Liturgical texts: daily Vespers
Priest: Blessed be our God, at all times, now and always, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen. Glory to you, o God, glory to you.
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere and fillest all things;
Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life –
come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity,
and save our souls, O Good One.
Reader: 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 ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious unto our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. 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 ages of ages. Amen.
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 (12 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship God our King.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, Thou art very great. Thou art clothed with honor and majesty,
Sunday, Tuesday, Thurday:
Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment, Who hast stretched out the heavens like a tent, Who hast laid the beams of Thy cham-bers on the waters, Who makest the clouds Thy chariot, Who ridest on the wings of the wind, Who makest the winds Thy messengers, fire and flame Thy ministers. Thou didst set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be shaken. Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the moun-tains. At Thy rebuke they fled; at the sound of Thy thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place which Thou didst appoint for them. Thou didst set a bound which they should not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. Thou makest springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow be-tween the hills, they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst. By them the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From Thy lofty abode Thou waterest the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Thy work. Thou dost cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread to strengthen man’s heart. The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the badgers.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
Thou hast made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. Thou makest darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep forth. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they get them away and lie down in their dens. Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening. O Lord, how manifold are Thy works. In wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is full of Thy creatures. Yon-der is the sea, great and wide, which teems with things innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan which Thou didst form to sport in it. These all look to Thee, to give them their food in due season. When Thou givest to them, they gather it up; when Thou openest Thy hand, they are filled with good things. When Thou hidest Thy face, they are dismayed; when Thou takest away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When Thou send-est forth Thy Spirit, they are created; and Thou renewest the face of the ground. May the glory of the Lord endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in His works, Who looks on the earth and it trembles, Who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
And again:
The sun knows its time for setting. Thou makest darkness, and it is night. O Lord, how manifold are Thy works. In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
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)
Priest: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
The priest reads one of the prayers of Vespers:
Sunday: O Lord, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy, give ear unto our prayer and attend to the voice of our supplication; work in us a sign unto good; guide us in Thy way, that we may walk in Thy truth; make glad our hearts, that we may fear Thy holy name; for Thou art great and workest wonders, Thou alone art God, and there is none like unto Thee among the gods, O Lord strong in mercy and good in might, to help and comfort, and to save all that hope in Thy holy name. For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Monday: O Lord, rebuke us not in Thine anger, nor chasten us in Thy wrath, but deal with us according to Thy mercy, O Physician and Healer of our souls. Guide us unto the haven of Thy will; enlighten the eyes of our hearts to the knowledge of Thy truth; and grant unto us that the remainder of the present day and the whole time of our life may be peaceful and sinless, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints. For Thine is the dominion, and 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 the ages of ages.
Tuesday: O Lord our God, remember us, Thy sinful and unprofitable servants, when we call upon Thy holy, venerable name, and turn us not away in shame from the expectation of Thy mercy; but grant us, O Lord, all our requests which are unto salvation, and vouchsafe us to love and to fear Thee with our whole heart, and to do Thy will in all things For a good God art Thou, and the Lover of mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Wednesday: O Thou Who with never-silent hymns and unceasing doxologies art praised in song by the Holy Hosts, fill our mouth with Thy praise, that we may magnify Thy holy name. And grant unto us part and inheritance with all that truly fear Thee and keep Thy commandments, through the intercessions of the holy Theotokos and of all Thy saints. For unto Thee is due all glory, honour and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Thursday: O Lord, O Lord, Who upholds all things in the most pure hollow of Thy hand, Who art long-suffering toward us all and repentest Thee at our wickedness, remember Thy compassion and Thy mercy. Visit us with Thy goodness, and grant unto us during the remainder of the present day, by Thy grace, to flee the divers subtle snares of the Evil One, and to keep our life unassailed through the grace of Thine all-holy Spirit, through the mercy and love for mankind of Thine only-begotten