SIXTH HOUR

Come, let us worship and fall down before the King, our God.

Kontakion. Tone 8.

Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not despise my supplication; attend to me, and hear me. I was grieved in my meditation, and troubled by the voice of the foe and the tribulation of the sinner. Because they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they were indignant with me. My heart was troubled within me, and fear of death fell on me. Fear and trembling came upon me, and darkness covered me. And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove’s, and I shall fly away and find rest. See, I have gone far away in my flight, and have encamped in the wilderness. I waited for God who saves me from faint-heartedness and from storm. O Lord, drown and divide their tongues; because I have seen iniquity and wrangling in the city. Day and night it will go round upon its walls, and lawlessness and toil are in its midst, and injustice. Usury and fraud have not left its streets. For if an enemy had reviled me, I would have endured it. And if one who hated me had boasted against me, I would have hidden from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my guide and my friend. Who made sweet the food we ate together; we walked in harmony in God’s house. Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into hell. For evil is in their dwellings and in their midst. But I cried to God and the Lord heard me. At evening and morning and at midday I shall speak and declare, and you will listen to my voice. He will redeem my soul in peace from those who draw near me, for in crowds they were about me. God will hear and he who is before the ages will humble them. For there is no change with them, because they have not feared God. He has stretched out his hand to repay. They have defiled his covenant; they have been divided by the wrath from his presence, and their have drawn near. Their words were smoother than oil, yet they are javelins. Cast your care on the Lord, and he will support you; he will not let the just waver for ever. But you, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction. Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days; but I, Lord, shall hope in you. ****

Prokeimenon. Tone 4. Psalm 125.

Then the appointed Kathisma of the Psalter.

**Theotokion.**

Troparion of the Prophecy. Tone 6

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, the King, our God.

Kontakion. Tone 2

Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not despise my supplication. ****

Prokeimenon. Tone 6. Psalm 126.

Glory. Both now.

Troparion of the Prophecy. Tone 1.

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ himself, the King, our God.

Kontakion. Tone 4. Lifted up on the Cross.

The 12 small metanias and then the last sentence of the prayer is repeated with one prostration.

Prokeimenon. Tone 6. Psalm 129.

Then the Troparion of the Prophecy, the Prokeimenon and the Prophecy.

Troparion of the Prophecy. Tone 2.

With 3 Metanias, then the Psalms.

Prayer of Saint Basil the Great

Prokeimenon. Tone 4. Psalm 130.

Then was our mouth filled with joy, and our tongue with rejoicing.

Psalm 53

Prokeimenon. Tone 8. Psalm 133.

Then follows the Reading from the Gospel. The Priest censes Book of the Gospels.

O God, save my by your name, and you will judge me by your power. O God, hear my prayer, give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and mighty ones have sought my soul, and have not put God before them. For see, God will help me, and the Lord is the protector of my soul. He will turn evils upon my foes, in your truth wipe them out. Willingly I shall sacrifice to you, I shall give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. For you have delivered me from every tribulation, and my eye has looked down on my foes. ****

Prokeimenon. Tone 2. Psalm 134.

Wisdom. Stand upright. Let us listen to the holy Gospel. Peace to all. ****

Psalm 54

Let us attend. ****

Psalm 90

After the reading:

One who dwells in the help of the Most High will live under the protection of the of the God of heaven; will say to the Lord: you are my protector and my refuge, my God, and I shall hope in him. For he will deliver you from the snare of hunters, and from the word which troubles. He will overshadow you with his wings, and beneath his feathers you will hope; his truth will encircle you with a shield. You will not be afraid of terror by night, of the arrow that flies by day; of the thing that prowls in the darkness, of mishap and the noonday devil. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right, but it will not come near you. But with your eyes you will observe, and see the reward of sinners. For you, Lord, are my hope: you have made the Most High your refuge. Evils will not approach you, nor a scourge draw near your dwelling. Because he has given orders to his Angels about you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You will walk on asp and basilisk, and trample down lion and dragon. Because he hoped in me, I shall deliver him; I shall shelter him, because he knew my name. He will cry to me, and I shall hear him, I am with him in trouble; I shall rescue him and glorify him. I shall fill him with length of days, and show him my salvation.

