The Hours (2 of 2)

We bow down in reverence before thy holy Image, O Good One, entreating forgiveness for our transgressions, O Christ our God; for of thine own good will thou didst graciously deign to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that thou mightest deliver from the works of the enemy those whom thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore we cry aloud unto thee in thanksgiving: With joy thou didst fill all things, O our Saviour, when thou didst come to save the world. And then immediately. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Hymn To THE BIRTH-GIVER OF God (Sogoriditchen).

Vouchsafe unto us thy mercy, O Birth-giver of God, thou who art a Fount of tender compassion. Look upon the people who have sinned; manifest, as always, thy power. For trusting in thee we cry unto thee: Hail! as did aforetime Gabriel, Chief of the Bodiless Powers.

On Wednesday and Friday:

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Cross-HYMN TO THE Exceedingly blessed art thou, O Virgin Birth-giver of God, and we sing thy praise: for by the Cross of thy Son was Hell overthrown and Death was slain; and we who were dead have risen again, and have mercifully been deemed worthy of life, and have received Paradise, which was our delight of old. For which cause, with thanksgiving we magnify Christ our God, in that he is mighty and in that he alone loveth mankind. Lord, have mercy. (Twelve t1Irmós.) Thou who, at all times and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified, O Christ our God, long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and compassion; who lovest the just and showest mercy to those who are hardened in sin; who callest all men to repentance through the promise of good things to come: Do thou, the same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present time, and direct our lives according to thy commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set aright our minds; and deliver us from all ca. lamity, wrath and distress. Compass us round about with thy holy Angels; that, guided and guarded by their host, we may attain unto the unity of the faith, and unto the comprehension of thine ineffable glory. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Forty times.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

In the Name of the Lord, bless, Father.

Priest. Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us. And of it be a Fast, we make three great reverences to the very earth and say the prescribed

Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life, grant not unto me a spirit of slothfulness, of discouragement, of lust of power, of vain babbling. (Reverence.)

But vouchsafe unto thy servant the spirit of continence, of meekness, of patience, and of love. (Reverence.) Yea, O Lord and King, grant that I may perceive my own transgressions, and judge not my brother. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (Reverence. Then twelve lesser reverences, saying at each: O God, cleanse thou me, a sinner. Then the whole Prayer is vepeated; with one great reverence in conclusion.) Then this PRAYER OF St. BASIL THE GREAT. O God and Lord of hosts, and Maker of all things created, who through the tender-hearted compassion of thine incomparable mercy didst send down thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the redemption of our race, and by his precious Cross didst destroy the handwriting of our sins, and didst thereby triumph over the Origin and cept also these thanksgivings and fervent prayers of us sinners. And deliver us from every harmful and gloomy transgression, and from all enemies, both visible and invisible, who seek after us to destroy us. Nail our flesh to the fear of thee, and incline not our hearts to words or thoughts of guile: but wound our souls with the love of thee; that looking ever unto thee, and guided by thee in the light, beholding thee, the Light Ineffable and Everlasting, we may ascribe unto thee ceaseless praise and thanksgiving: unto the Father who hath no beginning, together with thine Only-begotten Son, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Generally the DIVINE LITURGY beginneth here. But if it be the Great Fast (Lent), after this is read the NINTH Hour; and the NINTH Hour, when it followeth the Sixth Hour, beginneth thus O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. Thrice.)

O all-holy Trinity,

Priest. Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. And We. Amen.

Glory to thee, O our God; glory to thee. O heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art in all places, and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and take up thine abode in us, and cleanse us from every stain and save our souls, O Good One. O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. 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, 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:

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 ages of ages.

Reader. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto 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 our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Thrice.) reverences. )

Psalm Lxxxiv

O how amiable are thy dwellings, thou Lord of hosts! My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young; even thy Anate, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are they that See Appendix B, III. dwell in thy house; they will be alway praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are thy ways. Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well; and the pools are filled with water. They will go from strength to strength, and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; hearken, O God of Jacob. Behold, O God our defender, and look upon the face of thine Anointed. For one day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather bea door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness, For the Lord God is a light and defence; the Lord will give grace and worship; and no good thing shall he withhold from them that live a godly life. O Lord God of hosts, blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee.

