Morning Prayers
On rising, to begin the day.
Stand before the holy icons, make the sign of the Cross, then say:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Stand in silence for some time, then say:
O God, cleanse me a sinner, and have mercy on me. (prostration)
O God, cleanse me a sinner, and have mercy on me. (prostration)
Prayer of St. Macarius the Great
O God, cleanse me, a sinner, for I have done nothing good before Thee. (prostration)
Deliver me from the evil one, and grant me Thy grace,
that I may open my unworthy lips without condemnation
and praise Thine all-holy Name (rising)
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ out God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Christ is risen from the dead,
trampling down death by death,
and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (thrice)
O Christ God, You have ascended in Glory,
granting joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Through the blessing they were assured
that You are the Son of God,
the Redeemer of the world! (thrice)
Trisagion Prayers
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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 the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ out God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Troparia to the Holy Trinity
Rising from sleep we fall down before Thee, O Good One, and with the angels' song we cry to Thee, All-powerful: 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.
O Lord, who hast raised me from bed and from sleep, enlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips that I may sing of Thee, O Holy Trinity: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Judge shall come suddenly, and the deeds of each shall be exposed. But at midnight we cry out with fear: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy. (12x)
"Lord, have mercy" in other languages (for reference):
- Greek: Κύριε ἐλέησον (Kyrie eleison).
- Slavonic: Го́споди, поми́луй (Gospodi pomiluj).
- Romanian: Doamne, miluiește.
- Spanish: Señor, ten piedad.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
As I rise from sleep I thank Thee, O Holy Trinity; for, in Thy great goodness and longsuffering Thou hast not been angry with me, an idler and a sinner, nor hast Thou destroyed me together with my iniquities, but Thou hast shown Thy usual love for man. And when I was prostrate in despair, Thou didst raise me to keep the morning watch and glorify Thy dominion. Now enlighten, Thou, the eyes of my mind and open my mouth to meditate on Thy words, and to understand Thy commandments and to do Thy will, and to chant unto Thee in heartfelt confession, and praise Thine all-holy Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Penitential Psalm
A censing may be done during the reading of the Psalm.
Come, let us worship God our King.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
1For the end, a Psalm of David, 2when Nathan the prophet came to him, when he had gone in to Bathsheba.
3Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy;
And according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression.
4Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
5For I am conscious of mine iniquity;
And my sin is continually before me.
6Against thee only have I sinned,
And done evil before thee:
That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings,
And mightest overcome when thou art judged.
7For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities,
And in sins did my mother conceive me.
8For, behold, thou lovest truth:
Thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom.
9Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified:
Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
10Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy:
The afflicted bones shall rejoice.
11Turn away thy face from my sins,
And blot out all mine iniquities.
12Create in me a clean heart, O God;
And renew a right spirit in my inward parts.
13Cast me not away from thy presence;
And remove not thy holy Spirit from me.
14Restore to me the joy of thy salvation:
Establish me with thy directing Spirit.
15Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;
And ungodly men shall turn to thee.
16Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation:
And my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness.
17O Lord, thou shalt open my lips;
And my mouth shall declare thy praise.
18For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it:
Thou wilt not take pleasure in whole burnt offerings.
19Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit:
A broken and humbled heart God will not despise.
20Do good, O Lord, to Zion in thy good pleasure;
And let the walls of Jerusalem be built.
21Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness,
Offering, and whole burnt sacrifices:
Then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
Psalter Reading(s)
1A Song of Degrees.
I lifted up mine eyes to the mountains,
Whence my help shall come.
2My help shall come from the Lord,
Who made the heaven and the earth.
3Let not thy foot be moved;
And let not thy keeper slumber.
4Behold, he that keeps Israel
Shall not slumber nor sleep.
5The Lord shall keep thee:
The Lord is thy shelter upon thy right hand.
6The sun shall not burn thee by day,
Neither the moon by night.
7May the Lord preserve thee from all evil:
The Lord shall keep thy soul.
8The Lord shall keep thy coming in, and thy going out,
From henceforth and even forever.
Additional psalm(s), if desired:
- First Hour (~6 AM): Psalms 5, Psalms 89, Psalms 100
- Third Hour (~9 AM): Psalms 16, Psalms 24
- Sixth Hour (~Noon): Psalms 53, Psalms 54, Psalms 90
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Appointed Scripture Reading(s)
One or more pericopes of Sacred Scripture may be read, as appointed.
