THE OFFICE OF MATINS

The Office of Matins on Sundays and Feast Days

The priest, having put on the epitrachelion, standing before the holy table, and holding the censer in his right hand, begins:

BLESSED is our God always, now and ever, and unto ages or ages.

And he censes the holy table, the prothesis, the sanctuary, and the whole church and the people.

The reader, if it is during the Great Fast, reads the Trisagion, but, if not, he says immediately: Come, let us worship. . . thrice, and the Psalms: The Lord hear thee . . . and O Lord, in thy strength. . . Glory. . . Now and ... the Trisagion and Our Father . . . This is read without haste.

When the priest comes before the holy doors, he says:

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 ages of ages.

Then the reader reads these troparia: O Lord, save thy people . . . Glory . . . O thou who wast lifted up upon the cross . . . , Both now . . . O Protection fearful. . .

Then the priest, having come into the sanctuary, says this litany:

Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

Again we pray for our [lord, the Most Blessed] Metropolitan N., and for our [lord, the Right Reverend] Bishop N.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

Again we pray for all the brethren and for all Christians.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

Exclamation:

For thou art a merciful God who lovest man, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

And immediately they say: In the name of the Lord, bless, Father.     The priest, making the sign of the cross with the censer, standing before the holy table, exclaims:
    GLORY to the holy, consubstantial, life-creating, and undivided Trinity always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.

Then we say the Six Psalms with all heed and godly fear, as if conversing with Christ our God Himself invisibly, and praying for our sins. After the third Psalm, the priest says the Matins Prayers, standing with head uncovered before the holy doors.

