of tribulation, and in thy mercy thou shalt cut off mine enemies.

Yea thou shalt destroy all those that afflict my soul, for I am thy servant.

And again: Hearken to me, O Lord, in thy righteousness; and enter not into judgement with thy servant. Twice.

Then: Thy good Spirit shall guide me in a straight land.

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

Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to thee, the God, glory to thee. Thrice (and in the third repetition there is added: our hope art thou, O Lord, glory to thee).

And after the three first Psalms, the Priest saith secretly the Prayers of the Orthros, standing uncovered before the holy Doors.

Prayer i. We give thanks to thee, O Lord our God, who hast raised us up from our beds, and hast put into our mouth the word of praise, that we may adore and call upon thy holy Name; and we beseech by thy compassions, which thou hast always used about our life:—Even now send forth thine aid upon those that stand before the presence of thy holy glory, and are expecting the rich mercy that is from thee; and grant them with fear and love always to worship thee, to praise, to hymn, to adore thine unspeakable goodness. For to thee becometh all glory, honour, and adoration, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer ii. By night our spirit watcheth early unto thee, our God, for thy precepts are light upon the earth; how to perfect righteousness and holiness in thy fear, do thou make us to understand: for thee do we glorify our really existing God; incline thine ear, and hearken to us; and be mindful, O Lord, of all that are present and pray with us, by name, and save them by thy power; bless thy people, and hallow thine inheritance: grant peace to thy world, to thy Churches, to the Priests, to our Kings, and to all thy people. For blessed and glorified is thine all-honourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer iii. By night our spirit watcheth early unto thee, O God, for thy precepts are light. Teach us, O God, thy righteousness, thy commandments, and thine ordinances; enlighten the eyes of our understandings, lest at any time we sleep unto death in sins; dispel all gloom from our hearts; bestow on us the Sun of righteousness; and unassailed do thou keep our life, in the seal of thy Holy Spirit; direct our steps into the way of peace; grant us to behold the dawn and the day in exultation, that to thee we may send up our morning prayers. For thine is the might, and thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer iv. O Master, the God, who art holy and incomprehensible, who didst bid the light to shine out of darkness, who hast refreshed us with sleep in the night, and hast raised us up to glorify and supplicate thy goodness, importuned of thine own tenderness of heart, accept us even now adoring thee, and according to our power giving thanks to thee; and grant us all petitions unto salvation. Make us children of the light and of the day, and inheritors of thine eternal good things. Be mindful, O Lord, in the multitude of thy compassions, of all thy people also, of such as are present and pray with us, and of all our brethren, on land, on sea, in every place of thy dominion, needing thy love toward man, and thine assistance, and on all bestow thy great mercy. That, continuing always preserved both in soul and body, we may with boldness glorify thy wonderful and blessed Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer v. O treasury of good things, perpetual fountain, holy Father, doer of wonders, all-powerful, and almighty, we all adore thee, and beseech thee, calling upon thy mercies and thy compassions, for help and succour of our lowliness. Be mindful, O Lord, of thy supplicants: accept the morning prayers of us all, as incense before thee, and cause that none of us be reprobate, but acquire us all through thy compassions. Be mindful, O Lord, of those that watch and offer psalmody unto thy glory, and that of thine Only-begotten Son and our God, and of thy Holy Spirit: be thou their helper and upholder; accept their supplications at thy heavenly and intellectual Altar. For thou art our God, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer vi. We give thanks to thee, O Lord, the God of our salvation, because thou doest all things for the benefit of our life, that we may always look up unto thee, the saviour and benefactor of our souls; for thou hast refreshed us in the past measure of the night, and hast raised us up from our beds, and made us to stand for adoration of thy honourable Name. Wherefore, we beseech thee, O Lord:—Grant us grace and power, that we may be vouchsafed to offer psalmody to thee with understanding, and to pray unceasingly, in fear and trembling working out our own salvation, through the succour of thy Christ. Be mindful, O Lord, of those also who in the night cry aloud unto thee; hearken I to them, and have mercy, and crush under their feet their invisible and warring enemies. For thou art the King of peace, and the Saviour of our souls, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer vii. O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hast raised us up from our beds, and gathered us together, at the hour of prayer, give us grace in opening our mouth, and accept such thanksgivings as are within our power; and teach us thine ordinances, for how to pray as we ought, we know not, unless thou, O Lord, guide us by thy Holy Spirit. Wherefore, we beseech thee, if in anywise we have sinned until this present hour, in word, or in deed, or by thought, voluntarily, or involuntarily, pardon, remit, forgive the same; for if iniquities thou wilt be extreme to mark, O Lord, Lord, who shall endure? for with thee there is redemption: thou only art holy, O helper, mighty one, defender of our life, and in thee is our song always. Be the might of thy Kingdom blessed, and glorified, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer viii. O Lord our God, who hast dispelled from us the drowsiness of sleep, and called us together by a holy call, that in the night also we may lift up our hands, and confess to thee of the judgements of thy righteousness; accept our entreaties, supplications, confessions, and night worship; and bestow on us, O God, faith which cannot be put to confusion, stedfast hope, and love unfeigned: bless our comings in and goings out, our actions, works, words, and thoughts; and grant that we may come to the beginning of the day, praising, hymning, and blessing the goodness of thine ineffable beneficence. For blessed is thine all-holy Name, and glorified is thy Kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer ix. Light up in our hearts, O Master, lover of man, the pure light of thy divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our understanding to the comprehension of the proclaiming of thy Gospel: implant in us the fear also of thy blessed commandments, that, trampling upon all carnal desires, we may follow a spiritual manner of life, both thinking and doing always such things as please thee. For thou art our sanctification and illumination, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer x. O Lord our God, who through penitence hast granted pardon to men, and as a type unto us of acknowledgement and confession of sin, hast set forth the Prophet David’s penitence unto forgiveness: do thyself, O Master, notwithstanding that we have fallen into many and great transgressions, have mercy on us according to thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out our transgressions: for to thee have we sinned, O Lord, who knowest both the secret and hidden things of the heart of man, and only hast authority to remit sins. And having created in us a clean heart, and stablished us with a governing spirit, and made known to us the exultation of thy salvation, cast us not away from thy presence; but be pleased, since thou art good, and lovest man, that until our last breath, we may offer to thee a sacrifice of righteousness, and an anaphora upon thy holy Altars. By the mercy, and compassions, and love toward man of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine All-holy, and good, and life giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer xi. O God, our God, who hast subjected the intellectual and rational Powers to thy will, we beseech thee, and supplicate thee:—Accept, among all thy creatures, such doxologies as are within our power, and requite us with the rich gifts of thy goodness; for to thee boweth every knee, of heaven, and of earth, and of the nether world; and every breath and creature hymneth thine incomprehensible glory; for thou only art a true and very merciful God. For thee do praise all the Powers of the heavens, and to thee they send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Prayer xii. We praise thee, we hymn thee we bless thee, and give thanks to thee, O God of our Fathers, for that thou hast brought us through the shadow of the night, and shewn us again the light of the day: moreover we supplicate thy goodness:—Be gracious to our sins, and accept our entreaty in thy great tenderness of heart, for unto thee do we flee, the merciful and all-powerful God: cause that there shine in our hearts the true Sun of thy righteousness; enlighten our mind, and preserve our senses whole; that, as in the day, walking honestly in the way of thy commandments, we may attain unto the life eternal (for with thee is the fountain of life), and be vouchsafed to come to the fruition of the unapproachable light. For thou art our God, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Then, the Hexapsalmos being ended, the Priest, or the Deacon, saith the Great Synapte:

