}agpia

The Agpeya

Saint Mary and Saint Antonios Coptic Orthodox Church

606 Woodward Avenue
Ridgewood, NY 11385

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
The 117th Pope of Alexandria and
Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark

File:Agpeya //Images/index-5 1.png

1 Introduction
2 The Introduction to Every Hour
- 2.1 The Prayer of Thanksgiving
- 2.2 Psalm 50
3 The First Hour
4 The Third Hour
- 4.1 The Gospel According to Saint John (14:26-15:4)
- 4.2 The Absolution of the Third Hour
5 The Sixth Hour
- 5.1 The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (5:1-16)
- 5.2 The Absolution of the Sixth Hour
6 The Ninth Hour
- 6.1 The Gospel According to Saint Luke (9:10-17)
- 6.2 The Absolution of the Ninth Hour
7 The Eleventh Hour
- 7.1 The Gospel According to Saint Luke (4:38-41)
- 7.2 The Absolution of the Eleventh Hour
8 The Twelfth Hour
- 8.1 The Gospel According to Saint Luke (2:25-32)
- 8.2 The Absolution of the Twelfth Hour

Introduction[edit]

In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen.

Most of the English translations have been found difficult to follow and understand, especially the psalms. We used the easiest and clearest translation of the psalms and completed the other prayers through many revisions.

We included in this Agpeya all the prayers and absolutions with the intention of using the Agpeya for priest as well as laymen for future generations. Please use it as much as you can, everyday until you learn it by heart through repetition. This Agpeya will encourage you to enjoy your prayers.

The Introduction to Every Hour[edit]

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.

Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless. Amen.

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

Make us, Lord, worthy to say thankfully:

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, through Christ Jesus our Lord. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving[edit]

Let us give thanks unto the Beneficent and Merciful God, the Father of our Lord, and God and Savior, Jesus Christ. For He has covered us, succored us, preserved us, accepted us unto Him, had compassion on us, sustained us, and brought us unto this hour.

Let us then ask Him, the Almighty Lord our God, that He may keep us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life. O Master, Lord, God Almighty, Father of our Lord, and God and Savior Jesus Christ, we thank You upon every condition, for any condition, and in whatever condition. For You have covered us, succored us, preserved us, accepted us unto You, had compassion on us, sustained us and brought us unto this hour.

Therefore, we pray and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of mankind, grant us to complete this holy day, and all the days of our life in all peace with Your fear. All envy, all temptation, all the working of Satan, the intrigue of wicked people, the rising up of enemies, hidden or manifest, take away from us, and from all Your people, and from this, Your holy place. Whereas of the things that are suitable and useful to us give us provision. For You are He who gave us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and every power of the enemy.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, through the grace, mercy and love of mankind of Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord, and God and Savior, Jesus Christ; through whom glory, honor, dominion and worship befit You, with Him and the Holy Spirit, the Life-giver who is of one essence with You, both now and ever, and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

Psalm 50[edit]

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely You desire truth in the inner parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will turn back to You. Save me from bloodguilt, O

God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. In Your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight You; then bulls will be offered on Your altar. Alleluia.

The First Hour[edit]

This prayer commemorates the hour in which our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. It is prayed in the morning after rising from sleep to thank God for the beginning of a new day and to glorify Him in His Resurrection.

The First Hour

The worshiper prays the Introduction of Every Hour which includes:
The Lord's Prayer: Page 1
The Thanksgiving Prayer: Page 2
Psalm 50: Page 3

The Pauline Epistle[edit]

From Saint Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians (4:1-5)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one Body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. One Lord, one faith, one baptism.

One is God, Father of everyone. One is also His Son, Jesus Christ the Word who was incarnate, died, rose from the dead on the third day, and raised us up with Him. One is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, One of His hypostasis who proceeds from the Father, purifies the whole creation, and teaches us to worship the Holy Trinity, in one divinity, and one nature. We praise Him, we bless Him forever, Amen. The prayer of the first hour of this blessed day, we offer to Christ our King and our God, beseeching Him to forgive our sins.

From the Psalms of our father David the Prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all, Amen.

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Alleluia.

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in His wrath, saying, "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become Your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; You will dash them to pieces like pottery." Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Alleluia.

Psalm 3

O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy hill. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. Arise, O Lord!

Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May Your blessing be on Your people. Alleluia.

Psalm 4

Answer me when I call to You, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself. The Lord will hear when I call to Him. In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord. Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of Your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Alleluia.

Psalm 5

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with You the wicked cannot dwell. The arrogant cannot stand in Your presence. You hate all who do wrong. You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the Lord abhors. But I, by Your great mercy, will come into Your house; in reverence will I bow down toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies. Make straight Your way before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit. Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against You. But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous. You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. Alleluia.

Psalm 6

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath. Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O Lord, how long? Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of Your unfailing love. No one remembers You when he is dead. Who praises You from the grave? I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace. Alleluia.

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise because of Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Then I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of Your hands. You put everything under his feet all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! Alleluia.

Psalm 11

Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, "We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips; who is our master?"

"Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the Lord.

"I will protect them from those who malign them." And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. O Lord, You will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever. The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men. Alleluia.