First Prayer     We give thanks unto thee, O Lord our God, who hast raised us up from our beds, and hast put into our mouths the word of praise that we may worship and call upon thy holy name. We pray, by thy compassion which thou hast always exercised in our life, send forth now also thine aid upon those who stand before the presence of thy holy glory, and await the rich mercy which is from thee. And grant that they always with fear and love may adore, praise and hymn thee, and worship thine indescribable goodness.
    For to thee belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Second Prayer     By night our spirit riseth early unto thee, O our God, for thine ordinances are a light upon the earth. Make us to understand the perfection of righteousness and holiness in thy fear. We glorify thee, O our God, who dost truly exist. Bow down thine ear and hear us; remember by name, O Lord, all those that are with us and pray with us, and save them by thy power. Bless thy people and sanctify thine inheritance. Give peace to thy world, to thy churches, to the priests, (to the authorities,) and to all thy people.
    For blessed and glorified is thine all-honorable and magnificent name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Third Prayer     By night our spirit riseth early unto thee, O God, for thine ordinances are a light. Teach us, O God, thy righteousness, thy commandments, and thy statutes; enlighten the eyes of our intelligence that we may never fall asleep unto death in sin. Drive out all gloom from our hearts. Grant unto us the Sun of Righteousness, and keep our life unassailed by the seal of thy Holy Spirit. Direct our steps in the way of peace. Give us the morning . and the day in joy, that we may send up morning prayers unto thee.
    For thine is the strength, and thine are the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Fourth Prayer     O Master, God, holy and unsearchable, who didst command the light to shine forth from the darkness; who hast given us rest in the sleep of the night, and hast raised us up to the glorification and supplication of thy goodness; we implore thy tenderheartedness, accept us also now who worship thee and give thanks unto thee according to our power; and grant us all our petitions which are unto salvation. Show us to be sons of the light and of the day, and heirs of thine eternal good things. Remember, O Lord, in the multitude of thy compassions, all thy people who are present and who pray with us, and all our brethren on land and on the sea and in all places of thy dominion, who are in need of thy love toward man and of thy help; and grant unto all thy great mercy, that, always remaining in safety of soul and body, we may with boldness glorify thy won drous and blessed name.
    For thou art the God of mercies, and of compassion, and of love of man, and to thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Fifth Prayer     O Treasury of good things, ever-flowing fountain, holy Father, wonderworker, all-powerful, almighty, we all worship thee and pray unto thee, calling thy mercies and compassion to the help and succor of our humility. Remember, O Lord, thy suppliants; accept the morning prayers of us all as incense before thee; and let not one of us be made unfit, but encompass us all with thy compassion. Remember, O Lord, those who watch and those who sing to thy glory, and to that of thine only-begotten Son and our God, and of thy Holy Spirit. Be thou their helper and succor. Accept thou their supplications upon thy most heavenly and ideal altar.
    For thou art our God, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Sixth Prayer     We thank thee, O Lord God of our salvation, for thou doest all things for the welfare of our life, that we may always set our gaze upon thee, the Savior and Benefactor of our souls. For thou hast given us rest in that part of the night which is past, and hast roused us up from our beds, and hast set us in the worship of thine honorable name. Wherefore, we pray thee, O Lord, give us grace and power that we may be found worthy to sing unto thee with wisdom and pray unto thee unceasingly in fear and trembling, accomplishing our own salvation with the succor of thy Christ. Remember, O Lord, also those that cry out in the night unto thee, hear them, and have mercy. Crush under their feet invisible and warring enemies.
    For thou art the King of peace and the Savior of our souls, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Seventh Prayer     O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hast raised us from our beds, and hast gathered us together at the hour of prayer, give us grace in the opening of our mouths, and accept the thanks that we give according to our ability, and teach us thy statutes. For we know not how to pray as we ought, if thou, O Lord, by thy Holy Spirit, dost not lead us. Wherefore, we pray thee, remit, forgive, pardon whatsoever sins we have committed until this present hour, in word, in deed, or in thought; for if thou wilt regard transgression, O Lord, Lord, who shall stand? For with thee is deliverance. For thou art holy, a helper, and the strong defender of our life, and our song shall always be of thee.
    Blessed and glorified is the might of thy kingdom, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Eighth Prayer     O Lord our God, who hast banished from us the slothfulness of sleep and hast summoned us by a holy bidding, that also in the night we may lift up our hands and confess unto thee the judgments of thy righteousness, accept our prayers, supplications, confessions, and nocturnal worship, and grant us, O God, faith unashamed, firm hope, and love without hypocrisy. Bless our goings out and our comings in, our deeds, works, words, and thoughts. And grant us to reach the beginning of the day praising, singing, and blessing the ineffable beneficence of thy goodness.
    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 ages of ages. Amen. Ninth Prayer     Make shine in our hearts, O Master who lovest man, the incorrupt light of thy divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind to the comprehension of the preaching of thy Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of thy blessed commandments that, trampling down all carnal desires, we may pursue a spiritual way of life, both considering and doing all things well-pleasing unto thee.
    For thou art the sanctification and the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, and unto thee do we send up glory, together with thy Father, who is without beginning, and thine all-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Tenth Prayer     O Lord our God, who hast granted forgiveness unto men through repentance, and hast shown, as an example unto us of the knowledge of sins and confession, the repentance of the Prophet David unto pardon, do thou thyself, O Master, in the manifold and great offenses into which we have fallen, have mercy according to thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of thy compassions, blot out our transgressions; for against thee have we sinned, O Lord, who knowest both the hidden and secret things of the heart of man, and alone hast authority to forgive sins; inasmuch as thou hast created a clean heart in us, and with thy guiding Spirit hast thou established us, and hast made known unto us the joy of thy salvation, cast us not away from thy face; but be graciously willing for us to offer unto thee even until our last breath a sacrifice of righteousness and an offering upon thy holy altars.
    Through the mercies and compassion and love of man of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Eleventh Prayer O God our God, who by thy will hast brought into being intelligent and rational powers, we pray thee and supplicate thee, accept the glorification which together with all thy creatures we offer according to our ability, and reward us with the rich gifts of thy goodness. For unto thee every knee doth bow, whether in heaven, on earth, or in the infernal regions, and every breath and every creature doth sing thine unsearchable glory. For thou alone art the true and most merciful God.
    For all the powers of heaven praise thee, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Twelfth Prayer     We praise thee, we hymn thee, we bless thee, we give thanks unto thee, O God of our fathers, that thou hast brought us through the shadows of the night and hast again shown us the light of day. But we pray of thy goodness, cleanse us from our sins and accept our prayers in thy great tenderness of heart. For we take refuge in thee, the merciful and all-powerful God. Illumine in our hearts the true Sun of thy righteousness, enlighten our minds and guard all our senses, that, as in the day, walking nobly in the way of thy commandments, we may attain unto life eternal, for with thee is the fountain of life, and that we may be vouchsafed to come to the enjoyment of thine unapproachable light.
    For thou art our God, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The deacon, or the priest, standing in the usual place, says the Great Litany:

In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all men, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

For our [lord, the Most Blessed] Metropolitan N., for our [lord, the Most Reverend] Archbishop N., (and/or [the Right Reverend] Bishop N.,) for the honorable presbytery, the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

For the President of (or title of the highest civil authority), for all civil authorities, and for the armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

(That He may aid them and subdue under their feet every enemy and adversary, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.)

