The Orthodox Pages THE CHOIR'S HANDBOOK
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The Third Hour If the Third Hour is to be read immediately after the First Hour then the service begins from * O come, let us worship and bow down before our King and our God (see below). Otherwise the Priest shall give the opening blessing.
PRIEST Blessed is our God always, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. PRIEST: Glory be to Thee, our God, glory be to Thee. O heavenly King and Comforter, Spirit of Truth, that art in all places and fillest all things, Treasure of goodness, and Giver of life: come and abide in us; and cleanse us from all that defileth, and save our souls, O Thou who art Good. READER O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. (3) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, world without end. Amen. Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master, pardon our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake. Kyrie eleison (3) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. PRIESTFor Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. Kyrie eleison. (12) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. * If the Third Hour is to be read immediately after the First Hour then the service begins from here. O come, let us worship and bow down before our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. O come, let us worship and bow down before the very Christ our King and our God. Psalm 16 O Lord of my righteousness, attend to my petition; give ear to my prayer not uttered with deceitful lips. Let my judgment come forth from thy presence; let mine eyes behold righteousness. Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me as with fire, and unrighteousness has not been found in me: I am purposed that my mouth shall not speak amiss. As for the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have guarded myself from hard ways. Direct my steps in thy paths, that my steps slip not. I have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words. Shew the marvels of thy mercies, thou that savest them that hope in thee. Keep me as the apple of the eye from those that resist thy right hand: thou shalt screen me by the covering of thy wings, from the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me: mine enemies have compassed about my soul. They have enclosed themselves with their own fat: their mouth has spoken pride. They have now cast me out and compassed me round about: they have set their eyes so as to bow them down to the ground. They laid wait for me as a lion ready for prey, and like a lion's whelp dwelling in secret places. Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down: deliver my soul from the ungodly: draw thy sword, because of the enemies of thine hand: O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with thy hidden treasures: they have been satisfied with uncleanness, and have left the remnant of their possessions to their babes. But I shall appear in righteousness before thy face: I shall be satisfied when thy glory appears. Psalm 24 To thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. O my God, I have trusted in thee: let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies laugh me to scorn. For none of them that wait on thee shall in any wise be ashamed: let them be ashamed that transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O Lord; and teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art God my Saviour: and I have waited on thee all the day. Remember thy compassions, O Lord, and thy mercies, for they are from everlasting. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my sins of ignorance: remember me according to thy mercy, for thy goodness' sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he instruct sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: the meek will he teach his ways. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth to them that seek his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name's sake, O Lord, do thou also be merciful to my sin; for it is great. Who is the man that fears the Lord? he shall instruct him in the way which he has chosen. His soul shall dwell in prosperity; and his seed shall inherit the earth. The Lord is the strength of them that fear him; and his covenant is to manifest truth to them. Mine eyes are continually to the Lord; for he shall draw my feet out of the snare. Look upon me, and have mercy upon me; for I am an only child and poor. The afflictions of my heart have been multiplied; deliver me from my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my trouble; and forgive all my sins. Look upon mine enemies; for they have been multiplied; and they have hated me with unjust hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I have hoped in thee. The harmless and upright joined themselves to me: for I waited for thee, O Lord. Deliver Israel, O God, out of all his afflictions. Psalm 50 Have mercy upon 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 am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against 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. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. 19 (50:19) Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory be to Thee, O God. (3) Kyrie eleison. (3) If at Mattins we sung "God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us..." we say: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit and then the Apolytikion of the day. Now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Theotokion O Mother of God, thou art the true vine, that has brought forth the fruit of life. Thee we beseech, O Lady, intercede together with the Apostles and all the Saints, that God have mercy upon our souls. But if at Mattins we sung "Alleluia" (During weekdays of Great Lent) then we sing the following in tone 6: 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. Verse: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. 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. Verse: Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. 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. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Theotokion O Mother of God, thou art the true vine, that has brought forth the fruit of life. Thee we beseech, O Lady, intercede together with the Apostles and all the Saints, that God have mercy upon our souls. Blessed be the Lord God, blessed be the Lord day by day; the God of our salvation shall prosper us along the way. Our God is the God of salvation. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the 4th week of Great Lent, instead of the verses " O Lord, who at the third hour didst send down..." we sing the following in Tone 2: Thy Cross, O Master, do we venerate, and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify. Then O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. (3) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, world without end. Amen. Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master, pardon our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake. Kyrie eleison. (3) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. PRIESTFor Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. We then read the Kontakion of the saint of the day or the Kontakion of the present feast. But if at Mattins we sung "Alleluia"(During weekdays of Great Lent) then we say the following: Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast made manifest the fishermen as most wise, By sending down upon them the Holy Ghost, And by them hast drawn the world into Thy net. O Lover of mankind, glory to Thee. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit Grant speedy and steadfast consolation unto thy servants, O Jesus, when our spirits are become despondent. Depart not from our souls when they be in afflictions, neither do thou distance thyself from our minds when in tribulations, but do thou ever attend unto us. Draw nigh unto us, draw nigh, O thou who art everywhere present: even as thou wast ever with Thine apostles, so also do thou unite thyself to them that long for thee, O Compassionate One, that, being united with Thee, we may praise and glorify Thine All-Holy Spirit. Now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Thou art, O immaculate Mother of God, the hope and protection and refuge of Christians, the unassailable wall, the peaceful haven of those in distress, but as thou dost save the world through thine unceasing intercession, remember us also, O all-lauded Virgin. During the 4th week of Great Lent we say the Kontakion for the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross. Tone 7 No longer does the flaming sword guard the gate of Eden, for a marvelous quenching is come upon it, even the Tree of the Cross. The sting has been taken from death, and the victory from Hades. And, thou, O my Saviour, hast appeared unto those in Hades saying: Enter again into Paradise. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. (40) O Thou, who at all times and every hour, art worshipped and glorified, Christ our God, who art long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and ever-compassionate, who lovest the righteous and hast mercy upon sinners, who callest all to salvation through the promise of the blessings to come: Do Thou, O Lord, at this very hour accept our supplications, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our reasoning, cleanse our thoughts: and deliver us from all affliction, evil and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy angels, that being guarded and guided by their interposition, we mat attain unto the unity of the faith, and to the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory: For blessed art Thou, unto the ages of ages. Amen. Kyrie eleison. (3) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, world without end. Amen. More honourable than the cherubim and past compare more glorious than the seraphim, who inviolate didst bear God the Word, very Mother of God, thee we magnify. In the name of the Lord, Father, give the blessing. PRIEST God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us and have mercy upon us. * In Great Lent the priest does not say the following prayer and dismissal but the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim (see below). O God the Master, Father Almighty, O only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ and thou, O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power, have mercy upon me a sinner, and by the judgements known to thee, save me thine unworthy servant; for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages. READER: Amen. Here begins the Sixth Hour if it is to be read immediately after the Third, otherwise the Dismissal PRIEST: Glory be to Thee, O Christ our God and our hope, glory be to Thee. READER: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Kyrie eleison (3) PRIESTMay Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most holy Mother… By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. READER: Amen. * In Great Lent after the Priest says "God be merciful unto us, and bless us..." he immediately says the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. After each verse we make a deep prostration. O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power, and vain words. But the spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love, grant unto me Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me awareness of my own sins and let me not judge my brother: for blessed art Thou for ever and ever. Amen. Then we make 12 small prostrations each saying to himself: O God, be gracious unto me, a sinner and have mercy upon me. Then the last verse of the prayer is repeated with another deep prostration. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me awareness of my own sins and let me not judge my brother: for blessed art Thou for ever and ever. Amen. READER O Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us. (3) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, world without end. Amen. Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; O Lord, cleanse us from our sins; O Master, pardon our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake. Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. (3) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. PRIESTFor Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. READER: Amen. Kyrie eleison (12) PRIESTO God the Master, Father Almighty, O only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ and thou, O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power, have mercy upon me a sinner, and by the judgements known to thee, save me thine unworthy servant; for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages. READER: Amen. Here begins the Sixth Hour if it is to be read immediately after the Third, otherwise the Dismissal PRIEST: Glory be to Thee, O Christ our God and our hope, glory be to Thee. READER: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Kyrie eleison (3) PRIESTMay Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most holy Mother… By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. READER: Amen.
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