Psalm 12

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death. My enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me. Alleluia.

Psalm 14

Lord, who may dwell in Your sanctuary? Who may live on Your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. Alleluia.

Psalm 15

Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge. I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing." As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips. Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup. You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Alleluia.

Psalm 18

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold. They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is Your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Alleluia

Psalm 24

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. In You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. Remember, O Lord, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant. For the sake of Your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!

Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in You. Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles! Alleluia.

Psalm 26

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at His tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of You, "Seek His face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger. You have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Teach me Your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Alleluia.

Psalm 62

O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise Him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced. Alleluia.

Psalm 66

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us. That Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him. Alleluia

Psalm 69

Hasten, O God, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me. May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion. May all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame. But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!" Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay. Alleluia.

Psalm 112

Praise the Lord. Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord. Alleluia.

Psalm 142

O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in Your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before You. The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all Your works and consider what Your hands have done. I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O

Lord, for I hide myself in You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For Your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life. In Your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. In Your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am Your servant. Alleluia.

The Gospel According to Saint John (1:1-17)[edit]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light. The true Light, that gives light to every man, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God; children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning Him. He cries out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.'" From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Glory be to God forever, Amen.

May Your saying be concluded in peace. We worship You, O Christ together with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come and saved us, Amen.

Then pray these passages:

Ò True Light Who enlightens every man that comes into the world, You have come into the world through Your love for mankind. All creation has rejoiced for Your coming. You have saved our father Adam from temptation and delivered our mother Eve from the pangs of death. You have given us the spirit of sonship, we praise You and we bless You saying:

Doxa Patri ke Uiw ke agiw pneumati.
Glory be to the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

When the morning dawned upon us, O Christ our God, the True Light, let the enlightened senses and thoughts shine within us and let not the darkness of pains overcome us, that we may praise You mentally with David, saying, "My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promises." Hear our voices according to Your great mercy and save us, O Lord our God, through Your compassion.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

You are the mother of the Light who is honored, from the rising of the sun to its setting, they offer you glorification, O Mother of God, the second heaven. For you are the lighted blossom and unchangeable mother who is the Ever-Virgin. The Father chose you, the Holy Spirit overshadowed you and the Son has come down and was incarnate from you. Ask Him to grant salvation to the world which He created, and deliver it from temptation. Let us praise Him with a new song and bless Him, now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

The Song of the Angels[edit]

Let us sing with the angels saying: "Glory be to God in the highest, peace on earth and goodwill towards men." We praise You, we bless You, we serve You, we worship You, we confess to You, and we proclaim Your glory. We thank You for Your great glory.

O Lord Who reigns over the heavens, God the Father Almighty, Lord, the One Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. O Lord God, lamb of God, Son of the Father, Who bears the sins of the world, have mercy on us. O Who bears the sins of the world, accept our supplications. O Who sits at the right hand of His Father, have mercy on us. You alone are Holy. You alone are the Most High, my Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Glory be to God the Father, Amen.

Every day I will bless You, and praise Your holy Name forever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen. Since the night my spirit seeks You early, O my God, for Your commandments are the light on the earth. I was reciting in Your ways, for You have become a help to me. In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice. Early, I stand before You and You see me.

The Trisagion[edit]

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was born of the Virgin, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, have mercy on us.

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

O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins, Lord, forgive our iniquities, Lord, forgive our offenses. Lord keep an eye on the sick of Your people. Heal them for the sake of Your holy Name. Our fathers and brothers who have slept, repose their souls.

O Who alone is sinless, help us and accept our prayers. For Yours is the glory, dominion, and triple holiness. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us, Amen.

Make us, Lord, worthy to say thankfully: Our Father . . . Page 1

Intercession of the Theotokos[edit]

Hail to you! We ask you, o saint, full of glory, the ever-virgin, Mother of God, Mother of Christ, lift our prayers to your beloved Son that He may forgive our sins.

Hail to the saintly Virgin, who gave birth to the True Light, Christ our Lord; ask the Lord to have mercy on us and forgive us our sins. O Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, the saintly faithful intercessor of the human race, intercede for us before Christ to whom you gave birth that He may forgive us our sins.

Hail to you, O Virgin, the true queen, Hail to the pride of our race, who gave birth to Emmanuel. We ask you to remember us, O faithful intercessor, before our Lord Jesus Christ that He may forgive us our sins.

The Introduction of the Creed[edit]

We magnify you, O mother of the True Light, and we glorify you, O Virgin saint Mother of God, for you have born unto us the Savior of the world. He came and saved our souls.

Glory be to You, O Christ our Master and King, the Pride of the apostles, the Crown of the martyrs, the Rejoicing of the righteous, the Confirmation of the churches, the Forgiveness of sins. We proclaim the Holy Trinity, one in essence. We worship and glorify Him. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us, Amen.

The Creed[edit]

Truly we believe in One God, the Father Almighty, who has created heaven and earth, the things which are seen and unseen.

We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, the OnlyBegotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. Light from light; True God from true God; begotten not created; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, was incarnated of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried and on the third day, He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He ascended into the heavens, and sat at the right hand of His Father; and He is coming again in His glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose kingdom there shall be no end.

Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the prophets. And in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age, Amen.

O Lord, hear us, have mercy on us and forgive us our sins.

Lord have mercy ( Kyrie Eleison) 41 times.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of Your Glory and Your Honor. Have mercy on us O God the Father Almighty. O Holy Trinity have mercy on us. O Lord of hosts be with us. For we have no supporter in our tribulations and adversaries but You.

O God, absolve, remit and pardon our transgressions which we have committed voluntarily and involuntarily, knowingly and unknowingly, hidden and manifest. O Lord, remit them for the sake of Your holy Name, that is called upon us, according to Your mercy, O Lord, and not according to our sins. Make us, Lord, worthy to say thankfully: Our Father . . . Page 1

The First Absolution[edit]

O Lord of hosts Who are before the ages and who abides forever; Who created the sun to shine by the day, and the night for the rest of all mankind. We thank You, O King of all ages, for You permitted us to pass this night in peace and brought us to the beginning of the day. Therefore, we ask You our King, O King of all ages, let the light of Your face shine upon us and the light of Your divine knowledge enlighten us. Let us be, O our Master, the sons of light and the sons of day light that we may pass this day in righteousness and purity and good preparation, and complete the remaining days of our life without stumbling; through the grace, compassion, and love of man of Your Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the gift of Your Holy Spirit both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

The Second Absolution[edit]

O God Who causes the light to burst forth, whose sun rises on the righteous and the wicked, who made light to shine on the whole world, enlighten our minds, hearts and reason, O Master of all. Grant us to please You this day. Guard us from every vile thing, all sin and power of the adversary, through our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom You are blessed together with the Holy Spirit, the Giver of life, Who is of one essence with You both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

The Conclusion of Every Hour[edit]

Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy on us. You who, at all times, and at every hour, in heaven and on earth are worshipped and glorified. O Christ our Good Lord, who is long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and most compassionate, who loves the righteous and has mercy on sinners, of whom I am the first; Who does not wish the death of a sinner, but rather to return and live; Who calls everybody to salvation through the fulfillment of the expected benefits.

Accept, O Lord, our prayers at this hour and at every hour. Ease our life, and guide us to carry out Your commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, straighten our thoughts, purify our intentions, heal our sicknesses, forgive our sins and deliver us from every sadness and heartache.

Surround us with Your holy angels so that we may be kept and guided in their camp, to attain the union of faith and the knowledge of Your unfelt and unbounded glory, for You are eternally blessed, Amen. Make us, Lord, worthy to say thankfully: Our Father . . . Page 1

The Third Hour[edit]

At this hour Pontius Pilate ruled against our Lord Jesus Christ. At this hour also, the Holy Spirit came down on the Disciples.

The worshipper prays the Introduction of Every Hour which includes:
The Lord's Prayer: Page 1
The Thanksgiving Prayer: Page 2
Psalm 50: Page 3

The prayer of the third hour of this blessed day we offer to Christ our King and our God, beseeching Him to forgive us our sins. From the psalms of our father David the Prophet and the King. May his blessings be with us all, Amen.

Psalm 19

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed. He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. O Lord, save the king! Answer us when we call! Alleluia.

Psalm 22

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Alleluia.

Psalm 23

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty. He is the King of glory. Alleluia.

Psalm 25

Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for Your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in Your truth. I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence, and go about Your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud Your praise and telling of all Your wonderful deeds. I love the house where You live, O Lord, the place where Your glory dwells. Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me. My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord. Alleluia.

Psalm 28

Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, "Glory!" The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. Alleluia.

Psalm 29

I will exalt You, O Lord, for You lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to You for help and You healed me. O Lord, You brought me up from the grave; You spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the Lord, you saints of His; praise His holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." O Lord, when You favored me, You made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To You, O Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help." You turned my wailing into dancing. You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever. Alleluia.

Psalm 33

I will extol the Lord at all times. His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them. He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him. Alleluia.

Psalm 40

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life. He will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness. I said, "O Lord, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against You." My enemies say of me in malice, "When will he die and his name perish?" Whenever one comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it abroad. All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying, "A vile disease has beset him; he will never get up from the place where he lies." Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. But You, O Lord, have mercy on me; raise me up, that I may repay them. I know that You are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. In my integrity, You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever. Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen. Alleluia.

Psalm 42

Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men. You are God my stronghold. Why have You rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell. Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God. Why are You downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Alleluia.

Psalm 44

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. You are the most excellent of men and Your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed You forever. Gird Your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In Your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness. Let Your right hand display awesome deeds. Let Your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath Your feet. Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy. All Your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From palaces adorned with ivory, the music of the strings makes You glad. Daughters of kings are among Your honored women; at Your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house. The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord. The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift, men of wealth will seek Your favor. All glorious is the princess within (her chamber); her gown is interwoven with gold. In embroidered garments, she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her and are brought to You. They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king. Your sons will take the place of Your fathers. You will make them princes throughout the land. I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise You forever and ever. Alleluia.

Psalm 45

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Alleluia.

Psalm 46

Clap your hands, all You nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth! He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted. Alleluia.

