Matins
The morning service of psalms, canons, and praises, culminating in the Great Doxology.
The Beginning
Priest:Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Reader:Amen. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. (Thrice)
O Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. (Twice)
The Six Psalms
Psalms 3, 37, 62, 87, 102, and 142 are read while all stand in silence and attention.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice)
The Great Litany
Deacon:In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:For the peace of the whole world, for the good estate of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:For this holy house, and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:For our father and bishop (Name), for the honourable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:For this land, its authorities, and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:For this city, for every city and country, and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:For seasonable weather, for the abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:For travellers by land, by sea, and by air; for the sick and the suffering; for captives; and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:For our deliverance from all tribulation, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our life, unto Christ our God.
Choir:To Thee, O Lord.
Priest:For unto Thee are due all glory, honour, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir:Amen.
God Is the Lord
Deacon:God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
The troparia of the resurrection or of the feast are sung, with the appointed kathismata of the Psalter.
The Little Litany
Deacon:Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our life, unto Christ our God.
Choir:To Thee, O Lord.
The Resurrection Gospel
On Sundays, after the Polyeleos and the Evlogitaria, one of the eleven resurrection Gospels is read.
Deacon:Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the holy Gospel.
Priest:Peace be unto all. The reading from the holy Gospel according to (Name).
Choir:Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We venerate Thy Cross, O Christ, and Thy holy Resurrection we hymn and glorify; for Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee; we call upon Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us venerate Christ's holy Resurrection; for behold, through the Cross joy hath come unto all the world.
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
The Canon
The canons of the day are sung, ode by ode. At the ninth ode the Magnificat is chanted:
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Refrain:More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify thee.
The Little Litany
Deacon:Again and again, in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our life, unto Christ our God.
Choir:To Thee, O Lord.
The Praises
Let every breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. To Thee is due praise, O God.
The stichera at the praises are sung, with their verses, ending with the doxasticon and the theotokion.
The Great Doxology
Glory to Thee Who hast shown us the light. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.
O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy on us; Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name unto the ages. Amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Augmented Litany
Deacon:Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Deacon:Again we pray for our father and bishop (Name), and for all our brethren in Christ.
Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Deacon:Again we pray for this land, its authorities, and armed forces.
Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Deacon:Again we pray for our brethren, the priests, hieromonks, and all our brotherhood in Christ.
Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Deacon:Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church, and for all our fathers and brethren gone to their rest before us, and the Orthodox here and everywhere laid to rest.
Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Deacon:Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, and visitation for the servants of God, all the brethren of this holy church, and for the pardon and remission of their sins.
Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Deacon:Again we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labour in its service, for the singers, and for the people here present, who await Thy great and rich mercy.
Choir:Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest:For Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto Thee we ascribe glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir:Amen.
The Litany of Supplication
Deacon:Let us complete our prayer unto the Lord.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir:Lord, have mercy.
Deacon:That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir:Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon:An angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir:Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon:Pardon and remission of our sins and offences, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir:Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon:Things good and profitable for our souls, and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir:Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon:That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.
Choir:Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon:A Christian ending to our life, painless, blameless, and peaceful, and a good defence before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask.
Choir:Grant this, O Lord.
Deacon:Calling to remembrance our most holy, most pure, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another, and all our life, unto Christ our God.
Choir:To Thee, O Lord.
The Dismissal
Priest:Glory to Thee, O Christ our God, our hope, glory to Thee.
Choir:Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Father, bless.
Priest:May Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother and of all the saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for He is good and the Lover of mankind.
Choir:Amen.