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SERVICE OF THE ROYAL HOURS TYPIKON: If the Eve of the Theophany falls on Saturday or Sunday the Service of these Hours is chanted on the Friday. FIRST HOUR The Priest, vested in Phelonion and Epitacheilion and carrying the Gospel Book, enters through the Royal Doors, places the Gospel Book on the analogion placed in the centre of the Church and gives the blessing: Blessed is our God, always, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Reader: Amen. Glory to you, our God, glory to you. Heavenly King, Paraclete, Spirit of truth, present everywhere, filling all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every stain, and, O Good One, save our souls. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for your name s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen Our Father in heaven, may your name be hallowed. Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Priest: For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now, and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Reader: Amen. 1

Then: Lord, have mercy (twelve times). Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Come, let us worship the King, our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, the King, our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, the King and our God. Psalm 5. Give ear to my words, O Lord, understand my cry. Attend to the voice of my supplication, my King and my God; for to you I shall pray, O Lord. In the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I shall stand before you, and you will watch over me; because you are not a God who wills iniquity. One who does evil will not dwell with you, nor will the lawless remain before your eyes. You have hated all who work iniquity; you will destroy all who speak falsehood. The Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and deceit. But I, in the multitude of your mercy, shall enter your house, I shall bow down towards your holy temple in fear of you. Lord, guide me in your justice, because of my foes make my way straight before you. Because truth is not in their mouth; their heart is vain. Their throat is an opened tomb, they have deceived with their tongues. Judge them, O God. Let them fall through their counsels; cast them out in accordance with the multitude of their ungodly deeds, because they have provoked you, O Lord. And let all who hope on you be glad in you; they will rejoice for ever, and you will dwell in them, and all those who love your name will boast in you. Because you will bless the just, O Lord; as with a shield of good pleasure you have crowned us. Psalm 22. The Lord shepherds me, and I shall lack nothing. He has settled me in a place of green pasture, he has raised me by refreshing water. He has turned my soul back, he has led me on paths of justice, for his name's sake. For if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evils, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff have comforted me. You have prepared a table before me, in the face of those who afflict me. You have anointed my head with oil, and your cup inebriates me as though it were most potent. And your mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord to length of days. Psalm 26. The Lord is my light and my Saviour: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the guard of my life: from whom shall I shrink? When the wicked draw near me, to eat my flesh, it is my persecutors and enemies who grow feeble and fall. Though an army is arrayed against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise 2

against me, in this I hope. One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may contemplate the Lord's delightful beauty, and visit his holy temple. For he hides me in his tent in the day of my trouble; he shelters me in the secret place of his tent, he lifts me up on a rock. And now, behold, he is lifting my head above my enemies. I shall go around and offer in his tent a sacrifice with shouts of joy; I shall sing and play to the Lord. O Lord, hear my voice when I cry; have mercy on me and hearken to me. My heart says to you: I shall seek the Lord. I have sought you with my face; your face, O Lord, shall I seek. Do not turn away your face from me, and do not withdraw in anger from your servant. Be my helper, do not reject me, and do not forsake me, O God, my Saviour. For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord welcomes me. Teach me, O Lord, in your way, and guide me in the right path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my oppressors, for unjust witnesses have risen up against me, and injustice has deceived itself. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord, have courage, and let your heart be strong, and wait on the Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. and the Troparion of the Forefeast, Tone 4: The river Jordan once turned back before the mantle of Elissaios, when Elias had been taken up, and the waters were divided on this side and on that. The stream became for him a dry road, as a true type of Baptism, through which we pass through the fleeting course of life. Christ has appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. and the Theotokion: What shall we call you, O Full of grace? Heaven? For you made the Sun of righteousness to dawn. Paradise? For you made the flower of immortality blossom. Virgin? For you remained incorrupt. Pure Mother? For you held in your holy embrace a Son who is the God of all. Implore him that our souls may be saved. Then we chant the following stichera by Sophronios, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Tone 8: 3