The Gospel According to Saint John (14:26-15:4)[edit]

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach You all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded Me. Come now; let us leave. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you."

Glory be to God forever, Amen.

May Your saying be concluded in peace. We worship You, O Christ together with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come and saved us, Amen.

Then pray these passages:

Your Holy Spirit, O Lord, which You sent forth upon Your holy disciples and honored apostles at the third hour; this take not away from us, O Good One, but renew Him within us. Create in me a pure heart, O

God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Doxa Patri ke Uiw ke agiw pneumati.
Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Ò Lord who has sent forth Your Holy Spirit upon Your holy disciples and honored apostles at the third hour, this take not away from us, O Good One, but renew Him within us. We beseech You, O our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word. A steadfast and life-giving Spirit, a Spirit of prophecy and chastity. A Spirit of holiness, justice and authority, O Almighty-One. For You are the light of our souls. O Who enlightens every person that comes into the world have mercy upon us.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

O Mother of God, you are the true vine bearing the cluster of Life. We ask you, O full of grace, together with the apostles for the salvation of our souls; Blessed be the Lord our God. Blessed be the Lord day by day. He prepares our way as He is God of our salvation.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who is present everywhere, and fills all. The Treasury of goodness and Giver of life, graciously come and dwell within us, purify us of every blemish, O Good One, and save our souls.

Doxa Patri ke Uiw ke agiw pneumati.
Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

As You were with Your disciples, O Savior, and gave them peace, come also and be with us and grant us Your peace, redeem us and deliver our souls.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

Whenever we stand in Your holy sanctuary, we are counted as standing in heaven. O Mother of God, you are the gate of heaven, open to us the door of mercy. O Lord hear us, have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins,

Lord have mercy (Kyrie eleison) 41 times.

Holy, Holy, Holy. . . Page 33

The Absolution of the Third Hour[edit]

O God of all compassion and Lord of all comfort, Who has consoled us at all times with Your Holy Spirit. We thank You for You have awakened us for prayer at this holy hour, and have graciously poured forth the grace of Your Holy Spirit upon Your holy disciples and honored apostles in tongues of fire. We ask and entreat You, O Lover of mankind, accept our prayers, forgive our sins and send the grace of Your Holy Spirit upon us. Purify us from all the stain of the body and spirit and transfer us to a spiritual manner of life, that we may walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Let us be worthy to serve You with purity and righteousness all the days of our life. For to You are due glory, honor and majesty with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy. . . Page 35

The Sixth Hour[edit]

At this hour of the day our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. The nails were hammered in His hands and feet. He tasted the vinegar and myrrh. The worshipper prays the Introduction of Every Hour which includes:

The Lord's Prayer: Page 1
The Thanksgiving Prayer: Page 2
Psalm 50: Page 3

The prayer of the sixth hour of this blessed day we offer to Christ our King and our God, beseeching Him to forgive our sins.

From the psalms of our father David the Prophet and the King. May his blessing be with us all, Amen.

Psalm 53

Save me, O God, by Your name. Vindicate me by Your might. Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. Strangers are attacking me; ruthless men seek my life; men without regard for God. Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in Your faithfulness destroy them. I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes. Alleluia.

Psalm 56

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in You my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me. God sends His love and His faithfulness. I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts - men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my feet. I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path, but they have fallen into it themselves. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples. For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth. Alleluia.

Psalm 60

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. Increase the days of the king's life, his years for many generations. May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint Your love and faithfulness to protect him. Then will I ever sing praise to Your name and fulfill my vows day after day. Alleluia.

Psalm 62

O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You. On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise Him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced. Alleluia.

Psalm 66

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us, that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him. Alleluia.

Psalm 69

Hasten, O God, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me. May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame. But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love Your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!" Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay. Alleluia.

Psalm 83

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young; a place near Your Altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your House; they are ever praising You. Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on Your anointed one. Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You. Alleluia.

Psalm 84

You showed favor to Your land, O Lord; You restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of Your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all Your wrath and turned from Your fierce anger. Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away Your displeasure toward us. Will You be angry with us forever? Will you prolong Your anger through all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. I will listen to what God the Lord will say; He promises peace to His people, his saints. But let them not return to folly. Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before Him and prepares the way for His steps. Alleluia.

Psalm 85

Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am devoted to You. You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long. Bring joy to Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me. Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; no deeds can compare with Yours. All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord; they will bring glory to Your name. For You are great and do marvelous deeds; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths of the grave. The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life - men without regard for You. But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant Your strength to Your servant and save the son of Your maidservant. Give me a sign of Your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Alleluia.

Psalm 86

He has set His foundation on the holy mountain; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, O city of God: "I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush will say, 'This one was born in Zion.'" Indeed, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her." The Lord will write in the register of the peoples: "This one was born in Zion." As they make music they will sing, "All my fountains are in You." Alleluia.

Psalm 90

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling; even the Lord, who is my refuge; then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Alleluia.

Psalm 92

The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Your throne was established long ago; You are from all eternity. The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea; the Lord on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns Your house for endless days, O Lord. Alleluia.

