The Midnight Office
(For Weekdays)
As a Reader Service
See also the Midnight Office for Saturday, for
Sunday,
And also the text of the
Midnight office for use with a priest.
Note: The translation used is primarily
that of Fr. Lawrence of Jordanville.
The order of service is based primarily on the Reader Service Typikon by
Bishop Daniel (the Old Rite Bishop of the ROCA)
and translated by Fr. George Lardas. All the psalms are from The Psalter According
to the Seventy, © Copyright Holy Transfiguration
Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. Some other material, such as
prayers and hymns, are also Copyright HTM, used by permission. All rights
reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, beyond printing out a
single copy for personal non-commercial use, without the prior written
authorization of Holy Transfiguration Monastery. Those who wish to follow the Jordanville
practice are referred to the Jordanville Horologion text, which is available online also. What is presented here is in accordance with
the order found in the standard Slavonic Horologion, which does not have these
morning prayers at the points at which they are found in the Jordanville
Horologion, but does have the two prayers found after
the prayer “O Master God…”
Senior
Reader:
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Reader: 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 unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy
Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out 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.
Senior
Reader:
O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen. Lord, Have mercy. (Twelve times)
Glory to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the 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 Zion, 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
Seventeenth Kathisma
Psalm 118
Blessed are the
blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the
Lord. Blessed are they that search out
His testimonies; with their whole heart shall they seek after Him. For they that work iniquity have not walked
in His ways. Thou hast enjoined Thy commandments, that we should keep them most diligently. Would that my ways were
directed to keep Thy statutes.
Then shall I not be ashamed, when I look on all Thy commandments. I will confess Thee with uprightness of
heart, when I have learned the judgments of Thy righteousness. I will keep thy statutes; do not utterly
forsake me. Wherewithal shall a young
man correct his way? By keeping Thy words. With my whole heart have I sought after Thee,
cast me not away from Thy commandments.
In my heart have I hid Thy sayings that I might not sin against Thee. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy
statutes. With my lips have I declared
all the judgments of Thy mouth. In the way of Thy testimonies have I found
delight, as much as in all riches. On Thy commandments will I ponder, and I will
understand Thy ways. On Thy statutes
will I meditate; I will not forget Thy words.
Give reward unto Thy servant, quicken me and I will keep Thy words. O unveil mine eyes,
and I shall perceive wondrous things out of Thy law. I am a sojourner on the earth,
hide not from me Thy commandments. My
soul hath longed to desire Thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud; cursed are they
that decline from Thy commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt, for after Thy testimonies have I
sought. For princes sat and they spake
against me, but Thy servant pondered on Thy statutes. For Thy testimonies are my
meditation, and Thy statutes are my counselors. My soul hath cleaved unto the earth; quicken
me according to Thy word. My ways have I
declared, and Thou hast heard me; teach me Thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of Thy
statutes, and I will ponder on Thy wondrous works. My soul hath slumbered from despondency,
strengthen me with Thy words. Remove
from me the way of unrighteousness, and with Thy law have mercy on me. I have chosen the way of truth, and Thy judgments
have I not forgotten. I have cleaved to
Thy testimonies, O Lord; put me not to shame.
The way of Thy commandments have I run, when Thou didst enlarge my heart. Set before me
for a law, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes, and I will seek after it continually. Give me understanding, and I will search out
Thy law, and I will keep it with my whole heart. Guide me in the path of Thy commandments, for
I have desired it. Incline my heart unto
Thy testimonies and not unto covetousness.
Turn away mine eyes that I may not see vanity, quicken Thou me in Thy
way. Establish for Thy servant Thine
oracle unto fear of Thee. Remove my
reproach which I have feared, for Thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after Thy commandments;
in Thy righteousness quicken me. Let Thy
mercy come also upon me, O Lord, even Thy salvation according to Thy word. So shall I give an answer to them that
reproach me, for I have hoped in Thy words. And take not utterly out of my mouth the word
of truth, for in Thy judgments have I hoped.