Deacon: Let us attend. Then at once the Prokeimenon of the Prophecy, Tone 4. [Psalm 2:7-8] Reader: Prokeimenon in the Fourth Tone. The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High made his voice heard. Right Choir: Reader, the Verse: I shall love you, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my support and my refuge and my deliverer. Left Choir: Reader: The Lord thundered from heaven, Right Choir: Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from the Prophecy of Esaïas. [35: 1-10] Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: Thus says the Lord: Rejoice, thirsty desert. Let the desert be glad and flower like a lily, and let it shoot forth and let all rejoice. And the deserts of Jordan will blossom, and the glory of Lebanon has been given to it and the honour of Carmel. And my people will see the glory of the Lord and the 14

majesty of God. Be strong, enfeebled hands, and be comforted, palsied knees, and say to the faint-hearted, Be strong and do not fear. See, our God is giving judgement. He himself will come and save us. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will hear. Then the lame will leap like a deer and the tongue of stammerers will speak clearly, because water has burst out in the desert and a channel in a thirsty land. And the waterless place will become water meadows, and there will be a spring of water for the thirsty land. There will be joy of birds there, roosts of songbirds and reed beds and water meadows. And there will be a pure way there, and it will be called a holy way, and no one unclean may pass along it. There will be no unclean way there. But the scattered will walk on it and not go astray. There will be no lion there, nor will any of the evil wild beasts go up onto it or be found there. But the redeemed and those gathered by the Lord will walk on it. And they will return and come to Zion with joy and exultation, and eternal joy will be upon their head. For on their head will be praise and rejoicing, and gladness will possess them. Pain, grief and sighing have fled away. Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from the Acts of the Holy Apostles. [13:25-33] Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: In those days, as John was finishing his course, he said, Who do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie. Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. Though they could charge him with nothing deserving death, yet they asked Pilate to have him killed. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead; and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what was promised to the fathers, God has fulfilled this for us their children by raising Jesus. Deacon: Priest: People: Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace to all. 15

Priest: [3:1-11] People: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew Deacon: Priest: Let us attend. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the desert of Judea, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Esaïas when he said, The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Now John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then there went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father ; for I tell you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than me, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. People:. And the Reader continues: Direct my steps according to your word, and let no iniquity lord it over me. Deliver me from the slander of men, and I shall keep your commandments. Let your face shine on your servant, and teach me your statutes. 16

Let my mouth be filled with your praise, O Lord, that I may hymn your glory, all day long your splendour. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God. Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for your name s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen Our Father in heaven, may your name be hallowed. Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Priest: For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now, and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Reader: Amen. And the Kontakion of the Forefeast, Tone 4: Today the Lord has come to the streams of Jordan, and cries aloud to John: Do not be afraid to baptise me; for I have come to save Adam the First-formed. Lord, have mercy (x40). At every time and at every hour, in heaven and on earth worshipped and glorified, Christ God, long-suffering, great in mercy, great in compassion, loving the just and merciful to sinners, calling all to salvation by the promise of the good things to come; do you, Lord, yourself accept our entreaties at this hour, and direct our lives to your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our ideas and deliver us from every distress, evil, and pain. Wall us about with your holy Angels, that protected and guided by their host we may reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of your unapproachable glory; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. 17

Greater in honour than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word, truly the Mother of God, we magnify you. In the name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father. Priest: May God take pity on us and bless us, and show the light of his countenance upon us and have mercy on us. Reader: And the Prayer: Amen. Christ, the true light, who enlighten and sanctify everyone who comes into the world, may the light of your countenance be signed upon us, that in it we may see your unapproachable light; and direct our steps to the doing of your commandments; at the intercessions of your all-immaculate Mother and of all your Saints. Amen. THIRD HOUR Come, let us worship the King, our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, the King, our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, the King and our God. Three Metanias, then the following Psalms. Psalm 28: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord young rams, bring to the Lord glory and honour. Bring to the Lord glory to his name; worship the Lord in his holy court. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is with power; the voice of the Lord is with majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks cedars; the Lord will break the cedars of Lebanon. He will crush them to small pieces like a calf, even Lebanon; and the beloved is like a young unicorn. The voice of the Lord divides a flame of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord will shake the desert of Kaddes. The voice of the Lord makes hinds abort and strips the forests bare, while in the temple all say Glory. The Lord inhabits the flood, and is enthroned; the Lord is King for ever. The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Psalm 41: As yearns the hart for springs of water, so my soul yearns for you, O God. My soul has thirsted for the strong, living God; when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my bread day and night, while they say to me daily: Where is your God? I remembered these things, and poured out my soul within me, for I shall go to the place of the wondrous tent, even the house 18

