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

Choir: Amen.

Priest: O come, let us worship 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.

Psalm of Introduction (Psalm 103). This is usually sung in the shortened form:

Bless the Lord, O my soul:

Blessed art Thou, O Lord.

Bless the Lord, O my soul:

O Lord my God, Thou art very great:

Thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

The waters stand above the mountains.

O Lord, how marvellous are Thy works:

In wisdom hast Thou made them all.

Glory to Thee, O Lord, who hast made them all.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to Thee, O God (three times).

Great Litany: In peace let us pray to the Lord…

Reading from the Psalter. The first kathisma is usually sung in the shortened form:

Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly: alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, and the way of the ungodly shall perish: alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling: alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him: alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Salvation belongeth unto the Lord; Thy blessing is upon Thy people: allelulia, allelulia, alleluia.

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to Thee, O God (three times).

Glory be to Thee, O God.

Small Litany: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord…

Lord, I have cried (Psalms 140, 141, 129, 116) in the appointed tone. This is usually sung in the shortened form:

Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hear me: hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hear me: give ear to the voice of my prayer when I cry unto Thee. Hear me, O Lord.

Let my prayer be set forth in Thy sight as incense: and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord.

If there are ten stichera:

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy Name.

The righteous shall compass me about, until Thou recompense me.

If there are eight stichera:

Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.

Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee.

For Thy Name’s sake have I waited for Thee, O Lord: my soul hath waited for Thy word, my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

From the morning watch until the night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord.

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption: and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people.

For His merciful kindness is great towards us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

On Saturday evenings, except when it is a Great Feast, here follows the dogmatikon in the tone of the week.

Entry. 

Deacon: Wisdom. Let us attend.

Evening Hymn:

O joyful light of the holy glory of the immortal Father, heavenly, holy, blessed, Jesus Christ: now that we are come to the setting of the sun and behold the evening light, we sing in praise to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is meet at all times to praise Thee in hymns with happy voice, O Son of God who grantest life: therefore the world gives Thee glory.

Prokimenon according to the day of the week. On Saturday evening (Psalm 92):

Tone Six

Deacon: The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel.

This is repeated by the Choir.

℣ 1. Deacon: The Lord hath put on His apparel and girded Himself with strength.

  Choir: The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel.

℣ 2. Deacon: He hath made the world so sure that it cannot be moved.

  Choir: The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel.

℣ 3. Deacon: Holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, for ever.

  Choir: The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel.

  Deacon: The Lord is King,

  Choir: And hath put on glorious apparel.

On Sunday evening (Psalm 133):

Tone Eight

Behold now, bless the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord.

℣. Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

On Monday evening (Psalm 4):

Tone Four

The Lord will hear me when I cry unto Him.

℣. Thou hast heard me when I called, O God of my righteousness, Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble.

On Tuesday evening (Psalm 22):

Tone One

Thy mercy, O Lord, shall follow me all the days of my life.

℣. The Lord is my shepherd, therefore shall I lack nothing: He hath made me to lie down in green pastures.

On Wednesday evening (Psalm 53):

Tone Five

Save me, O God, for Thy Name’s sake, and judge me by Thy might.

℣. Hear my prayer, O God, and hearken unto the words of my mouth.

On Thursday evening (Psalm 120):

Tone Six

My help cometh even from the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth.

℣. I lifted up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence my help shall come.

On Friday evening (Psalm 58):

Tone Seven

Thou art my Defender, O God, and Thy mercy shall go before me.

℣. Deliver me from mine enemies, O God, and ransom me from those that rise up against me.

On Great Feasts and on certain lesser feasts, Lessons from the Old Testament are now read.

Litany: Let us all say, with all our soul…

Evening Prayer. The Reader:

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this evening without sin. Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy Name for evermore. Amen.

O Lord, let Thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in Thee.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy statutes.

Blessed art Thou, O Master: make me to understand Thy statutes.

Blessed art Thou, O Holy One: enlighten me with Thy statutes.

O Lord, Thy mercy is for ever: despise not the works of Thine hands. Unto Thee is due praise, unto Thee is due song, unto Thee is due glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Litany: Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord…

On Great Feasts and on certain lesser feasts, here follows the Lity.

The Aposticha.

The Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29–32). Reader or Choir:

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people: a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

The Reader continues:

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us (three times).

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, cleanse our sins.

O Master, forgive our transgressions.

O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake.

Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father…

Priest: For Thine is the kingdom, 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.

Apolytikion. On Saturdays, the following hymn to the Mother of God:

Hail, Theotokos Virgin, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb: for thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls (three times).

If it is a Great Feast of Our Lord or of the Mother of God, the troparion of the Feast (three times).

On other feasts, the troparion of the Feast twice, and then once, Hail, Theotokos Virgin, Mary full of grace…

If there is a Lity, the Blessing of the Bread now takes place.

