Coptic Hours (Slightly Modified): 6 AM

Agpeya 1st Hour – Prime
INTRODUCTION TO EVERY HOUR
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us. Amen. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Make us worthy to pray thankfully:
Our Father Who art in heaven . . . but deliver us from evil, in Christ Jesus our Lord. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Let us give thanks to the beneficent and merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for He has covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us unto Him, spared us, supported us, and brought us to this hour. Let us also ask Him, the Lord our God, the Almighty, to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life.
O Master, Lord, God the Almighty, the Father of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, we thank You for every condition, concerning every condition, and in every condition, for You have covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us unto You, spared us, supported us, and brought us to this hour.
Therefore, we ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of mankind, to grant us to complete this holy day, and all the days of our life, in all peace with Your fear. All envy, all temptation, all the work of Satan, the counsel of wicked men, and the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take them away from us, and from all Your people, and from this holy place that is Yours.
But those things which are good and profitable do provide for us; for it is You Who have given us the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, by the grace, compassion and love of mankind, of Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, through Whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto You, with Him, and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, Who is of one essence with You, now and at all times, and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
PSALM 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. My transgressions, truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done. So you are just in your sentence, without reproach in your judgment. O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner when my mother conceived me. Yes, you delight in sincerity of heart; in secret you teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be pure; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear rejoicing and gladness that the bones you have crushed may exult. Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt. Create a pure heart for me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence; take not your holy spirit from me. Restore in me the joy of your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways that sinners may return to you. Rescue me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation, and then my tongue shall ring out your justice. O LORD, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. For in sacrifice you take no delight; burnt offering from me would
not please you. My sacrifice to God, a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn. In your good pleasure, show favor to Sion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in right sacrifice, burnt offerings wholly consumed. Then you will be offered young bulls on your altar. ALLELUIA.
COME LET US KNEEL DOWN
Come let us kneel down, let us ask Christ our God. Come let us kneel down, let us beseech Christ our King. Come let us kneel down, let us entreat Christ our Savior. O Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, our God, through the intercession of Saint Mary and all Your saints, preserve us, and bring us to a good start. Have mercy on us according to Your will forever. The night has passed; we thank You, O Lord, and we ask You to keep us this day away from sin and deliver us.
THE PAULINE EPISTLE (Ephesians 4:1-5)
Paul the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God. A Chapter from his epistle to the Ephesians, may be His blessing be with us all. Amen.
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
THE FAITH OF THE CHURCH
One is God the Father of everyone. One is His Son, Jesus Christ the Word, Who took flesh and died; and rose from the dead on the third day, and raised us with Him. One is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, one in His Hypostasis, proceeding from the Father, purifying the whole creation, and teaching us to worship the Holy Trinity, one in divinity and one in essence. We praise Him and bless Him forever. Amen.
The Morning Prayer of the blessed day, we offer to Christ our King and our God, beseeching Him to forgive us our sins.
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be upon us all. Amen.
PSALM 1
Blessed indeed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the path with sinners, nor abides in the company of scorners, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who ponders His law day and night. He is like a tree that is planted beside the flowing waters, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves shall never fade; and all that he does shall prosper. Not so are the wicked, not so! For they, like winnowed chaff, shall be driven away by the wind. When the wicked are judged they shall not rise, nor shall sinners in the council of the just; for the LORD knows the way of the just, but the way of the wicked will perish. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 2
Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? They arise, the kings of the earth; princes plot against the LORD and His Anointed. “Let us burst asunder their fetters. Let us cast off from us their chains.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD derides and mocks them. Then he will speak in his anger, his rage will strike them with terror. “It is I who have appointed my king on Sion, my holy mountain.” I will announce the decree of the LORD: the LORD said to me, “You are my Son. It is I who have begotten you this day. Ask of me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as your possession. With a rod of iron you will rule them; like a potter’s jar you will shatter them.” So now, O kings, understand; take warning, rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear; exult with
trembling, pay him your homage, lest he be angry and you perish on the way, for suddenly his anger will blaze. Blessed are all who put their trust in God!