For this city (or this village), for every city and country, and for those who in faith dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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

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

For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To thee, O Lord.

Exclamation:

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

And they begin to sing:

God is the Lord and hath revealed Himself unto us; blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

According to the tone of the troparion of the day. And we say these verses, Psalm 117:

    Verse: O confess unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy is forever.
    Verse: They encompassed me round about, and in the name of the Lord have I kept them back.
    Verse: I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord.
    Verse: The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner; this is of the Lord, and it is wondrous in our eyes.

God is the Lord is sung four times. After exclaiming God is the Lord with its verses, the deacon goes into the sanctuary.
Then the proper troparion is said twice and the theotokion in the same tone. And if there are two proper troparia, the first is always said twice, then the second and then the theotokion.

If it is an Alleluia season, or the Great 40-day Fast, after the litany we sing Alleluia four times in the proper tone of the Octoechos

We say these verses from Isaiah 26:

    Verse: By night my spirit riseth early unto thee, O Lord, for thine ordinances are a light upon the earth.
    Verse: Learn righteousness, ye that dwell upon the earth.
    Verse: Envy shall take hold of an untaught people.
    Verse: Add evils upon them, O Lord, add evils upon the glorious of the earth.

Then the usual kathisma. After its completion, the deacon or the priest says the little litany:

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Exclamation:

For thine is the strength, and thine are the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

After the second kathisma, Again and again . . . and the rest.

Exclamation:

For thou art a good God who lovest man, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

After the 17th Kathisma, i.e., Blessed are the undefiled . . . , there is no litany, but the choir immediately sings the Resurrectional Troparia, The Angelic Council ... The priest then, wearing the phelonion, censes the sanctuary and the whole temple, accompanied by the deacon with a candle. If the Polyeleon is sung, Praise ye the name of the Lord, and O confess unto the Lord, the 17th Kathisma is omitted. [According to the rule, strictly, the Polyeleon is sung on all Sundays between September 22 and December 20 and from January 14 up to and including the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, but from Cheese-Fare Sunday to the dismissal of the Elevation of the Cross on September 21, the 17th Kathisma is used.] After the troparia, The Angelic Council, the little litany and the exclamation:

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 ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

Hypacoe and Anabathmoi of the Tone

When the All-night Vigil is celebrated, on the great feasts and on major saints' days, during the singing of the Polyeleon, the icon is placed on the analogion in the center of the church, and the celebrant and concelebrants, coming forth from the sanctuary through the holy doors, and standing before the holy icon, at the end of the Polyeleon, sing the Megalynarion of the feast once, then both choirs sing it several times. And the celebrant, accompanied by the deacon, censes the icon of the feast on the analogion. Then, entering the sanctuary, he censes the holy table, the whole sanctuary, and the iconostasis, the concelebrants in the order of their rank, both choirs, the whole temple, the people, and again the holy doors and the two principal icons, and the icon of the feast on the analogion. Then the concelebrants once again sing the Megalynarion. Then the little Iitany is said by the deacon and the kathisma (sedalen)of the feast is sung.

After the anabathmoi, the deacon then: Let us attend. Wisdom. Let us attend. And then the prokeimenon of the tone. The Sunday Prokeimena: First Tone:

Now will I arise, saith the Lord. I will set myself for salvation; I will speak boldly thereof.
Verse: The words of the Lord are pure words.

Second Tone:

Rise up, O Lord my God, in the precept which thou hast commanded, and the congregation of the people shall compass thee.
Verse: O Lord my God, in thee have I hoped, save me.

Third Tone: Say it among the nations: that the Lord hath become King; for He hath set aright the world, which shall not be moved.
Verse: O sing unto the Lord a new song; O sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Fourth Tone:

Arise, O Lord, help us, and redeem us for thy name's sake.
Verse: O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared it unto us.

Fifth Tone:

Arise, O Lord my God, let thine hand be lifted up, for thou art King unto the ages.
Verse: I will confess thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will declare all thy wonders.

Sixth Tone:

O Lord, arouse thy power, and come to save us.
Verse: O Shepherd of Israel, attend, thou that guidest Joseph like a sheep.

Seventh Tone:

Arise, O Lord my God, let thine hand be lifted up; forget not thy needy ones till the end.
Verse: I will confess thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will declare all thy wonders.

