Prayers

 

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O Good One.

Βασιλεῦ Οὐράνιε, Παράκλητε, τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς Ἀληθείας, ὁ Πανταχοῦ Παρὼν καὶ τὰ Πάντα Πληρῶν, ὁ Θησαυρός τῶν Ἀγαθῶν καὶ Ζωῆς Χορηγός, ἐλθὲ καὶ σκήνωσον ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ καθάρισον ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης κηλῖδος καὶ σῶσον, Ἀγαθὲ τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

 Prayer for the Beginning of the Day

O Lord, grant me to meet the coming of the day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon Your holy will.  In every hour of the day reveal Your will to me.  Bless my dealings with all who surround me.  Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all.  In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings.  In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by You.  Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.  Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.  Direct my will, teach me to pray.  And, Yourself, pray in me.  Amen.

 

Dismissal Prayer of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (also called The Prayer Behind the Ambon)

 

O Lord, Who blesses those who bless You and sanctifies those who put their trust in You, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Protect the whole body of Your Church. Sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house. Glorify them in return by Your divine power, and forsake us not who have set our hope in You. Grant peace to Your world, to Your churches, to the clergy, to our civic leaders, to the armed forces, and to all Your people. For every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from You, the Father of lights. To You we give glory, thanksgiving, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

 

Orthodox Prayers of the Hours

The Hours

(Modified for personal use. Said at approximately 6:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 12 noon, and 3:00 p.m. respectively. The sign of the cross is made where (+) appears in the text.)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Trisagion Prayers

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who are everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of blessings 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. (3 times)

(+) 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, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.

Lord have mercy. (3x)

(+) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, 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. 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. Amen.

Come, let us worship God our King. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.

The Psalms

(Here the appointed Psalms are read: three are prescribed for each hour, but an option is to alternate; for instance in First Hour, Psalm 5 on Monday and Thursday, and Psalm 100 on Wednesday and Saturday. Psalm numbers in parantheses refer to the psalm numbering used in the King James Version and most English Bibles, rather than the Septuagint numbering used by Orthodox.)

First Hour:  Psalms 5, 89 (90) and 100 (101)
Third Hour:  Psalms 16, 24 and 50 (51)
Sixth Hour:  Psalms 53 (54), 54 (55) and 90 (91)
Ninth Hour:  Psalms 83 (84), 84 (85) and 85 (86)
 
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 You, O Lord!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia; glory to You, O Lord!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia; glory to You, O Lord! Our God and our hope, glory to You.

Troparion of the Hour and Day

(The Troparion (hymn) and the Theotokion appointed for the day are sung in the Tone of the day, followed by the Psalm Verse for the Hour.  For those unfamiliar with chanting, using the Tone system is not necessary.  In addition, the Troparia for the saints commemorated on this day may be sung from the Menologion or from a Menaion of your choice.)
 
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Troparion

Monday: (Tone 4) O you foremost of the heavenly hosts, we, though unworthy, beseech you that by your petitions you would encompass us with the shadow of your immaterial glory; preserving us who kneel and cry ceaselessly; deliver us from oppressions since you are the princes of the ranks of dominions on high.

Tuesday: (Tone 2) The memory of the righteous is in praise. And O Forerunner, the testimony of the Lord was sufficient for you; for in truth you have been revealed as nobler than all the prophets, having been considered worthy to baptize in running waters Him who was preached. Therefore, you strove for the truth happily. To those in Hell you proclaimed God Incarnate, who takes away the sin of the world, and who grants us great mercy.

Wednesday: (Tone 1) O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; grant victory to the faithful over their adversary, and by the power of your Cross guard your habitation.

Thursday: (Tone 3) O Holy Apostles, intercede with the merciful God to grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Friday: (Tone 1) O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance; grant victory to the faithful over their adversary, and by the power of your Cross guard your habitation.

Saturday: (Tone 2) O great Apostles, Martyrs, Prophets, hierarchs, saints, and righteous, who have fought the good fight and kept the faith; we beseech you, since you have achieved favor with the Savior, plead with Him for our sake, for He is good, to save our souls.