In peace let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above, and the salvation of our souls, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, the good estate of the holy Churches of God, and the union of them all, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For this holy House, and those that with faith, reverence, and fear of God enter therein, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For our Archbishop N., the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ, all the Clergy, and the People, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For our most pious and God-kept Kings, all their Palace, and their Army, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

That he would fight on their side, and subdue beneath their feet every enemy and foe, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For this holy Abode (or, this City), every city, and country, and those in that faith dwell therein, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For good temperature of the air, abundance of thé fruits of the earth, and peaceful seasons, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For voyagers, travellers, the sick, the weary, the captive, and their salvation, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

That we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, peril, and necessity, let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Of our All-holy, undefiled, exceedingly blessed, glorious Lady, Theotokos, and ever-virgin, Mary, with all the Saints, making mention, ourselves and one another, and all our life, let us commend to Christ the God.

The Choir: To thee, O Lord.

The Priest aloud:

For to thee becometh all glory, honour, and adoration, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

And after the Exclamation, there is sung four times, The Lord is God (according to the Tone of the Troparion of the day), with its Stichoi:

The Lord is God, and hath appeared unto us: blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

Stichos i. Confess ye to the Lord, and call upon his holy Name.

Stichos ii. All nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord have I repulsed them.

Stichos iii. Of the Lord hath this happened; and it is marvellous in our eyes.