Then the Choir sings: Blessed be the Name of the Lord, from henceforth and for evermore (three times).

And the Priest gives the Blessing: May the blessing and the mercy of the Lord come upon you…

The Six Psalms.

Great Litany: In peace let us pray to the Lord…

Then are sung the following verses from Psalm 117:

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

℣ 1. O give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon His holy Name.

  Choir: The Lord is God…

℣ 2. Deacon: All the nations compassed me about, but in the Name of the Lord have I driven them back.

Choir: The Lord is God…

℣ 3. Deacon: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

  Choir: The Lord is God…

℣ 4. Deacon: The stone that the builders rejected, the same is become the chief corner-stone: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

  Choir: The Lord is God…

Then the Choir sings the appointed troparia:

On Sundays, the troparion (apolytikion) of the Resurrection in the tone of the week (twice), and the Sunday theotokion in the tone of the week (once).

On Great Feasts, the troparion (apolytikion) of the Feast (three times).

On other feasts, the troparion (apolytikion) of the day (twice), and the Sunday theotokion in the same tone as the troparion of the day (once).

First reading from the Psalter.

Small Litany.

Sessional Hymn or Hymns.

Second reading from the Psalter.

Small Litany.

Sessional Hymn or Hymns.

On Sundays, Psalm 118 or the polyeleos (Psalms 134 and 135); on Great Feasts, the polyeleos. The polyeleos is usually sung in the shortened form:

Praise ye the Name of the Lord, praise Him, O ye servants of the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed is the Lord from Zion, who dwelleth in Jerusalem. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for His mercy endureth for ever. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

On Great Feasts and on certain lesser feasts, here follows the megalynarion.

On Sundays only, the Choir sings the Evlogitaria of the Resurrection:

Tone Five

Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy statutes.

The company of angels was amazed, beholding Thee, O Saviour, numbered among the dead, who hast destroyed the power of death and raised up Adam with Thyself, setting all men free from hell.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy statutes.

‘Why mingle ye sweet-smelling ointment with tears of pity, O ye women disciples?’ cried the angel who shone as lightning within the tomb to the women bearing myrrh.

‘Behold the tomb and understand: for the Saviour has risen from the grave.’

Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy statutes.

The women bearing sweet-smelling ointment hastened early in the morning to Thy tomb, lamenting; but the angel arose before them and he said: ‘The time for lamentation has ceased; weep not: but tell the apostles of the Resurrection.’

Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy statutes.

The women bearing sweet-smelling ointment came to Thy tomb, O Saviour. But they heard an angel say to them: ‘Why count ye the Living among the dead? For as God He has risen from the tomb.’

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

We worship the Father together with His Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, One in Essence, and we cry with the seraphim: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O Lord.

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

O Virgin, who hast borne the Giver of Life, thou hast delivered Adam from sin, and to Eve thou hast brought joy in place of sorrow. He who took flesh from thee, who is both God and man, has raised up once more those who had fallen from life.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to Thee, O God (three times).

Small Litany.

On Sundays, the ypakoë from the Octoechos; otherwise, the appointed Sessional Hymn or Hymns.

On Sundays, the Hymn of Degrees in the tone of the week; otherwise, the first antiphon of the Hymn of Degrees in Tone Four, as follows:

From my youth up many passions have made war against me: but do Thou help and save me, O my Saviour.

Ye that hate Zion, ye shall be put to shame by the Lord: as grass in the fire shall ye be withered up.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

By the Holy Spirit is every soul filled with life: through purification it is raised on high and made bright by the Threefold Unity in a holy mystery.

Then follows the prokimenon: on Sundays, in the tone of the week; on feasts, as appointed.

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Kyrie eleison.

Priest: For holy art Thou, O our God…

Deacon: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.

This is repeated by the choir.

Deacon: Praise God in His saints: praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Choir: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.

Deacon: Let everything that hath breath

Choir: Praise the Lord.

Deacon: And that He will count us worthy…

Reading of the Gospel.

On Sundays the Choir sings the Hymn of the Resurrection:

We have seen the Resurrection of Christ; let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, who alone is without sin. We venerate Thy Cross, O Christ, and we praise and glorify Thy holy Resurrection. For Thou art our God: we know no other save Thee; upon Thy Name we call. Come, all ye faithful, let us venerate the holy Resurrection of Christ: for lo, through the Cross joy has come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we sing the praises of His Resurrection: for He endured the Cross on our behalf, and has destroyed death by death.

Then Psalm 50 is read, and after it the following is sung on Sundays:

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

At the prayers of the apostles, O merciful Lord, cleanse me from the multitude of my transgressions.

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

At the prayers of the Theotokos, O merciful Lord, cleanse me from the multitude of my transgressions.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving kindness: according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Jesus has risen from the tomb as He foretold, granting us life eternal and great mercy.