Eighth Tone:

The Lord shall be King forever, thy God, O Zion, from generation to generation.
Verse: Praise the Lord, O my soul; I will praise the Lord in my life.

Again the deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. The priest exclaims:

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

Deacon: Let every breath praise the Lord. The choir sings: Let every breath praise the Lord. The deacon then says the verse:

    Praise ye God in His Saints; praise ye Him in the establishment of His power.
    Choir: Let every breath praise the Lord.
    Deacon: Let every breath
    Choir: praise the Lord.

And then the deacon exclaims:

And that He may vouchsafe unto us to hear the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.

    Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice
    Deacon: Wisdom. Attend. Let us hear the holy Gospel.
    And the priest: Peace be to all.
    The people: And to thy spirit.
    And then: The reading from the holy Gospel according to Name.
    Choir: Glory to thee, O Lord, glory to thee.
    Deacon: Let us attend. And the priest reads the Matins Gospel.

After the reading of the Gospel, the priest brings the Gospel Book to the center of the church, preceded by the deacon with a lighted candle, and places it on the analogion, having kissed it together with the deacon. And the choir sings: The Resurrection of Christ . . . The reader reads Psalm 50, and the rest. Then the deacon, in the usual place, says the prayer:

O God, save thy people and bless thine inheritance. Look upon thy world in mercy and compassion. Exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians, and send down upon us thy rich mercies, through the intercessions of our all immaculate Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary; through the power of the precious and life-creating Cross; through the protection of the honorable bodiless Powers of heaven; of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles (or of the holy Apostle and Evangelist, Name, and of the other holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles); of our Fathers among the Saints, Ecumenical Great Teachers and Hierarchs, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; of our Father among the Saints, Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker; the Holy Equals of the Apostles, Methodius and Cyril, Teachers of the Slavs, [the holy Orthodox Equal of the Apostles, the Great Prince Vladimir, of the Blessed Great Princess of Russia, Olga; of our fathers among the Saints, the Wonderworkers of all Russia, Michael, Peter, Alexis, Jonah, Philip, Macarius, Demetrius, Metrophanes, Tikhon, Theodosius, Josaphat, Hermogenes, Pitirim, Innocent, and John;] of the holy, glorious, and right-victorious Martyrs; of the holy, glorious great Martyr, the victorious and wonderworking George; of the holy, great Martyr and healer Panteleimon; of the holy great Martyr Barbara; [of the holy Orthodox Russian Princes and Passion-bearers Boris, Gleb, and Igor; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, Anthony and Theodosius and the other Wonderworkers of the Caves; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, Sergius, Hegumen, Wonderworker of Radonezh, and Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov;] of our Father among the Saints, the Venerable Herman of Alaska, the Wonderworker; and of Saint (name of the Saint of the Temple and of the Day); of the holy and righteous Forebears of God, Joachim and Anne; and of all the Saints, we pray thee, O Lord, great in mercy, hearken unto us sinners who pray unto thee, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. twelve times

The priest exclaims:

Through the mercy and compassion and love of man of thine only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

When the All-night Vigil is celebrated, on the great feasts and on major saints' days, the proper prokeimenon is said, and the celebrant reads the Gospel in the center of the church. After the reading, he kisses the icon of the feast on the analogion, as do all the concelebrants, and they then go into the sanctuary and take off their priestly vestments; only the celebrant remains vested. The choir sings the stichera of the feast. Then the deacon says: O God, save thy people ...

And we begin the canons: of the Resurrection, of the Cross and Resurrection, of the Theotokos, and from the Menaion. After the 3rd Ode, the deacon or the priest says the little litany:

Again and again . . . Help us... Remembering ...

Exclamation:

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

Then the kathisma from the Menaion. After the 6th Ode, the litany:

Again and again . . . Help us.. . Remembering...

Exclamation:

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

The kontakion and the oikos. Then the reading from the Synaxarion.
After the kissing of the Holy Gospel by the brethren and the people, the priest takes it back to the sanctuary, blessing the people with it from the holy doors. At the beginning of the 8th Ode, the deacon, taking the censer, and receiving the blessing of the priest, censes the sanctuary. After the completion of the katabasia of the 8th Ode, standing before the icon of the Mother of God, he exclaims: The Theotokos and Mother of the Light, let us magnify in song. And he censes the choirs and the whole temple, and, having finished the censing, enters the sanctuary.

