Morning Prayers

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MORNING PRAYERS



Having risen from sleep, before any other action, stand reverently,
considering thyself to be in the presence of the All-seeing God, and,
having made the sign of the Cross, say:



In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.



Then pause a moment, until all thy senses are calmed and thy thoughts
forsake all things earthly; and then make three bows, saying:



The Prayer of the Publican:



O God, be merciful to me a sinner. Thrice.



The Beginning Prayer:



O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most
pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.



Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.



O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present
and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come
and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O
Good One.



Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Thrice.



Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. .  O Most Holy Trinity, have
mercy on us. O Lord, blot but our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities.
O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.



Lord, have mercy. Thrice.



Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.



Our Father, Who art in the heavens, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.



Troparia to the Holy Trinity:



Having risen from sleep, we fall down before Thee, O Good One, and the
angelic hymn we cry aloud to Thee, O Mighty One. Holy, Holy, Holy art
Thou. O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.



Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. 



From bed and sleep hast Thou raised me up, O Lord: enlighten my mind and
heart and open my lips that I may hymn Thee, O Holy Trinity: 



Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on
us. 



Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.



Suddenly the judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be laid bare;
but with fear do we cry at midnight. Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God;
through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.



Lord, have mercy. Twelve.



Prayer of Saint Basil the Great to the Most Holy Trinity:



As I rise from sleep, I thank Thee, O Holy Trinity, for through Thy
great goodness and patience Thou wast not angry with me, an idler and
sinner, nor hast Thou destroyed me with mine iniquities, but hast shown
Thy usual love for mankind; and when I was prostrate in despair, Thou
hast raised me up to keep the morning watch and glorify Thy power. And
now enlighten my mind's eye, and open my mouth that I may meditate on
Thy words, and understand Thy commandments, and do Thy will, and hymn
Thee in heartfelt confession, and sing praises to Thine all-holy name:
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and
unto the ages of ages. Amen.



O come let us worship God our King.

O come let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God.

O come let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and
God.



PSALM 50



Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to
the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me
thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.



For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee
only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be
justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. 



For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother
bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things
of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. 



Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou
shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. 



Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled,
they shall rejoice. 



Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 



Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 



Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from
me. 



Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit
establish me. 



I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back
unto Thee. 



Deliver me from bloodguiltiness. O God, Thou God of my salvation; my
tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. 



O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. 



For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with wholeburnt
offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. 



A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and
humbled God will not despise. 



Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of
Jerusalem be builded. 



Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with
oblation and wholeburnt offerings. 



Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.



The Symbol of the Orthodox Faith:



I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible. 



And in one Lord Jesus Christ. the Son of God, the Only-begotten,
begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true
God, begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father by Whom all
things were made; Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from
the heavens,  and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became man; And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and
suffered, and was buried; And arose again on the third day according to
the Scriptures; And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right
hand of the Father. And shall come again, with glory, to judge both the
living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. 



And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life; Who proceedeth from
the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and
glorified; Who spake by the prophets. 



In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for
the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the
life of the age to come. Amen.



Prayer I, of St. Macarius the Great:



O God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have never done anything good in Thy
sight; but deliver me from the evil one, and let Thy will be done in vi
me, that I may open mine unworthy mouth without condemnation, and praise
Thy holy name: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.



Prayer II, of the same saint:



Having risen from sleep, I offer unto Thee, O Saviour, the midnight
hymn, and falling down I cry unto Thee: Grant me not to fall asleep in
the death of sin, but have compassion on me, O Thou Who wast voluntarily
crucified, and hasten to raise me who am reclining in idleness, and save
me in prayer and intercession; and after the night's sleep shine upon me
a sinless day, O Christ God, and save me.



Prayer III, of the same saint:



Having risen from sleep, I hasten to Thee, O Master, Lover of mankind,
and by Thy loving-kindness, I strive to do Thy work, and I pray to Thee:
Help me at all times, in everything, and deliver me from every worldly,
evil thing and every impulse of the devil, and save me, and lead me into
Thine eternal kingdom. For Thou art my Creator, and the Giver, and
Provider of everything good, and in Thee is all my hope, and unto Thee
do I send up glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.



Prayer IV, of the same saint:



O Lord, Who in Thine abundant goodness and Thy great compassion hast
granted me, Thy servant, to go through the time of the night that is
past without attack from any opposing evil: Do Thou Thyself, O Master,
Creator of all things, vouchsafe me by Thy true light and with an
enlightened heart to do Thy will, now and ever, and unto the ages of
ages. Amen.



Prayer V, of St. Basil the Great:



O Lord Almighty, God of hosts and of all flesh, Who dwellest on high and
lookest down on things that are lowly, Who searchest the heart and
innermost being, and clearly foreknowest the secrets of men; O
unoriginate and everlasting Light, with Whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning: 



Do Thou, O Immortal King, receive our supplications which we, daring
because of the multitude of Thy compassions, offer Thee at the present
time from defiled lips; and forgive us our sins, in deed, word, and
thought, whether committed by us knowingly or in ignorance, and cleanse
us from every defilement of flesh and spirit. 



