The Agpeya

Midnight

Introduction to Every Hour

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. Amen alleluia.	Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ: Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ: ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲏⲗⲟⲩⲓⲁ.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.	Ϧⲉⲛ ⲫ̀ⲣⲁⲛ ⲙ̀Ⲫ̀ⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡⲓⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ Ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ: Ⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩⲱⲧ: ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.
(Kerie eleyson) Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless. Amen.	Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉ̀ⲗⲉⲏ̀ⲥⲟⲛ: Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉ̀ⲗⲉⲏ̀ⲥⲟⲛ: Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉⲩⲗⲟⲅⲏⲥⲟⲛ: ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto the age of all ages, amen.	Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ Ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓ ⲕⲉ Ⲩ̀ⲓⲱ ⲕⲉ Ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲱ Ⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓ: ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ: ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.
Make us worthy to pray thankfully:	Ⲁ̀ⲣⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲛ̀ⲉⲙⲡ̀ϣⲁ ⲛ̀ϫⲟⲥ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩϣⲉⲡϩ̀ⲙⲟⲧ:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.	Ϫⲉ Ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩⲓ̀: ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲧⲟⲩⲃⲟ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲁⲛ.
Thy kingdom come.	Ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲥⲓ̀ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲧⲉⲕⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲣⲟ.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.	Ⲡⲉⲧⲉϩ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲓ: ⲙ̀ⲫ̀ⲣⲏϯ ϧⲉⲛ ⲧ̀ⲫⲉ ⲛⲉⲙ ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲕⲁϩⲓ.
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 the evil one.	Ⲡⲉⲛⲱⲓⲕ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲣⲁⲥϯ ⲙⲏⲓϥ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲙ̀ⲫⲟⲟⲩ. Ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲭⲁ ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲛ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ: ⲙ̀ⲫ̀ⲣⲏϯ ϩⲱⲛ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲛⲭⲱ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ⲛⲏⲉ̀ⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁⲛ ⲉ̀ⲣⲱⲟⲩ. Ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲣⲉⲛⲧⲉⲛ ⲉ̀ϧⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ̀ⲡⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ: ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛⲁϩⲙⲉⲛ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲁ ⲡⲓⲡⲉⲧϩⲱⲟⲩ.
In Christ Jesus our Lord, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.	Ϧⲉⲛ Ⲡⲓⲭ̀ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ Ⲓⲏⲥⲟⲩⲥ Ⲡⲉⲛϭⲟⲓⲥ: ϫⲉ ⲑⲱⲕ ⲧⲉ ϯⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⲛⲉⲙ ϯϫⲟⲙ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡⲓⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.

The Thanksgiving Prayer

Let us give thanks to the beneficent and merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for He has covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to Him, had compassion on us, supported us, and has brought us to this hour. Let us also ask Him, the Lord our God, the Pantocrator, to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life.

O Master, Lord, God the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ, we thank You for every condition, concerning every condition, and in every condition. For You have covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to You, had compassion on us, supported us, and brought us to this hour.

Therefore, we ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of Mankind. Grant us to complete this holy day, and all the days of our life, in all peace in Your fear. All envy, all temptation, all the work of Satan, the counsel of wicked men and the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take them away from us and from all Your people and from this holy place that is Yours. But those things which are good and profitable do provide for us. For it is You who have given us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, by the grace, compassion and love-of-mankind, of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto You, with Him, and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, who is of one essence with You, now and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

Psalm 50 (51)

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.

Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. Alleluia.

Introduction to Midnight

The following is said in tune during the Midnight Praise

❖ Arise O children of the light, let us praise the Lord of hosts that He may grant us the salvation of our souls. Whenever we stand before You in the flesh, cast away from our minds the slumber of sleep. Grant us sobriety, O Lord, that we may know how to stand before You at times of prayer, and ascribe unto You the befitting glorification, and win the forgiveness of our many sins.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

❖ Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. By night, lift up your hands O you saints and bless the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion, who created heaven and earth.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

❖ Let my cry come before You, O Lord, give me understanding according to Your word. Let my supplication come before You. Deliver me according to Your word. My lips shall overflow with praise, when You have taught me Your statutes. My tongue shall speak of Your words for all Your commandments are righteous. Let Your hand help me for I have chosen Your precepts. I have longed for Your salvation O Lord, and Your law is my delight. Let my soul live and it shall praise You, and let Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek Your servant for I do not forget Your commandments.