of God, with the sound of exultation and thanksgiving from the voice of the one who keeps festival. Why are you downcast, O my soul? And why are you disquieting me? Hope in God, for I shall give thanks to him, the salvation of my countenance, and my God. My soul has been troubled within me; therefore I shall remember you from the land of Jordan and the Hermonites, from the small mountain. Deep calls to deep at the sound of your cataracts; all your waves and billows have gone over me. By day the Lord will command his mercy, and by night his song will be with me a prayer to the God of my life. I shall say to God: You are my protector. Why have you forgotten me? And why must I go mourning while my enemy oppresses me? While my bones were breaking my enemies taunted me, while they say to me daily: Where is your God? Why are you downcast, O my soul? And why are you disquieting me? Hope in God, for I shall give thanks to him, the salvation of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 50: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy: according to the fullness of your compassion blot out my offence. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my wickedness: and my sin is ever before me. Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight: that you may be justified in your words, and win when you are judged. For see, in wickedness I was conceived: and in sin my mother bore me. For see, you have loved truth: you have shown me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed: you will wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. You will make me hear of joy and gladness: the bones which have been humbled will rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins: and blot out all my iniquities. Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right Spirit within me. Do not cast me out from your presence: do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Give me back the joy of your salvation: and establish me with your sovereign Spirit. I shall teach transgressors your ways: and sinners will turn to you again. O God, the God of my salvation, deliver me from bloodshed: and my tongue will rejoice at your righteousness. O Lord, you will open my lips: and my mouth will proclaim your praise. For if you had wanted sacrifice, I would have given it: you will not take pleasure in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and a humbled heart God will not despise. Do good to Zion, Lord, in your good pleasure: and let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt. Then you will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, oblation and whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer calves upon your altar. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. 19

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. and the Troparion of the Forefeast, Tone 4: The river Jordan once turned back before the mantle of Elissaios, when Elias had been taken up, and the waters were divided on this side and on that. The stream became for him a dry road, as a true type of Baptism, through which we pass through the fleeting course of life. Christ has appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: Mother of God, you are the true vine, who gave bud to the fruit of life; we implore you, Sovereign Lady, intercede together with the holy Apostles that he have mercy on our souls. Then we chant the following Stichera. Tone 8. 20

Deacon: Let us attend. And at once the Prokeimenon, Tone 6. [Psalm 76:13,2] Reader: Prokeimenon in the Sixth Tone. The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you, and were afraid. Right Choir: Reader, the Verse: I cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice to God, and he attended to me. Left Choir: Reader: The waters saw you, O God, Right Choir: Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from the Prophecy of Esaïas. [1: 16-20] Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: Thus says the Lord: Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove from your souls your evil doings before my eyes; cease from your evil doings. Learn to do good; seek judgement, deliver the oppressed; give 31

judgement for the orphan, and do right for the widow. And come and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow; though they are red like crimson, I will make them white like wool. If you are willing and listen to me, you will eat the good of the land; but if you are not willing and do not listen to me, a sword will devour you; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken this. Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from the Acts of the Holy Apostles. [19:1-8] Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: In those days, it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said to him, No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he said to them, Into what then were you baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God. Deacon: Priest: People: Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace to all. Priest: The Reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark. [1:1-8] People: Deacon: Let us attend. 32