The Troparion of the day (to wit the Apolytikion of the Hesperinos):—on Lord’s-days, that of the Resurrection, out of the Oktoechos, twice: Glory … Both now … the Theotokion of the Tone.

And after this, the accustomed Stichologia of the Psalter, which on Lord’s-days is the second Kathisma, that of

I will confess to thee, O Lord (Pss. 9–16).

And after the conclusion of the first Stichologia, the Priest, or the Deacon, saith the Little Synapte:

Again, and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The Choir: To thee, O Lord.

The Priest aloud:

For thine is the might, and thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

Kathismata:—if the Lord’s-day, of the Resurrection, out of the Oktoechos.

Then the second Stichologia, which on Lord’s-days is the third Kathisma, that of

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength (Pss. 17–18).

And after the second Stichologia, the Priest, or the Deacon, saith:

Again and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The Choir: To thee, O Lord.

The Priest aloud:

For a good God and lover of man art thou, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

Kathismata:—if the Lord’s-day, of the Resurrection, out of the Oktoechos.

Then the third Stichologia, which on Lord’s-days (except those whereon the Polyeleos is sung) is the seventeenth Kathisma, that of

Blessed are the blameless (Ps. 118).

And straightway, if it be the Lord’s-day, the Evlogetaria of the Resurrection to the 1st plagal Tone (but if a Feast, as usual, the Kathismata).

Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me thine ordinances.

The assembly of the Angels were amazed seeing thee numbered among the dead, yet, O Saviour, destroying the strength of death, and with thyself raising Adam, and delivering all from Hades.

Blessed art thou, O Lord.…

Why do ye sympathetically mingle unguents with your tears, O ye women-disciples? the radiant Angel at the grave hath called to the Myrrh-bearing women:—Behold ye the grave, and be glad; for the Saviour is risen from the tomb.

Blessed art thou, O Lord.…

Very early the Myrrh-bearing women ran unto thy tomb lamenting; but the Angel stood by them, and said:—The time for lamentation is passed, weep not; but tell ye the Resurrection to the Apostles.

Blessed art thou, O Lord.…

The Myrrh-bearing women coming with unguents unto thy tomb, O Saviour, were told, an Angel plainly calling unto them:—Why number ye the living among the dead? for as God, he is risen from the tomb.

Glory.…

Triadikon. We adore the Father, and his Son also, and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity in one substance, with the Seraphim crying: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, O Lord.

Both now …

Theotokion. In bringing forth the Life-giver, thou hast, O Virgin, ransomed Adam from sin, and given joy to Eve, instead of sorrow: for him that was fallen from life hath he thereunto restored, who of thee was incarnate, God and man.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to thee, the God. Thrice (and in the third repetition there is added: our hope art thou, O Lord; glory to thee).

And after the Amomos and the Evlogetaria, the Priest, or the Deacon, saith:

Again, and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The Choir: To thee, O Lord.

The Priest aloud:

For blessed is thy Name, and glorified is thy Kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

The Hypakoe, out of the Oktoechos, if it be the Lord’s-day.

The Anavathmoi of the Tone, if it be the Lord’s-day (but if a Feast, the 1st Antiphon of the 4th Tone).

The Prokeimenon of the Resurrection according to the Tone, if it be the Lord’s-day (but if a Feast, that of the Feast).

The Deacon: Let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord have mercy. Thrice.

The Priest aloud:

For holy art thou, our God, and thou restest in the Saints, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

Then is sung thrice to the 2nd Tone:

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Stichos: Praise ye the God in his Saints: praise him in the firmament of his power.

And after this, the Deacon saith aloud:

And that we may be vouchsafed the hearing of the holy Gospel, let us supplicate the Lord our God.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

The Deacon: Wisdom! upright! let us hear the holy Gospel.

The Priest: Peace to all (blessing).

The Choir: And to thy spirit.

The Priest: The Lesson out of the holy Gospel according to N.

The Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee.

The Deacon: Let us attend.

And the Priest saith the appointed Matutinal Gospel, if it be the Lord’s-day (but if a Feast, that of the Feast):

At that time …

The Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee.

And then, that is if the Lord’s-day:

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us adore the holy Lord, Jesus, who only is sinless. Thy Cross, O Christ, do we adore; and thy holy Resurrection hymn and glorify: for thou art our God, beside thee we know none other, thy Name do we name. Come, all ye Faithful, let us adore Christ’s holy Resurrection: for, behold, there is come, through the Cross, joy unto all the world. Continually blessing the Lord, we hymn his Resurrection. For having endured the Cross for us, he hath by death destroyed death.