❖ Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the age of all ages amen.

❖ Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and unto the age of all ages amen.

❖ Glory be to You O Good One the Lover of Mankind, glory be to Your Mother the Virgin and all Your saints.

❖ Glory be to You, O Only-Begotten One, O Holy Trinity have mercy on us.

❖ Let God arise and let all His enemies be scattered and let all that hate His holy name flee from before His face.

❖ As for Your people let them be blessed, a thousand thousand-fold and ten thousand ten thousand-fold, doing Your will. O Lord open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.

The First Watch of Midnight

The prayer of the first watch of midnight, we offer to Christ, our King and God, beseeching Him to forgive us our sins.

The Psalms

From the psalms of our father David the prophet, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.

(Psalms numbers are according to the Septuagint, while in parenthesis they are according to the Masoretic Text (e.g. NKJV, NIV)

Psalm 3

Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Alleluia.

Psalm 6

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O Lord—how long? Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks? I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly. Alleluia.

Psalm 12 (13)

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. Alleluia.

Psalm 69 (70)

Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord! Let them be ashamed and confounded Who seek my life; Let them be turned back and confused Who desire my hurt. Let them be turned back because of their shame, Who say, “Aha, aha!” Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay. Alleluia.

Psalm 85 (86)

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You! Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me. Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works. All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, the proud have risen against me, And a mob of violent men have sought my life, And have not set You before them. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, And save the son of Your maidservant. Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Alleluia.

Psalm 90 (91)

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” Alleluia.

Psalm 116 (117)

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! Alleluia.

Psalm 117 (118)

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.” I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes. All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me; But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. God is the Lord, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Alleluia.

Psalm 118 (119)

1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

2. How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes! With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

3. Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

4. My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works. My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

5. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You. Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

6. Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord—Your salvation according to Your word. So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances. So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love. My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

7. Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. The proud have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law. I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord, And have comforted myself. Indignation has taken hold of me Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, And I keep Your law. This has become mine, Because I kept Your precepts.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

8. You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words. I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments. The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments. I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

9. You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

10. Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word. I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant. Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight. Let the proud be ashamed, For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your precepts. Let those who fear You turn to me, Those who know Your testimonies. Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

11. My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word. My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “When will You comfort me?” For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes. How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law. All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me! They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts. Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

12. Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life. I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

13. Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

14. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me Your judgments. My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

15. I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God! Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe, And I shall observe Your statutes continually. You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, For their deceit is falsehood. You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

16. I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me. My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation And Your righteous word. Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. It is time for You to act, O Lord, For they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold! Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

17. Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

18. Righteous are You, O Lord, And upright are Your judgments. Your testimonies, which You have commanded, Are righteous and very faithful. My zeal has consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words. Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it. I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights. The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

19. I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord! I will keep Your statutes. I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lord, revive me according to Your justice. They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law. You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth. Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

20. Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word. Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to Your judgments. Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word. Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness. The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

21. Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. Lord, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You.

Glory be to You, O Lover of Mankind.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.

22. Let my cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word. Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation, O Lord, And Your law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Glory to You, O our God

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲟ̀ Ⲑⲉⲟⲥ ⲩ̀ⲙⲱⲛ

Holy, holy, holy. A reading from the gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May his blessings be with us all. Amen.

(Matthew 25:1-13)

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

Glory be to God forever. Amen.

May God’s saying be concluded in peace.

We worship You O Christ, with Your good Father, and the Holy Spirit, for You (have come)¹ and saved us. Have mercy on us.

Ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱϣⲧ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲕ ⲱ̀ Ⲡⲓⲭ̀ⲣⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ: ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡⲉⲕⲓⲱⲧ ⲛ̀ⲁ̀ⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ: ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡⲓⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ Ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ: ϫⲉ (ⲁⲕⲓ̀)¹ ⲁⲕⲥⲱϯ ⲙ̀ⲙⲟⲛ. Ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ.

The Litanies

❖ Behold the Bridegroom is coming at the middle of the night. Blessed is the servant whom He finds watchful, but he whom shall be found slothful shall be unworthy of going with Him. Therefore, take heed, O my soul, lest you may not slumber and hence be cast out of the kingdom of God. Rather, stay awake and watchful, and cry out saying, “Holy, holy, holy are You, O God, have mercy on us for the sake of the Mother of God.”

Dthoxa Patri ke Eiou ke Agio Epnevmati.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ Ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓ ⲕⲉ Ⲩ̀ⲓⲱ ⲕⲉ Ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲱ Ⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓ.²

❖ O my soul, consider that awesome Day of Judgment, wake up and be watchful, and keep your lamp burning with the oil of joy. For you do not know at what time that crying voice will come upon you saying, “Behold, the Bridegroom has come!” Therefore, take heed my soul that you would not slumber lest you would be kept outside knocking at the door in vain just as the five foolish virgins did. But rather, watch and stay awake in prayer and supplication in order to meet the Lord Christ with rich oil, and that He grant you to partake in His glorious and truly divine wedding.

Ke neen ke a-ee ke eestos e-onas ton e onoun amen.

Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.³

❖ O holy Virgin, Theotokos, Mother of God, you are the fortification of our salvation, and our impregnable fortress that cannot be vanquished. Abolish the conspiracies of the adversaries, and turn our sadness into joy. Fortify our city, defend our governors, and intercede for the peace of the world; for you are our hope, O Mother of God.

Ke neen ke a-ee ke eestos e-onas ton e onoun amen.

Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.³

❖ O heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who is present everywhere and fills all; You are the treasure of goodness and the Life-Giver, graciously come and abide in us, O Good One, purify us of all iniquities and save our souls.

Dthoxa Patri ke Eiou ke Agio Epnevmati.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ Ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓ ⲕⲉ Ⲩ̀ⲓⲱ ⲕⲉ Ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲱ Ⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓ.²

❖ Just as You did abide with Your Disciples, O Savior, and gave them peace, come also now, abide with us and give us Your peace, save us and deliver our souls.

Ke neen ke a-ee ke eestos e-onas ton e onoun amen.

Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.³

❖ Whenever we stand in Your holy sanctuary, we are indeed considered as those who abide in heaven. O Mother of God, you are the gate of heaven, open for us the door of mercy.

We ask You O Lord, hear us, have mercy on us and forgive us our sins. Amen.

Kerie eleyson (41) - (Lord have mercy)

Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉ̀ⲗⲉⲏ̀ⲥⲟⲛ (ⲙ̅ⲁ̅)

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory and honor. O God, the Father Almighty, have mercy on us, O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, God of hosts, be with us. For we have no helper in our tribulations and adversities but You.

O God, absolve, remit, and forgive us our sins which we did willfully and unwillfully, those which we committed knowingly and unknowingly, the concealed ones and manifest ones. O Lord forgive us, for the sake of Your holy name which is called upon us, according to Your mercy and not according to our sins.

Make us worthy to pray thankfully: “Our Father who art in heaven…”

The Second Watch of Midnight

The prayer of the second watch of midnight, we offer to Christ, our King and God, beseeching Him to forgive us our sins.

The Psalms

From the psalms of our father David the prophet, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.

All the psalms of the eleventh hour (vespers) are prayed except psalms 116 and 117

(Psalms numbers are according to the Septuagint, while in parenthesis they are according to the Masoretic Text (e.g. NKJV, NIV)

Psalm 119 (120)

In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue? Sharp arrows of the warrior, With coals of the broom tree! Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace. I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war. Alleluia.