Then the prayer of St Ephrem with 4 full and 12 small metanias

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Superior says the following

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to you, O God. (**x3)**

Tone 2.

On the sixth day and at the sixth hour you nailed to the Cross the sin that Adam dared in Paradise. Tear up the record of our offences, Christ God, and save us.

I cried to God and the Lord heard me.

Because we have no boldness because of our many sins, entreat the One born of you, O Virgin Mother of God; for a Mother’s plea has great force for the kindness of the Master. Do not despise the supplications of sinners, O all-holy, for you is merciful, and able to save, you who even accepted to suffer for us.

With contrite soul we fall before you, and we pray to you, Saviour of the world. For you are the God of those who repent.

For you are the God of those who repent.

With contrite soul we fall before you, and we pray to you, Saviour of the world. For you are the God of the repentant.

When the Lord turned back the captivity of Zion: \* we became as those who were comforted.

The Reading is from the Prophecy of Ezekiel.

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chobar, the heavens were opened, and I saw a vision of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Joachim), the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chobar; and the hand of the Lord was on me. As I looked, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud with brightness around it and fire flashing forth continually, and in the middle of the fire, an appearance of amber, and a radiance in it. In the middle of it was a likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they were of human form. Each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and their feet were winged; and there were sparks like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another; each of them moved straight ahead, without turning as they moved. As for the appearance of their faces: the four had the face of a human being, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an calf on the left side, and the face of an eagle; such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. Each moved straight ahead; wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. In the middle of the living creatures there was an appearance that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; the fire was bright, and lightning issued from the fire. The living creatures darted to and fro, like a form of Bezek. As I looked, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl; and the four had the same form, their construction being something like a wheel within a wheel. When they moved, they moved in any of the four directions without veering as they moved. Their rims were tall. And I saw that the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the cloud was, there also the spirit would go; the living creatures went, and the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of life was in the wheels.

If the Lord does not build the house, \* in vain have the builders toiled.

If the Lord does not guard the city, in vain has the guard kept vigil. ****

Those who offend beyond measure pardon richly, O Saviour. Count us worthy without condemnation to worship your holy Resurrection, at the prayers of most pure Mother, O alone full of mercy.

Count us worthy without condemnation to worship your holy Resurrection, at the prayers of most pure Mother, O alone full of mercy.

Those who offend beyond measure pardon richly, O Saviour. Count us worthy without condemnation to worship your holy Resurrection, at the prayers of most pure Mother, O alone full of mercy.

Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with him abundant redemption: \* and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.

The Reading is from the Prophecy of Ezekiel.

When the living creatures moved, the wheels also moved; when they stopped, the others stopped; and when they rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of life was in the wheels. Over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of a firmament, shining like crystal, spread out above their wings. Under the firmament their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another; and each of the creatures had two wings covering its body. When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the voice of God Sadday, a sound of speech like the sound of an army; when they stopped, they let down their wings. And there came a voice from above the firmament over their heads; when they stopped, they let down their wings. And above the firmament over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was the likeness of a human form. Upward from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all around; and downward from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendour all around. Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendour all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

Let Israel hope in the Lord, \* from henceforth and for evermore.

Lord, my heart has not been exalted, nor have my eyes become lofty. ****

On Wednesday

To-day the evil Sanhedrin has assembled and meditated vain things against you; to-day Judas from his agreement receives a noose as pledge; Caiaphas unwillingly confesses that one man will accept the voluntary passion for the sake of all. Christ God, our Redeemer, glory to you.

Christ God, our Redeemer, glory to you.