The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (5:1-16)[edit]

Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Glory be to God forever, Amen. May Your saying be concluded in peace. We worship You, O Christ, together with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come and saved us, Amen.

Then pray these passages:

Ò God who on the sixth day and at the sixth hour was nailed to the Cross because of the sin which our father Adam dared to commit in the Paradise. Tear off the handwriting of our sins, O Christ our God, and save us. I cried to the Lord and He heard me. O God, accept my prayer and do not turn down my plea. Attend to me and hear me. Evening, morning and noontime I say my words and He hears my voice, and saves my soul in peace.

Doxa Patri ke Uiw ke agiw pneumati.

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

O Jesus Christ our God who was nailed to the Cross at the sixth hour and has killed sin by the wood and gave life to the dead, by Your death, which is man whom You created with Your own hands and who died in sin. Kill our sufferings by Your saving and lifegiving Passion and by the nails with which You were nailed. Deliver our minds from the recklessness of materialistic deeds and worldly lusts to the remembrance of Your heavenly judgements according to Your mercies.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.

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

Since we have no excuse, or plea because of the multitude of our sins, we entreat, through you O Virgin Mother of God, Him to Whom you gave birth. For abundant are Your intercessions and acceptable to our Savior. O pure mother, do not reject the sinners in your intercessions to Whom you gave birth. For He is merciful and able to save us, because He suffered for us to deliver us. Let your mercies come quickly upon us, for we have become exceedingly poor. Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of Your Name, O Lord deliver us and forgive our sins for the sake of Your Holy Name.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.

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

You have wrought salvation in the midst of the whole earth, O Christ our God, when You stretched Your holy hands on the wooden Cross. Wherefore, all nations cry out, saying "Glory be to You, O Lord."

Doxa Patri ke Uiw ke agiw pneumati.

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

We worship Your undefiled person, O Good One, asking for forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God. For of Your own will, You were pleased to ascend onto the Cross to deliver those whom You created from the bondage of the enemy. We cry out to you and give thanks to You for You have filled everybody with joy, O Savior, when You came to help the world. Lord glory be to You.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.

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

You are she who is full of grace, O Virgin Mother of God. We magnify you, for through the Cross of your Son, Hades has fallen and death is abolished. We were dead, then we were risen and made worthy of the eternal life and regained the delight of the first Paradise. Wherefore, we thankfully glorify Christ our God, for He is powerful.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.

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

O Lord hear us, have mercy on us, and forgive our sins.

Lord have mercy (Kyrie eleison) 41 times.

Holy, Holy, Holy . . .Page 33

The Absolution of the Sixth Hour[edit]

We thank You, our King, the Almighty, Father of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. And we glorify You for You made the moments of passion of Your Only-Begotten Son to be times of comfort and prayer. Accept our supplications and erase the handwriting of our sins that is written against us; even as You tore it asunder at this holy hour by the Cross of Your OnlyBegotten Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and the Savior of our souls, with whom You have destroyed all the power of the enemy.

Give us O God, a joyful time, a blameless conduct and a serene life, that we may please Your holy and worshipped name. That we may stand at the fearful and just throne of Your Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, without falling into condemnation. We glorify You with all Your saints. You are the Father who is without beginning, and the co-eternal Son and the Holy Spirit, the life-giver both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy . . . Page 35

The Ninth Hour[edit]

This prayer commemorates, the hour in which our Lord died in the flesh, and the acceptance of the right hand thief to Paradise.

The worshipper prays the Introduction of Every Hour which includes:
The Lord's Prayer: Page 1
The Thanksgiving Prayer: Page 2
Psalm 50: Page 3

The prayer of the ninth hour of this blessed day we offer to Christ our King and our God, beseeching Him to forgive our sins.

From the psalms of our father David the Prophet and the King. May his blessing be with us all, Amen.

Psalm 95

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His truth. Alleluia.

Psalm 96

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols; worship Him, all you gods! Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of Your judgments, O Lord. For You, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise His holy name. Alleluia.

Psalm 97

Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn; shout for joy before the Lord, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. Alleluia.

Psalm 98

The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; He sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; He is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise Your great and awesome name. He is holy. The King is mighty, He loves justice. You have established equity; in Jacob You have done what is just and right. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; He is holy. Moses and Aaron were among His priests, Samuel was among those who called on His name; they called on the Lord and He answered them. He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept His statutes and the decrees He gave them. O Lord our God, You answered them; You were to Israel a forgiving God, though You punished their misdeeds. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy. Alleluia.

Psalm 99

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Alleluia.

Psalm 100

I will sing of Your love and justice; to You, O Lord, I will sing praise. I will be careful to lead a blameless life. When will You come to me? I will walk in my house with a blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure. My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord. Alleluia.

Psalm 109

The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." The Lord will extend Your mighty scepter from Zion; You will rule in the midst of Your enemies. Your troops will be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn You will receive the dew of Your youth. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of His wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook beside the way; therefore He will lift up His head. Alleluia.

Psalm 110

I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever. He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever. He has shown His people the power of His works, giving them the lands of other nations. The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever--holy and awesome is His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Alleluia.

Psalm 111

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in His house, and His righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor, His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be lifted high in honor. The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing. Alleluia.

