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THE HIERATIKON

 

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 Thee who hast shown us the light, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…

After the Doxology the Priest shall say the litany:

Let us complete our supplication unto the Lord.

Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us O God, by Thy grace.

That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful and without sin, let us entreat the Lord.

After each petition the choir shall say: Grant us O Lord.

For an angel of peace, faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies, let us entreat the Lord.

For pardon and remission of our sins and transgression, let us entreat the Lord.

For things good and profitable to our souls, and peace for the world, let us entreat the Lord.

That we may pass the remainder of our lives in peace and repentance, let us entreat the Lord.

For a Christian ending to our life, painless, without shame and peaceful, and a good defence before the dread judgement seat of Christ, let us entreat the Lord.

Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary; and of all the saints; Let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.

 

PRIEST

For Thou art the God of mercies, compassions and loving-kindness, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST: Peace unto all.

DEACON: Let us bow down our heads before the Lord.

 

PRIEST

O Holy Lord, who dwellest in the highest, and dost observe what is humble, and Thine all observing eye dost look upon all Thy creation, to Thee have we bowed the neck of our soul and body, and beseech Thee, Holy of Holies, stretch forth Thine invisible hand from Thy holy habitation, and bless everyone of us: and whatsoever sins we have committed, voluntary or involuntary, do Thou forgive, for Thou art, O God, good and lovest mankind, and grant unto us Thy worldly and heavenly riches.

For Thine it is to have mercy, and to save, O Christ our God, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.

CHOIR: Amen.

And the choir shall sing the Aposticha. The second Aposticha hymn is preceded with the verse “We were filled in the morning…” and the third with the verse “And let the brightness of the Lord…” And after the Glory… now and for ever… of the Aposticha the Priest or the reader shall say:

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.

And the Reader shall continue with the “Trisagion” and after the Lord’s Prayer the Priest shall say:

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.

The choir shall say Amen and then sing the Troparion and Theotokion of the day, after which the Priest shall say the following Litany:

Have mercy upon us, O God, after Thy great goodness. We pray Thee, hear us and have mercy.

After each petition the choir shall say Kyrie eleison [3]

Again we pray for all pious and Orthodox Christians.

Again we pray for our Archbishop [Name], and for all our brethren in Christ.

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all the pious Orthodox Christians who dwell or visit this city [town, village, monastery], the parishioners, the Church committee, those who give help and those who have dedicated gifts in this holy temple.

Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy Church [monastery] and for all our departed fathers, brethren, and Orthodox Christians everywhere who have fallen asleep.

Again we pray for them that strive and bring forth the fruit of good works in this holy and venerable temple; for them that serve, and them that sing; and for all the people here present who await Thy great and bountiful mercy.

PRIEST

For Thou art a merciful God, and a lover of mankind, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.

CHOIR: Amen.

DEACON: Wisdom.

 

PRIEST

Christ our God, the Supreme Being, is blessed always, now and for ever: world without end.

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 power of the precious and life-giving Cross; by the protection of the heavenly bodiless hosts; through the supplications of the glorious Prophet and Forerunner, John the Baptist; of the holy and all-glorious Apostles; of the holy, glorious and triumphant martyrs; of our holy God-bearing fathers; of [Name of the saint to whom the Church is dedicated]; of the holy and righteous progenitors of God, Joachim and Anna; of [Name of saint] to whose memory we dedicate this day; and of all the saints, have mercy upon us, and save our souls: For He is good and loving-kind.

 

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

CHOIR: Amen.