son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Friday: O God, great and wondrous, Who with goodness unsearchable and abundant providence orderest all things, and grantest unto us earthly good things; Who hast given us a pledge of the promised kingdom through the good things already bestowed upon us; and hast made us to shun all evil during that part of the day which is past: Grant us also to fulfill the remainder of this day blamelessly before Thy holy glory; to hymn Thee, the only Good One, our God, Who lovest mankind. For Thou art our God, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Saturday: O God, great and most high, Who alone hast immortality, and dwellest in light unapproachable; Who hast fashioned all creation in wisdom; Who hast divided the light from the darkness, and hast set the sun for dominion of the day, the moon the stars for dominion of the night; Who hast vouchsafed unto us sinners at this present hour to come before Thy presence with thanksgiving and to offer thee evening doxology; Do thyself direct our prayer as incense before Thee and accept it for a sweet smelling savor; grant unto us that the present evening and the coming night be peaceful. Cloth us with the armor of light. Deliver us from the terror by night and from everything that walketh in darkness. And grant that the sleep which Thou hast given for the repose of our infirmity may be free from all fantasies of the Devil. Yea, O Master, Giver of good things, may we, being moved to compunction upon our beds, remember Thy name in the night, and, enlightened by meditation on Thy commandments, rise up in joyfulness of soul to the glorification of Thy goodness, offering prayers and supplications to Thy lovingkindness for our own sins and for those of all Thy people, whom do Thou visit in mercy, through the intercessions of the Holy Theotokos. For a good God art Thou, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen
Kathisma
The Reader recites the psalms of Evensong from the Anglican “Book of Common Prayer”: see calendar)
Conclusion of the psalm reading: 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)
Lucernarium
Choir: Lord, I call upon Thee, hear me! Hear me, O Lord! Lord, I call upon Thee, hear me! Receive the voice of my prayer, when I call upon Thee! Hear me, O Lord!
Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice! Hear me, O Lord!
The reader then reads the verses of Psalms 140, 141, 129, and 116 until the beginning of the stichera. The stichera are inserted between the reader’s verses according to the number appointed.
PSALM 140
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties. Let a good man strike or rebuke me in kindness, but let the oil of the wicked never anoint my head; for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds. When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they shall learn that the word of the Lord is true. As a rock which one cleaves and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. But my eyes are toward Thee, O Lord God; in Thee I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless. Keep me from the trap which they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers. Let the wicked together fall into their own nets, while I esc
PSALM 141
I cry with my voice to the Lord, with my voice I make supplication to the Lord, I pour out my complaint before Him, I tell my trouble before Him. When my spirit is faint, Thou knowest my way. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. I look to the right and watch, but there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me, no man cares for me. I cry to Thee, O Lord; I say, Thou art my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry; for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to Thy Name. The righteous will surround me, for Thou wilt deal bountifully with me.
PSALM 129
Out of the depths I cry to Thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice!
Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee.
For Thy Name’s sake I wait for Thee, O Lord. My soul has waited for Thy word; my soul has hoped on the Lord.
From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, let Israel hope on the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption, and He will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.
PSALM 116
Praise the Lord, all nations! Praise Him, all peoples!
For His mercy is confirmed on us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Evening Hymn
Choir: Gladsome Light of the Holy Glory of the Immortal Father, Heavenly, Holy, Blessed: O Jesus Christ. Now that we have come to the setting of the sun, and behold the light of evening, we praise God: Father, Son, and Holy Spi-rit, for meet it is at all times to worship Thee with voices of praise, O Son of God and Giver of life: therefore, all the world doth glorify Thee.
Prokimenon
Priest: Wisdom. The prokimenon in the ___ tone. And he and the singers chant the appointed Prokimenon.
SUNDAY: Tone 8
Behold now, bless the Lord, / all you servants of the Lord. (Ps. 133:1)
V. You that stand in the house of the Lord, even in the courts of the house of our God. (Ps. 133:2)
MONDAY: Tone 4
The Lord will hear me / when I call upon Him. (Ps. 4:4b)
V. When I called, the God of my righteousness heard me. (Ps. 4:1a)
TUESDAY: Tone 1
Thy mercy, O Lord, / shall follow me all the days of my life. (Ps. 22:7a)
V. The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing: He maketh me to lie down in a green pasture. (Ps. 22:1-2a)
WEDNESDAY: Tone 5
Save me, O God, by Thy Name, / and judge me by Thy strength. (Ps. 53:1)
V. Hear my prayer, O God: hearken unto the words of my mouth. (Ps. 53: 2)
THURSDAY: Tone 6
My help comes from the Lord / Who made heaven and earth. (Ps. 120:2)
V. I lifted up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence will my help come? (Ps. 120:1)
FRIDAY: Tone 7
Thou, O God, art my helper, / and Thy mercy shall go before me. (Ps. 58:9b-10a)
V. Rescue me from mine enemies, O God: and deliver me from them that rise up against me. (Ps. 58:1)
Reader: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy Name forever. Amen.