Psalm 112

Praise the Lord. Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Alleluia

Psalm 114

I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: "O Lord, save me!" The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, He saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For You, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Alleluia.

Psalm 115

I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted." And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars." How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to You and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Alleluia.

The Gospel According to Saint Luke (9:10-17)[edit]

When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then He took them with Him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. Late in the afternoon the twelve came to Him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here." He replied, "You give them something to eat." They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." About five thousand men were there. But He said to His disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Glory be to God forever, Amen.

May Your saying be concluded in peace. We worship You, O Christ together with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come and saved us, Amen.

Then pray these passages:

Ò God who tasted death in the flesh at the ninth hour, for our sake, we the sinners, mortify our carnal senses, O Christ our God and deliver us. May my cry come before You, O Lord. Give me understanding according to Your word. May my supplication come before You. According to Your promise, deliver me.

Doxa Patri ke Uiw ke agiw pneumati.

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

Ò God who committed the spirit into the hands of the Father while You hung on the Cross at the ninth hour, and guided the thief crucified with You to enter Paradise. Do not neglect me, O Good One, nor reject me, I the lost; but sanctify my soul and enlighten my understanding and let me be a partaker of the grace of Your life-giving sacraments. That having tasted of Your benevolence, I may offer You zealous praise longing above all for Your splendor, O Christ our God and deliver us.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.

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

O God who was born of the Virgin for our sake and endured crucifixion, O Good One, and destroyed death by Your death, and revealed the resurrection by Your resurrection. Do not disregard, O God, those whom You have created with Your own hands. Show Your love for mankind, O Good One. Accept the intercession of Your Mother for our sake. Deliver, O

Savior, a humble people. Do not forsake us to the end, nor deliver us unto the ages, nor break Your covenant. Do not take away Your mercy, for the sake of Abraham Your beloved, Isaac Your servant and Israel Your holy one.

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.

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

When the thief saw the Prince of life hanging on the Cross, he said, "Had not the One crucified with us been the incarnate God, the sun would have not obscured its rays, nor would the earth have trembled in fear. But, O Almighty One, who endures all things, remember me O Lord when You come into Your kingdom.

Doxa Patri ke Uiw ke agiw pneumati.

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

O God who accepted the confession of the thief on the Cross, accept us unto You, O Good One, we who deserve the sentence of death because of our many sins. We, with him, admit our sins, confessing Your Divinity and cry out with him saying, "Remember us, O Lord, when You come into Your kingdom."

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.

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

When the mother saw the Lamb and the Shepherd, the Savior of the world hanging on the Cross, she said while weeping, "As for the world, it rejoices for receiving salvation, but as for my bowels, they are afire as I look at Your crucifixion which You are enduring for the sake of all, O my Son and my God". O Lord, hear us, have mercy on us and forgive us our sins.

Lord have mercy (Kyrie eleison) 41 times.

Holy, Holy, Holy . . . Page 33

The Absolution of the Ninth Hour[edit]

O God, Father of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ who by His appearance has redeemed us and delivered us from the bondage of the enemy. We ask You, in His blessed and great Name, to convert our minds from worldly cares and carnal lusts to the remembrance of Your heavenly judgements. Fulfill in us Your love for mankind, O Good One. May our prayers at all times and the prayer of this ninth hour be acceptable before You. Grant us the ability to answer the call that we are deemed fit to follow so that when we depart this body we are counted among the worshippers worthy of the Passion of Your OnlyBegotten Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and may gain the mercy, forgiveness of our sins, and salvation with the choir of Your saints who truly pleased You since the beginning and forever.

O God, abolish from us all the power of the adversary and all his evil soldiers, as Your OnlyBegotten Son trampled on them by the power of His life-giving Cross. Accept us unto You, O my Lord Jesus Christ, as You have accepted the right-hand thief while You hung on the wood of the Cross. Shine upon us as You have shone on those who were in the darkness of Hades. Restore us all to the Paradise of Joy, for You, O our Lord, are a blessed God and unto You is due, with Your Father and the Holy Spirit: glory, honor, majesty, authority and worship forever, Amen.

Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy... Page 35.

The Eleventh Hour[edit]

This prayer commemorates the taking of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ down from the Cross, anointing Him with myrrh, and wrapping Him in linen sheets with spices.

The worshipper prays the Introduction of Every Hour which includes:
The Lord's Prayer: Page 1
The Thanksgiving Prayer: Page 2
Psalm 50: Page 3

The prayer of the eleventh hour of this blessed day we offer to Christ our King and our God, beseeching Him to forgive us our sins. From the psalms of our father David the Prophet and the King. May his blessings be with us all, Amen.

Psalm 116

Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Alleluia.

Psalm 117

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let Israel say: "His love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever." Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever." In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off. They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The Lord's right hand has done mighty things! The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!" I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give You thanks, for You answered me; You have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless You. The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give You thanks; You are my God, and I will exalt You. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Alleluia.

Psalm 119

I call on the Lord in my distress, and He answers me. Save me, O Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. What will He do to you, and what more besides, O deceitful tongue? He will punish you with a warrior's sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree. Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war. Alleluia.

Psalm 120

I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip. He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Alleluia.