Psalm Lxxxv

Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land; thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people, and covered all their sins. Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure, and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation. Turn us then, O God our Saviour, and let thine anger cease from us. Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever? and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another? Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us, that thy people may rejoice in thee? Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me; for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again. For his salvation is nigh them that fear him; may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall flourish out of the earth, and righteousness hath looked down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall show loving-kindness; and our land shall give her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and he shall direct his going in the way.

Psalm Lxxxvi

Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me; for I am poor, and in misery. Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy: my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord; for I will call daily upon thee. Comfort the soul of thy servant; for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good and gracious, and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, Lord, unto my prayer, and ponder the voice of my humble desires. In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee; for thou hearest me. Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; there is not one that can do as thou doest. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy Name. For thou art great and doest wondrous things; thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and I will walk in thy truth: O knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name. I will thank thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; and will praise thy Name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me; and thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell. O God, the proud are risen against me: and the congregations of naughty men have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before their eyes. But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy, long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth. O turn thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me: give thy strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid. Show some token upon me for good; that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed, because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me. And again: Show some token upon me for good; that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed, because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; glory to thee, O God. (Thrice.) Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. And we read the Hymn for the Day (Tropár). But if it be the Great Fast (Lent), this Hymn, in Tone VIII, is used: O thou who, at the Ninth Hour, for our sake didst taste of death in the flesh: Mortify thou the presumption of our flesh, and save us, O Christ our God.

Verse (Stikh) 1: Let my complaint come before thee, O Lord: give me understanding, according to thy word.

Verse 2: Let my supplication come before thee, O Lord: deliver me according to thy word.

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Hymn To the Birth-Giver of God

Thou who for our sake wast born of a Virgin, and didst suffer crucifixion, O Good One, and didst despoil Death through death, and as God didst reveal Resurrection: Despise not those whom thou hast: created with thine own hand; show forth thy love for mankind, O Merciful One; accept the Birth-giver of God who bare thee, and who entreateth thee for us; and save thy despairing people, O our Saviour. Forsake us not utterly, for thy holy Name's sake, and destroy not thy covenant; and take not thy mercies from us, for the sake of Abraham whom thou lovedst, and for the sake of Isaac thy servant, and of Israel, thy Holy One.

-O Holy God, Holy Mighty, .. . (as at the beginning of the Hour) For Hymns in the Eight Tones, see Appendix A; for the Great Feasts, see the Special ervices.

Glory . . . now,andever ... Oall-holy Trinity, . . . Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) . . . Glory ... now, and ever... Our father, who art in heaven, And if it be a Feast, we say the Collect-Hymn (Kondak) thereof But if not, this Hymn, in Tone VIL: When the thief beheld the Author of life hanging upon the Cross, he said: If thou wert not God incarnate, who art here crucified with us, then had the Sun not veiled its rays, neither would the earth have shaken with trembling. But do thou, who sufferest for all men, remember me, O Lord, when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. In the midst, between two thieves, was thy Cross found the balancebeam of righteousness; for while the one was led down to hell by the burden of his blaspheming, the other was lightened of his sins, unto the knowledge of things divine. O Christ our God, glory to thee. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

When she who bare thee beheld upon the Cross thee, the Lamb, and Shepherd, and Saviour of the world, she weeping said: The world rejoiceth, in that it hath received redemption, but my heart kindleth with yearning as I look upon thy crucifixion, which thou sufferest for all men, Omy Sonand my God.

Lord, have mercy. (forty times.) Thou who, at all times and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified, O Christ our God, long-suffering, mercy to those who are hardened in sin; who callest all men to repentance through the promise of good things to come: Do thou, the same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present time, and direct our lives according to thy commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set aright our minds; and deliver us from all calamity, wrath and distress. Compass us round about with thy holy Angels; that, guided and guarded by their host, we may attain unto the unity of the faith, and unto the comprehension of thine ineffable glory. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages.. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

Priest. God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us. For Collect-Hymns in the Eight Tones, see Appendix A; for the Great Feasts, see the Special Services.

