Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church
Lesser Doxology
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Lesser Doxology
Glory to God, who has shown us the Light!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men!
We praise You! We bless You! We worship You!
We glorify You and give thanks to You for Your great glory!
O Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty!
O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit!
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us!
You, Who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer!
You, Who sit on the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us!
For You alone are holy, and You alone are Lord. You alone, O Lord Jesus Christ, are most high in the glory of God the Father! Amen!
I will give thanks to You every day and praise Your Name for ever and ever.
Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation! I said, “Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You!”
Lord, I flee to You, Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. For with You is the fountain of Life, and in Your light shall we see light. Continue Your loving kindness to those who know You.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your Name for ever.
Amen.
Let Your mercy be upon us, O Lord, even as we have set our hope on You.
Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes.
Blessed are You, O Master; make me to understand Your commandments.
Blessed are You, O Holy One; enlighten me with your precepts.
Your mercy endures forever, O Lord! Do not despise the works of your hands!
To You belongs worship, to You belongs praise, to You belongs glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
Prayer at the Icon of the Theotokos
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Prayer at the Icon of the Theotokos
Tenderness springs forth from you, O Theotokos,
make us worthy of compassion.
Look upon sinful people,
reveal your power for ever as we hope in you and cry aloud:
Hail! as did the Archangel Gabriel,
Chief Captain of the Bodiless Powers.
Amen.
Kneeling Prayers at Pentecost Vespers (3)
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Kneeling Prayers at Pentecost Vespers (3)
Orthodox Christians do not kneel for prayers from Pascha until Pentecost. Following the canon of the first Nicene council, we don't kneel on Sundays, either. So Vespers on the evening of Pentecost is the first time since Pascha that we kneel; and three marvelous prayers are contained in these "Kneeling Vespers." Here is the third:Prayer at the Icon of Christ
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Prayer at the Icon of Christ
We reverence Your spotless icon, O gracious Lord,
and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God.
Because of Your own good will You ascended the Cross in the flesh,
that You might deliver those who You had created from the bondage of the enemy.
We cry aloud unto You:
You have filled all things with joy,
O our Savior, for You came to save the world.
Amen.
Kneeling Prayers at Pentecost Vespers (2)
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Kneeling Prayers at Pentecost Vespers (2)
Orthodox Christians do not kneel for prayers from Pascha
until Pentecost. Following the canon of the first Nicene council, we
don't
kneel on Sundays, either. So Vespers on the evening of Pentecost is the
first
time since Pascha that we kneel; and three marvelous prayers are
contained in
these "Kneeling Vespers." Here is the second:
Prayer Upon Entering a Church
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- Category: Text of Prayers
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Prayer Upon Entering a Church
I will come into Your house in the greatness of Your mercy:
and in fear I will worship toward Your holy temple.
Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
make Your way straight before me, that with a clear mind I may glorify You forever,
One Divine Power worshiped in three persons:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Prayer upon Leaving a Church
Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word;
for my eyes have seen Your salvation,
which You have prepared in the presence of all people;
a light to enlighten the Gentiles,
and the glory of Your people Israel.
Kneeling Prayers at Pentecost Vespers (1)
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- Parent Category: Prayers of the Church
- Category: Text of Prayers
- Written by Site Administrator
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Kneeling Prayers at Pentecost Vespers (1)
Orthodox Christians do not kneel for prayers from Pascha until Pentecost. Following the canon of the first Nicene council, we don't kneel on Sundays, either. So Vespers on the evening of Pentecost is the first time since Pascha that we kneel; and three marvelous prayers are contained in these "Kneeling Vespers." Here is the first:More Articles...
Subcategories
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Troparia and Kontakia
Short hymns sung after the small entrance at Divine Liturgy. For Sundays the subject is the Holy Resurrection; a different hymn for each of the Eight Tones. Every feast has its particular hymn describing the event or the virtues of the saint. Also there are hymns giving in an abbreviated form the substance of the day's feast. Originally, this was a hymn composed of many stanza (18-24) whose lengthy text required the use of a scroll. What remains today are short preliminary stanzas that give a concise meaning to the feast being celebrated. These hymns are also sung following the Sixth Ode in Matins, and during the Hours.
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Orthodox Psalter
Daily Readings from the Orthodox Psalter
The Psalter is divided into 20 kathismata of three stases. Each stasis contains between one and three psalms. Except Kathisma 17, it is entirely the long Psalm 118.
Each of the divine services contain fixed portions of the Psalter that are read or chanted each time the service is celebrated. In addition, certain services of the Daily Cycle contain prescribed kathisma readings. These prescribed readings rotate daily so that the Psalter is read through once in its entirety in single week, and twice during Great Lent. (The Psalter is not read on Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, or during Bright Week.)