So shall I keep Thy law continually, for ever,
and unto the ages of ages. And I walked in spaciousness, for after Thy
commandments have I sought. And I spake
of Thy testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed. And I meditated on Thy commandments which I
have greatly loved. And I lifted up my
hands to Thy commandments which I have loved, and I pondered on Thy
statutes. Remember Thy words to Thy
servant, wherein Thou hast made me to hope.
This hath comforted me in my humiliation, for Thine oracle hath
quickened me. The proud have
transgressed exceedingly, but from Thy law have I not declined. I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Lord,
and was comforted. Despondency took hold
upon me because of the sinners who forsake Thy law. Thy statutes were my songs in the place of my
sojourning. I remembered Thy name in the
night, O Lord, and I kept Thy law. This
hath happened unto me because I sought after Thy statutes. Thou art my portion, O Lord; I said that I
would keep Thy law. I entreated Thy
countenance with my whole heart: Have mercy on me according to Thy word. I have thought on Thy ways, and I have turned
my feet back to Thy testimonies. I made
ready, and I was not troubled, that I might keep Thy commandments. The cords of sinners have entangled me, but
Thy law have I not forgotten. At
midnight I arose to give thanks unto Thee for the judgments of Thy
righteousness. I am a partaker with all
them that fear Thee, and with them that keep Thy commandments. The earth, O Lord, is full of Thy mercy;
teach me Thy statutes. Thou hast dealt
graciously with Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word. Goodness and discipline and knowledge teach
Thou me, for in Thy commandments have I believed. Before I was humbled, I transgressed;
therefore Thy saying have I kept. Thou
art good, O Lord, and in Thy goodness teach me Thy statutes. Multiplied against me hath been the
unrighteousness of the proud; but as for me, with my whole heart will I search
out Thy commandments. Curdled like milk
is their heart; but as for me, in Thy law have I meditated. It is good for me that Thou hast humbled me,
that I might learn Thy statutes. The law
of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both 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, both now and ever, and
unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Second Stasis
Thy hands have
made me and fashioned me; give me understanding and I will learn Thy
commandments. They that fear Thee shall
see me and be glad, for on Thy words have I set my hope. I have known, O Lord, that Thy judgments are
righteousness, and with truth hast Thou humbled me. Let now Thy mercy be my comfort, according to
Thy saying unto Thy servant. Let Thy
compassions come upon me and I shall live, for Thy law is my meditation. Let the proud be put to shame, for unjustly
have they transgressed against me; but as for me, I will ponder on Thy
commandments. Let those that fear Thee
return unto me, and those that know Thy testimonies. Let my heart be blameless in Thy statutes,
that I may not be put to shame. My soul
fainteth for Thy salvation; on Thy words have I set my hope. Mine eyes are grown dim with waiting for
Thine oracle; they say: When wilt Thou comfort me? For I am become like a wine-skin in the
frost; yet Thy statutes have I not forgotten.
How many are the days of Thy servant? When wilt Thou execute judgment
for me on them that persecute me?
Transgressors have told me fables, but they are not like Thy law, O
Lord. All Thy commandments are truth.
Without a cause have men persecuted me; do Thou help me. They well nigh made
an end of me on the earth; but as for me, I forsook not Thy commandments. According to Thy mercy quicken me, and I will
keep the testimonies of Thy mouth. For ever, O Lord, Thy word abideth in heaven. Unto generation and generation is Thy truth;
Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth. By Thine ordinance doth the day abide, for
all things are Thy servants. If Thy law
had not been my meditation, then should I have perished in my humiliation. I will
never forget Thy statutes, for in them hast Thou quickened me.
Middle
I am Thine, save
me; for after Thy statutes have I sought.
