MATINS

Wednesday, March 5

The Holy Martyr Conon.

Priest: Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving and undivided Trinity, always, now and for ever and ever.

Choir: Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and to His people on earth, His peace and good will. (3x)

O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. (2x)

Psalm 37 (Tuesday)

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger;* do not punish me, Lord, in Your rage.

Your arrows have sunk deep in me:* Your hand has come down upon me.

Through Your anger all my body is sick:* through my sin, there is no health in my limbs.

My guilt towers higher than my head:* it is a weight too heavy to bear.

My wounds are foul and festering,* the result of my own folly.

I am bowed and brought to my knees.* I go mourning all the day long.

All my frame burns with fever;* all my body is sick.

Spent and utterly crushed,* I cry aloud in anguish of heart.

O Lord, You know all my longing:* my groans are not hidden from You.

My heart throbs, my strength is spent;* the very light has gone from my eyes.

My friends avoid me like a leper;* those closest to me stand afar off.

Those who plot against my life lay snares;* those who seek my ruin speak of harm, planning treachery all the day long.

But I am like the deaf who cannot hear;* like the dumb unable to speak.

I am like one who hears nothing* in whose mouth is no defense.

I count on You, O Lord:* it is You, Lord God, Who will answer.

I pray: Do not let them mock me,* those who triumph if my foot should slip.

For I am on the point of falling* and my pain is always before me.

I confess that I am guilty* and my sin fills me with dis-may.

My wanton enemies are numberless* and my lying foes are many.

They repay me evil for good* and attack me for seeking what is right.

O Lord, do not forsake me!* My God, do not stay afar off!

Savior! Make haste and come to my help,* O Lord, my God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God (3x).

Litany of Peace

Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy (and after each petition).

Priest: For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

For peace throughout the whole world, for the wellbeing of God's holy churches and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

For our most holy universal Pontiff, N., Pope of Rome, for our most blessed Patriarch, N., our most reverend Metropolitan, N., our God-loving Bishop, N., the reverend priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

For our nation under God, for our government, and for all the military, let us pray to the Lord.

For this city (or For this village, or For this holy monastery), for every city and country and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

For seafarers and travelers, for the sick and the suffer-ing, for those held captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and misfortune, let us pray to the Lord.

Help us, save us, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

Priest: Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

Choir: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For all glory, honor, and worship befit You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

Choir: Amen.

in the tone 5

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Verse: My spirit yearns for You in the night; yes, keeps vigil for You.

Verse: When Your judgment dawns upon the earth, the world's inhabitants learn justice. Verse: Let them be ashamed when they see Your zeal for Your people; let the fire prepared for Your enemies consume them.

Verse: You have increased the nation, O Lord, increased the nation to Your own glory.

Tone 5

This is the hour for praise and prayer; let us unceasingly cry to the Lord: Holy, holy, holy are You, O our God through the prayers of Your holy Apostles have mercy on us.

Glory be: With unworthy voices we dare to represent the heavenly hosts and sing to You, O eternal Trinity: Holy, holy, holy are You, O our God; through the prayers of all the saints, have mercy on us.

Now and for ever: O Christ, You dwelt in the virginal womb without being separated from the bosom of the Father; accept our voices with the angels: Holy, holy, holy are You, O our God; through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us.

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 5

With all mankind, in spiritual hymns and songs* let us glorify the wise apostles as eyewitnesses of the Word and servants of Christ.* For they pray fervently to Christ on our behalf,* as we praise their holy memory and venerate their relics.

Their voice is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

Let us glorify with one accord the apostles of Christ,* for they shine as torches throughout the inhabited earth.* They have caught the nations in the net of the true Faith;* and bringing us light they teach us to honour the Holy Trinity,* one in Essence yet divided in Persons.

God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.

The powers of heaven greatly marvelled at the victory of the holy martyrs;* for, contending bravely in their mortal bodies,* invisibly they conquered the bodiless enemy by the power of the Cross.* And now they intercede before the Lord,* that He may have mercy on our souls.

Glory… Now…

O Bride unwedded and Ever-Virgin,* in the company of the angels we sing your praises without ceasing;* for your Son and God has done great things for us through you.* Begotten before all ages from the Father,* He was pleased to be contained within your womb* and to set us free from error.