PSALM 3
How many are my foes, O LORD? How many are rising up against me! How many are saying about me, “There is no help for me in God.” But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, who lift up my head. I cry aloud to the LORD. From his holy mountain he answers me. I lie down, I sleep and I wake, for the LORD upholds me. I will not fear even thousands of people who are ranged on every side against me. Arise, LORD; save me, my God, you who strike all my foes on the cheek, you who break the teeth of the wicked! Salvation belongs to the LORD; may your blessing be on your people!
PSALM 4
I called, the God of justice gave me answer; from anguish you released me; have mercy and hear me! Children of man, how long will my glory be dishonored, will you love what is futile and seek what is false? Know that the LORD works wonders for His faithful one; the LORD will hear me whenever I call Him. Tremble, do not sin: ponder on your bed and be still. Offer right sacrifice, and trust in the LORD. “What can bring us happiness?” many say. Lift up the light of your face on us, O LORD. You have put into my heart a greater joy than abundance of grain and new wine can provide. In peace I lie down and fall asleep, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
PSALM 5
To my words give ear, O LORD; give heed to my sighs. Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God. To you do I pray, O LORD. In the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead and watch before you. You are no God who delights in evil; no sinner is your guest. The boastful shall not stand their ground before your eyes. All who do evil you despise; all who lie you destroy. The deceitful and those who shed blood, the LORD detests. Yet through the greatness of your merciful love, I enter your house. I bow down before your holy temple in awe of you. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 6
O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger; reprove me not in your rage. Have mercy on me, O Lord; for I languish. LORD, heal me, O Lord, my bones are shaking, and my soul is greatly shaken. But You, O Lord, how long? Return, LORD, rescue my soul. Save me in Your merciful love. For in death there is no remembrance of You: from the grave, who can give You praise? I am exhausted with my groaning; every night I drench my pillow with tears, I bedew my couch with weeping. My eyes waste away with grief; I have grown old surrounded by all my foes. Leave me, all who do evil; for the Lord heeds the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will receive my prayer. All my foes will be shamed and greatly shaken, suddenly put to shame. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 8
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name through all the earth! Your majesty is set above the heavens. From the mouths of children and of babes You fashioned praise to foil Your enemy, to silence the foe and the rebel. When I see the heavens, the work of Your fingers; the moon and stars which You arranged, what is man that You should keep him in mind, the son of man, that You care for him? Yet You have made him little lower than the angels; with glory and honor You crowned him, gave him power over the works of Your hands: You put all things under his feet: all of them, sheep and oxen, yes, even the cattle of the fields, birds of the air, and fish of the sea that make their way through the waters. O Lord our Lord, how majestic is Your name through all the earth! ALLELUIA.
PSALM 12
Save me, O Lord, for the holy ones are no more; the faithful have vanished from the sons of men. They babble vanities, one to another, with cunning lips, with divided heart. May the Lord destroy all cunning lips, the tongue that utters boastful words, those who say, “We prevail with our tongue; our lips are our own: who is our master?” “For the poor who are oppressed and the needy who groan, now will I rise,” says the Lord; “I will grant them the salvation for which they long.” The words of the Lord are words without alloy, silver from the furnace, seven times refined. It is You, O Lord, who will keep us safe, and protect us forever from this generation. The wicked prowl on every side, while baseness is exalted by the sons of men. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 13
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I bear grief in my soul, have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy prevail over me? Look, answer me, Lord my God! Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death; lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him”: lest my foes rejoice when they see me fall. As for me, I trust in Your merciful love. Let my heart rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord Who has been bountiful with me. I will sing psalms to the name of the Lord Most High. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 15
Lord, who may abide in Your tent, and dwell on Your holy mountain? Whoever walks without fault; who does what is just, and speaks the truth from his heart. Whoever does not slander with his tongue, who does no wrong to a neighbor, who casts no slur on a friend, who looks with scorn on the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD. Who keeps an oath, whatever the cost, who lends no money at interest, and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a one shall never be shaken. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 16