Priest: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way. The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John appeared baptizing in the desert, and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and those from Jerusalem; and they were all baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, After me comes he who is mightier than me, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. People: And the Reader continues: Blessed is the Lord God, blessed is the Lord day by day; may the God of our salvation give us prosperity. Our God is the God who saves. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God. Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for your name s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen Our Father in heaven, may your name be hallowed. Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 33

Priest: For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now, and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Reader: Amen. And the Kontakion of the Forefeast, Tone 4: Today the Lord has come to the streams of Jordan, and cries aloud to John: Do not be afraid to baptise me; for I have come to save Adam the First-formed. Lord, have mercy (x40). At every time and at every hour, in heaven and on earth worshipped and glorified, Christ God, long-suffering, great in mercy, great in compassion, loving the just and merciful to sinners, calling all to salvation by the promise of the good things to come; do you, Lord, yourself accept our entreaties at this hour, and direct our lives to your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our ideas and deliver us from every distress, evil, and pain. Wall us about with your holy Angels, that protected and guided by their host we may reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of your unapproachable glory; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Greater in honour than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word, truly the Mother of God, we magnify you. In the name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father. Priest: May God take pity on us and bless us, and show the light of his countenance upon us and have mercy on us. Reader: And the Prayer: Amen. God and Master, Father almighty, Lord, only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, one godhead, one power, have mercy on me a sinner; and by the judgements which you know, save me your unworthy servant; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. And at once we start the Sixth Hour. 34

SIXTH HOUR Come, let us worship the King, our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, the King, our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, the King and our God. With 3 Metanias, then the Psalms. Psalm 73: Why, O God, have you utterly rejected us? Why do you fume in anger at the sheep of your pasture? Remember your congregation, which you have purchased from the beginning. You have ransomed the rod of your inheritance: this mount Zion in which you have dwelt. Lift up your hands against their perpetual pride, against all the evil which the enemy has done in your holy place. And those who hate you have boasted in the midst of your feast; they have set up their own standards as signs, and do not know that the way out is above. As if felling a forest of trees with axes, together they cut down its doors; with hatchet and hammer they have broken it down. They have burnt your sanctuary to the ground with fire; they have profaned the tent of your name. All their kindred together said in their hearts: Come, let us abolish all the feasts of God from the earth. We have not seen their signs; there is no longer a prophet, nor will he know us any longer. How long, O God, will the enemy taunt? Can the adversary provoke your name for ever? Why do you for ever turn away your hand, and your right hand from the midst of your bosom? But God is our king from before the ages; he has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. You established the sea by your power; you broke in pieces the heads of the dragons in the water. You shattered the heads of the dragon; you gave him as meat to the peoples of Ethiopia. You opened springs and torrents; you dried up the rivers of Etham. The day is yours, and the night is yours; you have prepared moon and sun. You have made all the beautiful things of the earth, summer and spring; you have formed them. Remember this: an enemy has reproached the Lord, and a foolish people has defied your name. Do not give to the beasts a soul that pleases you; do not forget for ever the souls of your needy. Look upon your covenant, for the dark places of the earth are filled with houses of iniquity. Do not let the afflicted and shamed one be rejected; the poor and needy will praise your name. Arise, O God, plead your cause; remember your reproaches that come from the fool all the day. Do not forget the voice of your suppliants; the pride of those who hate you goes up for ever. Psalm 76: I cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice to God, and he attended to me. In the day of my affliction I sought God, with my hands before him in the night, and I was not deceived; my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered 35

