The Orthodox Pages

THE HIERATIKON

LITTLE COMPLINE

The Priest, making a lowly reverence before the Bishop’s throne shall then vest himself with only the epitrakhelion and say:

Blessed is our God always, now and for ever: world without end.

READER: Amen.

PRIEST: Glory be to Thee, our God, glory be to Thee.

O heavenly King and Comforter, Spirit of Truth, that art in all places and fillest all things, Treasure of goodness, and Giver of life: come and abide in us; and cleanse us from all that defileth, and save our souls, O Thou who art Good.

READER: Trisagion…

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.

CHOIR: Amen. Lord have mercy. [12]

Glory…Now… O come, let us worship… [3]

Reading of Psalms 50, 69, 142.

Small Doxology. I believe in one God [The Creed].

The Canon to the Theotokos or Canon appointed for the day.

Meet it is in very truth…

Trisagion…

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.

CHOIR: Amen.

READER: Kontakion of the feast or Troparion of the day

Kyrie eleison. [40] Prayer of the Hours.

Kyrie eleison (3) Glory… Now…

More honourable than the cherubim…

In the name of the Lord, Father, give the blessing.

PRIEST

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us and have mercy upon us.

READER: Prayer to the Holy Virgin.

Evening Prayer to Christ.

Prayer to Holy Virgin.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity.

Prayer to the Holy Virgin.

Prayer to the Guardian angel.

As our Victorious Leader…

Glory… Now… Kyrie eleison [3]

Holy Father give the blessing.

The Priest facing toward the west shall give the Dismissal saying:

May Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most pure and undefiled Mother; of the holy and all-glorious Apostles; of our holy God- bearing fathers; of [Name of the saint to whom the Church is dedicated]; and of all the saints, have mercy upon us, and save our souls: For He is good and loving-kind.

And turning to face the Icon of Christ he shall say:

Let us pray for the peace of the whole world.

CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. And after each petition

For our father and Archbishop [Name] and for all our brethren in Christ,

For our absent fathers and brethren,

For those who minister and have ministered unto us,

For those who hate and love us,

For those who have asked of us sinners to pray for them,

For the deliverance of those held captive,

For the fair sailing of those at sea,

For those who in sickness are bedridden,

Let us pray also for the abundance of the fruits of the earth.

And for all our departed fathers, brethren, and Orthodox Christians everywhere who have fallen asleep.

Let us say for them, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison.

By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us.

CHOIR: Amen.

And turning to face the people he shall make a lowly reverence and say:

Bless, holy fathers [brethren], forgive me the sinner.

And they shall reply:

May God forgive thee, holy father.