And grant us to pass through the night of the whole present life with
watchful heart and sober thought, ever expecting the coming of the
bright and appointed day of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord and God
and Saviour, Jesus Christ, whereon the judge of all shall come with
glory to reward each according to his deeds. 



May we not be found fallen and idle, but watching, and upright in
activity, ready to accompany Him into the joy and divine palace of His
glory, where there is the ceaseless sound of those that keep festival,
and the unspeakable delight of those that behold the ineffable beauty of
Thy countenance. 



For Thou art the true Light that enlightenest and sanctifiest all, and
all creation doth hymn Thee unto the ages of ages. Amen.



Prayer VI, likewise by St. Basil:



We bless Thee, O Most High God and Lord of mercy, Who ever doest with us
things both great and inscrutable, both glorious and awesome, of which
there is no measure; Who grantest to us sleep for rest from our
infirmities, and relaxation from the labors of our much toiling flesh. 



We thank Thee that Thou hast not destroyed us with our iniquities, but
hast shown Thy loving-kindness to man as usual, and while we were lying
in despair upon our beds, Thou hast raised us up that we might glorify
Thy dominion. 



Wherefore, we implore Thy boundless goodness: Enlighten the eyes of our
understanding and raise up our mind from the heavy sleep of indolence;
open our mouth and fill it with Thy praise, that we may be able steadily
to hymn and confess Thee, Who art God glorified in all and by all, the
unoriginate Father, with Thine Only-begotten Son, and Thine All-holy and
good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.



Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos:



I sing of thy grace, O Sovereign Lady, and I pray thee to grace my mind.




Teach me to step aright in. the way of Christ's commandments. 



Strengthen me to keep awake in song, and drive away the sleep of
despondency. 



O Bride of God, by thy prayers release me, bound with the bonds of sin.



Guard me by night and by day, and deliver me from foes that defeat me.



O bearer of God the Life-giver, enliven me who am deadened by passions.



O bearer of the unwaning Light, enlighten my blinded soul.



O marvelous palace of the Master, make me to be a house of the Divine
Spirit.



O bearer of the Healer, heal the perennial passions of my soul.



Guide me to the path of repentance, for I am tossed in the storm of
life.



Deliver me from eternal fire, and from evil worms, and from Tartarus.



Let me not be exposed to the rejoicing of demons, guilty as I am of many
sins.



Renew me, grown old from senseless sins, O most immaculate one.



Present me untouched by all torments, and pray for me to the Master of
all.



Vouchsafe me to find the joys of heaven with all the saints.



O most holy Virgin, hearken unto the voice of thine unprofitable
servant.



Grant me torrents of tears, O most pure one, to cleanse my soul from
impurity.



I offer the groans of my heart to thee unceasingly, strive for me, O
Sovereign Lady.



Accept my service of supplication and offer it to compassionate God.



O thou who art above the angels, raise me above this world's confusion.



O Light bearing heavenly tabernacle, direct the grace of the Spirit in
me.



I raise my hands and lips in thy praise, defiled as they are by
impurity, O all immaculate one. 



Deliver me from soul corrupting evils, and fervently intercede with
Christ, to Whom is due honor and worship, now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.



Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ:



O my plenteously merciful and all merciful God, Lord Jesus Christ,
through Thy great love Thou didst come down and become incarnate so that
Thou mightest save all. 



And again, O Saviour, save me by Thy grace, I pray Thee. For if Thou
shouldst save me for my works, this would not be grace or a gift, but
rather a duty; yea, Thou Who art great in compassion and ineffable in
mercy. 



For he that believeth in Me, Thou hast said, O my Christ, shall live and
never see death. If, then, faith in Thee saveth the desperate, behold, I
believe, save me, for Thou art my God and Creator. 



Let faith instead of works be imputed to me, O my God, for Thou wilt
find no works which could justify me. But may my faith suffice instead
of all works, may it answer for, may it acquit me, may it make me a
partaker of Thine eternal glory. 



And let Satan not seize me and boast, O Word, that he hath torn me from
Thy hand and fold. But whether I desire it or not, save me, O Christ my
Saviour, forestall me quickly, quickly, for I perish. 



Thou art my God from my mother's womb. Vouchsafe me, O Lord, to love
Thee now as fervently as I once loved sin itself, and also to work for
Thee without idleness, diligently, as I worked before for deceptive
Satan. 



But supremely shall I work for Thee, my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all
the days of my life, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.



Prayer IX, to the Holy Guardian Angel:



O holy angel that standeth by my wretched soul and my passionate life,
forsake not me a sinner, nor shrink from me because of mine
intemperance. 

Give no place for the cunning demon to master me through the violence of
my mortal body, strengthen my poor and feeble hand, and guide me in the
way of salvation. 



Yea, O holy angel of God, guardian and protector of my wretched soul and
body, forgive me all wherein I have offended thee all the days of my
life; and if I have sinned during the past night, protect me during the
present day, and guard me from every temptation of the enemy, that I may
not anger God by any sin. 



And pray to the Lord for me, that He may establish me in His fear, and
show me, His servant, to be worthy of His goodness. Amen.