God and was glad; I poured out my complaint, and my spirit fainted. My eyes forestalled the watches; I was troubled, and did not speak. I considered the days of old, and remembered ancient years, and I meditated. By night I communed with my heart, and diligently searched my spirit. Will the Lord cast us off for ever, and never again be well pleased? Will he cut off his mercy for ever? Will he withhold his promise from generation to generation? Will God forget to have pity? Or will he withhold his pity in his wrath? And I said, Now I have begun; this change is due to the right hand of the Most High. I remembered the works of the Lord, for I shall remember your wonders from the beginning. And I shall meditate on all your works, and consider your acts. O God, your way is in the holy place. Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who works wondrous deeds. You have made known your power among the peoples; with your arm you have redeemed your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and were afraid; the depths were troubled. Great was the noise of the waters, the clouds made a sound, for your arrows went through them. The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind, and your lightnings appeared to the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your ways are in the sea, and your paths in many waters, and your footsteps cannot be known. You guided your people like sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Psalm 90: He who dwells in the help of the Most High, will live under the protection of the of the God of heaven. He will say to the Lord: You are my protector and my refuge, my God, and I shall hope in him. For he will deliver you from the snare of the hunters, and from the word which troubles. He will overshadow you with his shoulders, and beneath his wings you will hope; his truth will encircle you with a shield. You will not be afraid of terror by night, of the arrow that flies by day; of the thing that prowls in the darkness, of mishap and the noonday devil. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. But with your eyes you will observe, and see the reward of sinners. For you, Lord, are my hope; you have made the Most High your refuge. Evils will not approach you, nor a scourge draw near your dwelling. Because he has given orders to his Angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways, they will bear you on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You will walk on asp and basilisk, and trample down lion and dragon. Because he hoped in me, I shall deliver him; I shall shelter him, because he knew my name. He will cry to me, and I shall hear him. I am with him in trouble; I shall rescue him and glorify him. I shall fill him with length of days, and show him my salvation. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. 36

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. and the Troparion of the Forefeast, Tone 4: The river Jordan once turned back before the mantle of Elissaios, when Elias had been taken up, and the waters were divided on this side and on that. The stream became for him a dry road, as a true type of Baptism, through which we pass through the fleeting course of life. Christ has appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: Because we have no boldness on account of our many sins, entreat the One born of you, O Virgin Mother of God; for a Mother s plea has great force for the kindness of the Master. Do not despise the supplications of sinners, O allholy, for he is merciful, and able to save, he who even accepted to suffer for us. Then we sing the following Stichera. Tone 8: 37

Deacon: Let us attend. At once the Prokeimenon of the Prophecy, Tone 4: [Psalm 76:20,19]. Reader: Prokeimenon in the Fourth Tone. Your ways are in the sea, and your paths in many waters. Right Choir: Reader, the Verse: The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind. Left Choir: Reader: Your ways are in the sea, Right Choir: Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from the Prophecy of Esaïas. [12:3-16] Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: Thus says the Lord: Draw water with gladness from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day, Sing praise to the Lord, and cry out his name. Proclaim his glorious deeds among the nations. Remind them that his name has been exalted. Sing to the name of the Lord, for he has done lofty things. Proclaim these in all the earth. Rejoice and be glad, you that dwell in Zion, because the Holy One of Israel has been exalted in the midst of her. Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Romans. [6:3-11] Deacon: Let us attend. 50

Reader: Brethren, as many as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death. We were buried then with him through baptism to death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. For we know that our old humanity was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For one who has died has been justified from sin. If then we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer lords it over him. For in that he died, he died for sin once; but in that he lives, he lives for God. Consequently, you also must consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Deacon: Priest: People: Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace to all. Priest: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Mark. [1:9-15] People: Deacon: Priest: Let us attend. In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately when he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending on him; and a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the desert. And he was in the desert forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel. 51

People: Then the Reader says: Let your mercies, O Lord, come quickly to our aid, for we are utterly poor; help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of your name. O Lord, deliver us, and have mercy on our sins, for your name s sake. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God. Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for your name s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen Our Father in heaven, may your name be hallowed. Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Priest: For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now, and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Reader: Amen. And the Kontakion of the Forefeast, Tone 4: Today the Lord has come to the streams of Jordan, and cries aloud to John: Do not be afraid to baptise me; for I have come to save Adam the First-formed. Lord, have mercy (x40). At every time and at every hour, in heaven and on earth worshipped and glorified, Christ God, long-suffering, great in mercy, great in compassion, loving the just and merciful to sinners, calling all to salvation by the promise of the good things to come; do you, Lord, yourself accept our entreaties at this 52

