The Orthodox Pages THE CHOIR'S HANDBOOK
MATTINS ON WEEKDAYS
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On ordinary weekdays when there is no Mattins Gospel, two orders are observed.
1) Parish Churches use the same Mattins ordering as for a Feast, but the complete order for the Gospel is omitted as are two Short Litanies that correspond to the Psalter readings. Thus after the Short Litany with the glorification “For Thine is the might, and Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory…” the choir shall sing the “Kathismata” and then the Reader shall recite Psalm 50. After the Psalm the Priest shall say the Short Litany with the glorification “For Thou art our God and to Thee we ascribe glory …” From here onwards the service is the same.
2) The same order is observed in monasteries except the two Short Litanies which correspond to the Psalter readings are not omitted. After Psalm 50 the Reader immediately reads the Canon. From here everything is observed as with Mattins on a Feast day up to the completion of the Praises. After the Praises the service has as follows:
PRIEST or READER To Thee is due glory, O Lord our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
And the Reader saying Amen shall recite the Small Doxology: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great mercy. Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; O Lord the Only- begotten Son Jesus Christ, and Thou O Holy Spirit. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us, Thou that takest away the sins of the world. Receive our prayer, Thou that sittest on the right hand of the Father, and have mercy upon us. For Thou only art Holy, Thou only art the Lord, O Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Everyday I will bless Thee and praise Thy name for ever and ever. O Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation. I said, Lord have mercy upon me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. O Lord, unto Thee have I fled for refuge, teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. For with Thee is the fountain of life, and in Thy light shall we see light. Continue Thy mercy upon those that know Thee. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name for evermore. Amen. O Lord, let Thy mercy lighten upon us as our trust is in Thee. Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy statutes. Blessed art Thou, O Master: make me to understand Thy statutes. Blessed art Thou, O Holy One: enlighten me with Thy statutes. O Lord, Thy mercy is for ever: despise not the works of Thine hands. To Thee belongeth praise, to Thee belongeth hymns, to Thee belongeth glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
DEACON Let us complete our supplication unto the Lord. Succour, save, have mercy… That this whole day may be perfect… CHOIR: Grant us O Lord.And after each petition. For an angel of peace, faithful guide… For pardon and remission of our sins… For things good and profitable to our souls… That we may pass the remainder of our lives… For a Christian ending to our life… Mindful of our most holy and undefiled… CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. PRIEST: For Thou art the God of mercies… CHOIR: Amen. PRIEST: Peace unto all. CHOIR: And unto thy spirit. DEACON: Let us bow down our heads before the Lord. CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord. PRIEST: O Holy Lord, who dwellest in the highest… For Thine it is to have mercy, and to save… CHOIR: Amen. And the choir shall sing the Aposticha. The first without a verse and the other two preceded by the following verses: 1) We were filled in the morning with Thy mercy, O Lord, and we rejoiced and were glad. In all our days, let us be glad: for the days wherein Thou hast humbled us, for the years wherein we have seen evil. And look upon Thy servants, and upon Thy works, and do Thou guide their sons. 2) And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: proper Thou the work of our hands, O prosper Thou our handiwork. Glory… Now... And after the Aposticha:
PRIEST or READER It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Thy Name, O Most High: to tell of Thy mercy in the morning and of Thy truth every night. READER: Trisagion… PRIEST: For Thine is the kingdom… CHOIR: Amen. Troparion and Theotokion of the day.
DEACON: Have mercy upon us, O God… CHOIR: Kyrie eleison or Lord have mercy. [3] And after each petition. Again we pray for all pious and Orthodox Christians. Again we pray for our Archbishop… Again we pray for mercy, life, peace… Again we pray for the blessed… Again we pray for them that strive…
PRIEST: For Thou art a merciful God… CHOIR: Amen. DEACON: Wisdom. PRIEST: Christ our God, the Supreme Being… CHOIR: Amen. May the Lord God make firm the holy and undefiled faith of pious Orthodox Christians in this holy Church [monastery], this city [village] and in all Thy world, for ever and ever. Amen. PRIEST Glory be to Thee, O Christ our God and our hope, glory be to Thee.
CHOIR Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. Kyrie eleison [3], holy father give the blessing.
PRIEST May Christ our true God, by the prayers of His most holy Mother… By the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. CHOIR: Amen.
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