And the 50th Psalm (during the singing of which, if it be the Lord’s-day, there is the Kissing of the holy Gospel).

Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy: and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression.

Throughly wash me from mine iniquity, and from my sin cleanse me.

For mine iniquity I do know: and my sin is before me continually.

To thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee, that thou mayest be justified in thy words, and overcome when thou judgest.

For, behold, in iniquities was I conceived: and in sins did my mother bare me.

For, behold, truth hast thou loved: the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom hast thou manifested to me.

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Thou shalt make me to hear exultation and gladness: the bones that were humbled shall exult.

Turn away thy face from my sins, and all mine iniquities blot out.

A clean heart create within me, O God; and a right spirit renew in mine inward parts.

O cast me not away from thy presence, and thy Holy Spirit take not from me.

Render to me the exultation of thy salvation, and with a governing spirit stablish me.

I will teach transgressors thy ways, and the wicked shall return unto thee.

Deliver me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation: my tongue shall exult in thy righteousness.

O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim thy praise.

For, if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it: with holocausts thou wilt not be pleased.

Sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit: a contrite and humbled heart God will not despise.

Do good, O Lord, in thy good will to Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.

Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with anaphora, and holocausts.

Then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.

And what followeth (but if it be a Feast, the Idiomela of the Feast).

Glory …

At the Apostles’ intercessions, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of the accusations against me.

Both now …

At the Theotokos’ intercessions, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of the accusations against me.

Stichos. Thou Merciful One, have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions, blot out my transgression.

Jesus having risen from the grave, as he foretold, hath granted us eternal life, and great mercy.

And after these things, the Deacon saith:

Save thy people, O God, and bless thine inheritance, visit thy world in mercy and compassions; exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians, and send down upon us thy rich mercies: at the intercessions of our all-undefiled Lady, Theotokos, and ever-virgin, Mary; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; by the protections of the honourable Bodiless Powers of heaven; at the supplications of the honourable, glorious, Prophet, Precursor and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-famous Apostles; of our Fathers among the Saints, great Hierarchs, and Œcumenical Doctors, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our Father among the Saints Nicolas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonder-worker; of the holy, glorious and rightvictorious Martyrs; of our Pure and God-bearing Fathers; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joakeim and Anna; of Saint (of the Abode), and of all thy Saints; we supplicate thee, O very merciful Lord, hearken to us, sinners, that beseech thee, and have mercy on us.

And the rest of these, as is written in the Litê (See page 49).

Then the Priest saith aloud:

By the mercy, and compassions, and love toward man of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine All-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

And we begin the Canons:—if the Lord’s-day, of the Resurrection in four, with the Stichos, Glory to thy holy Resurrection, O Lord; of the Cross and Resurrection in three, with the Stichos, Glory to thy Cross and Resurrection, O Lord; of the Theotokos in three, with the Stichos, O exceedingly holy Theotokos, save us; all according to the Tone it happeneth to be; and of the Saint of the Menaion in four, with the Stichos, O Saint of God, intercede for us:—together with the Katabasiai of the day, or of the approaching Feast of our Lord, or of the Mother of God, or from the 22nd of September until the 20th of November, and from the Lord’s-day of All Saints until the 27th of July with the following to the 4th Tone.

Katabasia of the First Ode of the Canons.

I will open my mouth, and it shall be filled with breath, and I will break forth in speech to the queen Mother; yea I will present myself gaily keeping holyday, and will sing joyfully her wonders.

Katabasia of the Third Ode.

Them that hymn thee, O Theotokos, since thou art a living and bounteous fountain, do thou, while they applaud in spiritual chorus, stablish; and in thy divine glory vouchsafe them crowns of glory.

After the Third Ode, the Priest, or the Deacon, saith the Little Synapte:

Again and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The Choir: To thee, O Lord.

The Priest aloud:

For thou art our God, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to i the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

Then the Kathisma of the Saint of the Menaion:

Glory … Both now … the Theotokion.

Katabasia of the Fourth Ode.

The unsearchable divine counsel, that is thine incarnation of the Virgin, O Most High, the Prophet Abbakum beholding, cried: Glory to thy power, O Lord.

Katabasia of the Fifth Ode.

Amazed were all things at thy divine glory; for thou, O unwedded Virgin, hadst in thy womb the God over all, and hast brought forth a Son, not of time, to all that hymn thee awarding salvation.

Katabasia of the Sixth Ode.

Celebrating this divine and all-honourable feast of the Mother of God, come, ye godly minded, let us clap our hands, glorifying the God that was born of her.