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 6

O disciples of the Saviour, unwavering beacons illumining the world,* illumine my soul blinded by sin;* show me to be a participant in the Lord’s day,* keeping the salvific commandments,* and delivered from the darkness where no light shines,* that I may glorify you.

Glory… Now…

O holy Lady, pure Mother of our God,* who ineffably gave birth to the Creator of all;* with the sacred apostles ever entreat His goodness,* that He deliver us from the passions* and grant us the remission of sins.

Sessional Hymn III, Tone 6

O divine apostles, beacons shining upon all the world,* we pray you to illumine us who sing your praises,* that we may diligently observe the time of the Fast;* and be granted to look upon the Wood of the lifegiving Cross* and to adore it with pure eyes and lips,* crying aloud with joy:* O Lord, glory be to You.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin Theotokos, blessed hope of the world:* I beseech of you your only wondrous protection;* have compassion on your defenceless people:* entreat the merciful God that our souls may be delivered from every danger,* for you alone are blessed.

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, God, in Your kindness.* In Your compassion blot out my offense.

O wash me more and more from my guilt* and cleanse me from my sin.

My offenses truly I know them;* my sin is always before me.

Against You, You alone, have I sinned;* what is evil in Your sight I have done.

That You may be justified when You give sentence* and be without reproach when You judge.

O see, in guilt I was born,* a sinner was I conceived.

Indeed, You love truth in the heart;* then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.

O purify me, then I shall be clean;* O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,* that the bones You have crushed may rejoice.

From my sins turn away Your face* and blot out all my guilt.

A pure heart create for me, O God,* put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,* nor deprive me of Your Holy Spirit.

Give me again the joy of Your help;* with a spirit of fervor sustain me,

That I may teach transgressors Your ways* and sinners may return to You.

O rescue me, God, my helper,* and my tongue shall ring out Your goodness.

O Lord, open my lips* and my mouth shall declare Your praise.

For in sacrifice You take no delight,* burnt offering from me You would refuse.

My sacrifice, a contrite spirit.* A humbled, contrite heart You will not spurn.

In Your goodness, show favor to Zion:* rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Then You will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, burnt offerings wholly consumed,* Then You will be offered young bulls on Your altar.

Deacon: Let us greatly extol the Theotokos and the Mother of Light in hymns.

Choir: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

More honorable than the cherubim, and by far more glorious than the seraphim; ever a virgin, you gave birth to God the Word; O true Mother of God, we magnify you (after each verse with bow).

Because He has regarded the humility of His handmaid, for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Because He Who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name, and His love is from generation to generation to those who fear Him.

He has shown might in His arm; He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put down the mighty from their seat and has exalted the humble;

He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away emply.

He has received Israel His servant, being mindful of his love, as He spoke to our Fathers: to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Ode 9

Irmos: It is impossible for mankind to see God* upon whom the ranks of Angels dare not gaze;* but through you, O all-pure one, the Word Incarnate became a man* and with the Heavenly Hosts we magnify Him and we call you blessed.

Refrain: Have mercy on me O God, have mercy on me.

O abundantly merciful God and Lord, cleanse the wounds of my heart and heal them with the remedy of repentance. I have sinned, I have sinned against You: be compassionate with me and save me by the prayers of Your apostles, for You are plenteous in mercy.

Refrain: Have mercy on me O God, have mercy on me.

Like the Prodigal, I have foolishly followed my unruly desires and have wandered far from my former self: I feed upon the roughage of pleasure and am deprived of the food of salvation. O Christ, have compassion upon me and save me.

Refrain: Have mercy on me O God, have mercy on me.

O my soul, you have not cleansed yourself from evil nor turned away from the lusts that corrupt you. Why do you rejoice because you have observed the Fast? For such is not the fast chosen by the Lord, who desires true amendment.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Illumine me with divine light, O Virgin Theotokos, who have given birth to the Light, and drive away darkness from my soul, that I may bless you; for all generations of mankind, as you have prophesied, call you blessed.

Irmos: Ineffable is the birth-giving of a seedless conception,* from a mother who knew not a man;* an undefiled childbearing.* For the birth of God has renewed nature,* wherefore all generations rightly worship and magnify you* as the Bride and Mother of God.

Holy Apostles of Christ, pray for us.