On Great Feasts, Jesus has risen from the tomb… is replaced by a sticheron of the Feast; and special texts for the Feast may also be appointed in place of the verses, At the prayers of the apostles… and At the prayers of the Theotokos…

Litany: O Lord, save Thy people…

Then follows the Canon. After the third canticle, Small Litany followed by the appointed Sessional Hymns or Ypakoë. After the sixth canticle, Small Litany followed by the Kontakion and Ikos. At the end of the eighth canticle we say, We praise, bless, and worship the Lord; we extol and exalt Him above all for ever; and then the Katavasia.

After this, on Great Feasts we sing the irmos and troparia of the ninth canticle, accompanied by one or more special megalynaria. Otherwise, we sing the Magnifcat as follows:

Deacon: Let us honour in hymns and magnify the Theotokos and Mother of the Light.

And the Choir sings the Song of the Theotokos (Luke 1:46–55):

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Greater in honour than the cherubim, and past compare more glorious than the seraphim, thou who without corruption hast borne God the Word: verily the Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Greater in honour than the cherubim…

For He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His Name: and His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.

Greater in honour than the cherubim…

He hath showed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Greater in honour than the cherubim…

He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree: He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich He hath sent empty away.

Greater in honour than the cherubim…

He hath holpen His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy: as He spake to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

Greater in honour than the cherubim…

The irmos and the remainder of the ninth canticle are then read or sung.

Small Litany.

Then follows, on Sundays only:

Deacon: Holy is the Lord our God.

Choir: Holy is the Lord our God.

Deacon: For holy is the Lord our God.

Choir: Holy is the Lord our God.

Deacon: Over all men is our God.

Choir: Holy is the Lord our God.

Exapostilarion of the Sunday or of the Feast.

Lauds (Psalms 148, 149, 150). These are usually sung in the shortened form:

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the heights. To Thee is due praise, O God.

Praise Him, all ye angels of His: praise Him, all His hosts. To Thee is due praise, O God.

And we continue at this point, or a few verses later, according to the number of stichera to be sung:

To execute upon them the judgement written: this honour have all His saints.

Praise God in His saints: praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

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

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with the stringed instruments and organs.

Praise Him upon the well-tuned cymbals: praise Him upon the loud cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.

And on Sundays two verses are added:

Arise, O Lord my God, lift up Thine hand: forget not Thy poor for ever (Psalm 9:33).

I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will speak of all Thy marvellous works (Psalm 9:2).

Glory be to the Father…

On Sundays, the Gospel sticheron follows here.

Both now…

On Sundays, the following hymn to the Theotokos is sung:

Most blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos, for through Him who took flesh from thee, is hell led captive, Adam recalled from the dead, the curse made void, Eve set free, and we are given life. Therefore we cry aloud in praise: Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, who hast so been pleased: Glory to Thee.

The Great Doxology:

Priest: Glory to Thee who hast shewed us the light.

Choir: 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 God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and Thou, O Holy Spirit.

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us, Thou that takest away the sins of the world.

Receive our prayer, Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord, O Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day I will bless Thee, and praise Thy Name for ever and ever.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy Name for evermore.

O Lord, let Thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in Thee.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy statutes (three times).

O Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy upon me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.

O Lord, unto Thee I have fled for refuge: teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. For with Thee is the fountain of life, and in Thy light shall we see light. Continue Thy mercy unto those that know Thee.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us (three times).

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.

And we end by singing more solemnly:

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us.

Then the Choir sings the appointed troparion. On Sundays, if the tone of the week is the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, we sing:

Tone Four

Today is salvation come unto the world. Let us sing praises to Him who rose from the tomb, the Author of our life. For, destroying death by death, He has given us victory and great mercy.

If the tone of the week is the 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th, we sing:

Tone Eight

Rising from the tomb and bursting the bonds of hell asunder, Thou hast destroyed the sentence of death, O Lord, delivering all men from the snares of the enemy. Appearing to Thine apostles, Thou hast sent them forth to preach, and through them Thou hast given Thy peace to the inhabited earth, O Thou who alone art rich in mercy.

But on Great Feasts, in place of the above the troparion of the Feast is sung once.

On other feasts, the troparion of the day is sung once, followed by the Sunday theotokion in the same tone as the troparion of the day.

Two Litanies: Have mercy upon us, O God, and Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.

Deacon: Wisdom.

Choir: Give the blessing.

Priest: Blessed be He Who Is…

Choir: Confirm, O Lord, the holy Orthodox faith of Orthodox Christians unto the ages of ages.

Priest: Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Choir: Greater in honour than the cherubim…

Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to Thee.

Choir: Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison.

Father, give the blessing.

Priest: May Christ our true God… (On Sundays, May He who rose from the dead…; and on Great Feasts, the special Dismissal of the Feast, when such is appointed.)

The First Hour is then read.