Sinners have waited for me to destroy me; but Thy testimonies have I
understood. Of all perfection have I
seen the outcome; exceeding spacious is Thy commandment. O how I have loved Thy law, O Lord! the whole day long it is my meditation. Above mine enemies hast Thou made me wise in
Thy commandment, for it is mine for ever. Above all that
teach me have I gained understanding, for Thy testimonies are my
meditation. Above mine elders have I
received understanding, for after Thy commandments have I sought. From every way that is evil have I restrained
my feet that I might keep Thy words. From Thy judgments have I not declined, for
Thou hast set a law for me. How sweet to my palate are Thy sayings! more sweet than honey to my mouth. From Thy commandments have I gained
understanding; therefore have I hated every way of unrighteousness. Thy law is a lamp unto my feet and a light
unto my paths. I have sworn and resolved
that I will keep the judgments of Thy righteousness. I was humbled exceedingly; O Lord, quicken me
according to Thy word. The free-will
offerings of my mouth be Thou now pleased to receive,
O Lord, and teach me Thy judgments. My
soul is in Thy hands continually, and Thy law have I not forgotten. Sinners have set a snare for me, yet from Thy
commandment have I not strayed. I have
inherited Thy testimonies for ever, for they are the
rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined
my heart to perform Thy statutes for ever for a recompense. Transgressors have I hated, but Thy law have
I loved. My helper and my protector art
Thou; on Thy words have I set my hope.
Depart from me, ye evil-doers, and I will search out the commandments of
my God. Uphold me according to Thy
saying and quicken me, and turn me not away in shame from mine
expectation. Help me, and I shall be
saved; and I will meditate on Thy statutes continually. Thou hast set at nought all that depart from
Thy statutes, for unrighteous is their inward thought. I have reckoned as transgressors all the
sinners of the earth, therefore have I loved Thy testimonies. Nail down my flesh with the fear of Thee, for
of Thy judgments am I afraid. I have
wrought judgment and righteousness; O give me not up
to them that wrong me. Receive Thy
servant unto good, let not the proud falsely accuse
me. Mine eyes have failed with waiting
for Thy salvation, and for the word of Thy righteousness. Deal with Thy servant according to Thy mercy,
and teach me Thy statutes. I am Thy
servant; give me understanding, and I shall know Thy testimonies. It is time for the Lord to act; for they have
dispersed Thy law. Therefore have I
loved Thy commandments more than gold and topaz. Therefore I directed myself according to all
Thy commandments; every way that is unrighteous have I hated. Wonderful are Thy testimonies; therefore hath
my soul searched them out. The unfolding
of Thy words will give light and understanding unto babes. I opened my mouth and drew in my breath, for
I longed for Thy commandments.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both 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, both now and ever, and
unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Third Stasis
Look upon me and
have mercy on me, according to the judgment of them that love Thy name. My steps do Thou direct according to Thy
saying, and let no iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the false accusation of men,
and I will keep Thy commandments. Make
Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, and teach me Thy statutes. Mine eyes have poured forth streams of
waters, because I kept not Thy law.
Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and upright are Thy judgments. Thou hast ordained as Thy testimonies
exceeding righteousness and truth. My
zeal for Thee hath made me to pine away, because mine enemies have forgotten
Thy words. Thine oracle is tried with
fire to the uttermost, and Thy servant hath loved it. I am young and accounted as nothing, yet Thy
statutes have I not forgotten. Thy
righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is truth. Tribulations and necessities have found me,
Thy commandments are my meditation. Thy
testimonies are righteousness for ever; give me
understanding and I shall live. I have
cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord, and I will seek after Thy
statutes. I have cried unto Thee; save
me, and I will keep Thy testimonies. I
arose in the dead of night and I cried; on Thy words have I set my hope. Mine eyes woke before the morning that I
might meditate on Thy sayings. Hear my
voice, O Lord, according to Thy mercy; according to Thy judgment, quicken
me. They have drawn nigh that lawlessly
persecute me, but from Thy law are they far removed. Near art Thou, O Lord, and all Thy ways are
truth. From the beginning I have known from Thy testimonies that Thou hast
founded them for ever. Behold my humiliation and rescue me, for Thy
law have I not forgotten. Judge my cause
and redeem me; for Thy word's sake quicken me.
Far from sinners is salvation, for they have not sought after Thy
statutes. Thy compassions are many, O
Lord; according to Thy judgment quicken me.
Many are they that persecute me and afflict me; from Thy testimonies
have I not declined. I beheld men acting
foolishly and I pined away, because they kept not Thy sayings. Behold, how I have loved Thy commandments; O
Lord, in Thy mercy, quicken me. The beginning of Thy words is truth, and all
the judgments of Thy righteousness endure for ever. Princes have persecuted me without a cause,
and because of Thy words my heart hath been afraid. I will rejoice in Thy sayings as one that findeth great spoil.