To-day the evil Sanhedrin has assembled and meditated vain things against you; to-day Judas from his agreement receives a noose as pledge; Caiaphas unwillingly confesses that one man will accept the voluntary passion for the sake of all. Christ God, our Redeemer, glory to you.

May the Lord bless you from Sion: \* he who made heaven and earth.

Come now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.

The Reading is from the Prophecy of Ezekiel.

The Lord said to me, Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord.’ Whether they hear or tremble (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that you are a prophet among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them, and do not be amazed at their looks, for they will provoke and rise up against you round about, and you live among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words, and do not be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or tremble; for they are a rebellious house. But you, son of man, hear what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you. I looked, and a hand was stretched out to me, and a written scroll was in it. He spread it before me; it had writing on the front and on the back, and written on it were words of lamentation and mourning and woe. He said to me, son of man, eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. He said to me, Son of man, your mouth eats this scroll that is given you and your belly will be filled with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.

You who fear the Lord, \* bless the Lord.

Praise the name of the Lord; you his servants, praise the Lord. ****

And that he would count us worthy to listen to the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God. ****

Lord, have mercy. (**x3**) ****

And to your Spirit. ****

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to **N**. ****

Glory to you, Lord, glory to you! ****

Glory to you, Lord, glory to you!

Let your mercies, O Lord, come quickly to our aid, for we are utterly poor; help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of your name. O Lord, deliver us, and have mercy on our sins, for your name’s sake.

Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (**three times**).

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

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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

Our Father, in heaven, may your name be hallowed, your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. ****

Jacob lamented the loss of Joseph, and the noble one was seated in a chariot, honoured like a king; for as he had not been slave to the pleasures of the Egyptian woman, he was glorified in return by the one who sees the hearts of men, and bestows an incorruptible crown.

Think, miserable soul, on the hour of the end, and made fearful by the cutting down of the fig tree, work with love of toil at the talent given you, as you watch and cry: May we not be left outside Christ’s bridal chamber!

On Wednesday

I have transgressed far more than the harlot, O Good One, yet have never brought you showers of tears; but entreating in silence I fall before you, as I kiss your immaculate feet with love, that as Master you may grant me forgiveness of offences, as I cry out, my Saviour, ‘Deliver me from the filth of my works’.

Lord, have mercy. (**x40**)

At every time and at every hour, in heaven and on earth worshipped and glorified, Christ God, long-suffering, great in mercy, great in compassion, loving the just and merciful to sinners, calling all to salvation by the promise of the good things to come; do you, Lord, yourself accept our entreaties at this hour, and direct our lives to your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our ideas and deliver us from every distress, evil, and pain. Wall us about with your holy Angels, that protected and guided by their host we may reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of your unapproachable glory; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy (

**x3**), Glory. Both now. Greater in honour than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Word. Truly the Mother of God, we magnify you. In the name of the Lord, bless, Father. ****

Through the prayers of our holy fathers Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us. ****

Lord and Master of my life, do not give me a spirit of sloth, idle curiosity, love of power and useless chatter. (

**Prostration**)

Rather accord to me, your servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. (

**Prostration**)

Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults, and not to condemn my brother; for you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. (

**Prostration**) ****

O God and Lord of powers, and Maker of all creation, who through the compassion of your incomprehensible mercy sent down your only-begotten Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, for the salvation of our race, and through his precious Cross tore up the record of our sins, and by it triumphed over the principalities and powers of darkness; do you yourself, O Master who loves mankind, accept also our supplications of thanksgiving and entreaty; and deliver us from destroying and dark transgression, and from all our foes, visible and invisible, who seek to harm us. Nail down our flesh through fear of you, and do not let our hearts incline to words or thoughts of evil, but wound our souls with longing for you; that ever gazing upon you and guided by the light that comes from you, seeing you the unapproachable and everlasting light, we may give thanks to you, the Father without beginning, with your only-begotten Son and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.