Preserve me, O Lord; for in You I take refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord. My happiness lies in You alone.” As for the holy ones who dwell in the land, they are noble, and in them is my delight. Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows. I will not take part in their offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips. O LORD, it is You who are my portion and cup; You yourself who secure my lot. Pleasant places are marked out for me: a pleasing heritage indeed is mine! I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart. I keep the LORD before me always; with Him at my right hand, I shall not be moved. And so, my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my flesh shall rest in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to hell, nor let your holy one see corruption. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand, bliss forever. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 18
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Day unto day conveys the message, and night unto night imparts the knowledge. No speech, no word, whose voice goes unheeded; their sound goes forth through all the earth, their message to the utmost bounds of the world. There he has placed a tent for the sun; it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent, rejoices like a champion to run his course. At one end of the heavens is the rising of the sun; to its further end it runs its course. There is nothing concealed from its burning heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect; it revives the soul. The decrees of the Lord are steadfast; they give wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right; they gladden the heart. The command of the Lord is clear; it gives light to enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, abiding forever. The judgements of the Lord are true; they are, all of them, just. They are more to be desired than gold, than quantities of gold. And sweeter are they than honey, than honey flowing from the comb. So in them your servant finds instruction; great reward is in their keeping. But who can detect their own errors? From hidden faults acquit me. From presumption restrain your servant: may it not rule me. Then shall I be blameless, clean from gave sin. May the spoken words of my mouth, the thoughts of my heart, win favor in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer! ALLELUIA.
PSALM 25
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. In You, O my God, I have trusted: let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Let none who hope in You be put to shame; but shamed are those who wantonly break faith. O Lord, make me know Your ways. Teach me your paths. Guide me in Your truth, and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. I have hoped in You all day long. Remember Your compassion, O Lord, and Your merciful love, for they are from old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. In Your merciful love remember me, because of Your goodness, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord; He shows the way to sinners. He guides the humble in right judgment; to the humble He teaches His way. All the Lord’s paths are mercy and faithfulness for those who keep His covenant and commands. O Lord, for the sake of Your name, forgive my guilt, for it is great.
Who is this that fears the Lord? He will show him the path to choose. His soul shall live in happiness, and his descendants shall possess the land. The Lord’s secret is for those who fear Him; to them He reveals His covenant. My eyes are always on the Lord; for He rescues my feet from the snare. Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am alone and poor. Relieve the anguish of my heart, and set me free from my distress. See my lowliness and suffering, and take away all my sins. See how many are my foes; with a violent hatred they hate me. Preserve my life and rescue me. Let me not be put to shame, for in You I trust. May integrity and virtue protect me, for I have hoped in You, O Lord. Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 26 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; whom should I dread? When those who do evil draw near to devour my flesh, it is they, my enemies and foes, who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart would not fear. Though war break out against me, even then would I trust. There is one thing I ask of the LORD, only this do I seek: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD, to inquire at his temple. For there he keeps me safe in his shelter in the day of evil. He hides me under cover of his tent; he sets me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be raised above my foes who surround me, and I shall offer within his tent a sacrifice of joy. I will sing and make music for the LORD. O LORD, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer me. Of you my heart has spoken, “Seek his face.” It is your face, O LORD, that I seek; hide not your face from me. Dismiss not your servant in anger; you have been my help. Do not abandon or forsake me, O God, my Savior! Though father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Instruct me, LORD, in your way; on an even path lead me because of my enemies. Do not leave me to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe I shall see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD! ALLELUIA.