Unrighteousness have I hated and abhorred, but Thy law have I
loved. Seven times a day have I praised
Thee for the judgments of Thy righteousness. Much peace have they
that love Thy law, and for them there is no stumbling-block. I awaited Thy salvation, O Lord, and Thy
commandments have I loved. My soul hath
kept Thy testimonies and hath loved them exceedingly. I have kept Thy commandments and Thy testimonies,
for all my ways are before Thee, O Lord.
Let my supplication draw nigh before Thee, O Lord; according to Thine
oracle give me understanding. Let my
petition come before Thee, O Lord; according to Thine oracle deliver me. My lips shall pour forth a hymn when Thou
hast taught me Thy statutes. My tongue
shall speak of Thy sayings, for all Thy commandments are righteousness. Let Thy hand be for saving me, for I have
chosen Thy commandments. I have longed
for Thy salvation, O Lord, and Thy law is my meditation. My soul shall live and shall praise Thee, and
Thy judgments will help me. I have gone
astray like a sheep that is lost; O seek Thy servant,
for I have not forgotten Thy commandments.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
The Symbol of
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-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; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from the
heavens, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became
man; And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was
buried; And arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; And
ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And
shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom
shall have 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 remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the age to come. Amen.
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 out 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.
Senior
Reader:
O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
Tone 8: Behold, the Bridegroom cometh at
midnight, and blessed is that servant whom He shall find watching; but unworthy
is he whom He shall find heedless.
Beware, therefore, O my soul, lest thou be weighed down with sleep; lest
thou be given up to death, and be shut out from the kingdom. But rouse thyself and cry: 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.
Meditating on
that terrible day, O my soul, watch, keeping thy lamp alight and filled with
oil; for thou knowest not when unto thee shall come
the voice saying: Behold the Bridegroom!
Beware, therefore, my soul, lest thou fall into slumber and be left
outside, knocking, as were the five virgins; but wakefully watch, that thou
mayest come to meet Christ with good oil, and He shall bestow upon thee the
divine chamber of His glory.
Both
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Theotokion: Thee, the unassailable wall, confirmation of
salvation, O Virgin Theotokos, do we supplicate, to destroy the counsels of the
enemies, to change the sorrows of thy people into joy, to protect thy city, to
ensure victory for pious rulers, and to pray for the peace of the world; for
thou, O Theotokos, art our hope.
Lord, have mercy.
Forty times.
And the Prayer of the Hours:
Thou Who at all
times and at every hour, in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified,
O Christ God, Who art long-suffering, plenteous in mercy, most compassionate,
Who lovest the righteous and hast mercy on sinners; Who callest
all men to salvation through the promise of good things to come: Receive, O
Lord, our prayers at this hour, and guide our life toward Thy commandments.
Sanctify our souls, make chaste our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our
intentions, and deliver us from every sorrow, evil, and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy angels, that,
guarded and guided by their array, we may attain to the unity of the faith and
to the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory: For blessed art Thou unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
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.
More
honorable 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.
Senior
Reader: Through the prayers of our
holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy
on us.
Reader: Amen.
If it is
Great Lent, or the first day of the Apostles’ Fast, or of the Nativity Fast (if
it falls on a weekday), we say the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian, dividing it
into three parts with prostrations, then the twelve reverences in which we say
each time “O God, cleanse me a sinner” and then the entire prayer with a
prostration.
Then this
prayer:
O Master God, the
Father Almighty, O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and O Holy
Spirit, one Godhead, one Power: Have mercy on me a
sinner, and by the judgments which Thou knowest, save
me, Thine unworthy servant; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
It should be known that the following
two prayers are said from September 22nd until Palm Sunday:
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
whole night of this 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 Savior, Jesus Christ, whereon the Judge of all shall
come with glory to reward each according to his deeds. May we not be found fallen and 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.
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
labors 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.