Then the INTERHOUR.

In the holy Great Fast (Lent), three great reverences shall be made, and the Prayer of St. Ephraim shall be recited once. But otherwise, after the Exclamation, God be merciful unto us, there shall be sata this

Prayer of St. Basil the Great

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, who art long-suffering toward our sins, and who hast led us even to the present hour, in the which, as thou didst hang upon the life-giving Tree thou didst make a way into Paradise for the penitent thief, and by death didst destroy Death: Cleanse us sinners and thine unworthy servants; for we have sinned and have dealt iniquitously, and we are not worthy to lift up our eyes and look upon the heights of heaven, inasmuch as we have departed from the path of thy righteousness, and have walked after the desires of our own hearts. But we implore of thy boundless goodness: Spare us, O Lord, according to the multitude of thy mercies, and save us, for thy holy Name's sake; for our days have passed away in vanity. Wrest us out of the hand of the adversary, and forgive our sins, and mortify in us carnal imagination; that putting off the old man we may be clothed upon with the new man, and may live unto thee, our Master and our Benefactor; and that so following after thy commandments, we may attain unto rest eternal, where is the abode of all those who rejoice. For thou art, in verity, the true joy and exultation of those who love thee, O Christ our God, and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with the Father, who is without beginning, and thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

When the NINTH HOUR is read separately from the TYPICAL PSALMS:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Bless. Then the BENEDICTION.

Priest. May Christ, our true God, through the prayers of his most holy Mother (of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles); of Saint N. (the Saint of the day); of Saint N. (the Saint of the church); and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us: for he is gracious and loveth mankind.

But of it be the Great Fast (Lent), then the TYPICAL PSALMS zmmediately follow, and Psalms ciii. and cxvi. are omitted.

The Typical: Psalii

The beginning of the TYPICAL PSALMS shall be said thus Bless the Lord, O my soul: blessed art thou, O Lord.

Psalm Ciii

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more, But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord all works of his, in all places of his dominion bless the Lord, O my soul.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: The first Choir, with heightened voices. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages: The second Choir.

The First Choir.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Blessed art thou, O Lord.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. See Appendix B, ITI.

Psalm Cxlvi

Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: which made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is; which keepeth truth forever: which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:

Lord openeth the eyes of the blind the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down:

Lord loveth the righteous:

Lord preserve th the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The Lord shall reign forever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Only-begotten Son, and Word of God! Thou who art immortal yet didst deign for our salvation to become incarnate of the Holy Birthgiver of God and ever-virgin Mary; and without change of essence wast made man; who also wast crucified for us, O Christ our God, trampling down Death by death; who art one of the Holy Trinity and art glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: Save us.

In the Great Fast, after the NINTH Hour, and the Prayer, O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God (Page 57), we sing, in Tone VIII.-

The Beatitudes

In thy kingdom remember us, O Lord, when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Blessed are the poor in spirit-: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And if it be the Great Fast, to every verse is added the Refrain: Remember us, O Lord, when thou comest into thy kingdom. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Remember us, O Lord, when thou comest into thy kingdom. Remember us, O Master, when thou comest into thy kingdom. Remember us, O Holy One, when thou comest into thy kingdom. (And one reverence at each.)

The heavenly choir doth hymn thee, and doth cry, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Verse: Come unto him and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed.

The heavenly choir doth hymn thee, and doth cry: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. The Choir of holy Angels and Archangels, with all the Powers of heaven, sing thy praises and do cry, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds; Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made; Being 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 by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made 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 on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and 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 acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

Loose, remit, pardon, O God, our transgressions, voluntary and involuntary; whether of word or of deed; whether of knowledge or of ignorance; whether of the day or of the night; whether of the mind, or of the intention: Forgive us all, for thou art good and lovest mankind.