PSALM 63 O God, you are my God; at dawn I seek you; for you my soul is thirsting. For you my flesh is pining, like a dry, weary land without water. I have come before you in the sanctuary, to behold your strength and your glory. Your loving mercy is better than life; my lips will speak your praise. I will bless you all my life; in your name I will lift up my hands. Alleluia My soul shall be filled as with a banquet; with joyful lips, my mouth shall praise you. When I remember you upon my bed, I muse on you through the watches of the night. For you have been my strength; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. Those who seek to destroy my life shall go down to the depths of the earth. Put to the power of the sword, they shall be left as prey for the jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all that swear by him shall exult, for the mouth of liars shall be silenced. Alleluia
PSALM 67 O God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us. So will your ways be known upon earth and all nations learn your salvation. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad
and shout for joy, with uprightness you rule the peoples; you guide the nations on earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its fruit for God, our God, has blessed us. May God still give us his blessing that all the ends of the earth may revere him. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 70 O God, come to my assistance; O LORD, make haste to help me! Let there be shame and confusion on those who seek my life. O let them turn back in confusion, who delight in my harm; let them retreat, covered with shame, who jeer at me and mock. O let there be rejoicing and gladness for all who seek you. Let them say forever, “God is great,” who love your saving help. As for me, wretched and poor, hasten to me, O God. You are my rescuer, my help; O LORD, do not delay. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 113 Alleluia! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! May the name of the LORD be blest both now and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, praised be the name of the LORD! High above all nations is the LORD, above the heavens his glory. Who is like the LORD, our God, who dwells on high, who lowers himself to look down upon heaven and earth? From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from the ash heap he raises the poor, to set them in the company of princes, yes, with the princes of his people. To the childless wife he gives a home as a joyful mother of children. ALLELUIA.
PSALM 143 With all my voice I cry to the LORD; with all my voice I entreat the LORD. I pour out my trouble before him; I tell him all my distress while my spirit faints within me. But you, O LORD, know my path. On the way where I shall walk, they have hidden a snare to entrap me. Look on my right hand and see: there is no one who pays me heed. No escape remains open to me; no one cares for my soul. To you I cry, O LORD. I have said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen, then, to my cry, for I am brought down very low. Rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, and I shall give thanks to your name. Around me the just will assemble, because of your goodness to me. ALLELUIA.
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN (1:1-17)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness to the Light. That was the true Light that gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him. He came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt in us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only-Begotten of His Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, `He who comes after me is preferred before me: for He was before me.’ ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Glory be to God forever. Amen.
We worship You O Christ with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for You have come and saved us.
1. O the true Light Who gives light to every man coming into the world, You came into the world through Your love for mankind, and all creation rejoiced in Your coming. You saved our father, Adam, from the seduction, and delivered our mother, Eve, from the pangs of death, and gave us the spirit of sonship. Let us, therefore, praise You and bless You saying: Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2. As the daylight shines upon us, O Christ Our God, the true Light, let the luminous senses and the bright thoughts shine within us, and do not let the darkness of passions hover over us, that mindfully we may praise You with David saying, “My eyes have awaken before the morning watch, that I might meditate on Your sayings.” Hear our voices according to your great mercy, and deliver us, O Lord our God, through Your compassion. Now and forever and unto the ages of all ages, Amen.
3. You are the honored Mother of the Light; from the risings of the sun to its settings praises are offered to you, O Theotokos, the second heaven, as you are the bright and unchanging flower, and the ever virgin mother; for the Father chose you, and the Holy Spirit overshadowed you, and the Son condescended and took flesh from you. Wherefore, ask Him to give salvation to the world which He created, and to deliver it from all tribulations. Let us praise Him a new praise, and bless Him, now and forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
THE GLORIA
Let us praise with the angels, saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
From the night season my soul awakes early unto You, O my God, for Your precepts are a light upon the earth. I was meditating on Your ways, for You have become a helper unto me. In the morning You shall hear my voice. Early I will stand before You, and You shall see me.
THE TRISAGION
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was born of the Virgin, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who rose from the dead and ascended into the heavens, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, forgive us our sins. O Lord, forgive us our iniquities. O Lord, forgive us our trespasses. O Lord, visit the sick of Your people, heal them for the sake of Your holy name. Our fathers and brothers who have slept, O Lord, repose their souls. O You Who are without sin, Lord have mercy on us. O You Who are without sin, Lord help us and receive our supplications. For Yours is the glory, the dominion, and triple holiness. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord bless. Amen.
