Matins (Orthros)

The Six Psalms

Priest: Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-creating, and undivided Trinity, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Reader: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men! (3x)

Reader: O Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise. (2x)

(The Six Psalms are read: 3, 37, 62, 87, 102, and 142. During the reading, absolute silence is maintained, representing the Judgment.)

Reader: (Psalm 3) Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me... But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
(Psalm 37) O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your wrath!
(Psalm 62) O God, You are my God, early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where no water is.
(Psalm 87) O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before You. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.
(Psalm 102) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
(Psalm 142) Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.

People: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. (3x)

God is the Lord

(After the Great Litany, the following is sung:)

People: God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures forever.
All nations surrounded me; but in the name of the Lord I withstood them.
This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

(The Troparia of the day are sung.)

(On Sundays, the Evlogitaria of the Resurrection are sung:)

People: Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
The assembly of angels was amazed, beholding You numbered among the dead; yet You, O Savior, destroying the power of death, did raise up Adam with Yourself and from Hades did set all men free.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.
"Why do you mingle myrrh with your tears of pity, O women disciples?" cried the radiant angel in the tomb to the myrrh-bearers. "Behold the tomb and understand: for the Savior is risen from the grave!"

The Matins Gospel

Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For holy are You, O our God, and You dwell among the saints, and to You we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Deacon: Let every breath praise the Lord!

Deacon: Wisdom! Stand upright! Let us hear the Holy Gospel.

(The Priest reads one of the eleven Resurrectional Gospels.)

People: Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. We venerate Your Cross, O Christ, and Your holy Resurrection we praise and glorify; for You are our God, and we know no other than You; we call on Your name. Come, all you faithful, let us worship Christ's holy Resurrection; for behold, through the Cross, joy has come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, we praise His Resurrection; for having endured crucifixion, He has destroyed death by death.

The Canon

(The Canon consists of nine Odes based on the Biblical Canticles.)

Reader (Ode 1): I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

(Before the 9th Ode, the Hymn of the Theotokos is sung:)

Reader: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
People: More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, you who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, truly the Theotokos, we magnify you.
Reader: For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
People: More honorable than the Cherubim...

The Great Doxology

(As the first rays of light appear, the Priest exclaims:)

Priest: Glory to You, who have shown us the Light!

People: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men. We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory. O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us; You who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For You alone are holy, You alone are the Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day will I bless You, and I will praise Your name forever; yea, forever and ever.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen.

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

(The Dismissal:)

Priest: Glory to You, O Christ our God and our hope, glory to You.
People: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy (3x). Father, bless.
Priest: May Christ our true God, who rose from the dead, through the intercessions of His all-pure and holy Mother; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

People: Amen.