Having risen from sleep, before any other action,
stand reverently, considering thyself to be in the
presence of the All-seeing God, and, having made the
sign of the Cross, say:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Then pause a moment, until all thy senses are
calmed and thy thoughts forsake all things earthly;
and then make three bows, saying:
The Prayer of the Publican:
O God, be merciful to me a sinner. Thrice.
The Beginning Prayer:
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of
the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the
saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who
art everywhere present and fillest all things,
Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and
dwell in us, and cleanse us of all 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, blot but 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.
Our Father, Who art in the heavens, 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 debts, as we forgive our
debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one.
Troparia to the Holy Trinity:
Having risen from sleep, we fall down before
Thee, O Good One, and the angelic hymn we cry aloud
to Thee, O Mighty One. Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou. O
God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit.
From bed and sleep hast Thou raised me up, O
Lord: enlighten my mind and heart and open my lips
that I may hymn Thee, O Holy Trinity:
Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God; through the
Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Suddenly the judge shall come, and the deeds of
each shall be laid bare; but with fear do we cry at
midnight. Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God; through
the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy. Twelve Times.
Prayer of Saint Basil the Great to the Most Holy
Trinity:
As I rise from sleep, I thank Thee, O Holy
Trinity, for through Thy great goodness and patience
Thou wast not angry with me, an idler and sinner,
nor hast Thou destroyed me with mine iniquities, but
hast shown Thy usual love for mankind; and when I
was prostrate in despair, Thou hast raised me up to
keep the morning watch and glorify Thy power. And
now enlighten my mind's eye, and open my mouth that
I may meditate on Thy words, and understand Thy
commandments, and do Thy will, and hymn Thee in
heartfelt confession, and sing praises to Thine
all-holy name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages. Amen.
O come let us worship God our King.
O come let us worship and fall down before Christ
our King and God.
O come let us worship and fall down before Christ
Himself, our King and God.
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. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever
before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done
this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be
justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art
judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities,
and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou
hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of
Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou
shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made
clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made
whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and
gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall
rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot
out all mine iniquities. 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. Restore unto me the joy of Thy
salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish
me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the
ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from
blood-guiltiness. O God, Thou God of my salvation;
my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O
Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall
declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired
sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt
offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice
unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken
and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord,
in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of
Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased
with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and
whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer
bullocks upon Thine altar.
The Symbol of the Orthodox Faith:
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker
of heaven and earth and of all things visible and
invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the
only-begotton, begotton of the Father before all
ages, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotton,
not made, of one essence with the Father, by whom
all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down
from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary and became man; and was
crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and
suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose
again according to the scriptures; and ascended into
heaven and sitteth at the right hand of the Father.
And He shall come again with glory to judge the
living and the dead; of His kingdom there shall be
no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of
life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the
Father and the Son together is worshipped and
glorified, who spake by the prophets.
In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; I
confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins; I
look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life
of the Age to .come. Amen
Prayer I, of St. Macarius the Great:
O God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have never done
anything good in Thy sight; but deliver me from the
evil one, and let Thy will be done in vi me, that I
may open mine unworthy mouth without condemnation,
and praise Thy holy name: of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto
the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer II, of the same saint:
Having risen from sleep, I offer unto Thee, O
Saviour, the midnight hymn, and falling down I cry
unto Thee: Grant me not to fall asleep in the death
of sin, but have compassion on me, O Thou Who wast
voluntarily crucified, and hasten to raise me who am
reclining in idleness, and save me in prayer and
intercession; and after the night's sleep shine upon
me a sinless day, O Christ God, and save me.
Prayer III, of the same saint:
Having risen from sleep, I hasten to Thee, O
Master, Lover of mankind, and by Thy
loving-kindness, I strive to do Thy work, and I pray
to Thee: Help me at all times, in everything, and
deliver me from every worldly, evil thing and every
impulse of the devil, and save me, and lead me into
Thine eternal kingdom. For Thou art my Creator, and
the Giver, and Provider of everything good, and in
Thee is all my hope, and unto Thee do I send up
glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Prayer IV, of the same saint:
O Lord, Who in Thine abundant goodness and Thy
great compassion hast granted me, Thy servant, to go
through the time of the night that is past without
attack from any opposing evil: Do Thou Thyself, O
Master, Creator of all things, vouchsafe me by Thy
true light and with an enlightened heart to do Thy
will, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer V, of St. Basil the Great:
O Lord Almighty, God of hosts and of all flesh,
Who dwellest on high and lookest down on things that
are lowly, Who searchest the heart and innermost
being, and clearly foreknowest the secrets of men; O
unoriginate and everlasting Light, with Whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning: Do Thou, O
Immortal King, receive our supplications which we,
daring because of the multitude of Thy compassions,
offer Thee at the present time from defiled lips;
and forgive us our sins, in deed, word, and thought,
whether committed by us knowingly or in ignorance,.
and cleanse us from every defilement of flesh and
spirit. And grant us to pass through the night of
the whole present life with watchful heart and sober
thought, ever expecting the coming of the bright and
appointed day of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord
and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, whereon the judge
of all shall come with glory to reward each
according to his deeds. May we not be found fallen
a! nd idle, but watching, and upright in activity,
ready to accompany Him into the joy and divine
palace of His glory, where there is the ceaseless
sound of those that keep festival, and the
unspeakable delight of those that behold the
ineffable beauty of Thy countenance. For Thou art
the true Light that enlightenest and sanctifiest
all, and all creation doth hymn Thee unto the ages
of ages. Amen.
