THE SIXTH HOUR*

0 come, let us worship God our King. 0 come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. 0 come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Tkrrr reverences.)

glory. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen Lord, have mercy. (Forty times.) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more

Save me, 0 God, for thy Name's sake, and avenge me in thy strength. Hear my prayer, 0 God, and hearken unto the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me; and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul. Behold, God is my helper ;

the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. H e shall reward evil unto

mine enemies : destroy thou them in thy truth. An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, 0 Lord ; because it is so comfortable. For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble, and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. Hear my prayer, 0 God, and hide not thyself from my petition. Take heed unto me, and hear me, how I mourn in my prayer, and am . vexed. The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast; for they are minded to do me some mischief, so maliciously are they set against me. My heart is disquieted within me, and the fear of death is fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an homble dread hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had

wings like a dove! for then would I flee away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I get me away far off, and remain in the wilderness. I would make haste to escape, because of the stormy wind and tempest. Destroy their tongues, 0 Lord, and divide them, for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city. Day and night they go about within the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. Wickedness is therein ; deceit and guile go not out of their streets. For it is not an open enemy that hath done me this dishonour ; for then I could have borne it : neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against m e ; for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him : but it was even thou, my companion, my guide, and mine

own familiar friend. We took sweet counsel together, and walked in

the house of God as friends. Let death come hastily upon them, and

let them go down quick into hell ; for wickedness is in their dwellings, See Appendi B, 111.

and among them. As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. In the evening, and morning, and at noonday will I pray, and that instantly ; and he shall hear my voice. I t is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me ; for there were many with me. Yea, even God, that endureth forever, shall hear me, and bring them down ; for they will not turn, nor fear God. H e laid his hands upon such as be a t peace with him, and he brake his covenant. The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart ; his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords. 0 cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee, and shall not suffer the righteous to fall forever. And as for

them, thou, 0 God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction. The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days : nevertheless, my trust shall be in thee, 0 Lord. Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold ; my God, in him will I trust. For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pestilence. H e shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers ; his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day; for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noonday. A thousand

shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand ; but it shall not come nigh thee. Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see

the reward of the ungodly. For thou, Lord, art my hope; thou hast

set thine house of defence very high. There shall no evil happen unto thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee in their hands, that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder : the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him up, because he hath known my Name. H e shall call upon me, and I will hear him ; yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now,

and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alelluia, alleluia, alleluia; glory to thee, 0 Lord. (Tkricr.) Glory t o the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. And tkr Hymn for fke Day (T.o#dr).

Hymns in the Eight Ton- see Appendix A ; for the Great Fur& see the Special

But iyif be the Great Fkst(Lmf),we recite the following Hymn, in Tone 111.:

0 thou who, on the sixth day and Hour didst nail to the Cross

the sin which Adam, through presumption, committed in Paradise :

Tear asunder also the handwriting of our iniquities, 0 Christ our God, and save us. Verse (Stikh) r : Hear my prayer, 0 God, and hide not thyself from my petition. Verse 2 : A s for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Seeing that we have no boldness, because of the multitude of our sins, do thou, 0 Virgin Birth-giver of God, fervently entreat him who was born of thee: for the prayer of a Mother availeth much to the good will of the Lord. Despise not the supplications of sinners, 0 allpure One ; for merciful and mighty to save is he who graciously deigned to suffer for us. With thy bounties speedily prevent us, 0 Lord, for we have grievously sinned ; help us, 0 God our Saviour, for the glory of thy Name.

0 Lord, deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy Name's sake. 0 Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice.) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. 0 all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. 0 Lord, wash away our sins. 0 Master, pardon our transgressions. 0 Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. ( Thrice.) Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver

us from the Evil One : Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of

the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and

unto ages of ages. Amen. Then the Collect-Hymn (KondrfR)of the Day or of the Tone.. But zyit be the Great Fast, we say these Hynrns (Troparf),in Tone 11.:

Thou hast wrought salvation in the midst of the earth, 0 Christ our God. Thou didst stretch out thine all-pure hands upon the Fa Cross ; thou hast gathered together all the nations, who cry aloud $ unto thee : Glory to thee, 0 Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. For Collect-Hymns in the Eight Tones, see Appendix A ; for the Great Feasts,see

the Special Services.