Psalm 120 (121)

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. Alleluia.

Psalm 121 (122)

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together, Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the Lord, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the Lord. For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good. Alleluia.

Psalm 122 (123)

Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scorn of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud. Alleluia.

Psalm 123 (124)

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say—”If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, When men rose up against us, Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us; Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.” Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Alleluia.

Psalm 124 (125)

Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, And to those who are upright in their hearts. As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The Lord shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel! Alleluia.

Psalm 125 (126)

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad. Bring back our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. Alleluia.

Psalm 126 (127)

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. Alleluia.

Psalm 127 (128)

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! Alleluia.

Psalm 128 (129)

“Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,” Let Israel now say—“Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me. The plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows long.” The Lord is righteous; He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked. Let all those who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up, With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms. Neither let those who pass by them say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; We bless you in the name of the Lord!” Alleluia.

The Gospel

Glory to You, O our God

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲟ̀ Ⲑⲉⲟⲥ ⲩ̀ⲙⲱⲛ

Holy, holy, holy. A reading from the gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist. May his blessings be with us all. Amen.

(Luke 7:36-50)

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

Glory be to God forever. Amen.

May God’s saying be concluded in peace.

We worship You O Christ, with Your good Father, and the Holy Spirit, for You (have come)¹ and saved us. Have mercy on us.

The Litanies

❖ Grant me, O Lord, fountains of plentiful tears, even as You had given long ago to the sinful woman. Make me worthy to wash Your feet with my tears, which delivered me from going astray in the way of deception, and to offer You sublime fragrant oil, and to attain a pure life of repentance. So that I also may hear that voice full of joy, saying: “Your faith has saved you.”

Dthoxa Patri ke Eiou ke Agio Epnevmati.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ Ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓ ⲕⲉ Ⲩ̀ⲓⲱ ⲕⲉ Ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲱ Ⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓ.²

❖ When I consider the multitude of my evil deeds, and my heart reflects on that awesome judgment, I tremble with fear, so I quickly take refuge in You, O God, the Lover of Mankind. Hence, I beseech You O Lord, not to turn Your face away from me, O You who are the only One without sin. Grant my poor soul a true godly fear, and save me before the end of ages comes.

Ke neen ke a-ee ke eestos e-onas ton e onoun amen.

Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.³

❖ The heavens venerate you, O you full-of-grace and the ever-virgin bride. And we too glorify your incomprehensible giving-birth to Christ, O Theotokos, the Mother of mercy and salvation, intercede on our behalf for the salvation of our souls.

Ke neen ke a-ee ke eestos e-onas ton e onoun amen.

Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.³

Dthoxa Patri ke Eiou ke Agio Epnevmati.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ Ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓ ⲕⲉ Ⲩ̀ⲓⲱ ⲕⲉ Ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲱ Ⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓ.²

❖ Just as You did abide with Your Disciples, O Savior, and gave them peace, come also now, abide with us and give us Your peace, save us and deliver our souls.

Ke neen ke a-ee ke eestos e-onas ton e onoun amen.

Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.³

❖ Whenever we stand in Your holy sanctuary, we are indeed considered as those who abide in heaven. O Mother of God, you are the gate of heaven, open for us the door of mercy.

We ask You O Lord, hear us, have mercy on us and forgive us our sins. Amen.

Kerie eleyson (41) - (Lord have mercy)

Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉ̀ⲗⲉⲏ̀ⲥⲟⲛ (ⲙ̅ⲁ̅)

Make us worthy to pray thankfully: “Our Father who art in heaven…”

The Third Watch of Midnight

The prayer of the third watch of midnight, we offer to Christ, our King and God, beseeching Him to forgive us our sins.

The Psalms

From the psalms of our father David the prophet, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.