Make us worthy to pray thankfully: Our Father Who art in heaven …
HAIL TO SAINT MARY
Hail to you. We ask you, O saint, full of glory, the ever virgin, the Mother of God (Theotokos), the Mother of Christ, lift up our prayers unto your beloved Son, that He may forgive us our sins. Hail to the Holy Virgin, who bore for us the true Light, Christ our God. Ask the Lord on our behalf, that He may have mercy on our souls, and forgive us our sins. O Virgin
Mary, the holy Mother of God (Theotokos), the trusted advocate of the human race, intercede on our behalf before Christ, Whom you bore, that He may grant us the forgiveness of our sins. Hail to you, O Virgin, the right and true queen. Hail to the pride of our race, you bore for us Emmanuel. We ask you, remember us, our trusted advocate, before our Lord Jesus Christ, that He may forgive us our sins.
fINTRODUCTION TO THE CREED
We exalt you, the Mother of the true Light. We glorify you, O Saint, the Theotokos,1 for you brought forth unto us the Savior of the whole world; He came and saved our souls. Glory to You, our Master, our King, Christ, the pride of the apostles, the crown of the martyrs, the joy of the righteous, the firmness of the churches, the forgiveness of sins. We proclaim the Holy Trinity in One Godhead. We worship Him. We glorify Him. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord bless. Amen.
THE ORTHODOX CREED
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Then the worshipper prays:
Lord, hear us and have mercy on us and forgive us our sins. Amen.
(Lord have mercy) 41 times
HOLY HOLY HOLY
Holy Holy Holy. Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory and honor. Have mercy on us, O God the Father, the Almighty O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, God of hosts, be with us. For we have no helper in our hardships and tribulations but You. Absolve, forgive, and remit, O God, our transgressions; those which we have committed willingly and those we have committed unwillingly, those which we have committed knowingly and those which we have committed unknowingly, the hidden and manifest, O Lord forgive us, for the sake of Your Holy name which is called upon us.
Let it be according to Your mercy, O Lord, and not according to our sins.
Make us worthy to pray thankfully: Our Father Who art in heaven …
FIRST ABSOLUTION
O Lord, God of hosts, who exists before all ages and abides forever, who created the sun for daylight, and the night as rest for all men; we thank You, O King of ages, for You have let us pass through the night in peace, and brought us to the
daybreak. Therefore, we ask You, O our Master, the King of all ages, to let Your face shine upon us, and the light of Your divine knowledge enlighten us. Grant us, O our Master, to be sons of light and sons of day, to pass this day in righteousness, chastity and good conduct, that we may complete all the rest of the days of our life without offence; through the grace, the compassion and the love of mankind of Your Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and the gift of Your Holy Spirit, now and at all times and forever. Amen.
SECOND ABSOLUTION
O God Who causes the light to burst forth, Who lets His sun shine upon the righteous and the wicked, Who created the light which illuminates the whole world, enlighten our minds, our hearts and our understandings, O Master of all, and grant us to please You this present day. Guard us from every bad thing, from every sin, and from every adversitive power; through Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom You are blessed, with the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver and one essence with You, now and at all times and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
CONCLUSION OF EVERY HOUR
Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy on us, who, at all times and in every hour, in heaven and on earth, is worshipped and glorified, Christ our God, the good, the long suffering, the abundant in mercy, and the great in compassion, who loves the righteous and has mercy on the sinners of whom I am chief; who does not wish the death of the sinner but rather that he returns and lives, who calls all to salvation for the promise of the blessings to come.
Lord receive from us our prayers in this hour and in every hour. Ease our life and guide us to fulfill Your commandments. Sanctify our spirits. Cleanse our bodies. Conduct our thoughts. Purify our intentions. Heal our diseases. Forgive our sins. Deliver us from every evil grief and distress of heart. Surround us by Your holy angels, that, by their camp, we may be guarded and guided, and attain the unity of faith, and the knowledge of Your imperceptible and infinite glory. For You are blessed forever. Amen.

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