After the Sixth Ode the Priest, or the Deacon, saith again the Little Synapte:

Again, and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God by thy grace.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The Choir: To thee, O Lord.

The Priest aloud:

For thou art the King of peace, and the Saviour of our souls, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

The Kontakion:—if the Lord’s-day, of the Resurrection, out of the Oktoechos; likewise the Oikos also.

And a Lesson for the Synaxarion according to the day:

On this (such a day) of this Month, is the.…

Stichoi, and Lesson.

Ending: At their intercessions, O God, have mercy on us, and save us. Amen.

Katabasia of the Seventh Ode.

The godly minded ones worshipped not the creature rather than the creator; but manfully trampling upon the threat of fire, rejoiced singing:—O exceedingly praised One, the Lord and God of our Fathers, blessed art thou.

At the end of the Seventh Ode, the Reader saith:

We praise, we bless, and adore the Lord.

Katabasia of the Eighth Ode.

The Offspring of the Theotokos preserved the undefiled children in the furnace, then indeed typified; but now actively working, he gathereth together the whole universe, which singeth: The Lord hymn, ye works of his, and highly exalt him unto all the ages.

Then the Deacon saith in a loud voice:

The Theotokos and Mother of the Light, let us magnify in hymns of honour.

And there is recited the Timiotera with the Ode of the Theotokos, as followeth (but if not, straightway is begun the Heirmos of the Ninth Ode of the Canon). And the Deacon censeth the Sanctuary, the Nave, and all present.

Luke 1:46–55. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour.

More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption barest God the Word, verily the Theotokos, thee we magnify.

For he hath looked upon the lowliness of his handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

More honourable …

For to me hath the Powerful One done great things, and holy is his Name; and his mercy is unto generation and generation toward those that fear him.

More honourable …

He hath wrought might with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

More honourable …

He hath put down potentates from their thrones, and hath exalted the lowly: the hungry he hath filled with good things, and the rich hath he sent away empty.

More honourable …

He hath succoured Israel his servant, that he might remember mercy (as he spake unto our forefathers), toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

More honourable …

Katabasia of the Ninth Ode.

Let every earth-born one leap in spirit, bringing lamps, and let the natures of the immaterial Intelligences keep holyday, honouring the sacred festival of the Mother of God, and cry out:—Hail, O all-blessed Theotokos, chaste, and ever-virgin.

After the Ninth Ode the Priest, or the Deacon, saith the Little Synapte:

Again, and again, in peace let us beseech the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

The Choir: To thee, O Lord.

The Priest aloud:

For thee do praise all the Powers of the heavens, and to thee they send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

Then, if it be the Lord’s-day, there is sung:

Holy is the Lord our God. Twice.

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore the footstool of his feet, for he is holy.

The Exaposteilarion of the day:—on Lord’s-days, the appointed one of the Resurrection: Glory … Both now … the Theotokion.

And straightway there are sung the Ainoi, thus, to the Tone it happeneth to be.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Ps. 148:1, 2. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the highest. To thee, the God, becometh a hymn.

Praise him, all ye his Angels: praise him, all ye his Powers. To thee, the God, becometh a hymn.

For vi Stichoi.

Ps. 149:9. This glory shall be to all his pure ones.

Ps. 150. Praise ye the God in his Saints: praise him in the firmament of his power.

For iv Stichoi.

Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise him according to the multitude of his greatness.

Praise ye him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with psaltery and harp.

Praise ye him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and organ.

Praise ye him with well sounding cymbals: praise him with cymbals of jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.

If it be the Lord’s-day, also the two following Stichoi.

Arise, O Lord my God, let thy hand be lifted up, forget not thy poor utterly.

I will confess to thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will declare thy wonders.

On Lord’s-days there are divided off eight Stichoi, beginning at, This glory shall be, and therewith are sung eight Stichera of the Resurrection, out of the Oktoechos: Glory … the appointed Matutinal Doxastikon: Both now … this Theotokion.

Exceedingly blessed art thou, O Theotokos and Virgin; for through him that was incarnate of thee, Hades is led captive, Adam is recalled, the curse is made void, Eve is set free, death is slain, and we are made alive. Wherefore, in hymns we cry aloud:—Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who art thus well pleased: glory to thee.

The Great Doxology.

Glory to thee who hast shewed the light.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, among men good will.

We hymn thee, we bless thee, we adore thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee because of thy great glory.

O Lord, King, heavenly God, Father Almighty: O Lord, Only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ, and O Holy Spirit.