All the psalms of the twelfth hour (compline) are prayed

(Psalms numbers are according to the Septuagint, while in parenthesis they are according to the Masoretic Text (e.g. NKJV, NIV)

Psalm 129 (130)

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning—Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities. Alleluia.

Psalm 130 (131)

Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever. Alleluia.

Psalm 131 (132)

Lord, remember David And all his afflictions; How he swore to the Lord, And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, Or go up to the comfort of my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids, Until I find a place for the Lord, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of the woods. Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, And let Your saints shout for joy. For Your servant David’s sake, Do not turn away the face of Your Anointed. The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body. If your sons will keep My covenant And My testimony which I shall teach them, Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.” For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.” Alleluia.

Psalm 132 (133)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore. Alleluia.

Psalm 133 (134)

Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord. The Lord who made heaven and earth Bless you from Zion! Alleluia.

Psalm 136 (137)

By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it. For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How shall we sing the Lord’s song In a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth—If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy. Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who said, “Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation!” O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, Happy the one who repays you as you have served us! Happy the one who takes and dashes Your little ones against the rock! Alleluia.

Psalm 137 (138)

I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, When they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord. Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Alleluia.

Psalm 140 (141)

Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, And they hear my words, for they are sweet. Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave, As when one plows and breaks up the earth. But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely. Alleluia.

Psalm 141 (142)

I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me. Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.” Alleluia.

Psalm 145 (146)

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The Lord shall reign forever—Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord! Alleluia.

Psalm 146 (147:1-11)

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens that cry. He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy. Alleluia.

Psalm 147 (147:12-20)

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders, And fills you with the finest wheat. He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow. He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise the Lord! Alleluia.

The Gospel

Glory to You, O our God

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲟ̀ Ⲑⲉⲟⲥ ⲩ̀ⲙⲱⲛ

Holy, holy, holy. A reading from the gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist. May his blessings be with us all. Amen.

(Luke 12:32-46)

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Glory be to God forever. Amen.

May God’s saying be concluded in peace.

We worship You O Christ, with Your good Father, and the Holy Spirit, for You (have come)¹ and saved us. Have mercy on us.

The Litanies

❖ With a compassionate eye consider my weakness, O Lord. For very soon my life will come to end, and by my deeds I shall have no salvation. Therefore, I beseech You, O Lord, with a merciful eye look at my weakness, my affliction, my poverty, and my sojourning, and deliver me.

Dthoxa Patri ke Eiou ke Agio Epnevmati.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ Ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓ ⲕⲉ Ⲩ̀ⲓⲱ ⲕⲉ Ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲱ Ⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓ.²

❖ Since the Judge is assuredly present before me, therefore take heed, O my soul, be watchful and sober, and consider that awesome hour of judgment. For there shall be no mercy in the Judgment for those who have shown no mercy. Therefore, have compassion on me, O Savior, for You are the Lover of Mankind.

Ke neen ke a-ee ke eestos e-onas ton e onoun amen.

Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.³

❖ You are the gate of life, O Theotokos, the honored Mother of God, rescue those who faithfully took refuge in you from hardships and afflictions. We glorify the immaculate giving-birth that you gave to our Lord Jesus Christ, who was incarnate for the salvation of our souls.

Ke neen ke a-ee ke eestos e-onas ton e onoun amen.

Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.³

Dthoxa Patri ke Eiou ke Agio Epnevmati.

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ Ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓ ⲕⲉ Ⲩ̀ⲓⲱ ⲕⲉ Ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲱ Ⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓ.²

❖ Just as You did abide with Your Disciples, O Savior, and gave them peace, come also now, abide with us and give us Your peace, save us and deliver our souls.

Ke neen ke a-ee ke eestos e-onas ton e onoun amen.

Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ. Ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ.³

❖ Whenever we stand in Your holy sanctuary, we are indeed considered as those who abide in heaven. O Mother of God, you are the gate of heaven, open for us the door of mercy.

We ask You O Lord, hear us, have mercy on us and forgive us our sins. Amen.