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Theotokion and Psalm Verses

First Hour:
Theotokion: What shall we call you, O you who are full of grace? Heaven, for from you shone forth the Sun of righteousness; Paradise, for you have budded forth the Flower of immortality; Virgin, for you have remained undefiled; Pure Mother, for you have held in your holy embrace a Son, who is God of all. Beseech him to save our souls.
Psalm Verse: Order my steps in Your Word, O Lord, and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me. Deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men, and so shall I keep Your commandments. Show the light of Your countenance upon me, and teach me Your commandments. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise O Lord, that I may sing of Your glory and honor all day long.

Third Hour:
Theotokion:  O Theotokos, you are the true vine who did bud forth for us the Fruit of Life. Implore him, we beseech you, O Lady, together with the apostles and all the saints, that He will have mercy on our souls.
Psalm Verse: Blessed is the Lord God, blessed is the Lord day by day; the God of our salvation shall prosper us along the way. Our God is the God of salvation.

Sixth Hour:
Theotokion: Seeing that we have no boldness, because of the multitude of our sins, do you, O Virgin Theotokos, fervently entreat him who was born of you; for the prayer of a mother avails much to the good will of the Master. Despise not the supplications of sinners, O all-revered one; for merciful and mighty to save is He who graciously willed to suffer for us.
Psalm Verse: Let Your tender mercies quickly go before us, O Lord, for we have become very poor. Help us, O God our Savior, for the sake of the glory of Your name; O Lord, deliver us, and cleanse our sins, for Your name’s sake.

Ninth Hour:
Theotokion: O Lord, who for our sake was born of a Virgin, and suffered crucifixion, O Good One, and destroyed death through death, and as God revealed the Resurrection; Do not despise those whom You have created with Your own hand; show forth Your love for mankind, O Merciful One; accept the intercessions of Your mother, the Theotokos, for us, and save Your despairing people.
Psalm Verse: Do not forsake us utterly, for Your Name’s sake, and do not destroy Your covenant; and do not take Your mercies from us, for the sake of Abraham whom You loved, and for the sake of Isaac, Your servant, and of Israel, Your holy one.

First Prayer of the Hour

First Hour – Order my steps in your Word, and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me. Deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men, and so shall I keep Your commandments. Show the light of Your countenance upon Your servant, and teach me Your commandments.  Let my mouth be filled with Your praise, O Lord, that I may sing of Your glory and honor all day long.

Third Hour – Blessed be the Lord God. Blessed be the Lord day by day. May the God of our salvation prosper us, for He is our God, the God of our salvation.

Sixth Hour – Let Your tender mercies speedily go before us, O Lord, for we have become very poor. Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of Your Name: O Lord, deliver us and cleanse our sins for Your Name’s sake.

Ninth Hour – Do not forsake us utterly, for Your Name’s sake, and do not destroy Your covenant; and do not take Your mercies from us, for the sake of Abraham whom You loved, and for the sake of Isaac, Your servant, and of Israel, Your holy one.

Kontakion of the Hour and Day

The Kontakion of the day is sung, except during Great Lent when the kontakion specific to that season is sung.

Kontakion

Monday: (Tone 2) O heads of the hosts of God, servants of the Divine glory, guides of human beings, and leaders of the angelic hosts; intercede for that which benefits us, and seek for us the great mercy; for you are the heads of the angelic hosts.

Tuesday: (Tone 2) O Prophet of God and forerunner of grace, we have found your head in the earth as an all-pure rose. Therefore we seek from it healing at all times; for as of old you do not cease to preach repentance to the world.

Wednesday: (Tone 1) O You, Who of Your own good will was elevated upon the Cross, bestow Your bounties upon the new people who are called by Your Name, O Christ our God; by Your might make our believing rulers glad, granting them victory over their adversaries. May Your aid be a covering of peace, a trophy of invincibility.