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 120
I have lifted up
mine eyes to the mountains, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the
Lord, Who hath made heaven and the earth. Give not thy foot unto moving, and may He not
slumber that keepeth thee. Behold, He shall not slumber nor shall He
sleep, He that keepeth Israel. The Lord shall keep thee; the Lord is thy
shelter at thy right hand. The sun shall
not burn thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall keep thee from all evil, the Lord shall guard thy soul. The Lord shall keep thy coming in and thy
going out, from henceforth and for evermore.
Behold now, bless
ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord.
Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of
our God, in the nights lift up your hands unto the holies, and bless the Lord. The Lord bless thee
out of Zion, He that made heaven and the earth.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and
unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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 out 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.
Senior
Reader:
O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen. And these
troparia:
Tone 2: Remember, O Lord, for Thou art good, Thy
servants and forgive them whatsoever sins they have committed in life; for none
is sinless but Thee Who art able to give repose unto them that are departed.
O Thou Who by the depth of Thy wisdom
dost provide all things out of love for mankind, and grantest unto all that
which is profitable, O only Creator: Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy
servants; for in Thee have they placed their hope, O our Creator and Fashioner
and God.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion: With the saints give rest, O
Christ, to the souls of Thy servants, where there is neither sickness, nor
sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: In all generations we call thee blessed, O Virgin Theotokos, for in thee the
uncontainable Christ our God was pleased to be contained. Blessed are we also, having thee as
mediatress; for day and night pleadest thou for us,
and the scepters of kingdoms are strengthened by thine intercessions. Wherefore in hymns we cry unto thee:
Rejoice! O thou who art full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Lord, have
mercy. Twelve times. And this
Prayer:
Remember,
O Lord, our fathers and brethren who fell asleep in the hope of resurrection
unto life eternal, and all those who ended this life in piety and faith, and
pardon them every transgression which they have willingly or unwillingly, in
word or deed or thought committed, and settle them in a place of light, a place
of refreshment, a place of repose, wherefrom every sickness, sorrow and sighing
are banished, and wherein from eternity the light of Thy countenance shineth and gladdeneth all Thy
saints. Grant unto them and unto us Thy kingdom, and participation in Thine
ineffable blessings, and the enjoyment of Thine endless and blessed life. For
Thou art the life, and the resurrection, and the repose of Thy departed
servants, O Christ our God, and to Thee we send up glory, with Thine unoriginate
Father, and Thy most holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and
unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Most
glorious, Ever-Virgin, Mother of Christ God, present our prayer to thy Son and
our God, that through thee, He may save our souls.
My hope is
the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the
Holy Spirit: O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
Choir:
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.
Senior Reader
(Facing the East, rather than facing the people): 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
and save us, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.
Choir: Amen.
Senior
Reader: Remit, pardon,
forgive, O God, our offenses, both voluntary and involuntary, in deed and word,
in knowledge and ignorance, by day and by night, in mind and thought; forgive
us all things, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.
Choir: Amen.
Senior
Reader: O Lord, Lover
of mankind, forgive them that hate and wrong us. Do good to them that do good. Grant our brethren and kindred their saving
petitions and life eternal; visit the infirm and grant them healing. Guide those at sea. Journey with them that
travel. Help Orthodox Christians
to struggle. To them that serve and are
kind to us grant remissions of sins. On
them that have charged us, the unworthy, to pray for them, have mercy according
to Thy great mercy. Remember, O Lord,
our fathers and brethren departed before us, and grant them rest where the
light of Thy countenance shall visit them.
Remember, O Lord, our brethren in captivity, and deliver them from every
misfortune. Remember, O Lord, those that
bear fruit and do good works in Thy holy churches, and grant them their saving
petitions and life eternal. Remember
also, O Lord, us Thy lowly and sinful and unworthy servants, and enlighten our
minds with the light of Thy knowledge, and guide us in the way of Thy
commandments; through the intercessions of our most pure Lady, the Theotokos
and Ever-Virgin Mary, and of all Thy saints, for blessed art Thou unto the ages
of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Senior Reader:
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Choir:
Amen.
THE END OF
THE MIDNIGHT OFFICE
Return to the Reader Service Horologion