Kerie eleyson (41) - (Lord have mercy)

Ⲕⲩⲣⲓⲉ ⲉ̀ⲗⲉⲏ̀ⲥⲟⲛ (ⲙ̅ⲁ̅)

Make us worthy to pray thankfully: “Our Father who art in heaven…”

The Gospel

The following gospel is said before the 7th part of the Sunday theotokia, which is chanted on Sunday midnight praise and after the first hoos on other days’ midnight praise

Glory to You, O our God

Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲟ̀ Ⲑⲉⲟⲥ ⲩ̀ⲙⲱⲛ

Holy, holy, holy. A reading from the gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist. May his blessings be with us all. Amen.

(Luke 2:29-32)

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.”

Glory be to God forever. Amen.

The Absolution

O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of our eternal living God, enlighten our minds to understand Your life-giving words. Raise us up from the darkness of sin which ruins the soul and make us worthy of being steady in virtue.

When You come to judge the world, grant us to hear Your joyful voice saying. “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.”

O Lord, grant unto us to attend at that hour without fear, anxiety or condemnation. Do not judge us according to our sins, for You alone have lovingkindness, longsuffering and great mercy. May You accept these prayers through the intercession of our Lady, the Mother of God, Saint Mary, and all Your saints. Amen.

Concluding Prayer for Every Hour

Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy on us, who, at all times and at every hour, is worshipped and glorified in heaven and on earth. O Christ, our good Lord, who is longsuffering, abundant in mercy, and full of compassion. Who loves the righteous and shows mercy to all sinners, of whom I am chief. Who does not wish the death of the sinner but rather to repent and to live, who calls all men to salvation and to the promised forthcoming rewards.

O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour and at every hour. Facilitate our lives, and guide us to act according to Your commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, set aright our thoughts, purify our intentions, heal our sickness, forgive our sins and deliver us from every evil grief and anguish of heart. Surround us by Your holy angels that we may be guided and guarded by them to attain the unity of faith and the knowledge of Your imperceptible and infinite glory, for You are blessed forever. Amen.

Make us worthy to pray thankfully: “Our Father who art in heaven…”

The Absolution of the Priests

This absolution is prayed by the priest after the midnight praise is completed, if the first hour prayer is to follow in preparation for the Matins Raising of Incense

We thank and entreat You, O Master and Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the living and eternal God, abiding in the light before all ages, Light out of Light; Enlighten, O Lord, our minds, our hearts, and illuminate our understanding, so that we may understand Your life-giving words.

Raise us from the darkness of sin that kills the soul. Make us worthy to be steadfast in good and beneficial works. At the time of Your awesome Second Coming, when will You judge the world, may we be worthy of hearing that voice which is full of happiness, joy, consolation, delight and grace from Your divine mouth, saying, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Yes, O Lord our God, fit us to be, at that day and that hour, without fear, without fault, without disturbance, without failure and without deviation. Do not deal with us, O Lord according to the multitude of our sins. Pardon, O Lord, all our vices, faults, mistakes and lapses.

Relieve us, and the whole world, O Lord, from death, inflation, plagues, destruction, eviction, the sword of enemies, the plots of demons, the danger of fire and drowning, the opposition of those who are evil, the intrigues of the shameless, and the injustice of judges. Bring to failure the works of the stubborn against us. For You are our Lord and God, have compassion on us. Do not cast us into the sea of destruction nor into the punishment of our ways. But rescue us, protect us, preserve us and raise us from boredom, anger, languish and laziness. Do not let the enemy—the Devil—overwhelm us with excessive hope, but alert our minds and awaken our hearts from the sleep of negligence and the wasting of lifetime in vain.