Let Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on Thee.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
Blessed art Thou, O Master, make me to understand Thy commandments.
Blessed art Thou, O Holy One, enlighten me with Thy precepts.
Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: despise not the works of Thy hands.
To Thee belongeth worship, to Thee belongeth praise, to Thee belongeth glory:
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The choir then sings the appointed Aposticha
The Canticle of Symeon
Choir: Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a Light to enlighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of Thy people, Israel.
Reader: 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 ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious unto our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. 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 ages of ages. Amen.
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.
The choir sings the Troparion of the day of the week:
Monday: Holy Angels and Archangels
(Tone 4) O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you: by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry out to you: Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high.
Tuesday: Saint John the Forerunner
(Ton 2) The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner. Thou wast shown in truth to be the most honorable of the Prophets, for thou wast deemed worthy to baptize in the streams of the Jordan Him Whom they foretold. Therefore, having suffered for the truth with joy, thou didst proclaim to those in hell God Who appeared in the flesh, Who takes away the sin of the world and grants us great mercy.
Wednesday: the Holy Cross
(Tone 1) O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance! Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over the adversary; and by virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy habitation.
Thursday: the Holy Apostles
(Tone 3) O holy Apostles, entreat the merciful God to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Friday: the Holy Cross (see Wednesday)
Saturday: All the Saints and all the deceased.
(Tone 2) O Apostles, Martyrs, and Prophets, Hierarchs, Holy Monks, and Righteous Ones, who completed well the fight and kept the faith, you have boldness before the Saviour. We pray: Intercede for us with Him, as He is good, that He may save our souls!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O only Creator, Who with profound wisdom mercifully order all things, And give unto all that which is useful, Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Your servants who have fallen asleep, For they have placed their trust in You, our Maker and Fashioner and our God.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O holy Mother, Mother of the Inexpressible Light, we honour you with angelic hymns and we all exalt you with great devotion.
Augmented Litany
Priest: Let us say with all our soul and with all our mind, let us say:
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O Lord almighty, the God of our fathers, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great goodness, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy (thrice, at each intercession)
Priest: Again we pray for Leo, Pope of Rome, for our bishops, for all the leaders of the Churches and of the great spiritual traditions.
Again we pray for our sovereigns, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and for the Royal House, for our country, those who govern it and those who watch over it.
Again we pray for the priest, the deacons, the monks, the nuns and all the members of our fellowship in Christ.
Again we pray for the preservation of the creation and biodiversity and for the health of the air, soil, water and space, for abundant fruits of the earth and for happy seasons.
Again we pray for the servants of God …., for those struck down by illness and for victims of accidents, for victims of war, especially in…., for victims of violence, persecutions and natural disasters, for orphans, and for all those deprived of food and shelter, for those afflicted by grief, loneliness and lack of affection.
Again we pray for the servants of God who passed away during this day, for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church, for all our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, parents, spouses, children and friends, and for all the deceased throughout the world.
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, pardon and remission of their sins for the servants of God, [NN., and for] the inhabitants of La Rivelaine and of this village, for the members of this parish, for our guests and our benefactors, for those who pray with us and for all those who are close to our hearts.
Again we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable temple; for those who labor and those who sing; and for all the people here present, who await Thy great and rich mercy.
Priest: For Thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen
Dismissal
Priest: Wisdom.
Choir: Give the blessing.
Priest: Blessed be He Who Is, Christ our God, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Confirm, O God, the holy Orthodox faith of Orthodox Christians, unto ages of ages.
Priest: Most holy Mother of God, save us.
Choir: More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word: truly the Mother of God, we magnify thee.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ our God and 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). Give the blessing.
Priest: Christ our true God,
through the prayers of his pure Mother,
by the protection of the holy celestial and angelic powers,
the Archangel Michael and all the angels and archangels,
by the prayers of the holy and illustrious apostles,
(of saint … whose memory we celebrate on this day)
and all the saints,
have mercy on us and save us for he is good and loves mankind.
Choir: Amen
Hymn to the Mother of God
We take refuge beneath your compassion,
Mother of God and Virgin:
do not despise our petitions in trouble:
but rescue us from dangers,
only pure, only blessed one.
Most holy Mother of God, save us.