Simple in speech yet most wise in knowledge, you have destroyed the webs spun by philosophers, the cunning of the orators, and the divinations of astrologers: Wherefore, O apostles of Christ, you have been revealed as the only true teachers of the whole inhabited earth.

Holy Apostles of Christ, pray for us.

Peter orates, and Plato falls silent; Paul teaches, and Pythagoras is heard no more. The company of the apostles, preaching the mysteries of God, have buried the dead voice of the pagan Greeks and called the whole world to the worship of Christ.

Glory…

O Father, single only-Begetter of the only-Begotten Son; O only Light and Brightness from the one and only Light; and You, one and only Holy Spirit from the one God, true Lord from the Lord: O holy Three in One, save me as I theologize Your divinity.

Now…

The marvel of your childbearing fills me with wonder, O all-immaculate one. How can you conceive without seed Him whom none can comprehend? How have you remained a Virgin and yet given birth as a Mother? “Accept the miracle with faith, and worship the Child that is born, for all that He wills, He accomplishes.”

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.

By your prayers, O holy apostles of Christ, may we all be deemed worthy to see and venerate with pure lips and souls the precious Cross, the all-holy Tree that hath blossomed forth salvation upon the world.

Katavasia: Ineffable is the birth-giving of a seedless conception,* from a mother who knew not a man;* an undefiled childbearing.* For the birth of God has renewed nature,* wherefore all generations rightly worship and magnify you* as the Bride and Mother of God.

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord from the heavens,* praise Him in the heights.

Praise Him, all His angels,* praise Him, all His hosts.

Praise Him, sun and moon, * praise Him, shining stars.

Praise Him, highest heavens* and the waters above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of the Lord.* He commanded: they were made.

He fixed them forever;* gave a law which shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,* sea creatures and all oceans,

Fire and hail, snow and mist,* stormy winds that obey His word;

All mountains and hills,* all fruit trees and cedars,

Beasts, wild and tame,* reptiles and birds on the wing;

All earth's kings and peoples,* earth's princes and rulers,

Young men and maidens,* old men together with children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord for He alone is exalted.* The splendor of His name reaches beyond heaven and earth.

He exalts the strength of His people.* He is the praise of all His saints, of the children of Israel, of the people to whom He comes close.

Psalm 149

Sing a new song to the Lord,* His praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel rejoice in its Maker;* let Zion's sons exalt in their king.

Let them praise His name with dancing* and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in His people.* He crowns the poor with salvation.

Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,* shout for joy and take their rest.

Let the praise of God be on their lips* and a two-edged sword in their hand,

To deal out vengeance to the nations* and punishment on all the peoples;

To bind their kings in chains* and their nobles in fetters of iron.

To carry out the sentence pre-ordained* this honor is for all His faithful.

Psalm 150

Praise God in His Holy place,* praise Him in His mighty heavens.

Praise Him for His powerful deeds,* praise His surpassing greatness.

O praise Him with sound of trumpet,* praise Him with lute and harp.

Praise Him with timbrel and dance,* praise Him with strings and pipes.

O praise Him with resounding cymbals praise Him with clashing of cymbals.* Let everything that lives and that breathes give praise to the Lord.

Priest: For to You belongs glory, O Lord our God, and we render glory to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Priest: Glory to You Who have shown us the light!

Choir: Glory to God in the highest,* and to His people on earth, peace and good will.

Lord God, Heavenly King, Almighty God and Father,* with the Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You,* we glorify You, we thank You for Your great glory.

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,* You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

You take away the sins of the world,* hear our prayer.

You are seated at the right hand of the Father,* have mercy on us.

For You alone are holy, You alone are the Lord, Jesus Christ,* for the glory of God the Father. Amen.

I will bless You day after day,* and praise Your name for- ever.

Lord, You have been our refuge* from one generation to the next.

I said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul,* for I have sinned against You.

O Lord, I have fled to You, teach me to do Your will,* for You, O Lord, are my God.

In You is the source of life* and in Your light we see light.

Keep on loving those* who know You. Count us worthy, O Lord,* of passing this day without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our Fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen.

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* because we have set our hope in You.

Blessed are You, O Lord,* teach me Your commandments.

Blessed are You, O Master,* make me understand Your commandments.

Blessed are You, O Holy One,* enlighten me with Your laws.

O Lord, Your mercy endures forever;* do not despise the work of Your hands.