Psalm 121

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels." For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you." For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity. Alleluia.

Psalm 122

I lift up my eyes to You, to You whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us His mercy. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant. Alleluia.

Psalm 123

If the Lord had not been on our side, let Israel say, if the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away. Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Alleluia.

Psalm 124

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore. The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel. Alleluia.

Psalm 125

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Alleluia.

Psalm 126

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat; for He grants sleep to those He loves. Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate. Alleluia.

Psalm 127

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel. Alleluia.

Psalm 128

They have greatly oppressed me from my youth, let Israel say, they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long. But the Lord is righteous; He has cut me free from the cords of the wicked. May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame. May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow; with it the reaper cannot fill his hands, nor the one who gathers fill his arms. May those who pass by not say, "The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord." Alleluia.

The Gospel According to Saint Luke (4:38-41)[edit]

Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.

Glory be to God forever, Amen.

May Your saying be concluded in peace. We worship You, O Christ together with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come and saved us, Amen.

Then pray these passages:

Ìf the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will I, a sinner, appear? I did not endure the burden nor the heat of the day because of the weakness of my humanity. But, O Merciful God, consider me with those of the eleventh hour. For behold, I was conceived through sins, and in sins my mother gave birth to me. Therefore, I dare not lift up my eyes to heaven but rely on Your boundless mercy and Your love for mankind, crying out saying, "God forgive me, a sinner, and have mercy on me."

Doxa Patri ke Uiw ke agiw pneumati.

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

Hasten to me, O Savior by opening Your Fatherly bosom for I wasted my life in desires and lust and the day has passed me by and departed. Therefore, I now rely on the richness of Your never-ending compassion. Do not forsake a submissive heart craving for Your mercy. For to You I cry with humility, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before You and am not worthy to be called Your son, but make me as one of Your hired servants."

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.

Now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

Èvery iniquity I did with diligence and activity and every sin I committed with eagerness and enthusiasm, and for every suffering and condemnation I deserve. Therefore, O Lady the Virgin, prepare for me the ways of repentance. For to you I implore and ask your supplication to help me lest I fall into shame. Attend to me when my soul departs my body. Defeat the conspiracies of the enemies and shut the doors of Hades lest they swallow my soul. O blameless Bride for the True Bridegroom.

O Lord, hear us, have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins.

Lord have mercy (Kyrie eleison) 41 times.

Holy, Holy, Holy . . . Page 33

The Absolution of the Eleventh Hour[edit]

We thank You, our compassionate King, for You have granted us to pass this day in peace and brought us thankfully to this evening and made us worthy to see the light until evening. Lord, accept our glorification which is offered now and save us from the trickeries of the adversary and abolish all the snares set against us. Grant us the upcoming night to be peaceful, and without pain, restlessness, fatigue, or fancy; that we may pass it in peace and chastity, and arise for prayers and praises, at all times and at all places, glorifying Your holy name in everything together with the Father who is incomprehensible and without beginning and the Holy Spirit, the life-giver who is one essence with You, both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy.... Page 35

The Twelfth Hour[edit]

This prayer commemorates the laying of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ in the tomb. This hour represents the end of man's life in any given day for sleep is but a short death.

The worshipper prays the Introduction of Every Hour which includes:
The Lord's Prayer: Page 1
The Thanksgiving Prayer: Page 2
Psalm 50: Page 3

The prayer of the twelfth hour of this blessed day we offer to Christ our King and our God, beseeching Him to forgive us our sins. From the psalms of our father David the Prophet and the King. May his blessings be with us all, Amen.

Psalm 129

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption. He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Alleluia.

Psalm 130

My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore. Alleluia.

Psalm 131

O Lord, remember David and all the hardships he endured. He swore an oath to the Lord and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob: "I will not enter my house or go to my bed. I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob." We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar: "Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O Lord, and come to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might. May Your priests be clothed with righteousness; may Your saints sing for joy." For the sake of David Your servant, do not reject Your anointed one. The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath that He will not revoke: "One of your own descendants I will place on your throne; if your sons keep My covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever and ever." For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling: "This is my resting place forever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy. "Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for My Anointed One. I will clothe His enemies with shame, but the crown on His head will be resplendent." Alleluia.

Psalm 132

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore. Alleluia.

Psalm 133

Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. Alleluia.

Psalm 136

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? If I forget you, O

Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy. Remember, O Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. "Tear it down," they cried, "tear it down to its foundations!" O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us, he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. Alleluia.

Psalm 137

I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing Your praise. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word. When I called, You answered me; You made me bold and stouthearted. May all the kings of the earth praise You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is on high, He looks upon the lowly, but the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes, with Your right hand You save me. The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever; do not abandon the works of Your hands. Alleluia.

Psalm 140

O Lord, I call to You; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You. May my prayer be set before You like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. Let a righteous man strike me; it is a kindness; let him rebuke me; it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers; their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken. They will say, "As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave." But my eyes are fixed on You, O Sovereign Lord; in You I take refuge; do not give me over to death. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety. Alleluia

Psalm 141

I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before Him; before Him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to You, O Lord; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise Your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of Your goodness to me. Alleluia.

