The Hours

The Usual Beginning

The customary opening prayers, said at the beginning of each Hour.

The Trisagion Prayers

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

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.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

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

The Lord's Prayer

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.

Priest:For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)

O Come, Let Us Worship

O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King.

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.

The First Hour

Psalms 5, 89, and 100 are read, then the troparion of the day and the theotokion:

What shall we call thee, O thou who art full of grace? Heaven, for thou hast shone forth the Sun of righteousness; Paradise, for thou hast blossomed the flower of incorruption; Virgin, for thou hast remained undefiled; pure Mother, for thou hast held in thy holy embrace the Son, the God of all. Entreat thou Him to save our souls.

The Prayer of the First Hour:O Christ, the true Light, Who enlightenest and sanctifiest every man that cometh into the world: let the light of Thy countenance be signed upon us, that in it we may behold the unapproachable Light; and direct our steps in the way of Thy commandments, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, and of all Thy saints. Amen.

The Third Hour

Psalms 16, 24, and 50 are read — the hour of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles:

O Lord, Who at the third hour didst send down Thy Most Holy Spirit upon Thine apostles: take Him not from us, O Good One, but renew Him in us who pray unto Thee.

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 Prayer of the Third Hour:O Lord, Who didst send down Thy Most Holy Spirit upon Thine apostles at the third hour: take Him not from us, O Good One, but renew Him in us who pray unto Thee, for Thou art blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Sixth Hour

Psalms 53, 54, and 90 are read — the hour of the Crucifixion of the Lord:

O Thou Who on the sixth day and hour didst nail to the Cross the sin which rebellious Adam committed in Paradise: tear asunder also the handwriting of our iniquities, O Christ God, and save us.

The Prayer of the Sixth Hour:O God and Lord of hosts, and Maker of all creation, Who through the tender compassion of Thine incomprehensible mercy didst send down Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of our race: forgive us our sins, and save our souls, for unto Thee belong all glory, honour, and worship, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Ninth Hour

Psalms 83, 84, and 85 are read — the hour of the Lord's death upon the Cross:

O Thou Who at the ninth hour didst taste of death in the flesh for our sake: mortify the presumption of our flesh, O Christ God, and save us.

The Prayer of the Ninth Hour:O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who art long-suffering toward our transgressions, and hast brought us even unto this present hour wherein, hanging upon the life-giving Tree, Thou didst open unto the penitent thief the way into Paradise, and didst destroy death by death: cleanse us Thy humble and sinful and unworthy servants; for we have sinned and transgressed, and are not worthy to lift up our eyes and look upon the height of heaven. Yet do Thou save us, O Christ our God, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind, unto the ages of ages. Amen.