O God, remove our trespasses and forgive us our lapses; Do not remember our sins or our vices, do not be angry with us and may Your anger not continue forever. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are weak and poor, drowning in the ocean of sin. Unto You we cry out; before You we worship; by You we confess; it is You whom we want. Do not lose hope, O my Master, in Your mercy, so do not close the door of Your mercy in our faces. But out of Your goodness save us; lead us to Your mercy, and let us hear Your joyful voice. O God, cleanse us and purify our hearts from wicked, unclean and bad thoughts. Remove from us, O Lord, and from Your people, all dreams, fancies and devilish illusions.

Raise us, O God, from every fall and catastrophe. Establish in us, O Lord, patience, hope, love and the orthodox faith. Count us among the sheep at Your right hand. Seat us with those who recline in Your heavenly banquet. Forgive us every trespass, guilt and sin; protect us in the fortress of Your luminous angelic soldiers. For we have no salvation except through Your mercy.

Our reliance is on You, our faith is in You, and our hope is in You. Accept from us, O Lord, our supplications now and at this present time and at all times. And all those who have asked us to remember them in prayers, liturgies, unction of the sick and commemorations; those who are alive and those who are dead; remember us, O Lord, together with them, with kindness in the heavenly Jerusalem, in the kingdom of heaven.

Blot out, O Lord, our vices, and those who offend us, forgive them and us. Through Your mercy, O Lord, save all our souls. O Lord, save our souls. O Lord, save Your people, bless Your inheritance, shepherd and guide them forever. Save those who are in hardship, distress and sadness. Free those who are bound by the bonds of the devils. Satisfy the hungry with good things. Console the small in heart and spirit. Raise the fallen; confirm the upright.

Restore the lost. Support the widows and the orphans. Aid the needy. Give blessings to the fruits of the earth. Grant that the weather be favorable. Give growth to the plants, raise the waters of the rivers fully and bless the dew and the rain. Give contentment to those in need. Repay for those in debt. Gather together the fragments, which are scattered. Accept the repentance of the penitent. Accept the confession of the confessors. Give understanding to the catechumens; and justice, O Lord, to the oppressed.

Fill our hearts with joy, gladness, comfort, delight and grace, that we too, having sufficiency in everything always, may abound in every good deed. Bless, O Lord, the crops with heavenly blessings. Bless, O Lord, the crown of this year with Your goodness. Bless, O Lord, the sower, the farmer, the planter and the reaper, as You blessed the crops of the children of Israel in the sixth year.

Bless also, O Lord, this gathering of ours, and all the gatherings of all the orthodox people. Preserve for us the life and the reign of our honored father, Pope Abba (Tawadros II), the patriarch of this time. Save him, O Lord, and save his people from all catastrophes, trials and sorrows. And also his partners in the apostolic ministry, our fathers the metropolitans, our fathers the bishops, our fathers the hegumens and our fathers the priests, our brothers the deacons, our fathers the monks, our brothers the laymen, and those who came to attend and shared with us in this prayer and all the prayers of the orthodox people, now asking for the forgiveness of their sins, the past and the future, the personal and the impersonal, the sins committed by night, and the sins committed by day, the hidden and the manifest.

Preserve, O Lord, the welfare of the assemblies, the holy churches, the orthodox wilderness, and the elders who dwell in them, those serving, those managing, and those living in them. Grant security, peace, love and reassurance among them. Subdue the evil enemy under our feet and their feet. Do not let him have any part in us or in them, neither by the left-hand blow nor by the right hand blow, but preserve them with Your exalted hand and Your protective arm. Save us, my Master, from evil temptations and from the snares set before us, the visible and the invisible.

Remember, O Lord, our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, our sisters, our relatives, our teachers, our spiritual children, our children in the flesh and all the children of Baptism together. Remember, O Lord, those through whose toil and effort we have eaten and drank, those who have sheltered us in their homes, and given us food from their hands. Reward them, O Lord and compensate them with the eternal for the temporal and the heavenly for the earthly. Fill their houses and their stores with every good thing. Reward them, O Lord, thirty-fold, sixty-fold, and a hundred-fold, and with the forgiveness of their sins in the kingdom of heaven.