hour, and direct our lives to your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our ideas and deliver us from every distress, evil, and pain. Wall us about with your holy Angels, that protected and guided by their host we may reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of your unapproachable glory; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Greater in honour than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word, truly the Mother of God, we magnify you. In the name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father. Priest: May God take pity on us and bless us, and show the light of his countenance upon us and have mercy on us. Reader: And the Prayer: Amen. O God and Lord of powers, and Maker of all creation, who through the compassion of your incomprehensible mercy sent down your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of our race, and through his precious Cross tore up the record of our sins, and by it triumphed over the principalities and powers of darkness; do you yourself, O Master who love mankind, accept also from us sinners supplications of thanksgiving and entreaty; and deliver us from all destroying and dark transgression, and from all our foes, visible and invisible, who seek to harm us. Nail down our flesh through fear of you, and do not let our hearts incline to words or thoughts of evil, but wound our souls with longing for you; that ever gazing on you and guided by the light that comes from you, seeing you the unapproachable and everlasting light, we may give unceasing praise and thanks to you, the Father without beginning, with your only-begotten Son, and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. NINTH HOUR Come, let us worship the King, our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, the King, our God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, the King and our God. With 3 Metanias, then the Psalms. 53

Psalm 92: The Lord is king, he has robed himself with majesty; the Lord has robed and girded himself with power; he has established the world, which will not be shaken. Your throne is prepared from of old; you are from eternity. The rivers have raised, O Lord, the rivers have raised their voices; the rivers have lifted up their waves at the voices of many waters. The billows of the sea are wonderful; the Lord is wonderful on high. Your testimonies are very sure; holiness befits your house, O Lord, to length of days. Psalm 113: When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people, Judea became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea saw and fled; the Jordan was turned back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the hills like lambs. What happened to you, O sea, that you fled? And to you, O Jordan, that you were turned back? To you mountains, that you skipped like rams, and you hills like lambs? The earth trembled at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into pools of water, and the sharp rock into springs of water. Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name give glory, because of your mercy and your truth, lest the nations say: Where is their God? But our God is is in heaven and on earth; he does whatever he wills. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, works of men s hands. They have mouths, yet cannot speak; they have eyes, yet cannot see. They have ears, yet cannot hear; they have noses, yet cannot smell. They have hands, yet cannot feel; they have feet, yet cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat. Let those who made them become like them; and all who trust in them. The house of Israel hopes in the Lord: he is their helper and protector. The house of Aaron hopes in the Lord: he is their helper and protector. Those who fear the Lord hope in the Lord: he is their helper and protector. The Lord has remembered us and blessed us; he has blessed the house of Israel, he has blessed the house of Aaron. He has blessed those who fear the Lord, both small and great. May the Lord grant increase to you and to your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The heaven of heavens is for the Lord, but the earth he has given to the children of men. The dead will not praise you, O Lord, nor all who go down to hell. But we, the living, will bless the Lord from now and for ever. Psalm 85: Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my soul, for I am holy; O my God, save your servant who hopes in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I shall cry to you all the day; give joy to the soul of your servant, for I have lifted up my soul to you. For you, O Lord, are good and gentle, and full of mercy to all who call on you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplication. In the day of my trouble I 54