Psalm 145

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them; the Lord, who remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Alleluia.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him! The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. Alleluia

Psalm 147

Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, for He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast? He sends His word and melts them; He stirs up His breezes, and the waters flow. He has revealed His word to Jacob, His laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His laws. Alleluia.

The Gospel According to Saint Luke (2:25-32)[edit]

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying:

"Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel."

Glory be to God forever, Amen.

May Your saying be concluded in peace. We worship You, O Christ together with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come and saved us, Amen.

Then pray these passages:

Behold, I am about to stand before the just judge terrified and shaken because of my many sins, for a life spent in pleasures deserves condemnation. But, repent O my soul, as long as you are dwelling on the earth. For inside the grave dust cannot praise, nor among the dead, does anyone remember, nor in Hades does anyone give thanks. Therefore, arise from the slumber of your laziness, entreating the Savior in repentance saying, "O God have mercy on me and save me."

Doxa Patri ke Uiw ke agiw pneumati.

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

Ìf life had been secured and this world eternal, you would have a valid excuse, O my soul. But if your bad deeds and ugly evils were revealed before the Just Judge, what answer would you give while you are lying on the bed of sins, negligent to subdue the flesh?

O Christ our God, before Your dreaded ruling seat, I am terrified and before Your council of judgement, I submit and from the light of Your divine radiance, I tremble. I, the wicked and defiled, who lie on my bed negligent about my life. But, like the Publican, I beat my chest saying, "O God, forgive me, I the sinner."

Ke nun ke ai ke ictouc ewnac twn ewnwn am/n.

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

O pure Virgin overshadow your servant with your instant help and keep the waves of evil thoughts away from me. Raise up my ailing soul for prayer and vigil, for it has gone into a deep sleep. For you are an able, compassionate and helpful mother, the Bearer of the Fountain of life, my King and my God, Jesus Christ my hope.

Graciously, O Lord, keep us this night without sin. Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers and exceedingly blessed, and Your holy name is full of glory forever, Amen.

Let Your mercies be upon us, O Lord, even as we rely on You. For the eyes of all hope in You, for You give them their food in due season. Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of the regions of the whole earth; And You, O Lord, keep us and deliver us from this generation and forever, Amen.

Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your justice. Blessed are You, O Lord, make me understand Your rights. Blessed are You, O Lord, enlighten me in Your righteousness. Lord, Your mercy is forever. Do not reject the works of Your hands; for You, O Lord, have become my refuge from generation to generation. I asked the Lord and said, "Have mercy on me, and save my soul for I have sinned against You." Lord, I take refuge in You; so save me and teach me to carry out Your will. For You are my God, and with You is the Fountain of life; and through Your light, we see the light.

Let Your mercies be for those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart. Unto You is due blessing. Unto You is due praise. Unto You is due all glory, O Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, existing from the beginning, now, and forever and ever, Amen.

It is good to confess to the Lord, and praise Your Name, O Most High to declare Your mercies by day and Your truth by night.

Holy God, Holy Mighty . . . Page 29

Hail to you. We ask you . . . Page 30

The Introduction of the Creed . . . Page 31

The Creed . . . Page 32

O Lord hear us, have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins.

Lord have mercy (Kyrie eleison) 41 times.

Holy, Holy, Holy . . . Page 33

The Absolution of the Twelfth Hour[edit]

O Lord, all things which we have sinned against You this day, whether in deed, or in word, or in thought, or through all senses, please remit and forgive us, for the sake of Your holy name, as a Good One and Lover of mankind. Lord, grant us a peaceful night and a sleep free from all anxiety. Send us the angel of peace to guard us from all evil, all plague and all temptations of the enemy.

Through the grace, and mercies, and love of man of Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord, and God and Savior Jesus Christ, through whom is due all honor and glory, together with You and the Holy Spirit, the Life-giver, who is of one essence with You, both now and ever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.

Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy.... Page 35

Agpeya

Contents

Introduction[edit]

The Introduction to Every Hour[edit]

The Prayer of Thanksgiving[edit]

Psalm 50[edit]

The First Hour[edit]

The Pauline Epistle[edit]

The Gospel According to Saint John (1:1-17)[edit]

The Song of the Angels[edit]

The Trisagion[edit]

Intercession of the Theotokos[edit]

The Introduction of the Creed[edit]

The Creed[edit]

The First Absolution[edit]

The Second Absolution[edit]

The Conclusion of Every Hour[edit]

The Third Hour[edit]

The Gospel According to Saint John (14:26-15:4)[edit]

The Absolution of the Third Hour[edit]

The Sixth Hour[edit]

The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (5:1-16)[edit]

The Absolution of the Sixth Hour[edit]

The Ninth Hour[edit]

The Gospel According to Saint Luke (9:10-17)[edit]

The Absolution of the Ninth Hour[edit]

The Eleventh Hour[edit]

The Gospel According to Saint Luke (4:38-41)[edit]

The Absolution of the Eleventh Hour[edit]

The Twelfth Hour[edit]

The Gospel According to Saint Luke (2:25-32)[edit]

The Absolution of the Twelfth Hour[edit]

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