O Lord God, the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world;—have mercy on us, thou that takest away the sins of the world.

Accept our entreaty, thou that sittest on the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.

For thou only art holy, thou only art Lord, O Jesu Christ, unto the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy Name for ever, yea for ever and ever.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, that this day, we may be kept without sin.

Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is thy Name unto the ages. Amen.

May thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in thee.

Blessed art thou, O Lord: O teach me thine ordinances. Thrice.

O Lord, a refuge hast thou become unto us in generation and generation. I have said:—Lord, I have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.

O Lord, unto thee have I fled: teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God.

For with thee is a fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

O continue thy mercy to those that know thee.

Trisagion.

Holy God, Holy Strong One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us. Thrice.

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

Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

Then in a louder voice:

Holy God, Holy Strong One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

And after this we say a Troparion of the Resurrection (to wit if it be the Lord’s-day; but if it be a Feast, that of the Feast): for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tones, the following, of John the Damascene. Tone iv.

To-day is salvation come to the world: let us sing to him that arose from the grave, and is the author of our life; for having by death destroyed death, he hath given us the victory, and the great mercy.

But for the 1st plagal, 2nd plagal, varys, and 4th Tones, we say the following, of the same author, to Tone ii.

Being risen from the tomb, and having burst the bonds of Hades, thou hast loosed the condemnation of death, O Lord, delivering all from the snares of the enemy: having manifested thyself to thine Apostles, thou sentest them to preach, and through them hast granted thy peace to the universe, O only very merciful.

Then the Deacon, if present, saith the Ektene; but if not, the Priest:

Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy: we beseech thee, hearken, and have mercy.

The Choir: Lord have mercy. Thrice.

Again, we beseech for pious and Orthodox Christians.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Again, we beseech for our Archbishop N.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Again, we beseech for our Brethren, the Priests, Hiero-Monks, Hiero-Deacons, and Monks, and all our Brotherhood in Christ.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Again, we beseech for the blessed and evermemorable Founders of this holy Abode (or, of this holy House); and for all our heretofore deceased fathers, and brethren, that are piously lying here, and elsewhere, Orthodox believers.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Again, we beseech for mercy, life, peace, ‘health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, the Brethren of this holy Abode (or, of this holy House).

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

Again, we beseech for those that bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable Church, that labour, that sing; and for the people standing around, who are expecting the great and rich mercy that is from thee.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice.

The Priest aloud:

For a merciful God and lover of man art thou, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

The Deacon:

Let us complete our morning entreaty to the Lord.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Succour us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.

The Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

The Choir: Grant, O Lord.

An Angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

The Choir: Grant, O Lord.

Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.

The Choir: Grant, O Lord.

What is good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

The Choir: Grant, O Lord.

That the remaining time of our life may be spent in peace and penitence, let us ask of the Lord.

The Choir: Grant, O Lord.

A Christian end to our life, painless, without shame, peaceful, and a good defence at the fearful Tribunal of Christ, let us ask.

The Choir: Grant, O Lord.

The Choir: To thee, O Lord.

The Priest aloud:

For a God of mercy, and compassions, and love toward man art thou, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

The Priest: Peace to all (blessing).

The Choir: And to thy spirit.

The Deacon: Let us bow down our heads to the Lord.

The Choir: To thee, O Lord.

And the Priest prayeth secretly:

O holy Lord, who dwellest on high, and regardest the lowly, and with thine all-seeing eye lookest upon the whole creation; to thee have we bowed the neck of our soul and body, and we beseech thee, O Saint of Saints:—Stretch forth thine invisible hand from thy holy dwellingplace, and bless us all; and if in anywise we have sinned, voluntarily, or involuntarily, do thou, as a good God and lover of man, pardon the same, granting us thy good things, both of this world, and above this world.

Aloud:

For thine it is to have mercy, and to save us, O our God, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

Then the Deacon saith:

Wisdom!

The Choir: Bless, Master.

The Priest:

The ‘Existing’ is blessed, even Christ our God, always: now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages.

The Choir: Amen.

The Prelate:

May the Lord God stablish the holy and blameless Faith of pious and Orthodox Christians, together with this holy Church, and this City, unto ages of ages.

The Choir: Amen.

The Priest: O exceedingly holy Theotokos, save us.

The Choir:

More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption barest God the Word, verily the Theotokos, thee we magnify.

And the First Hour is begun; but if not, straightway there is made Dismission.

On Sabbaths, after the Stichologia of the Amomos, there are sung the following Evlogetaria of the Dead to the 1st plagal Tone.

Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me thine ordinances.

The choir of the Saints have found the fount of life, and the door of Paradise; may I also find the way through penitence: the lost sheep am I; do thou recall me, O Saviour, and save me.

Blessed art thou, O Lord …

Ye that preached the Lamb of God, and were slain like lambs, and, being holy, are translated unto the unfading and eternal life, him, O Martyrs, ask earnestly, that to us there may be given deliverance from our offences.

Blessed art thou, O Lord …

Ye that along the narrow straightened way have all walked in life: ye that, as a yoke, have taken up the cross, and followed me in faith, come, enjoy the prizes which I have prepared for you, and the heavenly crowns.

Blessed art thou, O Lord …

An image am I, of thine unspeakable glory, although I bear the marks of stumblings: have thou compassion on thy creature, O Master, and cleanse me in thy tenderness of heart; and the desired fatherland grant thou me, of Paradise making me again a citizen.

Blessed art thou, O Lord …

Thou that with thy palm out of nothing didst fashion me, honouring me with thy divine image, but for transgression of the commandment didst I make me to return again to the earth whence I was taken, into that likeness restore me, transforming me into my former beauty.

Blessed art thou, O Lord …

Give repose, O God, to thy servants, and order them in Paradise, where choirs of the Saints, O Lord, and the righteous shall shine as luminaries: to thy servants that are fallen asleep give thou repose, overlooking all the accusations against them.

Glory …

Triadikon. The triple brightness of the one Deity, let us piously hymn, crying out: Holy art thou, Father unoriginate, and thou co-unoriginate Son, and thou Divine Spirit: enlighten us who in faith worship thee, and from eternal fire rescue us.

Both now.…

Theotokion. Hail! O August One, who barest God in flesh, for the salvation of all, through whom the race of men have found salvation; through thee may we find Paradise, O Theotokos, chaste, and blessed.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to thee, the God. Thrice.

If it be not the Lord’s-day, or a Feast, immediately after the Stichologia of the Psalter and the Kathismata according to their order, we say the 50th Psalm, and begin the Canons, reading withal the nine Odes, as following (or singing certain Stichoi only from them, according to the day, and the number of the Troparia of the Canon).

First Ode.

An Ode of Moses in Exodos (Chap. 15:1–19).

To the Lord will we sing, for gloriously is he glorified.

We will sing to the Lord …

Second Ode.

Note, that the 2nd Ode is never recited, except only in the Great Quadragesima; and after the 1st Ode we recite it unto the end. And for the Troparia we say, for each one:

Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.

An Ode of Moses in Deuteronomy (Chap. 32:1–43).

Attend, O heaven.…

Third Ode.

A Prayer of Anna the mother of Samuel the Prophet (I Reigns. Chap. 2:1–10).

Holy art thou; O Lord, and thee doth my spirit hymn.

Established is my heart in the Lord …

Fourth Ode.

A Prayer of Abbakum the Prophet (Chap. 3:1–19).

Glory to thy power, O Lord.

O Lord, I have heard thy report …

Fifth Ode.

A Prayer of Hesaias the Prophet (Chap. 26:9–20).

O Lord our God, give peace unto us.

By night my spirit watcheth early …

Sixth Ode.

A Prayer of Jonas the Prophet (Chap. 2:3–10).

As the Prophet Jonas (thou didst save), save us, O Lord.

I have cried out in mine affliction unto the Lord …

Seventh Ode.

A Prayer of the holy Three Children (Dan. Chap. 3:26–51).

Our Fathers’ God, and ours, blessed art thou.

Blessed art thou, O Lord.…

The hymn of the Three, which the Youths sang (Dan. Chap. 3:52–56).

Blessed art thou, O Lord.…

Eighth Ode.

A hymn of the holy Three Children (Dan. Chap. 3:57–88).

The Lord hymn, ye works (of his), and highly exalt unto all the ages.

Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord …

Ninth Ode.

An Ode of the Theotokos. Out of Luke (Chap. 1:46–55).

The Theotokos let us magnify in hymns.

My soul doth magnify the Lord.…

A Prayer of Zacharias the father of the Precursor (Luke 1:68–79).

Blessed is the Lord God of Israel …

After the Heirmos at the end of the Ninth Ode, we say:

Meet it is indeed to call blessed thee, the Theotokos, the ever blessed and all-blameless, and Mother of our God.

More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption barest God the Word, verily the Theotokos, thee we magnify.

And the Ainoi we say thus:

Ps. 148. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the highest. To thee, the God, becometh a hymn.