called to you, for you have heard me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord; and none whose works are as yours. All the nations whom you made will come and bow down before you, O Lord, and glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Guide me, Lord, in your way, and I shall walk in your truth; make my heart glad to fear your name. I shall give you thanks, O Lord, my God, with my whole heart; and I shall glorify your name for ever. For your mercy is great towards me, and you have delivered my soul from the lowest hell. O God, the lawless rose up against me, and an assembly of mighty ones sought my soul, and did not set you before them. And you, O Lord my God, are pitying and merciful, long-suffering and full of mercy and true. Look on me and have mercy on me; give your might to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. Make with me a sign for good, and let those who hate me see it and be ashamed; for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. And again: Make with me a sign for good, and let those who hate me see it and be ashamed; for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. and the Troparion of the Forefeast, Tone 4: The river Jordan once turned back before the mantle of Elissaios, when Elias had been taken up, and the waters were divided on this side and on that. The stream became for him a dry road, as a true type of Baptism, through which we pass through the fleeting course of life. Christ has appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: O Good One, born of a Virgin for our sakes and who endured crucifixion; who despoiled death by death and as God revealed resurrection, do not despise those whom you fashioned with your own hand; show your love for mankind, O Merciful; accept the Mother of God who bore you, as she intercedes for us, and save, our Saviour, a people in despair. Then we chant the following Stichera. Tone. 7: 55

The Canonarch, standing in the middle of the Church, then intones the whole of this verse, Tone 5: With your hand you touched the most pure head of the Master, and with the finger of that hand you pointed him out to us, raising it over him for us, O Baptist, as you have great freedom to speak before him. And that you are greater than all the prophets was testified by him. And again with your own eyes you saw the most holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove. Lift them up towards him, O Forerunner, and make him merciful towards us, and come and stand with us, setting the seal on our song and beginning the Feast. And we make three full prostrations. Then the Deacon says in a loud voice: To our great lord and father, his holiness Patriarch N., and to our lord the most reverend Metropolitan (or Archbishop or right reverend Bishop) N., and to our Ruler N., his/her government and all in authority: many years! People: God grant them many years. (Three times) Deacon: Grant, O Lord, to all Orthodox Christians, peace and prosperity, and abundance of the fruits of the earth, and many years. People: God grant them many years. (Three times) [In a Monastery we add: Deacon: O Christ God, save our venerable father Igumen (or Archimandrite) N., and his brethren in Christ; preserve this holy community in peace, and establish this holy church to the ages of ages. People: Save them, O Christ God. (Three times)] Then the choirs, singing together, repeat the verse: 64

Deacon: Let us attend. At once the Prokeimenon of the Prophecy. Tone 3. [Psalm 26:1] Reader: Prokeimenon in the Third Tone. The Lord is my light and my saviour: whom shall I fear? Right Choir: Reader, the Verse: The Lord is the guard of my life: from whom shall I shrink? Left Choir: Reader: The Lord is my light and my saviour, Right Choir: Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from the Prophecy of Esaïas. [49:8-15] Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: Thus says the Lord: In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you. I fashioned you and I gave you and set you as a 68

covenant to the nations, to establish the land, and to apportion inheritances for the desolate heritages; saying to those in fetters, Come forth ; and to those who are in darkness, Reveal yourselves. They shall feed along all the ways, and on all the paths shall be their pasture. They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither shall scorching wind smite them nor the sun, but he who has mercy on them will comfort them, and will lead them through springs of waters. And I will make every mountain a way, and every path a pasture for them. See, some will come from afar, some from the North and from the Sea, and others from the land of the Persians. Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; let the mountains break out into joy and the hills into justice, for God has had mercy on his people, and has comforted the lowly of his people. But Zion said, The Lord has forsaken me and God has forgotten me. Will a woman forget her child, or have no mercy on the offspring of her womb? Even though a woman may forget these, yet I will not forget you, says the Lord. Deacon: Wisdom. Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to Titus. [2:11-14; 3:4-7] Deacon: Let us attend. Reader: My Child Titus, the grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all mankind, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly desires, and in the present age to live temperately, justly, and devoutly, while we look for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself up for us so that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own, who are zealous for good works. But when the goodness and love for mankind of God our Saviour appeared, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he has poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Deacon: Priest: People: Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace to all. 69

Priest: [3:13-17] People: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Deacon: Priest: Let us attend. At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. And John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered, saying to him, Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and behold, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. People: After this the Reader says: For your holy name s sake do not finally reject us, do not annul your covenant, do not take your mercy from us for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, and for the sake of Isaac, your servant, and Israel, your holy one. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God. Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for your name s sake. 70