Remember, O Lord, those who have done good unto us and to our poor brethren, by all means of charity, because of their love for You and in honor of Your holy name; bless them.

Remember, O Lord, those who are care for the sacrifices, the oblations, the wine, the oil, the first fruits, the incense, the curtains, the vows, the books of readings and all the utensils of the alter generally; Reward them, O Lord, for what they have offered with the forgiveness of their sins. Grant them, in this present age, a pleasant life and in the coming age, eternal life.

Remember, O Lord, our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep and reposed in the faith of Christ. Graciously, repose, O Lord, all their souls, in the remembrance of our holy fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the land of the living, in the Paradise of joy.

As for us who are still alive, aid us for the salvation of our souls; manage our lives according to Your gracious will. Please, O Lord, remember my insignificance, my humiliation, and my weakness; I the wretched sinner who am troubled and unworthy of standing between Your hands. Do not reject me because of the multitude of my sins and iniquities.

Raise, O Lord, a horn of salvation for Your people through the sign of Your life-giving Cross. We ask Your relief in hardships and Your aid in agony and humiliation. Save us, O Lord; Save everyone in hardships. Heal the sick of Your people. Grant, O Lord, that Your people, the Christians, those present with us and those absent from us, that they may be blessed and absolved from Your divine mouth, from the rising of the sun to its setting, and from the North and South. Accept us unto You, as You accepted the right hand thief when You were on the Cross, and granted him the Paradise of joy.

Remember, O Lord, the orphans and the widows, the strangers, the disabled and those who have no one to remember them. Remember us, O Lord, with them, in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Remember, O Lord, those standing or sitting, those who are sleeping or lying in illness, those who are traveling by land, sea, air, on planes, through rough roads, through valleys, narrow paths, on mountain peaks and hills, in caves, those who are in confinement and prisons, those who are in captivity and exile, and those who are bound with the bonds of wicked powers and demons. Return them and bring them all to the port safely, profitably and healthy in soul, body and spirit.

Grant, O my Lord Jesus Christ, that our prayers be acceptable before You without hypocrisy, pride, arrogance, being puffed up or in any fault. Aid us, O God, in doing Your will. Aid us in performing Your commandments. Aid us in the pangs of death, that which is before, during, and after death. For You are a righteous God, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and compassion. O Lord grant that the door of Your Church be open before us through the age of ages, and unto the end of time. Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy.

Through the intercessions of the Lady of intercession, the essence of purity, generosity and blessings; Our Queen, the pride of our race, the holy, blameless, Virgin Saint Mary; and the honored martyr, the apostle and evangelist, Saint Mark, the preacher of the land of Egypt; all the angels, the fathers, the prophets, the Apostles, the martyrs, the saints, the anchorites, the worshippers, the ascetics, and the laborers, who have pleased the Lord with their good works, from Adam and to the end of ages.

To You, we bow down, O Holy Trinity, O Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.

Agpeya Home

¹ Changes based on the occasion:

Annual & between Advent and Pascha: have come – ⲁⲕⲓ̀
Holy Fifties & Sundays: have risen – ⲁⲕⲧⲱⲛⲕ
Cross Feasts/Pascha: were crucified – ⲁⲩⲁϣⲕ
Nativity: were born – ⲁⲩⲙⲁⲥⲕ
Theophany: were baptized – ⲁⲕϭⲓⲱⲙⲥ

² “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

³ “Now and forever and unto the age of all ages. Amen.”

⁴ The first three verses change based on the liturgical season:

Cross Feasts & Bright Saturday: “who was crucified for us” repeats three times
Nativity: “who was born of the Virgin” repeats three times
Theophany: “who was baptized in the Jordan” is said and repeats three times
Holy Fifties (1st – 39th day): “who rose from the dead” is said and repeats three times
Holy Fifties (40th – 50th day): “who rose from the dead and ascended into the heavens” repeats three times

All other times, the three verses mentioned here are said