Prayer Before Reading the Holy Gospel
Illumine our hearts, O Master who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our minds to the understanding of Thy Gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of thy blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things that are well pleasing unto Thee, for Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies and unto Thee we ascribe glory together with Thy Father who is without beginning and Thy all Holy Good and Life Creating Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Symbol of Faith
I believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, the only-begotten,
begotten of the Father before all ages.
Light of Light, true God of true God,
begotten, not made,
of one essence with the Father,
by whom all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
And he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom shall have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken by the prophets.
I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge 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 of the Optina Elders and St. Philaret of Moscow
O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace.
Help me in all things to rely upon Thy holy will.
In every hour of the day reveal Thy will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day
with peace of soul
and with firm conviction that Thy will governs all.
In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by Thee.
Teach me to act firmly and wisely,
without embittering or embarrassing others.
Give me strength to bear the fatigue of this coming day
with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will.
Teach me to pray.
Pray Thou Thyself in me.
Amen.
Hymn to the Most-Holy Theotokos
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, 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 Savior of our souls.
Most glorious Ever-Virgin, blessed Theotokos, present our prayer to thy Son and our God, and pray that through thee, He would save our souls.
O heavenly hosts of Angels and Archangels, pray for us sinners.
O glorious Apostles, Prophets, and Martyrs, and all Saints, pray for us sinners.
Pray to God for me, O Holy [name of your patron saint], for with fervor I run to thee, swift helper and intercessor for my soul.
My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit; O Holy Trinity: Glory to Thee.
All my hope I place in thee, O Mother of God: keep me under thy veil.
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos,
ever-blessed and most pure,
and the Mother of our God.
More honorable 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.
Reading Lives of the Saints
Here you may read the life of the saint(s) of the day along with any appointed troparia for the day.
Weekday Hymns
Sunday — the Resurrection
Troparion: Placeholder
Theotokion: Placeholder
Monday — the Bodiless Powers (the holy Angels)
Troparion: Supreme commanders of the Heavenly Hosts, we unworthy ones implore you that by your supplications you will encircle us with the shelter of the wings of your immaterial glory, and guard us who fall down before you and fervently cry: Deliver us from dangers, since you are the commanders of the powers on high.
Theotokion: Unto her that was reared in the Temple, in the Holy of Holies, and who was adorned with faith and wisdom and blameless virginity, did the Supreme Commander Gabriel bring the salutation from Heaven and the greeting: rejoice. Rejoice, O blessed one; rejoice, you who are glorified, the Lord is with you.
Tuesday — St John the Forerunner and the Prophets
Troparion: The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord's testimony is enough for you, O Forerunner. For thou hast proved to be truly more venerable than the Prophets, since you were granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore, having suffered for the truth, you did rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy.
Theotokion: We have become partakers of the Divine nature through thee, O Ever-virgin Theotokos; for you have borne the Incarnate God for us. Wherefore, as is due, we all magnify you reverently.
Wednesday & Friday — the Cross (and the Theotokos)
Troparion: O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy habitation.
Theotokion: Having thy protection, O immaculate one, and being delivered from afflictions by thy prayers, we who are in every way guarded by the Cross of your Son do all magnify you reverently as is meet.
Thursday — the Holy Apostles and St Nicholas
Troparion: O Holy Apostles, intercede with the merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of my offences.
The truth of things hath revealed you to your flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness and a teacher of abstinence; you thus reached the heights of humility and wealth through poverty. O holy hierarch father Nicholas, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Theotokion: We know the Word of the Father, Christ our God to be incarnate of you, O Virgin Theotokos, O only pure one, O only blessed one. Wherefore, we magnify you, praising you unceasingly.
Wednesday & Friday — the Cross (and the Theotokos)
Troparion: O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy habitation.
Theotokion: Having thy protection, O immaculate one, and being delivered from afflictions by thy prayers, we who are in every way guarded by the Cross of your Son do all magnify you reverently as is meet.
Saturday — All Saints and the Faithful Departed
Troparion: O Apostles, martyrs, prophets, hierarchs, righteous and just ones, who have finished the course and kept the faith: Seeing that you have boldness with the Savior, beseech Him for us that our souls may be saved.
Keep Thy servants in remembrance, O Lord, since Thou art good, and do Thou forgive their every sin in this life; for no man is without sin, except for Thee, who art able to grant rest to those who have even departed from this life.
Theotokion: O Holy Mother of the Ineffable Light, with reverence we magnify you, honoring you with angelic hymns.
Closing Prayer
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the saints: save me, a sinner. Amen.