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 ages of ages. Amen. Tf it be Saturday:

Unto thee, O Lord, the Author of Creation, the universe doth offer the God-bearing Martyrs as the first-fruits of nature: By whose prayers, through the Birth-giver of God, do thou preserve in peace profound thy Church, which is thine estate, O most merciful One. Coliect-hymn (Xondék) oF THE TRANSFIGURATION.

Thou wast transfigured on the Mount, and in so far as they were able to receive it, thy disciples, with wonder, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God. And when they beheld thee crucified, they understood thy voluntary Passion, and proclaimed unto the world that thou art, of a truth, the Radiance of the Father. Monday: Hymn of the Bodiless Powers, Tone Il.: O ye Chieftains of God, servitors of the divine glory, Guides of men and Captains of the Bodiless Powers: Entreat that which is profitable for us, and great mercy; in that ye are the Chieftains of the Bodiless Powers.

Tuesday: Hymn of the Forerunner, Tone Il.:

O Prophet of God, and Forerunner of Grace, in that we have found thy holy head as a most sacred rose budding forth from the earth, we receive always thy healing. For still, as aforetime in the world, thou dost preach repentance.

Wednesday and Friday: Tone Ill.: Do thou who, of thine own good will, upon the cross wast lifted up, bestow thy bounties upon the new State which is called by thy Name, O Christ our God; make glad with thy might our most God-fearing (Emperor, King, or President), N., granting victory over his adversaries unto him who hath thine aid, which is a panoply of peace, a trophy invincible.

Thursday: the Holy Apostles, Tone II.: Thou hast received thy steadfast Preachers, God-inspired in speech, the Crown of thy Disciples, O Lord, into the delights and the repose of thy blessed ones; for thou hast accepted their labours and their death as greater than any whole burnt-offerings, O thou who alone knowest the secrets of the heart. The same day: the Collect-Hymn (Kondák) of St. Nicholas, Tone Ill. In Myra, O Saint, wast thou shown forth a sacrificing priest; for fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, O Holy One, thou didst lay down thy life for thy people, and didst save the innocent from death. For which cause thou wert proclaimed a Saint, as one deeply initiated into the mysteries of the goodness of God.

Then, on every day:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. To the souls of thy servants, O Lord, give rest with thy Saints, where there is neither sickness nor sighing, but life everlasting. Then immediately, on every day except Saturday, is said:

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Protection of Christians that maketh not ashamed, O Mediatrix never-failing with the Creator: Despise not the sinners' voice of supplication; but in that thou art good, come speedily to the aid of us who faithfully call upon thee; make haste to our petition and further our prayer, O Birth-giver of God, who ever protectest them that do thee honour.

And if it be the Great Fast:

Lord, have mercy. (£zght¢ times.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

In the Name of the Lord, bless, Father.

Priest. God be merciful to us, and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us. Then the PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN. O Lord and Master of my life, grant not unto me a spirit of slothfulness, of discouragement, of lust of power, of vain babbling. (A great reverence to the earth.)

But vouchsafe unto thy servant the spirit of continence, of meekness, of patience, and of love. (Reverence.) Yea, O Lord and King, grant that I may perceive my own transgressions, and judge not my brother. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (Reverence. Then twelve lesser reverences, saying at each veverence; O God, cleanse thou me, a sinner. Then the whole Prayer is repeated, with one great reverence in conclusion.) Lord, have mercy. (7welve times.) And the Prayer:

O all-holy Trinity, Might one in Essence, Kingdom undivided, Origin of all good things, be graciously inclined also unto me, a sinner. Establish thou me; give understanding unto my heart, and purge away all my vileness. Enlighten my mind, that I may glorify, sing praises, and adore thee, and say: Thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, O Jesus Christ, in the glory of the Father. Amen.

Meet is it in very truth to bless thee, O Birth-giver of God, ever blessed and all-undefiled One, and the Mother of our God.

Priest. Wisdom!

O most holy Birth-giver of God, save us.

Choir. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without corruption barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

Priest. Glory to thee, O Christ God our hope; glory to thee.

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

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Bless. Then the BENEDICTION:

Priest. May Christ, our true God, through the prayers of his most holy Mother, and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us; for he is gracious and loveth mankind.