Thursday: (Tone 5) Truly, O Lord, You have translated to bliss and the enjoyment of Your blessings, the two trustworthy preachers, theologians, and heads of Your disciples; for You accepted their struggles and death as better than any sacrifice, O You Who alone know the secrets of our hearts.

Friday: (Tone 1) O You, Who of Your own good will was elevated upon the Cross, bestow Your bounties upon the new people who are called by Your Name, O Christ our God; by Your might make our believing rulers glad, granting them victory over their adversaries. May Your aid be a covering of peace, a trophy of invincibility.

Saturday: (Tone 8) Give rest, O Christ, to the souls of Your servants who are with the saints, where there is no suffering nor sorrow, and no sighs, but eternal life.

Second Prayer of the Hour

O Lord, Who at all times and in every hour in heaven and earth are worshiped and glorified, O Christ our God, most patient, most merciful, most compassionate, Who love the just and the righteous and have mercy on sinners, Who call all to repentance and salvation through the promise of the good things to come: Receive, O Lord, our prayers at this hour, and guide our life to Your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, direct our thoughts, clarify our intentions, and deliver us from all distress, evil and sorrow. Surround us with your holy angels, so that guided and guarded by their host, we may attain to the unity of the faith and the full knowledge of Your unapproachable glory. For blessed are You unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian (added during Great Lent and Holy Week with prostrations [++}, otherwise proceed to Conclusion)
O Lord and Master of my life, do not give to me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power or idle talk.(++)
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, love and patience to Thy servant. (++)
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brethren. For blessed are You unto ages of ages. Amen. (++)

Conclusion

Lord, have mercy. (3 times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious without compare than the Seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Word, truly Theotokos, you do we magnify.

The Final Prayer

First Hour: O Christ the true Light, Who enlighten and sanctify every person who comes into the world, may the light of Your Countenance shine on us, that in Your light we may see the unapproachable light. And direct our steps to the keeping of Your commandments, through the intercessions of Your most holy Mother and all the Saints. Amen.

Third Hour: O Lord God, the Father Almighty; O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and O Holy Spirit; One Godhead, One Power, have mercy upon me a sinner and by the judgments which You have established, save me Your unworthy servant, for blessed are You unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Sixth Hour: O God and Lord of Hosts and Author of all creation, Who through the tenderhearted compassion of Your incomparable mercy sent down Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the redemption of our race, and by His precious Cross destroyed the handwriting of our sins, and thereby triumphed over the princes and powers of darkness; O Lord, Who loves mankind, accept also these thanksgivings and prayers of us sinners and deliver us from every dark and deadly transgression, and from all enemies, both visible and invisible, who seek to do us harm. Nail our flesh with the fear of You, and incline not our hearts to evil words or thoughts, but wound our souls with Your love, that ever looking to You, and guided by Your light and beholding You, the unapproachable everlasting light, we may ascribe to You unceasing praise and thanksgiving; to the Father Who has no beginning, together with Your Only-begotten Son, and Your all holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Ninth Hour: O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who has patiently endured our sins, and Who has led us even to the present hour in which, as You hung upon the life-giving tree You made a way into Paradise for the repentant thief, and by death destroyed death: cleanse us sinners and Your unworthy servants; for we have sinned and have dealt iniquitously, and we are not worthy to lift our eyes to the heights of heaven, for we have abandoned the part of Your righteousness, and have walked after the desires of our own hearts. But we implore Your boundless goodness: spare us, O Lord, according to the multitude of Your mercies, and save us, for Your holy Name’s sake; for our days have passed away in vanity. Pull us away from the hand of the adversary, and forgive our sins and deaden in us fleshly imagination; that putting off the old man, we may be clothed with the new man, and may live unto You, our Master and Benefactor; and that following Your commandments, we may attain to eternal rest, where is the dwelling-place of all those who rejoice. For You are, in truth, the true joy and exultation of those who love You, O Christ our God, and unto You we ascribe glory, together with the Father, Who has no beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

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. (3 times)

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers and Mothers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.