Prayer X, to the Most Holy Theotokos:



O my most holy lady Theotokos, through thy holy and all-powerful
prayers, banish from me, thy lowly and wretched servant, despondency,
forgetfulness, folly, carelessness, (some will insert here specific sins
and passions which afflict them) and all filthy, evil, and blasphemous
thoughts from my wretched heart and my darkened mind. And quench the
flame of my passions, for I am poor and wretched, and deliver me from
many and cruel memories and deeds, and free me from all their evil
effects. For blessed art thou by all generations, and glorified is thy
most honourable name unto the ages of ages. Amen.



Prayerful Invocation of the Saint Whose Name we bear:



Pray unto God for me, O holy God pleaser N., for I fervently flee unto
Thee, the speedy helper and intercessor for my soul.



Song to the Most Holy Theotokos:



O Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy
womb, for thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.



Troparion to the Cross:



Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou
victory to Orthodox Christians over enemies; and by the power of Thy
Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.



Then offer a brief prayer for the health and salvation of thy spiritual
father, thy parents, relatives, those in authority, benefactors, others
known to thee, the ailing, or those passing through sorrows. And if it
be possible, read this commemoration:



For the Living:



Remember, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Thy mercies and compassions which
are from the ages, for the sake of which Thou didst become man and didst
will to endure crucifixion and death for the salivation of those that
rightly believe in Thee; 



and having risen from the dead didst ascend into the heavens and sittest
at the right hand of God the Father, and regardest the humble entreaties
of those that call upon Thee with all their heart; 



incline Thine ear, and hearken unto the humble supplication of me, Thine
unprofitable servant, as an odor of spiritual fragrance, which I offer
unto Thee for all Thy people. 



The Church



And first, remember Thy Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, which Thou
hast provided through Thy precious Blood, and establish, and strengthen,
and expand, increase, pacify, and keep Her unconquerable by the gates of
hades. calm the dissensions of the churches, quench the raging of the
nations, and quickly destroy and uproot the rising of heresy, and bring
them to nought by the power of Thy Holy Spirit. Bow.



The Russian Land, this land, and its authorities 



Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the Russian Land and her Orthodox people
both in the homeland and in the diaspora, this land and its authorities.
Bow.



The Clergy, and all the faithful 



Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the holy Eastern Orthodox patriarchs,
most reverend metropolitans, Orthodox archbishops and bishops, and all
the priestly and monastic order, and all who serve in the Church, whom
Thou hast appointed to shepherd Thy rational flock, and through their
prayers have mercy and save me, a sinner. Bow.



One's Spiritual father or confessor.



Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father N., and through his
holy prayers forgive my sins. Bow.



Parents, family and friends



Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my parents, Names, brothers and sisters,
and my kindred according to the flesh, and all the neighbors of my
family and friends, and grant them Thine earthly and spiritual good
things. Bow.



Those in afflictions



Save, O Lord, and have mercy on the aged and the young, the poor and the
orphans and widows, and those in sickness and sorrow, misfortune and
tribulation, those in difficult circumstances and in captivity, in
prisons and dungeons, and especially those of Thy servants that are
persecuted for Thy sake and the Orthodox Faith by godless peoples, by
apostates, and by heretics; and remember them, visit., strengthen,
comfort, and by Thy power quickly grant them relief, freedom, and
deliverance. Bow.



Enemies 



Save, O Lord, and have mercy on them that hate and wrong me, and make
temptation for me, and let them not perish because of me, a sinner. Bow.



Apostates and all heretics 



Illumine with the light of awareness the apostates from the Orthodox
Faith, and those blinded by pernicious heresies, and number them with
Thy Holy, Apostolic, Catholic Church. Bow. 



For the Departed:



Rulers, the Clergy and Monastics 



Remember, O Lord, those that have departed this life, Orthodox kings and
queens, princes and princesses, most holy patriarchs, most reverend
metropolitans, Orthodox archbishops and bishops, those in priestly and
clerical orders of the Church, and those that have served Thee in the
monastic order, and grant them rest with the saints in Thine eternal
tabernacles. Bow.



Parents and friends 



Remember, O Lord, the souls of Thy departed servants, my parents, Names,
and all my kindred according to the flesh, and forgive them all
transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, granting them the kingdom and
a portion of Thine eternal good things, and the delight of Thine endless
and blessed life. Bow.



All other departed Orthodox Christians 



Remember, O Lord, also all our fathers and brethren, and sisters, and
those that lie here, and all Orthodox Christians that departed in the
hope of resurrection and life eternal, and settle them with Thy saints,
where the light of Thy countenance shall visit them, and have mercy on
us, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind. Bow.



Grant, O Lord, remission of sins to all our fathers, brethren, and
sisters that have departed before us in the faith and hope of
resurrection, and make their memory to be eternal. Bow.



Final Prayer:



It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most
blameless, and Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and
beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption
gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.



Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.



Lord, have mercy. Thrice.



O Lord, bless. 



And the dismissal:



O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most
pure Mother, our holy and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have
mercy on us. Amen.















Morning Prayers

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