Day Psalter Readings Except Lent During Lent Holy Week St. Thomas Sun. to Sept. 21
Dec. 20 to Jan. 14
Sun. of Prodigal to
Sun. of ForgivenessSept. 22 to Dec. 19
Jan. 15 to Sat. before
Sun. of ProdigalExcept for Fifth Week 5th week
If Annunciation does not fall on Thursday of week 5
(the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
is read on Thursday Matins)5th week
If Annunciation falls on Thursday of week 5
(the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
is read on Tuesday Matins)Sunday Matins - Kathisma 2, 3, 17(or Polyeleos) Matins - Kathisma 2, 3, Polyeleos Monday Matins - Kathisma 4,5
Vespers - Kathisma 6Matins - Kathisma 4,5,6
Vespers - Kathisma 18Matins - Kathisma 4,5,6
Third Hour - Kathisma 7
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 8
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 9
Vespers - Kathisma 18Matins - Kathisma 4,5,6
Third Hour - Kathisma 7
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 8
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 9
Vespers - Kathisma 10Matins - Kathisma 4,5,6
First Hour - Kathisma 7
Third Hour - Kathisma 8
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 9
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 10
Vespers - Kathisma 11Matins - Kathisma 4, 5, 6
Third Hour - Kathisma 7
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 8
Vespers - Kathisma 18Tuesday Matins - Kathisma 7,8
Vespers - Kathisma 9Matins - Kathisma 7,8,9
Vespers - Kathisma 18Matins - Kathisma 10,11,12
First Hour - Kathisma 13
Third Hour - Kathisma 14
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 15
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 16
Vespers - Kathisma 18Matins - Kathisma 11, 12, 13
First Hour - Kathisma 14
Third Hour - Kathisma 15
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 16
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 18
Vespers - Kathisma 19Matins - Kathisma 12
Third Hour - Kathisma 13
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 14
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 15
Vespers - Kathisma 16Matins - Kathisma 9 10, 11
Third Hour - Kathisma 12
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 13
Vespers - Kathisma 18Wednesday Matins - Kathisma 10,11
Vespers - Kathisma 12Matins - Kathisma 10,11,12
Vespers - Kathisma 18Matins - Kathisma 19,20,1
First Hour - Kathisma 2
Third Hour - Kathisma 3
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 4
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 5
Vespers - Kathisma 18Matins - Kathisma 20, 1, 2
First Hour - Kathisma 3
Third Hour - Kathisma 4
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 5
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 6
Vespers - Kathisma 7Matins - Kathisma 19, 20, 1
First Hour - Kathisma 2
Third Hour - Kathisma 3
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 4
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 5Matins - Kathisma 14, 15, 16
Third Hour - Kathisma 19
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 20
Vespers - Kathisma 18Thursday Matins - Kathisma 13,14
Vespers - Kathisma 15Matins - Kathisma 13,14,15
Vespers - Kathisma 18Matins - Kathisma 6,7,8
First Hour - Kathisma 9
Third Hour - Kathisma 10
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 11
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 12
Vespers - Kathisma 18Matins - Kathisma 8
Third Hour - Kathisma 9
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 10
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 11
Vespers - Kathisma 12Matins - Kathisma 6, 7, 8
First Hour - Kathisma 9
Third Hour - Kathisma 10
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 11
Ninth Hour - Kathisma 12(none) Friday Matins - Kathisma 19,20
Vespers - Kathisma 18Matins - Kathisma 13,14,15
Third Hour - Kathisma 19
Sixth Hour - Kathisma 20
Vespers - Kathisma 18(none) Saturday Matins - Kathisma 16,17
Vespers - Kathisma 1Matins - Kathisma 17 See Also: Psalms Chanted in the Services, Psalms in Antiphons, Psalms in Communion Hymns, Psalms in Prokeimenon and Alleluia Verses - Article Count:
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Canticles (or Odes)
There are nine Biblical Canticles that are chanted at Matins These form the basis of the Canon, a major component of Matins.
The nine Canticles are as follows:
- Canticle One - The (First) Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19)
- Canticle Two - The (Second) Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:1-43)
- Canticle Three - The Prayer of Hannah (I Kings 2:1-10) KJV: 1+Samuel 2:1-10
- Canticle Four - The Prayer of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:1-19)
- Canticle Five - The Prayer of Isaiah (Isaiah 26:9-20)
- Canticle Six - The Prayer of Jonah (Jonah 2:2-9)
- Canticle Seven - The Prayer of the Three Holy Children (Daniel 3:26-56)
- Canticle Eight - The Song of the Three Holy Children (Daniel 3:57-88)
- Canticle Nine - The Song of the Theotokos (the Magnificat: Luke 1:46-55); the Song of Zacharias (the Benedictus Luke 1:68-79)
Originally, these Canticles were chanted in their entirety every day, with a short refrain inserted between each verse. Eventually, short verses (troparia) were composed to replace these refrains, a process traditionally inaugurated by Saint Andrew of Crete. Gradually over the centuries, the verses of the Biblical Canticles were omitted (except for the Magnificat) and only the composed troparia were read, linked to the original canticles by an Irmos. During Great Lent however, the original Biblical Canticles are still read.
Another Biblical Canticle, the The Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32), is either read or sung at Vespers.
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Text of Prayers
In the Orthodox Church it is said that we pray what we believe and believe what we pray. The text of our written prayers not only help with our communion with God through words of praise, thanksgiving, repentance, supplication, and intercession, but also brings to remembrance the Gospel message of Christ, the Apostolic teachings, and our faith.
This part of our website gives the text of some of the prayers of the Orthodox Church.
The publication of such prayers does not limit the free expression of the Christian soul to the Creator, the Most-holy Theotokos and the Saints. On the contrary, by reading these prayers one can learn how to pray. They become models for our own, personal prayers. Often, we would like to pray but, distracted by the world around us, or troubled by fear or sorrow, we do not even know how to begin. We then begin with the a prayerbook and find that not only much of what we wanted to say is included in the prayers of the fathers, but that afterwards, we find words of our own to continue the outpouring of our soul.
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- 68