Praise him, all ye his Angels: praise him, all ye his Powers. To thee, the God, becometh a hymn.

Praise him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light.

Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and the water that is above the heavens: let them praise the Name of the Lord.

For himself spake, and they were made: himself commanded, and they were created.

He hath stablished them for ever, yea for ever and ever: a decree hath he ordained, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps.

Fire, hail, snow, ice, wind of the tempest, that perform his word.

The mountains and all the hills, fruit trees and all cedars.

The wild beasts and all the cattle, reptiles and feathered fowls.

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth.

Young men and maidens, elders with the younger: let them praise the Name of the Lord, for exalted is the Name of him only.

The confession of him is above earth and heaven; and he shall exalt the horn of his people.

A hymn is for all his pure ones, for the children of Israel, a people that draweth near to him.

Ps. 149. Sing ye to the Lord a new song: his praise is in the Church of the pure.

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him; and let the children of Sion exult in their King.

Let them praise his Name in choir; with timbrel and psaltery let them offer psalmody to him.

For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people, and will exalt the meek in salvation.

The pure shall boast in glory, and shall exult upon their beds.

The extollings of God shall be in their throat, and two-edged swords in their hands.

To execute vengeance among the nations, chastisements among the peoples.

To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron.

To execute among them the judgement written. This glory shall be to all his pure ones.

Ps. 150. Praise ye the God in his Saints (See page 155).

Glory.… Both now.…

Then:

To thee glory becometh, O Lord our God, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

And:

Glory to thee who hast shewed the light.

Glory to God in the highest, as far as, and I will praise thy Name for ever, yea for ever and ever. Then pass on to, O Lord, a refuge hast thou become, and say as far as, O continue thy mercy to those that know thee.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, that this day, unto the end (See page 37).

The Priest:

Let us complete our morning entreaty to the Lord, and the rest as far as, For thine it is to have mercy.

Then the Stichera out of the Oktoechos with their Stichoi.

i Stichos. We have been filled in the morning with thy mercy, O Lord, and have exulted, and rejoiced in all our days. May we rejoice for the days wherein thou hast humbled us, for the years wherein we have seen evils; and look thou upon thy servants and upon thy works, and guide their children.

ii Stichos. And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us; and the works of our hands direct thou upon us; yea the work of our hands do thou direct.

Glory … Both now … The Idiomelon, if there be any.

Then:

It is good to confess to the Lord, and to offer psalmody to thy Name, O Most High. To proclaim thy mercy in the morning, and thy truth by night.

After which, the Trisagion. O All-holy Trinity. Our Father. For thine is.

The Apolytikion of the day. Glory … Both now … Theotokion.

The Priest:

Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy, and the rest.

And after the Exclamation, Wisdom! and we pray for the stablishing of the Kings.

Then is begun the First Hour.

But if it be the Great Quadragesima, after the Blessing of the Priest, we say first, the Trisagion.

O All-holy Trinity. Our Father. For thine is. Lord, have mercy, twelve times.

Then: Come let us adore, etc., as usual.

But instead of, The Lord is God, we sing the, Alleluia, thrice, according to the Tone, first saying one of the following Stichoi.

i Stichos. By night my spirit watcheth early unto thee, O God, for thy precepts are light upon the earth.

ii Stichos. Learn righteousness, O ye that dwell upon the earth.

iii Stichos. Jealousy shall take hold of an untaught people, and now fire shall devour the adversaries.

iv Stichos. Add upon them evils, O Lord; add evils upon those that are the glorious of the earth.

And after the, Alleluia, we sing the Triadic Hymns of the Tone it happeneth to be.

Likewise instead of the Exaposteilarion we say the Photagogika according to the Tone it happeneth to be.

After, It is good to confess to the Lord, and the Trisagion, we say this Apolytikion:

Having stood in the Temple of thy glory, we are accounted to have stood in heaven: O Theotokos, thou heavenly gate, open unto us the door of thy mercy.

Then: Lord, have mercy. Forty times.

Glory.… Both now.…

More honourable than the Cherubim …

In the Name of the Lord bless, Father.

The Priest: The ‘Existing’ is blessed, even Christ …

And we say:

O heavenly King (See page 67).

And then we make three Great Reverences, saying to ourselves the afore-written Prayer of Saint Ephraim:

O Lord and Master of my life (See page 67).

And after these, we make twelve other Little Reverences, and again one Great Reverence, as is there indicated.

And rising up we sing the First Hour.

The Divine Liturgies Of Our Fathers by Saint John Chrysostom

THE ORDER OF THE ORTHROS