It is proper to praise You,* and to You belong hymns.

Glory belongs to You,* Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;

Now and for ever* and ever. Amen.

Priest: Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

Help and save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

Choir: Lord, have mercy.

That this whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

Choir: Grant this, O Lord (after each petition).

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

For the forgiveness and remission of our sins and offenses, let us ask the Lord.

For all that is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

That we may spend the rest of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

For a Christian end to our lives, one that is painless, unashamed, and peaceful; and for a good defense at the awesome tribunal of Christ, let us ask the Lord.

Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

Choir: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For You are a merciful, gracious and loving God, and we give glory to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Peace be with all.

Choir: And with Your spirit.

Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord. Choir:

Choir: To You, O Lord.

Priest (quietly): Holy Lord, You live on high and yet stoop to look down upon the earth, and with Your divine eyes You see all creatures. Before You we bow down in spirit and body, and we pray You, O Holy of Holies, stretch forth Your invisible hand from Your holy dwelling and bless us. If we have sinned in any way, either deliberately or through human frailty, forgive us, for You are good; You give us earthly and heavenly blessings, and You alone love all.

Exclamation: For it is You alone Who have mercy and save us, and we glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

Choir: Amen

Aposticha,

Tone 6

Like the Prodigal I have fallen from the Father’s sonship,* and as a slave I have eaten with swine,* yet their food did not satisfy me;* wherefore I have returned to You whom I wickedly forsook, O compassionately loving Father,* for rightly turning back in repentance, I cry aloud to You:* “O Father, I have sinned against heaven and before You;* grant me who has returned to You, Your great mercy.

In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth Your work to Your servants; let Your glory shine on their children.

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands, give success to the work of our hands.

Great wonders has our God done for His elect.* Rejoice and be glad, all you His servants:* For He has prepared for you crowns of glory and His Kingdom.* We entreat you to not forget us.

Glory… Now…

O Theotokos, you are the true vine* that has budded forth for us the Fruit of life.* We entreat you: pray, O Sovereign Lady, with the holy apostles,* that He have mercy upon our souls.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, * and to make music to Your name, O Most High.To proclaim Your love in the morning* and Your truth in the watches of the night.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,* now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Trinity most holy, have mercy on us.* Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord;* pardon our transgressions, O Master;* look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One;* for the sake of Your name.

Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,* now and for ever and ever. Amen.

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 trespasses* as we forgive those who trespass against us.* And lead us not into temptation,* but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

Choir: Amen.

Standing in the temple of your glory is like standing in heaven itself. O Mother of God and Gate of Heaven, open for us the door of your mercy.

Lord, have mercy (40x).

Master, give the blessing!

Priest: Blessed is Christ our God, always, now and for ever and ever.

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Heavenly King, strengthen Your church, affirm our faith, calm the nations, give peace to the world, and preserve this city (this village, this monastery. Grant the faithful departed a share in the dwelling of the just, and receive and forgive us after repentance and confession, for You are good and love mankind.

Choir: Amen.

Lord, have mercy (3x).

Glory be: Now and for ever:

More honorable than the cherubim and by far more glorious than the seraphim; ever a virgin, you gave birth to God the Word, O true Mother of God, we magnify you.

Give the blessing, Father, in the name of the Lord!

Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.

Choir: Amen.

Prayer of St. Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life, drive from me the spirit of indifference, despair, lust for power, and idle chatter. (Prostration)

Instead, bestow on me, Your servant, the spirit of integri-ty, humility, patience, and love. (Prostration)

Yes, O Lord and King, let me see my own sins and not judge my brothers and sisters; for you are blessed for ever and ever. Amen. (Prostration)

God, be merciful to me a sinner.

God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.

I have sinned without number; forgive me, O Lord. (12 small bows)

Priest: Glory be to You, O Christ our God, our hope; glory be to You.

Choir: Glory be: Now and for ever: Lord, have mercy (3x); Give the blessing.

Priest:

Christ our true God, through the prayers of His immaculate Mother; of the holy, glorious, and all-praiseworthy apostles; of our father among the saints, Nicholas, archbishop, wonder-worker of Myra in Lycia; and the Saint Holy Martyr Conon and of all the saints, will have mercy and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

Choir: Amen.

1967 - 2017

Celebrating

50 years

MATINS