Prayer VI, likewise by St. Basil:
We bless Thee, O Most High God and Lord of mercy,
Who ever doest with us things both great and
inscrutable, both glorious and awesome, of which
there is no measure; Who grantest to us sleep for
rest from our infirmities, and relaxation from the
labours of our much-toiling flesh. We thank Thee
that Thou hast not destroyed us with our iniquities,
but hast shown Thy loving-kindness to man as usual,
and while we were lying in despair upon our beds,
Thou hast raised us up that we might glorify Thy
dominion. Wherefore, we implore Thy boundless
goodness: Enlighten the eyes of our understanding
and raise up our mind from the heavy sleep of
indolence; open our mouth and fill it with Thy
praise, that we may be able steadily to hymn and
confess Thee, Who art God glorified in all and by
all, the unoriginate Father, with Thine
Only-begotten Son, and Thine All-holy and good and
life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos:
I sing of thy grace, O Sovereign Lady, and I pray
thee to grace my mind.
Teach me to step aright in. the way of Christ's
commandments.
Strengthen me to keep awake in song, and drive
away the sleep of despondency.
O Bride of God, by thy prayers release me, bound
with the bonds of sin.
Guard me by night and by day, and deliver me from
foes that defeat me.
O bearer of God the Life-giver, enliven me who am
deadened by passions.
O bearer of the unwaning Light, enlighten my
blinded soul.
O marvellous palace of the Master, make me to be
a house of the Divine Spirit.
O bearer of the Healer, heal the perennial
passions of my soul.
Guide me to the path of repentance, for I am
tossed in the storm of life.
Deliver me from eternal fire, and from evil
worms, and from Tartarus.
Let me not be exposed to the rejoicing of demons,
guilty as I am of many sins.
Renew me, grown old from senseless sins, O most
immaculate one.
Present me untouched by all torments, and pray
for me to the Master of all.
Vouchsafe me to find the joys of heaven with all
the saints.
O most holy Virgin, hearken unto the voice of
thine unprofitable servant.
Grant me torrents of tears, O most pure one, to
cleanse my soul from impurity.
I offer the groans of my heart to thee
unceasingly, strive for me, O Sovereign Lady.
Accept my service of supplication and offer it to
compassionate God.
O thou who art above the angels, raise me above
this world's confusion.
O Light bearing heavenly tabernacle, direct the
grace of the Spirit in me.
I raise my hands and lips in thy praise, defiled
as they are by impurity, O all immaculate one.
Deliver me from soul corrupting evils, and
fervently intercede with Christ, to Whom is due
honour and worship, now and ever, and unto the ages
of ages. Amen.
Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ:
O my plenteously merciful and all merciful God,
Lord Jesus Christ, through Thy great love Thou didst
come down and become incarnate so that Thou mightest
save all. And again, O Saviour. save me by Thy
grace, I pray Thee. For if Thou shouldst save me for
my works, this would not be grace or a gift, but
rather a duty; yea, Thou Who art great in compassion
and ineffable in mercy. For he that believeth in Me,
Thou hast said, O my Christ, shall live and never
see death. If, then, faith in Thee saveth the
desperate, behold, I believe, save me, for Thou art
my God and Creator. Let faith instead of works be
imputed to me, O my God, for Thou wilt find no works
which could justify me. But may my faith suffice
instead of all works, may it answer for, may it
acquit me, may it make me a partaker of Thine
eternal glory. And let Satan not seize me and boast,
O Word, that he hath torn me from Thy hand and fold.
But whether I desire it or not, save me, O Christ my
Saviour,! forestall me quickly, quickly, for I
perish. Thou art my God from my mother's womb.
Vouchsafe me, O Lord, to love Thee now as fervently
as I once loved sin itself, and also to work for
Thee without idleness, diligently, as I worked
before for deceptive Satan. But supremely shall I
work for Thee, my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all
the days of my life, now and ever, and unto the ages
of ages. Amen.
Prayer IX, to the Holy Guardian Angel:
O holy angel that standeth by my wretched soul
and my passionate life, forsake not me a sinner, nor
shrink from me because of mine intemperance. Give no
place for the cunning demon to master me through the
violence of my mortal body, strengthen my poor and
feeble hand, and guide me in the way of salvation.
Yea, O holy angel of God, guardian and protector of
my wretched soul and body, forgive me all wherein I
have offended thee all the days of my life; and if I
have sinned during the past night, protect me during
the present day, and guard me from every temptation
of the enemy, that I may not anger God by any sin.