After the 9th Ode, if it is not Sunday, Meet is it. . .; if it is Sunday, after the Hiermos, the litany:

Again and again . . . Help us. . . Remembering. . .

Exclamation:

For all the powers of heaven praise thee, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

Then the deacon says:

    Verse: Holy is the Lord our God.
    The choir sings: Holy is the Lord our God.
    Verse: For holy is the Lord our God.
    The choir sings: Holy is the Lord our God.
    Verse: Over all peoples is our God.
    The choir sings: Holy is the Lord our God.

The Exaposteilarion of the Resurrection

At the Ainos, the stichera according to the rule, Glory, and the proper Gospel Sticheron; Both now . . . and Most blessed art thou . . .

At Both now. . . the deacon opens the holy doors. The priest, wearing the phelonion, stands before the altar, and the deacon stands to the right side of the priest. At the conclusion of the last sticheron, the priest exclaims with a loud voice:

GLORY to thee who hast shown us the light.

The Great Doxology. Then we say the troparion as usual. Then the deacon or the priest says the litany:

Have mercy on us, O God, according to thy great mercy, we pray thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

Again we pray for our [ lord, the Most Blessed] Metropolitan N., for our [lord, the Most Reverend] Archbishop N., (and/or for our [lord, the Right Reverend] Bishop N.) and for all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

Again we pray for the President of (or the highest civil authority), for all civil authorities, and for the armed forces.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable most holy Orthodox Patriarchs, the founders of this holy church (or Monastery) and all our fathers and brethren the Orthodox gone to rest before us, who lie here and everywhere.
Choir: Lord ,have mercy. thrice

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, pardon, and forgiveness of sins of the servants of God, our brethren of this holy temple (if it is a monastery: of this holy monastery.)
Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and revered temple, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people present who await of thee a great and rich mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. thrice

The priest exclaims:

For thou art a merciful God who lovest man, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the on, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

Then the deacon, or the priest:

Let us complete our morning prayer unto the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.

That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

An angel of peace, a faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

Pardon and forgiveness of our sins and offenses, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

All things good and useful for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

That we may end the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

A Christian ending to our life, painless, unashamed, peaceful, and a good defense before the fearful judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.
Choir: Grant this, O Lord.

The priest exclaims:

For thou art the God of mercies and compassion and of love of man, and unto thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.

Priest: Peace be to all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.

Deacon: Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.
Choir: To thee, O Lord.

And the priest says this prayer secretly:

O holy Lord, who dwellest on high and lookest upon the humble, and who with thine all-seeing eye lookest down upon all creation, unto thee have we bowed the neck of our soul and body, and we pray thee, O Holy of Holies, stretch forth thine invisible hand from thy holy dwelling place and bless us all. And if in aught we have sinned, either willingly or unwillingly, pardon us, inasmuch as thou art a good and man-loving God, granting unto us thy good things in this world and beyond this world.

He exclaims:

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

Deacon: Wisdom.
Choir: Bless.

Priest:

    He Who is, is blessed, even Christ our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
    Choir: Amen.
    Establish, O God, the holy Orthodox Faith, and Orthodox Christians, unto ages of ages.
    Priest: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
    Choir: More honorable than the Cherubim ...
    Priest: Glory to thee, O Christ God, our Hope, glory to thee.
    Choir: Glory... Now and ... Lord, have mercy. thrice Bless.

The priest gives the dismissal of the day or of the feast, if one is appointed.

After the dismissal and the Many Years, the reader reads First Hour immediately: Come, let us worship . . . and the Psalms. After Our Father, the priest, For thine is the kingdom . . . At In the name of the Lord, bless, Father, the priest wearing the epitrachelion, and standing before the holy doors, exclaims:

O God, be compassionate unto us, and bless us, and make the light of thy face to shine upon us, and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.

Then the priest prays:

O Christ the true Light, who illuminest and sanctifiest every man that cometh into the world, let the light of thy face be a sign upon us, that in it we see the unapproachable Light. Direct our steps in the performance of thy commandments, through the intercessions of thine all immaculate Mother, and of all thy Saints. Amen.

After the prayer, the choir sings: O Chosen Leader . . .

Priest:

Glory to thee, O Christ God, our Hope, glory to thee.
Choir: Glory . . . Now and . . . Lord, have mercy. thrice Bless.

The priest gives the lesser dismissal:

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His immaculate Mother, of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, and of all the Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loveth man.