We bow down in reverence before thy holy Image, 0 Good One, entreating forgjveness for our transgressions, 0 Christ our God; for of thine own good will thou didst graciously deign to ascend

the Cross in the, flesh, that thou mightest deliver from the works of

the enemy those whom thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore we cry

aloud unto thee in thanksgiving : With joy thou didst fill all things, 0 our Saviour, when thou didst come to save the world. And f h n immediate&, on M o h y , Tiresaky and Thursahy :

Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Vouchsafe unto us thy mercy, 0 Birth-giver of God, thou who art a Fount of tender compassion. Look upon the people who have sinned; manifest, as always, thy power. For trusting in thee we cry unto thee : Hail ! as did aforetime Gabriel, Chief of the Bodiless Powers. On Wcdncsahy and F&y : Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

TO THE BIRTH-GIVER

(~rcstob~g~rbditch~). Exceedingly blessed art thou, 0 Virgin Birth-giver of God, and we sing thy praise: for by the Cross of thy Son was Hell overthrown and Death was slain ; and we who were dead have risen again, and have mercifully been deemed worthy of life, and have received Paradise, which was our delight of old. For which cause, with thanksgiving we magnify Christ our God, in that he is mighty and in that he alone loveth mankind. Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.) Thou who, at all times and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified, 0 Christ our God, long-suffering, plenteous in. mercy and compassion ; who lovest the just and showest mercy to those who are hardened in sin ; who callest all men to repentance through the promise of good things to come : Do thou, the

same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present time, and direct our lives according to thy commandments. Sanctify our souls ; purify our bodies ; set aright our minds; and deliver us from all calamity, wrath and distress. Compass us round about with thy holy Angels ; that, guided and guarded by their host, we may attain unto

the unity of the faith, and unto the comprehension of thine ineffable

glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest ' ~ o d

the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

In the Name of the Lord, bless, Father. Priest. Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, 0 Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us. And if it be a Fast, we make threegreat reverences to the very earth a d say the #rescridcd

0 Lord and Master of my life, grant not unto me a spirit of slothfulness, of discouragement, of lust of power, of vain babbling. (Reverence.) But vouchsafe unto thy servant the spirit of continence, of meekness, of patience, and of love. (Rev~~.ence.) Yea,0 Lord and King, grant that I may perceive my own transgressions, and judge not my brother. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (Reverence. Then twelve ksser reverences, saying at each : 0 God, cleanse thou me, a sinner. T h n t h whole Prayer zj. repeated; with one great reverence in conclusion.) %i this PRAYEROF ST. BASILTHE GREAT. 0 God and Lord of hosts, 'and Maker of all things created, who through the tender-hearted compassion of thine incomparable mercy

didst send down thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for

the redemption of our race, and by his precious Cross didst destroy the

handwriting of our sins, and didst thereby triumph over the Origin and Powers of darkness : Do thou, the same Lord, who lovest mankind, accept also these thanksgivings and fervent prayers of us sinners. And deliver us from every harmful and gloomy transgression, and from all enemies, both visible and invisible, who seek after us to destroy us. Nail our flesh to the fear of thee, and incline not our hearts to words or thoughts of guile : but wound our souls with the love of thee ; that looking ever unto thee, and guided by thee in the light, beholding thee, the Light Ineffable and Everlasting, we may ascribe unto thee ceaseless praise and thanksgiving : unto the Father who hath no beginning, together with thine Only-begotten Son, and thine all-holy, and good,

and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen Generally the DIVINELITURGY begnneth here. But if i t be the Great Pas/ ( e n ? , after this zk read the NINTHHOUR;a n d the NINTHHOUR, w k z t f o 'aoweth the SIXTH

suffer therefor. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honour, will accept the last even as the first ; he giveth rest unto him who cometh at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who hath wrought from the first hour. And he showeth mercy upon the last, and careth for the first; and to the one he giveth, and upon the other he bestoweth gifts. And he both accepteth the deeds, and welcometh the intention, and honoureth the acts and praiseth the offering. Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord ; and receive ye your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. Ye rich and poor

together, hold ye high festival. Ye sober and ye heedless, honour ye

the day. Rejoice today, both ye who have fasted and ye who

disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden ; feast ye all sumptuou ly.

The calf is ample ; let no one go hungry away. Enjoy ye all the feast

of faith : Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom hath been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon hath shone forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death hath set us free. Inasmuch as he was held captive of it, he hath annihilated it. By descending into Hell, he made Hell captive. H e angered it when it tasted of his flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry : Hell, said he, was angered, when it encountered thee in the lower regions. It was angered, for it

was abolished. It was angered, for it was mocked. It was angered, for it was slain. It was angered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. I t took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was visible, and fell upon the invisible. 0 Death, where is thy sting ? 0 Hell, where is thy victory ? Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the Angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigneth. Christ is risen, and not one dead remaineth in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.

TAcn is sung the Hymn of Sf. John CAlysostonr.

The grace of thy lips, shining forth like a beacon-fire, . . . (See ih