And pray to the Lord for me, that He may establish
me in His fear, and show me, His servant, to be
worthy of His goodness. Amen.
Prayer X, to the Most Holy Theotokos:
O my most holy lady Theotokos, through thy holy
and all-powerful prayers, banish from me, thy lowly
and wretched servant, despondency, forgetfulness,
folly, carelessness, and all filthy, evil, and
blasphemous thoughts from my wretched heart and my
darkened mind. And quench the flame of my passions,
for I am poor and wretched, and deliver me from many
and cruel memories and deeds, and free me from all
their evil effects. For blessed art thou by all
generations, and glorified is thy most honourable
name unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayerful Invocation of the Saint Whose Name we
bear:
Pray unto God for me, O holy God pleaser N., for
I fervently flee unto Thee, the speedy helper and
intercessor for my soul.
Song to the Most Holy Theotokos:
O Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice, 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.
Troparion to the Cross:
Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thine
inheritance; grant Thou victory to Orthodox
Christians over enemies; and by the power of Thy
Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.
Then offer a brief prayer for the health and
salvation of thy spiritual father, thy parents,
relatives, those in authority, benefactors, others
known to thee, the ailing, or those passing through
sorrows. And if it be possible, read this
commemoration:
For the Living:
Remember, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Thy
mercies and compassions which are from the ages, for
the sake of which Thou didst become man and didst
will to endure crucifixion and death for the
salivation of those that rightly believe in Thee;
and having risen from the dead didst ascend into the
heavens and sittest at the right hand of God the
Father, and regardest the humble entreaties of those
that call upon Thee with all their heart; incline
Thine ear, and hearken unto the humble supplication
of me, Thine unprofitable servant, as an odour of
spiritual fragrance, which I offer unto Thee for all
Thy people. And first, remember Thy Holy, Catholic,
and Apostolic Church, which Thou hast provided
through Thy precious Blood, and establish, and
strengthen, and expand, increase, pacify, and keep
Her unconquerable by the gates of hades. calm the
dissensions of the churches, quench the raging of
the nations, and quickly destroy and uproot the
rising of heresy, and b! ring them to nought by the
power of Thy Holy Spirit. Bow.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the Russian Land
and her Orthodox people both in the homeland and in
the diaspora, this land and its authorities. Bow.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the holy Eastern
Orthodox patriarchs, most reverend metropolitans,
Orthodox archbishops and bishops, and all the
priestly and monastic order, and all who serve in
the Church, whom Thou hast appointed to shepherd Thy
rational flock, and through their prayers have mercy
and save me, a sinner. Bow.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual
father N., and through his holy prayers forgive my
sins. Bow.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my parents,
Names, brothers and sisters, and my kindred
according to the flesh, and all the neighbours of my
family and friends, and grant them Thine earthly and
spiritual good things. Bow.
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the aged and the
young, the poor and the orphans and widows, and
those in sickness and sorrow, misfortune and
tribulation, those in difficult circumstances and in
captivity, in prisons and dungeons, and especially
those of Thy. servants that are persecuted for Thy
sake and the Orthodox Faith by godless peoples, by
apostates, and by heretics; and remember them,
visit., strengthen, comfort, and by Thy power
quickly grant them relief, freedom, and deliverance.
Bow .
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on them that hate
and wrong me, and make temptation for me, and let
them not perish because of me, a sinner. Bow.
Illumine with the light of awareness the
apostates from the Orthodox Faith, and those blinded
by pernicious heresies, and number them with Thy
Holy, Apostolic, Catholic Church. Bow.
For the Departed:
Remember, O Lord, those that have departed this
life, Orthodox kings and queens, princes and
princesses, most holy patriarchs, most reverend
metropolitans, Orthodox archbishops and bishops,
those in priestly and clerical orders of the Church,
and those that have served Thee in the monastic
order, and grant them rest with the saints in Thine
eternal tabernacles. Bow.
Remember, O Lord, the souls of Thy departed
servants, my parents, Names, and all my kindred
according to the flesh, and forgive them all
transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, granting
them the kingdom and a portion of Thine eternal good
things, and the delight of Thine endless and blessed
life. Bow.
Remember, O Lord, also all our fathers and
brethren, and sisters, and those that lie here, and
all Orthodox Christians that departed in the hope of
resurrection and life eternal, and settle them with
Thy saints, where the light of Thy countenance shall
visit them, and have mercy on us, for Thou art good
and the Lover of mankind. Bow.
Grant, O Lord, remission of sins to all our
fathers, brethren, and sisters that have departed
before us in the faith and hope of resurrection, and
make their memory to be eternal. Bow.
Final Prayer:
It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos,
ever-blessed and most blameless, and Mother of our
God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond
compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without
corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very
Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
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.
O Lord, bless.
And the dismissal:
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of
the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, our holy and
God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy
on us. Amen.
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